Help with info please

[vintagebella]

I'm 56 and post menopausal - had my last period at 48. If you include the 3 years of being peri menopausal I've now had flushes for at least 11 years. Just wondering if this is usual.

I've tried looking into it further but it seems menopause is as much of a mystery to the medical community as endomitiris still is!

Does anyone know is this 'normal'? I've kept track over the last 10 days and I have at least 6 flushes during the day and never less than 2 at night. Would it be reasonable to ask for blood tests to check my hormone levels? Any other ideas?

If anyone can help I'd be grateful, thanks

I'm no expert, just another menopausal lady but that sounds completey normal to me. Some GPs seem to offer blood tests, some don't. By my own standards, your hot flushes seem to be mild, mine were every hour lasting 15-20 minutes, day and night. That doesn't mean to imply that you're not suffering though. I've been on HRT for 4 years which has given me my life back, though it's not for everybody. There's such a huge and diverse range of advice about the menopause. Just do what suits you best!

The rule from NICE is blood tests are only for women who might be having an early menopause, to see what's going on. If you haven't had a period for 8 years you are post menopause so blood tests not necessary. Some women only have hot flushes for a short time but some of us find they last for years and years. You need to decide if you want to try HRT which will stop them, or experiment with herbal stuff which might or might not. Really recommend you have a good read of the site menopause matters.co.uk My mum suffered for 20+ years so I went onto HRT right from the minute mine started on the hour , all day long.

Yes, they used to be worse so I am grateful for that. I guess I just expected them to finish before now. If I haven't had a period for 8 years what's happening to my hormones?

Can't have HRT - I asked for it years ago and told it wasn't recommended due to increased risk of breast cancer (now I know that's rubbish). I then got bc anyway so can never have it.

I guess the issue for me is not how much I'm 'suffering' but is it 'normal' to still have so many hot flushes so long after my last period?

Hi vintagebella, most women won't have hot flushes for more than a few years after menopause, but unfortunately some do. I get what you mean about what's happening to your hormones, that confuses me too - maybe someone else can explain how they are still imbalanced as they're surely supposed to have plateaued after 8 years.

Have a wee look at this link - are you on medication after your bc which might be part of the issue? Or if you had chemo it says they can last longer.

www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/hot-flashes/articles/qa-are-hot-flashes-in-elderly-women-normal.htm

I suppose we're all different, and all have so many different experiences of menopause - pity there aren't more remedies.

I guess the issue for me is not how much I'm 'suffering' but is it 'normal' to still have so many hot flushes so long after my last period?

Yes. They say that up to 15-20% of women have flushes for 12-15 years or even 20, or forever.

If I haven't had a period for 8 years what's happening to my hormones?

You don't have any now, that's the reason for the flushes. The only estrogen we have post meno is a tiny amount and also made by our fat cells.
Could you go to your GP and ask for a referral to a gynae who specialises in menopause? Not all BC is a no-no for HRT; depends on if it was estrogen- receptor positive. I've read about women who do use HRT after BC because they found life too hard without.Or something like acupuncture, black cohosh, sage, etc might help you.

paris thanks for the link. I had chemo when I was already 3 years post menopause so not sure whether that would have made any difference. I already do everything suggested and have done for years. I'm not on any medication for cancer, it was triple negative so no receptors and no further treatment.

loves I can laugh at that now! My original gp said 3 years max

So the consensus is that there's no need for hormone tests? Mainly because I don't have any? Maybe I should go down the natural remedy route.... anyone had any success there?

Thanks for your help so far

Hormone tests aren't available on the NHS for women like us who are post meno. They would only tell you what you know. (You're post meno!)

You ought to ask your GP for a referral to a gynae for advice. HRT is not impossible if your BC was not estrogen-positive. There are many differing opinions on this and it comes down to quality of life.
This is not completely up to date but it might help if you'd like to think about seeing a specialist. GPs can't really deal with complicated stuff like yours.

menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php

Thanks loves, I'll see what I can find.