A thread to discuss the extra less obvious bits to the menopause

[GetStrongKeepFighting]

I've been to the GP today and she's said most of what I was telling her are due to the menopause.

I had to come off HRT so I'm just on starflower capsules, Angus castus and vitamin B.

I'm having blood tests and have been referred for a neurological appointment.

My menopause started after the shock of a traumatic event well two and it's been 2-3 years ish. Periods all over the place, anxiety for first time ever, daily painful headaches, not sleeping very well, emotional, knackered, suicidal at times PMT like grouchiness, lack of motivation.

Sigh.

Can I ask you why you have to give up your hrt? I am 2 years on hrt and I am trending the day I will have to stop it.

Don't dread it as you've been on it for two years you probably don't have the issue I did. I was told to stop it due to daily headaches. I told the GP today what the nurse had advised and she didn't disagree.

Itchy flaky skin on t zone, and just generally itchy.

Uncomfortable at night- generally too hot or roasting hot feet.

Tired and achey.

Sanctuary moisturiser or body spray in the original fragrances are good, picklemepopcorn.

I'm not great at self care. It's all too much faff!

It's important though. Sanctuary do a moisturiser you put on straight from the shower and then dry yourself. Since I bought this I moisturise a lot more. You're important too. Give yourself time.

HRT has given me headaches too so I sympathise. I’m soldiering on because the insomnia and without HRT are worse but it feels a bit of a crap choice to have to make. Other symptoms are inflamed gums and very low mood. Not sure what’s menopause, what’s HRT and what’s neither.

The headaches are tough to live with.

Be careful , rightreckoner.

What did they think was happening with the headaches getstrong? I have discussed them with GP and had a scan but she thought it was just a harmless but not painless side effect. Should I be checking something else ?

Oh, and teeth. Teeth deciding to give up the ghost.

GetStrong I have headaches too on hrt and before during my peri. I don’t think that it is a contradiction if our blood pressure is good. I cannot imagine again the poor quality of life I had before hrt.

The nurse was worried and with the doctor not saying I could go back on it today I think she right. I am having a Brain scan if I've understood the doctor when I see the neurologist so I'll see what happens then. Going along with other brain symptoms I am worried tbh.

Hope that everything will be fine! :)

This is so odd. Headaches can be part of menopause but are often helped by the right estrogen dose and the right type of progestogen.

It's a bit of a panic reaction to make you stop.

Women with migraine use HRT .

Blood clots are not an issue with patches or gel. if she was worried she ought to have changed you to those and re-assessed your dose and type of HRT.

How is a nurse supposed to be an expert?
Sorry to all nurses, but unless they have been on a real meno training course, they often spout incorrect info.

I couldn't have patches. The headaches are new having started around the time of starting on HRT but I'm still getting them even though I stopped the HRT about 4 weeks ago. It's difficult for me as you seem to be saying I should not have stopped when the nurse said too and the GP didn't say today I could try it again. TBF the nurse is menopause stuff trained I think. I never had this many headaches before. I'm having at least one a day, sometimes two and once I had four in one day.

Same as me getstrong. Never had headaches in 48 years prior to HRT. Now they are at least weekly. Got one right now. I don’t know why.

why could you not have patches?

is this a price issue?

if so that is unacceptable. women with headaches should use patches or gel. They are safer and there is a drive to - eventually- get all women onto transdermal HRT as the norm.

Yes i am saying the nurse may not be qualified to make those decisions. It's something only an experienced menopause consultant would advise you on, not a nurse.

It seems ridiculous and waste of your time to send you to a neurologist when you may simply need more or less estrogen or a different dose of HRT.

@Getstrongkeepfighting

It is worth reading the advice of the Migraine Trust (not clear if you are having migraines or not.)

This is the link and the HRT info is halfway down the page.

www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/trigger-factors/menopause-and-midlife/

The advice is as I said- your dr ought to work with you to find a type and brand that suits you, and also there is no added risk of clots for women with migraine using HRT.

If you need HRT for menopausal symptoms but develop headaches as a result of the treatment managing your headaches can be difficult. It is not, however, impossible. You will need to work with your medical practitioner to find the right dose and the right hormone balance. Also, by trying different methods of taking HRT you can help to find the best course of treatment for you.

There are many different types of HRT available and the effect on migraine can vary depending on the type used. So, for example, you may find that switching from pills to patches improves your headaches. Non-oral forms of HRT provide the most stable levels of hormone and are usually better for women with migraine. These can be in the form of a skin patch or gel which you rub on your skin.

I had to have patches when I was having treatment for something else and I literally didn't sleep for ten nights. Too scared to try patches again.

I don't know if they are migraines. They are in three different parts of my head and I can't work out a trigger. They come on as quickly as a switch.

The neurologist could be because I am having other brain issues.

I predicate all your suggestions etc and now don't know what to do!

I do have patches. And mirena. And headaches . I’d love to hear any suggestions on what could be tweaked to alleviate them.

You can't judge HRT on 10 days. If you start on a very low dose one it might be better.
I 'd ask your GP to refer you to a menopause gynae

I was on HRT from May to February so more than ten days. I've already seen a menopause gynaecologist . First to be authorised to take it then for I don't know what. He said I could come off it if I want which felt like apropos of nothing though I then said I wasn't sure I had any improvement on it as felt I needed to say something with not knowing why I was there.

Aches and pains. Was feet but now shoulders, neck and sides of arms. My neck looks wider??? Flaky nails, usually rock hard. Tenseness, which doesn't help the way I hold myself and exacerbates the aches and pains. Normally strong and capable, now I have to grab my focussed moments and do hard stuff then otherwise it all goes to shit. And the hot flushes. The creeping dread of nothing in particular. The insomnia. Groin twinges. The swinging moods. It's all a bit crap. But at the same time fascinating. I know why it is happening, it's still shit, but I know it will pass (frustrating not knowing when though).

No period since September, which is a +