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.

@Getstronkeepfighting

I think we're talking at cross purposes. My comment was about the 10 days on patches, not the total time on HRT.

You initially said you could not have patches. I assumed this was due to cost or supply.

What you meant was you tried them for 10 days and stopped as you had a headache.

This was unlikely down to the patch itself. It would be more to do with the amount or estrogen, so the advice at the time would be to increase or decrease the dose. The advice is to stick with the one type of three months to see if any side effects settle.

Most side effects come from tablet form because there are fillers in the pills and also because they bypass the liver, which pours other chemicals into the system as they are digested.

You didn't say you'd been referred to a neuro for other reasons or seen a menopause gynaecologist.

It seems as if there are other issues going on with your health ( ie seeing a neuro and having to be referred to a gynae to give the OK for HRT- but then a nurse tells you to stop because of the headaches? All confusing!)

I've tried to help but without knowing all the facts at the start, it's difficult.

I haven't had patches for HRT. As I said they were patches for something completely unrelated to menopausal things.

The headaches seem to have started around the time I started on HRT tablets but haven't stopped even though I've stopped the HRT. The doctor has referred me to a neurologist because of the length of time I have had the headaches for and the fact that some days there are more than one. She offered me a low dose amitriptyline but I really don't want anti depressants and want to see if there's a reason I'm having daily headaches.

Getstrong - I was the complete opposite starting my HRT patches enabled me to sleep over 7 hours after about 3 weeks of no more than 3 hrs a night - & I have chronic fatigue to normally sleep 10 hrs plus a night

The Meno insomnia nearly killed me - combined with the depression!

I'm reading this thread for the education. My period stopped being reliable/regular two years back, but they do still come. I've had only 4 hot flushes during this time. I frequently get terribly warm though, noticeable as I'm usually the annoying one at work under three layers of cardigans and still blue with cold. I feel "other than myself" often these days. I can't describe it but it's like my mood, or the tone or volume of my voice, how I think, is just to the left or right of me rather than just me. I started taking magnesium-ok and complex b vit this month along with practically living off salmon and trout and veg, and am feeling a little more in balance so far. I have to take otc drugs for sleep or it simply wouldn't happen otherwise. Every inch on my body is dried out and I slather on oils whereas they would have broken me out before and made my hair a greasy mess.I can no longer multi task. At first I thought it was a lifestyle choice, but it isn't, I can no longer do it. I'm reading what you're saying re hrt with interest.

Ah,my people. I am perimenopause: thinning hair, irregular periods, teeth seem to be on the move. My gut seems to have given up: I am eating those fancy yogurts and veggies but that's about all that doesn't cause problems.
I asked the GP if this was my 'new normal' and he laughed and said no: it gets better once you are confirmed menopausal and can go on HRT.
Marvellous.

Sigh. GP prescribed patches this am, but they aren't available anywhere. The surgery will ask him what to do about it.

Lack of focus, forgetting simple things, procrastinating, fatigue. Mine seems to be more mental than physical actually. No hot flushes etc (yet).

And yes! Teeth! I hadn't thought that could be due to menopause but it makes total sense. I've never had any issues before but just suddenly over the last year my dentist has warned me about creeping gum disease and I'm having to floss like a maniac now! It actually makes me feel better to think it's due to that than me not taking care of my teeth as I am careful.

I had to have patches when I was having treatment for something else

It was confusing :) Given you were posting about HRT....

I read this as 'I had to have HRT patches when I was being treated for something else.'

[Because patches are less likely to cause blood clots and my 'something else' put me at risk from that or something similar.]

I didn't see any connection between 'patches for something else' and not wanting to use patch-form of HRT.

GetStrongKeepFighting

amitrip. is a recognised treatment for some types of migraine and at a low dose of 5 or 10 mgs, it's not an anti depressant. It's primary action at that dose is a pain killer.

(I know someone who uses them like that for headaches.)

I never said I'd had patches for HRT. I was explaining why I couldn't have patches for HRT.

I can't risk responding as I did before by having patches again.

I've had amitrip before and wouldn't want it again. Doctor said she was treating the headaches not depression.

I honestly feel like I'm having to repeat myself and justify myself when I just wanted a chatty thread so that we could post our symptoms without feeling odd.

I appreciate you are trying to help but I'm feeling rubbish

Hi. I'm in forced menopause due to haemorrhagic ovaries and adenomyosis. I started last year on decapeptyl.

I have been struggling to lose weight, brain fog, exhausted and huge amounts of insomnia. I used to have the odd hot flush but this week has been hot flush city. I have been an emotional wreck too thanks to flushes and palpations.

Any advice this is new to me.

My gynae has prescribed tibilone for me so I started that today after seeing the GP.

sorry Get I'll butt out now and leave this, but just be reassured that it's not the patch that is the problem- lots of drugs are given that way- but the drug itself in the patch. One patch for one illness doesn't mean you will react to any patch.

hope you find the answers.

I didn't know that, that's helpful. Thank you.

I am now intolerant to soya - it (literally) makes my hair fall out

Rapeseed oil/corn oil gives me indigestion ( I have never suffered with that)

Borderline osteoporosis (my doctor offered me drugs that crystallize bones. Ironically, that makes them more brittle so I am taking the exercise and diet approach)

My teeth, my poor teeth. (If your teeth are declining even though you are looking after them properly, think about getting your bones checked with a Dexa scan).

misscockerspaniel, that all sounds hard work. Today my gums have started hurting. Random.

I've finally got a prescription for patches. Let's see how that goes. I'm reluctant to be honest, I wanted to power through it, but I can't afford to feel this tired all the time. If I had a full time job, I'd be toast! I slept 11 hours on Thursday night.

I am horrified to hear about the teeth problems. I have just started on contraceptive pills for the get element as I'm showing lots of symptoms of peri menopause (strangely none related to periods yet). I have finally saved up enough money to get my teeth straightened and whitened. Is this going to be a false economy?

'Hrt' element not 'get' element.

I'd ask your dentist. My front teeth are fine, it's the molars. I'm not easy to root canal, apparently, so my crown is failing. The other molar that side was taken out. Sigh.

I'll ask the dentist. Thanks for the heads up.

I’m peri menopausal. I can’t believe how tired I get - I could literally fall asleep standing up at about 4pm every day!!!!

I also have anxiety and only recently found out this can be caused by peri menopause- I’d never had it before.

Finally, I have had three really bad heart palpitations- again, all due to peri menopause.

I have started to get palpitations too. I really resent that I have become The Menopause. I think about it a lot, mainly because of the shopping list of associated ailments I have. I cannot remember the last time I felt really well. Everyday there is something, either a new symptom or a resurgence of an older one. It's fucking boring, and I want it over,

My personal experience has been the headaches are caused by the progesterone element. So anyone taking combined hrt might consider switching to a separate oestrogen and progesterone. Just a thought but only my experience.

Also thought I’d put this here. It’s the NICE guidelines to menopause. Someone up thread said their GP suggested HRT once they were menopausal. GPs can be really rubbish in their knowledge. HRT can be used during peri. I’m still peri and have been using HRT for 2 years.

It’s worth a read and worth wafting under clueless GP’s nose. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG23

With regard to symptoms, the itching, the bloody itching on my abdomen. And the memory problems, not being able to recall words. I can picture an object or see an object but can’t conjure up the word quickly.

It's worth knowing that whatever peri symptoms you have ( or had, in my case) diet and exercise can make a huge difference.

It's not enough for everyone- which is why I went onto HRT at 53- but I did keep many of the peri stuff away by having a really 'clean' diet. (I didn't eat gluten so just didn't eat stuff made with it- and couldn't be bothered to bake all the time!)
I also couldn't drink.

You might find that cutting out sugar really helps increasing pulses - lentils and beans a few times a week(which contain weak plant estrogens), cutting right back on alcohol, eating more veg and doing some exercise every day.

It might not be enough but HRT although brilliant can't do it all- sometimes lifestyle is 50% of the issue.

I don't want to do all that! I'm tired and I just want to eat chocolate.

Maybe I can go to bed for a few years and get up when it's all over?