Hot Sweat hell - 13 years of menopause suffering

[Doobydolly]

Hello, I wonder whether anyone can help as I am absolutely at my wit's end with my ongoing menopausal symptoms.

I am 59, and have been suffering from appalling hot flushes and sweats, both night and day, for around 13 years now.

I am on HRT (oestrogen and testosterone implants plus mirena coil), which I continue to take because for most women the health benefits outweigh any risks. But it doesn't seem to manage my sweating issue which is having a hugely detrimental effect on my quality of life. I spend most of the night bathed in a pool of sweat, and have to sleep with a fan on - though I probably only ever sleep for a maximum of 2 hours at a time. Then when I finally stop sweating I am absolutely freezing - so much so that I am actually shivering - and have to have a hot water bottle or electric blanket.

In the morning I have a shower, then often immediately start sweating and it takes me about an hour before I can get dressed, put make up on/ dry my hair.
Inevitably I will have another terrible sweat about 2-3pm, when my head, neck, hair, back is just dripping with sweat and I usually have to strip off and change. The same thing happens early evening at least another two times. As you can imagine it's extremely embarrassing in social situations, and also at work, though I am self employed and work from home. But sometimes I do have to meet people and it's just mortifying when the sweat is just dripping down my face.

I am being seen at the menopause clinic at Chelsea & Westminster hospital, and to be honest I think they are at a loss as to why I continue to have symptoms, despite me absorbing oestrogen well, and being on the so-called gold standard HRT treatment. I've been told that different methods of oestrogen delivery can affect women differently (I was formerly on the gel oestrogen and have also tried patches). I have also been told that some women function within a very narrow range of hormone levels, and it's all about finding the right balance. Well 13 years on and we are still searching for that elusive balance!! If anyone has any advice or help at all I would be so grateful as this is making my life an utter misery. Thank you in advance.

It's unusual for the C&W not to come up with some ideas.

Has anyone suggested trying Utrogestan (progesterone) instead of the Mirena coil? OR (and this is not so common) using hrt on a cycle? This would give you a monthly withdrawal bleed BUT it would allow you to separate out the estrogen and progesterone FOR A WHILE to see if that made a difference.

I'm much older than you and used HRT for years. I still do a cycle for various reasons and use Utrogestan on a cycle.

Also, the Mirena has its bonuses, but Utrogestan has overtaken it in terms of being the 'gold standard' as it appears to have lower breast cancer risk.

There is some research into both CBT and yoga (breathing with yoga) that can reduce hot flushes.

The only other things are exercise ( do a lot) and diet. Some research in the press today saying that both oily fish (eaten very often) as well as legumes (peas, beans, lentils) can help menopause symptoms. There is also a lot of research going on into menopause and gut health and there are some pod interviews on the Zoe website, carried out by Kings College (London.)

Hi Jingling, thanks for your message. Funnily enough I have just started taking Utrogestan as my Mirena coil has been in situ for 5 years and needs to be replaced. Haven't got round to dealing with. that yet, so meanwhile my GP has put me on the Utrogestan pills. Three weeks in now and the only difference I can notice is that I am developing acne on my chin, which is pretty galling at my age. Spots and wrinkles, marvellous!!

All the lifestyle stuff makes my heart sink to be honest. I've tried sage, black cohash, cutting out alcohol/caffeine, but none of it makes the slightest bit of difference. I hate exercise, though do walk about five miles a day and do a couple of pilates classes a week. Am aware I should be doing more weight bearing type resistance exercise too to offset muscle decline. I've asked the team at C&W whether losing weight would help (I'm about 2 stone overweight), but they said no, they have skinny women who have sweats too. Of course it would probably benefit my health to lose the surplus, but that's a whole other issue, and something I've battled with all my life. Don't have the resources to tackle that at the moment!! I do intermittent fasting for health reasons, though haven't lost any weight because I still eat too much in my so-called eating window.

I've got an appointment next week at C&W, so will be interesting to see what, if anything, they suggest......

Have you thought about having a break from HRT to see how you go ? Some people just dont get on with it.

Hi Dusty, yes I have tried - a couple of years ago I had 3 months off it. No difference! I feel like some medical freak......
My GP has also referred me for endless tests to ensure the sweating is not related to something other than the menopause, so I've been investigated for everything from obscure cancers to tropical diseases. All come back negative. It's extremely frustrating - I'm 99.9% sure it's menopause related.