Foggy headed and can't take HRT

[ScottishStag]

I am feeling very foggy headed. Feel slightly out of it a lot of the time and am having trouble concentrating - it feels like being slightly drunk. This causes me to have some anxiety. Has anyone tried anything that helps and isn't HRT?

Watching because I have felt like this lately too and am taking HRT. Have been told it could be migraine or stress. The problem is feeling like it makes you stressed/anxious but not sure if that is the cause.

With me my blood pressure spikes high.

Yes, mine is not caused by stress but does make me stressed and anxious!

If you can't take HRT because of cancer or heart disease, your GP should refer you to a specialist to discuss alternative medication.

If your GP has told you that you can't take HRT, what else have they suggested?

They just said no to HRT and nothing else. I have been managing well otherwise but I hate the brain fog and feeling like I'm looking at things from a distance.

Why did they say no HRT?

I have had estrogen based cancer.

I'm sorry to hear that.
Your GP should refer you to a specialist menopause gynaecologist for advice and meds that may help.

GPs aren't always well informed on this and there may be newer ways of dealing with it, depending what cancer you had. (Just for example, very early endometrial cancer is not always a no-no for HRT, but obviously I'm not a dr, it's what I've read, and don't know your history.)

Thank you.

Have you had your ferritin levels checked?
Iron deficiency (even without anemia) can also cause brain fog.

My friend swears by gingko biloba

I’m trying lion’s mane supplements for this. I think they might help a bit.

It sounds like depersonalisation, where you say you feel distanced from yourself. Could it be a stress or trauma response (having cancer could certainly bring that about)?

I have had so much brain fog and now (on hrt) still a sort of dizziness that means I'm always in a daze – I can't tell if it's a kind of life-stress respone or hormones!

Hope you can find some answers.

Sorry to hear you’re suffering with this awful symptom.

I’ve had it now for about 14 months. I feel drunk a lot of the time. At its worst, I could barely keep my head upright, it felt like it was too heavy for my neck.

the one thing I will say has helped, is exercise. I used to run and stopped completely because I felt so bloody awful all the time. Recently I’ve decided that if this heavy headed feeling is here to stay, I need to live with it. So I’ve started running again, walking more and making sure I do my 10k steps a day and I do honestly feel better for it.

I started HRT last August and I honestly don’t think it’s made any difference to the fuzzy head. I feel like someone has squeezed my head really tightly then let go. It’s horrible

Mine started almost to the day of my 50th birthday so I’m sure it’s menopause related but not one of the more common symptoms.

I really hope you find some relief. I’m sitting here typing this and my head feels awful but I’m actually just used to it now.

one thing that I also think helped is using a steroid nasal spray. I’m very bunged up - another menopause thing which I believe may contribute to the general fuzzy head thing. Google menopause and congestion - it’s a thing!

Hope you start to feel better soon 💐

Forgot to say, I also take a fexofenadine every day. Menopause causes all kinds of allergies and just one if them could be responsible for congestion/fuzzy head. Forgot to take it yesterday and definitely felt worse by the end of the day.

Be careful with the nasal spray as I’m sure I’ve read recently that they can be highly addictive - even just using for one week

@CluckerHam
This is a prescribed one that has no long term effect. The dodgy ones are things like Vicks that you buy over the counter 🙂

Exercise
especially getting out for a short walk on the morning before work

Do you do all the other 'healthy lifestyle' things that are under your control to do, OP?

Like...
don't smoke
drink alcohol not at all or minimally
Eat plenty of fruit & veg
At least 150 minutes physical exercise/week
Good sleep hygiene to best of your ability
Being in the moment when the moment is nice

I'm not saying any of those will definitely help, but they are strongly suspected to prolong good quality of life, good physical and mental health. So worth a try.

Have you had your thyroid tested? Before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism I had to prop my head up. I also had a feeling of being disconnected from myself.

I can’t have oestrogen based HRT due to cancer but I do use Testosterone which I find helps with focus and concentration.

I would get your b12 and your iron levels checked xx

I can't take HRT - I'm probably further on into actual menopause now. What has helped is time, and trying to prioritise rest and sleep (and myself), exercise at whatever level feels right at the time, eating well and avoiding caffeine and alcohol. It doesn't reverse not having the oestrogen but it gives your body a good starting point to deal with not having the oestrogen.

I'd be wary of any supplements etc.