The Mad, Bad Menopause Thread

CathA

calicocat wrote: »

Went onto Venlafaxine for the flushed, had to come off this as could have had a stroke BP went so high (brilliant for the flushes though).

There was an article in the paper about this drug, and the fact that it can help menopausal symptoms, so I took it to my doctor and got prescribed it. (This is after I'd exhausted the natural remedy route, of which some worked and some didn't).

Anyhoo, the kids said I was great on these tablets, much less shouty and calmer BUT....BUT.... they gave me my first period in years, they had to be taken with food but they suppressed my appetite so much I lost 1/2 a stone in a week, they gave me horrendous constipation AND THEY DIDN'T WORK ON THE HOT FLUSHES!!! When I went back to the doctors, she told me another patient had bought in the same article and she was fine, worked a treat on her! I asked for her address so I could go round and kill her. My suggestion that these were ideal tablets to give to fat depressed people along with a healthy supply of laxatives didn't receive much enthusiasm! AND when I cut the dose down then stopped taking them, I had vertigo for the first time ever and I'd only been taking them for 3 weeks.



So it doesn't last for ever folks.........there is hope out there.

I ended up on HRT for 2 years but the doctor suggested coming off of it to see how it was going. My neighbour had been on it for 15 years and when she came off of it she started having the hot flushes again, which I have heard can happen. I didn't fancy that so I've just been putting up with the night sweats, however on the bright side you should see my gas bill!! We've hardly had the heating on this year. I'm lucky I only have 'warm episodes' in the daytime; as long as I can rip some clothes off at speed I'm fine (quite entertaining at work, mind!)


.

So, 8 years of night sweats practically every night, 2 years prior to that night sweats occasionally, is the end in sight? At night the covers are on and off, hubby says it's like sleeping in a wind tunnel, we could test airplane designs in there! Got to laugh, otherwise you'd kill someone.

elisebutt65

I've posted somewhere else on here about my enforced menopause.
I had BC in 2012 and the chemo stopped everything. Then I went on tamoxifen to suppress hormones so then the hot flushes, brain fog and a horde of other symptoms ensued.
Anyway I've just come off that and am now on aromasin: lovely side effects. Hair loss, weight gain, brain fog,even worse hot flushes and now after a bone scan;osteopenia (osteoporosis precursor).
And I can't take anything like hrt because I'm not allowed to have any hormones floating around anymore.

I had venlaflaxin for a bit but I couldn't stand the insomnia and twitchy legs. Now I'm on Gabapentin (neurotonin). It's an anti-epileptic that has the added effect of reducing hot flushes. I did some research to get the ideal dose and it does work a bit. I don't soak through my pj's now, but I still have to get up every 3-4 hours to cool off. Work is more tolerable: my students have learned to wear warmer clothes as my classrooms are a tad draughty after I got estates to turn off the heating in them. Lol

Before the Gabapentin I used to have mini anxiety attacks along with the flushes, but those have now gone. The 'aura' that runs up and down my arms before a flush hits is horrid though, but at least I get a warning and time to get my fan ready :rotfl:

Only 7 years to go and then I'll be onto a more natural menopause. Phew.

Amber_Sunshine

I'm glad to see this thread. I'm 47, so aware that it's coming up in the years ahead. Could be in the very early stages of perimenopause. Periods regular until last year, then nothing for 6 months (which was great!). Then two normal ones, but none for the last two months. I'm hoping that it won't be too difficult an experience - my mum couldn't even remember how old she was when she had hers, but did say it wasn't as bad as she'd feared (and been led to expect).

Anyway I'm aware that now is probably a good time to try to get mentally and physically healthy in preparation. What does concern me is that I've a long history of anxiety, so am worried that might get worse (yes, worrying about worrying ... that's how it goes).

Any tips for negotiating these years? Diet, exercise, meditation etc?

Emm-in-a-pickle

I`ve had BC twice ten years apart (not a `reccurence`, but a new one in it`s own right on the other side) and a hysterectomy in between. Luckily both tumours were found early and I didn`t need chemo. Five years on Tamoxifen first time, Instant menopause, flushes, dry eyes, and a lot more grumpiness, but counteracted by the feeling that I`d been very lucky, could have been so much worse, etc.
Then second time around they put me on Anastrazole, I was thinking `well at least I`ve done the menopause & side effects bit already` -No! Apparently Tamoxifen only clears 80% of target hormone, the Anastrazole deals with the remaining dregs stored in body tissues, so it was all Here We Go Again. Plus a lot of random joint pains, which bothered me the most as I`m on calcium & Vit D supplements since hysterectomy, and hadn`t realised the pains were a side effect of Anastrazole, I`d just thought it was me going to the dogs, ageing faster....I was delighted when I found out it wasn`t Me, it was the Meds. Although it`s more liklely in joints that have suffered a bit of trauma or wear, it does wear off after the course of meds is finished. so a few years to go yet.
Another problem is dry skin, but I`ve always had badly oily skin till lately, and you can`t have it both ways!
I`m a `cup half full` person, and I do think it helps when I stop counting my woes and focus on the positives - I feel I`m lucky to still be around.

74jax

So did I only post a few days ago how great everything was??....

I was at the hospital yesterday, as I am only 41 they are worried about my bones, have given me Livial HRT 2.5mg. Said it would help with my bones and night sweats.

Came home...... Googled....... Wanted to cry!!!

The increase in cancer risk for my age is huge! As is the same for strokes.

So now I have these tables petrified to take them and worried about my bones - I couldn't have cared less 2 days ago!

I'm only in the menopause for a year to see if it eases my endometriosis, so I'm trying to convince myself it's only a year of HRT at 41.....

Men don't have these serious dilemmas.... I'm definitely in the 'it's unfair' camp at the moment.

Mupette

I've been on Gabapentin for my MS, it works a treat for hiding menopause symptoms it really is, BUT weight gain, did nothing for the MS

so i no longer take them, i wonder if i should go back on them on the guise of needing them.

And then in 2 years when i have HSCT the menopause starts if it hasn't already *sigh

Jinx

I'm now 4 months into the menopause after having my ovaries removed due to cysts. I'm 42. I've had the odd hot flush and my husband keeps saying this will save a fortune on heating! Mood wise I've been fine, I gave my team carte blanche to tell me if I turned into a (more!?) stroppy cow lol So far so good I think..... fingers crossed that remains the case.


However I've now got VERY dry skin and sore hip joints (I didn't realise sore joints was a side effect until reading this thread - figured I need to take up yoga.... lol) Can I ask if anyone recommends any particular shower gel and or moisturiser that they've found works? And anything natural for the joints? I don't want to do HRT unless there is no alternative.

cuddlymarm

Hi Jinx

Sorry you are having a bad time at the moment but it will get better. Areeno is vey good and does shower gel as well as a nice creamy cream. Look for offers in B the chemist, they often do them.

Cuddles

Mupette

Ok i bit the bullet and dug out the lyrica, i popped a few and omg within a few hours I was Mrs Nice again and symptoms slowly disappeared.

I thought i had popped Gabapentin, I hadn't i had the older sister Pregablin, That was Saturday night, managed early doctor's appointment yesterday and she agreed Pregablin is really good for Menopause symptoms i told her what a was really like, she said she was happy if i was happy to be on the pills, 50mg 2 -3 times a day.

I wouldnt of thought of this if i hadn't read this thread, thank you ladies, i am not 100% but miles better than i have felt in agaes and it's also helped the MS side a bit, 3 days i have not needed to take to my bed after a few hours, result.

tattycath

I started having horrendous headaches about 5 years ago. I went to docs, saw a neurologist...no one could tell me what it was, just migraine, they said. So they treated the symptoms not the cause. The headaches subsided with treatment-I'm now thinking it might be a peri-menopausal symptom.
My DD1 says she thinks I've been peri-menopausal for about 4+ years. As I have 'b!tch fits' :rotfl:
I have been having hot flushes on and off for several years. I went to Drs a couple of years ago and he said they have a scale (not sure what it goes up to). He said I'm at about 27 on the scale-so I'm at the latter end.
The headaches are getting more frequent, just over my eye. They are often so debilitating I have to take myself off to bed.
My skin is dry.
I'm either really nice or ready to kill someone-anyone.
My memory is shocking.
I've put weight on too.
The hot flushes are sporadic and not too bad at the moment - touch wood.
I did get some anti b!tch spray from a herbalist friend, it does help, when I remember to use it. I'm not on HRT as I've heard scary stories of how it can cause brittle bones etc, so I'm just coping as best I can.
My periods are getting less frequent, probably every 6 weeks-2 months or so.