OK here comes---Menopause and HRT

[deebar]

Went to the dr. today for feeling lousey, not wanting to do anything, hot flashes, insomnia---the list continues.

I did alot of research on the net and figured I am having hormone problems, the list of symptoms sound like my life----- one article mentions a saliva test another mentions blood work for hormone levels to see what to do.

My dr, a male dr. of course listened to me, did nothing else and ordered hormones for me. I am now on Angeliq which is .5mg of drospirenone and 1mg of estradiol daily------ started today, figured I would give it a few weeks. I don't want this due to the side effects and warnings----heart attack, stroke, cancers! If the depression wasn't so bad I don't think I would have agreed. Told him I would take it------
Here's the wonderful male response to menopause------------- if this dosen't work in a few weeks he is going to send me to a phyiatrist(?sp) for diagnosing bipolar disorder?!?!?!?!?!?:!?!?!?!
Why would he say that??? I found a list of all 35 symptoms of menopause and guess what, I have about 18 of them.

Thought about this all afternoon and came to a conclusion----I called the office and and made an appt. with a female dr. that specializes in womens health. My dr. is a family doctor, young and I trust him but this blew me away-----Should I call and tell him I'm getting advice from someone else?

This is bugging the you know what out of me----- I'm not starting menopause, cycle stopped in 2001 but these symptoms keep getting worse as I get older, thought they would lessen .

So menopause or bipolar, never ever thought he would suggest.
I just want to be me again

[Mary Ann]

GRRRRR....!!!!

My doctor isn't necessarily a 'specialist' in women's health, but she's a darn good doctor who understands women's issues. I started bio-identical HRT a couple of years ago. I maintain it with periodic saliva tests. I can't tell you how amazing the difference is! The risks are much less than the traditional cookie cutter approach to HRT. My doctor's an osteopath, very holistic, down in Ottawa; and she's awesome. I loff her!

I wouldn't hesitate to tell the guy you've gone elsewhere. I know they don't mind second opinions, and in this state of unlimited damages in lawsuits, they're often thrilled to pass the buck.

[deebar]

That is basically what I thought Maryann---- why can't men doctors be made to take a few classes in womens health before they can prescribe HRT------Never mantioned any type of test to me.

Thank you as usual! OH, I stopped and bought some vitamins today---Vitamin D, 250mg and Magnesium. I am going to start on them tomorrow. doing some checking on dosages tonight.

[DorothyB]

Hmmm . . . have barely started menopause and the following items in blue "resemble" me:

Apr 2, 2009 18:49:42 GMT -5 @deebar said:

Went to the dr. today for feeling lousey, not wanting to do anything, hot flashes, insomnia---the list continues.

. . .

If the depression wasn't so bad I don't think I would have agreed. . . .

if this dosen't work in a few weeks he is going to send me to a phyiatrist(?sp)

I found a list of all 35 symptoms of menopause and guess what, I have about 18 of them.

I just want to be me again

Between the above and LOTS of stress at work, I started taking Zoloft. It really helped - even with anxiety I wasn't aware of until it was gone. Two surprises - 1) less fear of Shiloh spooking so I could let him put his head down to graze more and ride w/ loose rein and 2) got brave enough to get and pull a trailer!

For the record, I REALLY FOUGHT taking anything at all, but am glad I did start.

I'm not sure the Zoloft is the right thing because it also makes me not care whether the house is clean, whether I meet deadlines at work, etc.

I'm still fighting it a bit, but think I'm going to a psychiatrist next Friday to see if there is a med that will help that doesn't have the side effects.

Can you share the 35 symptoms of menopause list? I suspect that is a good part of my problem coupled w/ other issues.

[deebar]

Here Dorothy---I hope you get the answer you are looking for. This seems to be a common issue-----Never thought I'd old enough to have to go through this. urghhhhh, When did I get here?

Here's the link: www.project-aware.org/Experience/symptoms.shtml



The 35 Symptoms of Menopause

This list of common symptoms that occur during perimenopause and menopause was developed from the real-life experiences of hundreds of women. All symptoms were experienced by numerous women and were either cyclical in nature, or responded to treatments (both traditional and alternative) known to address hormonal imbalances.

1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling (see note)
2. Irregular heart beat
3. Irritability
4. Mood swings, sudden tears
5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
7. Loss of libido (see note)
8. Dry vagina (see note)
9. Crashing fatigue
10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom (see note)
12. Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
13. Disturbing memory lapses
14. Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence (see note)
15. Itchy, crawly skin (see note)
16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons (see note)
17. Increased tension in muscles
18. Breast tenderness
19. Headache change: increase or decrease
20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
21. Sudden bouts of bloat
22. Depression (see note)
23. Exacerbation of existing conditions
24. Increase in allergies
25. Weight gain (see note)
26. Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
28. Changes in body odor
29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head (see note)
30. Tingling in the extremities (see note)
31. Gum problems, increased bleeding
32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
33. Osteoporosis (after several years)
34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing,' buzzing etc. (see note)

NOTES:

* Symptom 1 (flashes) Hot flashes are due to the hypothalamic response to declining ovarian estrogen production. The declining estrogen state induces hypophysiotropic neurons in the arcuate nucleas of the hypothalamus to release gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in a pulsatile fashion, which in turn stimulates release of luteinizing hormone (LH). Extremely high pulses of LH occur during the period of declining estrogen production. The LH has vasodilatory effects, which leads to flushing.
* Symptom 7 (loss of libido) For some women the loss is so great that they actually find sex repulsive, in much the same way as they felt before puberty. What hormones give, loss of hormones can take away.
* Symptom 8 (dry vagina) results in painful intercourse
* Symptom 11 (doom thoughts) includes thoughts of death, picturing one's own death
* Symptom 14(incontinence) reflects a general loss of smooth muscle tone
* Symptom 15 (itchy, crawly skin) feeling of ants crawling under the skin, not just dry itchy skin
* Symptom 16 (aching sore joints) may include such problems as carpal tunnel syndrome
* Symptom 22 (depression) different from other depression, the inability to cope is overwhelming. There is a feeling of loss of self. Hormone therapy ameliorates the depression dramatically.
* Symptom 25 (weight gain) often around the waist and thighs, resulting in 'the disappearing waistline'
* Symptom 29 (shock sensation) "the feeling of a rubber band snapping in the layer of tissue between skin and muscle. It is a precursor to a hot flash"
* Symptom 30 (tingling in extremities) can also be a symptom of B-12 deficiency, diabetes, alterations in the flexibility of blood vessels, or a depletion of potassium or calcium
* Symptom 35* (tinnitus) one of those physical conditions that seems to manifest in some women at the same time as menopause. It can be associated with health conditions such as hypothyroidism and heart disease, and is a known side-effect of many medications, including aspirin (salicylates) and Prozac.

SOME OF THE 35 SYMPTOMS MAY ALSO BE SIGNS OF THE FOLLOWING:

* hypothyroidism
* diabetes
* depression with another etiology
* other medical conditions

If you have reason to believe you may have one of these conditions, please see your doctor for treatment.

* Note added by ProjectAWARE group.

[Trailpal]

I actually did go through bipolar disorder, after 3 years of meds and "talking" appointments, I was able to go off the meds. I've been off meds for 9 years now.

I am also going through at least some parts of menopause (omg, hot flashes like crazy last week, and I suspect hormone unbalances in other areas). I cant' be totally sure (with out a hormone test) because my uterus was removed 4 years ago, but not my ovaries.

Bipolar is not very much like menopause, at least as far as I've gotten. I'd go for a real hormone test by someone who has a clue. And I'd tell my doctor. He can chalk it up to your "manic depression" or being a "crazy menopausal b!tch" but he can't mess you up.

Dorothy - I tried Zoloft - it made me a zombie... but there are so many different meds that work a little differently on each person, it is worth letting the dr know how it's not working out for you. Also, please be aware that many of the psychiatric drugs need to be "tapered" when you go off them. My shrink didn't do the right taper for the drug I was on (not the zoloft, it was something else) and I thought I was going backwards through a tunnel of hell for about two weeks. I since found out he had tapered me way too quick.

[Cally]

I would HIGHLY suggest reading Dr. Lorna Vanderhaeghe's book "Sexy Hormones". It talks about the perils of bio-identical hormones along with every other hormone topic you could want to learn about. She discusses the wonderful different options you have available rather than prescription drugs.

[DorothyB]

Apr 2, 2009 21:27:46 GMT -5 Trailpal said:

Dorothy - I tried Zoloft - it made me a zombie... but there are so many different meds that work a little differently on each person, it is worth letting the dr know how it's not working out for you.

The smallest tablet they make is 5 mg. I'm actually now taking 1/2 pill one day and 1 pill (in two doses) the next so avg of 3/4 of the smallest pill each day.

I tried going down to 1/2 pill every day - worked fine for about 5 weeks, but then started having higher feelings of stress, being overwhelmed, etc so back to the avg of 3/4 pill for about a week now and it is working for the stress, etc.

The main purpose for going to psychiatrist is because he should have a better knowledge of what is available and if what I'm doing is the best thing for now. He attends a church of the same "denomination" as ours and was recommended to me, so that gives me a level of comfort.

[snaffle]

my endocrinologist told me that EVERY person should take 400 mg of magnesium per day.

Dorothy is correct about a psychiatrist. They do far more than lay a person down on a couch and hand them a box of kleenex while they hold a clip board

When my mil was sent to the psych ward for evaluation...
(while in the nursing home), I found out that those drs in the psych wards know more about medications and the proper dosages than regular mds.

Of course there are good psychiatrist and bad psychiatrist.

[Marci]

Yeah menopause is not a easy part of our lives for many of us. Me included and the hot flashes and such can go on for many many years. I'm on year 9 now. In sept it will be 10 years since I was spayed.
It really does take a gyno to help-after all its what they specialize in. And the best one I ever saw was an older male. For me part of the non- libido was because it took time for the nerves to grow back so that sex was fun again. LOL Hope that was not TMI. And not all of the symptoms are bad, its nice to not have to shave so often. And the mood swings keep hubby's on their toes.
But I now get migraines, something I had ONE of before menopause. But that's better than my friend who has had two seizures since starting it. She has had every test done and its the only thing they can find. Luckily so far I guess they are just scary.
And you know sometimes just talking to someone can help so much, after all they are there to listen to us, then to see if they can help.
Welcome to the world of the crone. Its not all bad. Lots of good there too. Like sitting around in your 30 degree house with your other friends who are going thru the same things saying is it hot in here?

[Frostym]

Good luck with your symptoms. Do you have a good chiropractor? If so, I suggest going to him. A lot of symptoms on your list sound like pressure on nerves to me (tingling, crawly skin,etc.) A chiro could help with that. If your gums are bleeding I suggest a peridontalist. Google Keegal exercises for incontinence. They are a huge help, easy and invisible to do. They also help a lot with loss of libido and make sex a lot more fun. Take gelatin capsules for weak fingernails.

[AmberC]

I wouldn't use a regular doctor for things like this. A female gyno is the only way I'd even consider it. Men just do NOT understand this type of thing.

[deebar]

My major issues are the mood changes, hot flashes, insomnia, dryness, bloating, fatique, drpression and crying at the drop of a hat. Those are my issues, luckily there aren't any more---this is enough for me

My doctor is great but thinks all treatments and all women are the same. I hope to hear different on Monday from this other doctor. Stress in my life is causing alot of this, I'm sure of that but enhanced by what my hormones are doing.

I appreciate your good thoughts and suggestions. I'm open to all~

[Marci]

Don't worry you will get thru this too. I have been off hormones now for a few years-remember mine was surgical and sudden at age 40-and its livable. I guess if we can learn to live with bleeding every month and getting boobs we will live thru this too. (((HUGS)))

[deebar]

I just want to be me again----- this emotional roller coaster is the part that drives me nuts.
I know what you mean about getting thru this one too-----can you imagine if the men had to enounter the life changes that us women do. LOL~ no population problems