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[PaulineW]

Not posted for a while not coping with these meno symptons anxiety, foggy head , tired, just feel like I'm ill all the time 😔 has anyone tried acupuncture ? Xx

[CLKD]

Oh poor you. 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Pauline
I assume you are not allowed to use HRT for health reasons?
I've not tried acupuncture but I know a couple of women who have and found it quite good.  You'd need to find a reputable therapist for this though.
Good luck  Dg x

[PaulineW]

Had a mini stroke four years ago so can't go on hrt , had CBT which helped a little though , still have these symptoms 😔 x

[NikkiDUK]

Hi Pauline. I have similar symptoms to yours and I've found acupuncture excellent. Do some research and look for a certified practitioner. I'm in Berkshire and mine came on recommendation - my GP even suggested trying it! I feel a lot better after a session (don't care if that's just a placebo effect - I'll take that) - the only downside is that it only lasts a week and I can only afford to go once a month as it's not cheap. It's certainly worth a go. I don't take HRT.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Pauline
It's very tough if HRT isn't an option.  When i wasn't on HRT I did find Mindful Meditation helped me to cope  - it is a form of CBT so I presume you are practising this.  I'd do some research about acupuncture and perhaps try to get some recommendations about who to see.  It is something that I would pursue if I can't use HRT in the future.
Increasing phytoestrogens/Isoflavines in your diet is another thing that is worth trying as some trials have shown benefits.
You may well be able to try a SSRI - many women find something like Citalopram very helpful, particularly for anxiety and flushes.  I saw a gynae privately a few months ago and he recommended I try Citalopram if the HRT didn't suit me - I have work colleague on this and she is so much better.  DGx

[CP]

Hi,
Yes my sister is younger than me and yes i would miss her if this never got sorted but i couldn't go on with the same old situations arising after all the years me and my husband have spent helping her out and letting her live with us on many occasions. (It's a long story!!).
I took my time with the letter and wrote it with as much consideration to her feelings as i possibly could, i only put things in it relevant to what had been bothering me. I knew it would make her angry and upset, none of us like to hear things about ourselves but i had hoped she could be more bothered to sort it quicker than she has which kind of proved a point I had made about how family is bottom of the pile to her when her life is going well.
I am grateful for all the advice and comments given to me, it feels good to have somewhere to write things down and get it off your chest. Part of the problem for me is i want to go to the docs about how i feel but i have been twice already and here in the UK while the NHS is brilliant our GP's do not go all out when you see them especially when it comes to hormone related things. Two different docs have said i may be in pre-menopause and only because of family history. Their advice is to see how it goes.
They don't give us blood tests or do much and i personally feel i go in and self prescribe what i think may be wrong and they just agree. Right now i have woken up feeling the need to wee constantly, after having period like cramps every day since my last period, it is not the first time this has happened but by the time i get an appointment it will probably be gone again!!
I do write down symptoms on a planner to see any patterns and will take it to the docs at some point if things get a lot worse.
I did get help with the Emetophobia, CBT which did nothing and i never got any follow up, i also had counselling but couldn't afford to keep it up, i hate it and it does get me down but what can you do??
Anyway that's going on to other issues......thank you so much for your advice and replies, it has made me feel i am not alone. x

[Hurdity]

CP - I think you might have posted on the wrong thread 

Pauline W - If I was in a position where I absolutely could not take HRT for medical reasons ( and I would want a specialist to advise here), then actually I would go down the route of medication that has been proven to work rather than spend a lot of money on an alternative therapy. "Placebo effect" tends to be apparent more in peri-menopause when levels are going up and down anyway.

The latest research and reanalysis of the data from the big study all give conflicting results reagrding HRT and stroke. For example the "HERS study (the Heart and Estrogen progestogen Replacement Study) found no increased incidence of stroke with HRT" - from the Womens' Health Concern and British Menopause Society 2013 paper on reommendations re HRT. The same paper goes on to say:
" Caution should be exercised when prescribing HRT in women over 60 particuarly when they have a risk factor for stroke or thromboembolism. In these groups, current evidence wold suggest that the transdermal route may be advantageous. The effects  of HRT may be dose related and the lowest effective dose should be prescribed in women with significant risk factors".

If you are under 60, it sounds like you may well be able to try a very low dose transdermal HRT with minimal risk - but as I said you would want to be under a menopause specialist to assess your case. You may not want to risk going down this route though. However much I disagree with ADs/SSRI's being used instead of HRT or as well as HRT to deal with hormonal problems - if there is confirmed to be no other option then I would cautiously try a low dose of the least addictive of these - and one with the least side effects, as well as the suggestions of Dancinggirl re mindful techniques/CBT which have been found to be useful with breast cancer survivors.

In the meantime I would make sure I was doing all I could to minimse symptoms and keep myself healthy at this stage - re diet, exercise, weight, sleep etc.


Hurdity x

[PaulineW]

Sorry for the late reply ladies I have been nursing my daughter she has had her tonsils out very painful 😔 anyway thanks for all your replies all very helpful . I cannot take citalopram as I reacted badly on them . My diet and weight is fine . Sleeping is not too bad exercise is walking . Have been under the gp she is nice but not really got any where . Going next week for another chat and will suggest a menopause specialist x

[CLKD]

Lollies - soothing for sore throats and helps keep the patient hydrated 

Let us know how you get on!