Hi all, this is my first visit to this site and I am hoping you will be able to give me some good advice, as I am struggling with this menopause, Im feeling so overwelmed and feeling I can't cope. Starting at the beginning. I had a hysterectomy at the age of 36 after 10 years of endometrosis, followed 4 years later with my ovaries being removed due to more endo and very bad adhesions around my bowel, bladder and pelvic area. I was then put onto climival HRT which was wonderful for 12 years. In 2012 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, luckily caught very early, so had a lumpectomy but no radiotherapy needed. Still was a massive shock and really floored me. Because of the cancer my HRT was stopped. I have been told since that if stopped suddenly that the menopause is quite severe, well thats right!! Not long after the HRT stopped I went straight into bad night sweats and hot flushes during the day. I still have these daily, but not as many but night sweats still keep me awake, to the point that I take Somminex to help me sleep. I have many nights laying awake at 3 in the morning worrying about everything. I also suffer with consent tiredness, weight gain, forgetfulness, confusion which drives me crazy, and don't feel I can cope with my job and all the other stress we have in our family most of the time. We have two daughters with a rare genetic disorder that causes many health issues. It feels to me that you seem to go through differrent stages as the months go by, has anyone else felt this?? Soon after stopping the HRT I started to have trouble with a sore vagina, and sex has been very painful ever since. I didn't realise how much I missed it until it became uncomfortable, and this has really upset me. My husband is wonderful adn never worries about it. I have tried some of the over the counter creams but they didn't work, as orginally the GP wouldn't prescribe anything because of the cancer, but I have just been told I can now try Vagifem from the cancer consultant at my last check up, so will be trying that soon. After about 6 months I then started having very painful hands and feet, and the GP thought I had capule tunnel in both feet and hands. This was very bad for about 6 months, and it is still there but mainly at night. Last year I then started to get pains similar to my endo and pelvic pain, but of course I have nothing there. This became so bad that in January this year I went into hospital to have a laprosocopy. Even on the day of the op the gyneo consultant felt he wouldn't find anyhting and thought it was my bowel, which I do have problems with too. Anyway the operation ended up being a major one, and I had extensive adhesions on my bowel, bladder and pelvic area again. I was devastated and have been of work now for 2 months. This certainly hasn't helped how I feel emotionally, but think the op is the last straw of the last two years. Does this all sound familiar, and would like some helpful tips on how to cope with this all. I take multi vitamin, Vit B complex, magnesium. Plus aloe vera, as I have a hiatus hernia and food intolerances. Looking forward to any replies xxx
