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[croxie]

Hi everyone 

My name is Christa and I'm 51 years old.
I had my first symptoms on menopause when I was around 35, and it's about 2 years ago since the test came back and showed that I had a lack of oestrogen.
To begin with the symptoms came and went away, but those days are long gone.

I had a hysterectomy 20 years ago because of cervical cancer, although my ovaries are still intact. I'm not sure it had a negative effect on my menopause because it seems that I've got less problems than most.
However, I've been Vitamin D deficient for a long time and my GP said it had to do with a gallbladder removal 8 years ago. She gave me supplement, which I've taken up until about a month and it changed a lot of things for the better. To begin with I took mega doses of Vitamin D just to get it up to a normal level again, and since then I've taken 800 IU a day of Fultium D.
About a month ago I had to stop taking those capsules because my kidneys was acting up. My GP told me that the supplement did put a lot of strain on the kidney's, so I guess it was expected.

We discussed HRT during my first appointment, but she strongly advised against it because of my history with cancer and my mom passing away in breast cancer.
So I'm not taking any hormones at all. As it is now I'm doing ok and my symptoms are manageable, but I have no idea what it will do to me in the long run not having enough oestrogen.

My biggest problem at the moment is that I need to get back on the Vitamin D again, but with kidney stones it's not easy to find a supplement that will work. Apparently it is the calcium that is the issue and according to my GP there is no supplement that I can take for any length of time. I'm going back tomorrow to get a second opinion from another GP at the same surgery about the Vitamin D issue since my ability to absorb it naturally vanished when I got problems after the gallbladder removal.
What I do know is that without the supplement everything hurts. Hips, bones, back, neck and even underneath my feet. Also, my teeth are literally falling apart. And that's where I'm at now.

Emotionally I was a wreck to begin with and it's a wonder that my partner is still around at all. Everything seemed very dark and I slipped into a depression during the first year, swinging from rage to tears in seconds. Thankfully that also mellowed a lot once my Vitamin D levels were back on track again. What did stay with me was that I turned into a real chicken. I've never been afraid of trying new things or meeting new people...but since a few years back I'm scared of a lot of things that never bothered me in the past.

Skin and hair have changed a lot this past year. At first my hair went dry, and then it went oily and dry at the same time...and static. My skin is dry in patches, but at the same time I've got acne, which is something I haven't had since I was a teenager. So it's really weird.

Other than that I've got a grown up son and 3 grandson's in Sweden. That's also where I was born I've been here for a bit more than 10 years now

Well, that's a bit about me And thank you to the admin for helping me out with the registration

[CLKD]

   what a good story!  However, many of the GPs are looking at old Data regarding cancer and HRT support.  So have a browse round, menus top of page - you could send Dr Currie a personal message which has a charge, details above: that would give you a base line from which to work.

Quality of Life is important.  Some ladies find that keeping a food/mood diary useful.  How much outdoor exercise can you fit in each week, sunshine will help top up VitD levels.  Going out early morning and in the evenings should be enough, in the middle of the day or when it is very hot, wearing a hat will stop the onset of headaches. 

Have you a good Dentist?  He/she may know a bit about VitD absorption too 

Let us know how you get on. >wave<

[babyjane]

Hello and 

Your experience with vitamin D sounds familiar.  My levels are borderline and I was given Fultium 800iu.  It caused me the same problems as I got with calcium supplements for low bone density.  My kidneys went into overdrive and I developed hypercalcemia.  I now just take a multivitamin containing 200iu of vitamin D among the other main vitamins and it seems to keep me ok.  My level is 42 and 50 is the base lline according to my GP.  I am hoping that walking the dog in the sunshine will boost the levels a bit higher but I don't really have symptoms like you do.

I won't comment on the HRT question because I don't use it and there are other ladies who know much more about it than I do so I will  on that one.

The menopause does seem to affect your confidence.  I think a lot of us have found that to be the case.  It's great to be able to share things with other ladies on this board.  I have found that things don't seem as bad when you someone else has it too, whatever it is.

Browse round and join in, it's lovely to see you 

[dazned]

Hi.   


Have you thought to try omega 3 oil this would help with joint pains ?

[croxie]

CLKD - I saw a bit about HRT here earlier this morning when I was browsing around and I think I would have to get another GP to convince them about anything I find online. The one I have won't budge and even if the information you've got is coming from a reliable source - if it's online she will ignore it.
Been there, tried that.
And yes, quality of life is very important. I'm outdoors daily, usually during lunch, although exercise have not been possible since the gallbladder removal. They messed me up so badly with complications after what should be a routine surgery and it took over a year for me just to heal and get rid of infections. So my physical life have been badly affected by that in many ways.

I used to be very active physically before that, but today it's limited to gardening and the occasional walk to the store a few blocks away. In the summer we usually go for a lot of hikes and picnics etcetera. Although the hiking is less appealing when you're hurting everywhere, that's for sure.

The problem with sunlight is that I can't absorb vitamin D naturally after they messed up my metabolism. I eat a lot of fresh fish and lots of vegetables and fruit, so  overall I have a good diet. I'm trying to stay away from red meat as well because of my kidney problems. Red meat usually equals in more kidney stones and other issues. Constipation is also something I've had since the gallbladder surgery and that doesn't seem to be possible to do anything about no matter how much I move around, what I eat or my vitamin D level.
I also drink a lot of water to keep my kidney's rinsed and happy.

My dentist is the kind you see when you absolutely have to, so no we haven't discussed this. He doesn't seem to be open for any solutions that goes beyond brush daily and floss 

[croxie]

babyjane - sometimes I think life would be easier if we didn't need kidney's 
I believe that Fultium doesn't contain any calcium, but it does contain other things that seems to affect kidney's in a bad way. The coating on the capsules have peanut in it, so that's one reason they make the kidney's goes into overdrive. Or so I was told by the pharmacist anyway.

Sounds like you've found a good supplement though

I'm not sure what the levels are that I've seen around the forums here, but my GP told me that the ideal level is 25 (OH)D. Mine were 11 (OH)D a year ago when I got the first mega doses of supplement and I was in a really bad condition. Not sure how those levels translate into those you've been told, but lets say that I was dizzy all the time, didn't sleep much, lost my apatite, fell and hurt my hip and knees, lost a couple of teeth and was constantly in pain. The symptoms from menopause were like a breeze in comparison...haha

The confidence does seem to leave you behind, doesn't it? I guess it's not that strange. There's been a lot of times I've stared at this stranger in the mirror and I just can't recognize her any more. It's really creepy. Almost like your physical well-being was exchanged for someone else's.

Thanks for the welcome 

[croxie]

Thanks for the welcome

I was told by my GP to stick to the supplement she gave me since it's easy to overdose vitamin D, so nope, I've
not dared to try it out.
However, I've heard it's suppose to lower cholesterol, the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure etcetera.

Hi.   


Have you thought to try omega 3 oil this would help with joint pains ?

[Annie0710]

Hi and welcome !

I hope you get sorted, I can't relate to your deficiencies but pain everywhere I can :-(

During these hormones in havoc my gums have become victim and my dentist didn't know what to do so I still see them for 6 monthly checks but I go private for the gums, I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle but slowing  the progression of it I suppose

I really wish you well and hope things get sorted for you

Just a thought, but isn't it our right to insist on hrt if we have level headedly weighed up the risks ?


Annie

[babyjane]

Hi Christa, as another lady said somewhere, can't remember where (sorry sparkle), the bright neon blue colouring in the Fultium shell doesn't bode well before you start taking them.

Anyway I do hope you can find something that suits your specific problems, I really do x

[croxie]

Hi Annie

You would think that we are grown ups enough by now to decide these things for ourselves, yes. It seems though that there are too many bossy
GP's around to allow us to do that.
Mine did ask me first what I wanted to do, and when I told her that I decided that my symptoms were something I could live with (at least for a while longer), she said that she wouldn't have written a prescription anyway.
You could wonder what the point is in asking me in the first place 

And I would love to get a private dentist as well, but around the area I live no private practises will accept any new patients So I had to register with an NHS dentist. Still searching though
Thanks for the welcome

[croxie]

babyjane - yeah, the first time I opened that blister pack I thought they looked like poison. I was taking another vitamin D before that, but I can't
remember the brand any more (memory is going out the window here too). Although I was told they were not available in 800iu.
I think the only problem was that they were a lot more expensive for NHS to hand over for free since this maintenance keep getting extended.

And I'm sure it will all work out for the best in the end

[dazned]

Omega 3 is a fish oil it's not related to vit D ! So you should be fine

[Annie0710]

Hi Annie

You would think that we are grown ups enough by now to decide these things for ourselves, yes. It seems though that there are too many bossy
GP's around to allow us to do that.
Mine did ask me first what I wanted to do, and when I told her that I decided that my symptoms were something I could live with (at least for a while longer), she said that she wouldn't have written a prescription anyway.
You could wonder what the point is in asking me in the first place 

And I would love to get a private dentist as well, but around the area I live no private practises will accept any new patients So I had to register with an NHS dentist. Still searching though
Thanks for the welcome

Christa I travel 30 miles , it's a very posh dental surgery that operate there too, they also have a lab where they make the dentures/masks etc

I pay £125 per hour for the dentist and £100 a time for the hygienist and they're very up to date with things

My little Nhs dentist applied for me to be referred to Guys for gum transplant (taking from the roof of the mouth to the outer sides) but they refused saying I didn't fit the criteria so then referred me to this one

Annie

[CLKD]

Funny how we get drawn into NHS Dentists - don't worry, once your Practice has enough patients, they will go 'private' - I've been caught like that 5 times already  although I now pay as I go and our Dentist is wonderful 

Seems they can charge what they like though, a bit like Vets., our hygienist is £47 scale or £52 if I want a polish as well   

We can't insist on treatment sadly.  GPs can stop it at source, either stating the cancer 'risks' or the good old fall back of budgets …….. even a referral to a Specialist somehow comes out of their budgets  and how do we know that the Specialist will know any more than we do ………. did I mention sending Dr Currie a personal message for advice?

[croxie]

Omega 3 is a fish oil it's not related to vit D ! So you should be fine

Sorry....I was thinking about fish liver oil, which has bot vitamin A and D I believe. That's also what I asked
my doc about.
I don't know if fish oil will make a difference, but I can always try it out
Thanks for the tip