Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[pricey]

Hi again ladies,

I've been in and out of the forum in recent weeks. Dr says I'm in peri (age 50) even though bloods were "within normal ranges". I've been v panicky for 3 months or so, feeling breathless most days (have been checked out and nothing abnormal detected!) but my dry mouth and throat are at the bottom of this I think. Dr put it down to anxiety, but it's the chicken and egg; having a dry mouth kind of makes you feel anxious! My mouth is sore when I wake and I wake several times in the night feeling so hot but also with a mouth so dry I can barely swallow. Now I'm getting issues swallowing dry food and the more I dwell on it, the worse it gets. So of course now I'm thinking it's something much worse. Keep testing myself with toast etc then panicking when it takes ages to go down. Long suffering hubby says just eat soft, moist foods until this passes . . . Dr prescribed me a mouth spray, but that was it. Said no to HRT because I'm still having periods. This is getting me down so much and I fear I will just be sent away with a script for citalopram or betablockers (as was suggested) and booked in for endoscopies or such like. Yet logic tells me dry mouth will make eating difficult.

Any advice or support would be wonderful! x

[Joyce]

I have a dry mouth & throat too, although mine is caused by Clonidine which I'm on to help with flushes. I was told to suck sweets. However, I prefer chewy fruity ones which help.  Drink lots of fluid, have water/juice as you eat.  I even have water by bed at night, so I can have a drink if needs be.

[jedigirl]

 "Said no to HRT because I'm still having periods."
How bizarre? Did the GP explain that? I'm still having periods but am on HRT, you need the correct HRT. x

[honeybun]

Everything dries up to be honest, skin, mouth, eyes, lady bits.
I never used to be thirsty at night but sometimes waken up with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth so I always have a glass of water next to my bed.

Honeybun
X

[Limpy]

Said no to HRT because I'm still having periods. This is getting me down so much and I fear I will just be sent away with a script for citalopram or betablockers (as was suggested) and booked in for endoscopies or such like. Yet logic tells me dry mouth will make eating difficult.

The no to HRT because you are still having periods doesn't sound right at all, sounds like Peri. The link below shows HRT options for peri, it might be worth printing off and showing to your GP. (Mind you, how about changing your GP?)

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

The dry mouth thing is tedious, the standard thing suggested is to suck boiled sweets.
I get a horrible dry mouth if I sleep with my mouth open (not a good look ) Thankfully, not so much of an issue during the day.

[Liz]

I get dry mouth in the night too, especially when I'm taking the Utrogestan phase.

[CLKD]

There are special sweets in the Pharmacy but name escapes me 

As for still having periods so can't have HRT - another GP without a clue? or another GP who doesn't want to spend money?

Read the pull-down menus, make notes; find out if there is a GP who specialises in womens health or change Surgeries!

[Mary G]

Saying you can't take HRT because you are still having periods definitely does not sound right.  Only recently there was an article in the DM saying that the "experts" now think women should start taking HRT as soon as their oestrogen levels start to drop so it sounds like your doctor is out of touch.  If I were you, I would get another opinion or better still, go to a menopause clinic or private specialist.

Dry mouth and throat are caused by anxiety and sometime allergies. 

[CLKD]

Medications have known side effects of dry mouth, I bought my Aunt pastilles because she had awful problems.  They were specifically for dry mouth and didn't have as much sugar so teeth weren't affected.

[Hurdity]

I'm not sure that you should start HRT just because of anxiety and a dry sore throat and mouth especially if you have difficulty swallowing. I think that these particular symptoms should be checked out properly. Yes by all means resist the ADs!!! If these are your only symptoms and your periods are dead regular then I can't see why HRT would help personally. What are your periods doing? What were your actual blood levels of FSH and estradiol - and anything else relevant? You can ask for these although they don't mean much at this stage!

However if your doctor says you are peri-menopausal - what is s/he basing this on? If s/he thinks this and you are, then HRT is actually possible and could help as it could prevent the dip in oestrogen that may be causing your anxiety?

In the meantime I would do what Prajna suggests ( not the ADs bit) and use mental strategies for dealing with anxiety until such time as HRT is either appropriate (if it isn't at the moment) or you start it.

Hurdity x

[Limpy]

However if your doctor says you are peri-menopausal - what is s/he basing this on?

Perhaps the Dr has been looking at the draft Nice guidelines?

[pricey]

Hi everyone,

I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful responses.

I've been doing some yoga and actively slowing down my breathing. The Dr prescribed a spray for dry mouth which is actually helping, especially before I eat. I don't think it's anxiety as I wake in the night with terribly dry mouth and this is accompanied by a hot flush (not dripping sweat, but definite heat). This happens a couple of times most nights. I've now noticed the breathless feeling during the day is immediately followed by a feeling of heat and sometimes a racing heart. The swallowing issue is much better as I'm consciously relaxing when I eat; I think the super dry mouth made things difficult which led to anxiety.

Hurdity, I have an appointment with my Dr in a couple of weeks. I will ask for actual figures. She says she doesn't have much faith in the blood tests! She is going off my symptoms of the start of hot flushes and anxiety, periods ranging from 21-28 days that were extremely heavy but have recently got lighter. Also the fact I am approaching 51. This surgery does not seem keen on starting women on HRT as she saud they are only happy to prescribe it for 2 years max and my "worst symptoms may be yet to come." My feeling is by the time they start me on HRT I could be over the worst. I don't know.

Thanks again xx

[CLKD]

Change your GP!  She is talking rubbish!  Not clued up at all 

At least your mouth problem is less. 

[Mary G]

I agree with CLKD, this doctor is not giving your good advice and is not up to date.  I don't see why you should have to suffer waking up in the night like that when you don't have to, it can't be doing you much good.

I don't know about anyone else but I find it very worrying that so many doctors are not treating the menopause and giving women poor and out of date advice.