Print

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

[Conolly]

Hello daisy,

Same for me. Morning anxiety and depression stopped me from living, it's like being dead really. I wish you well!

Hello Taz2,

It's hereditary Thrombophilia. I have been referred to haematologist and had routine blood testing but not genetic testing as they said it wouldn't make any difference as family history was enough evidence. I've been offered low dose anticoagulants or aspirin before long trips and had been closely monitored during pregnancy as Grandma and Mum had clotting episodes, both died in their 50's, so you can imagine my anxiety levels! If that wasn't enough there is a vascular disease on paternal side called vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome...

I was told that transdermal oestrogen was safer for my condition but I'm still very scared to try it. I hope I can find some reassurance here!

Thank you!

Conolly x

[daisie]

hi connoly ..i always think about all these diseases..our past family members died of .none of them was ever on the hrt my mums side of family had heart problems .it does make me wonder if being on the hrt can lengthen your life spam ..femail doctor at my surgery was talking me out of taking it last year because of my age ..couldnt believe she only told me she had gone on to taking it.bet theres a lot of professional females out there taking hrt there shouldnt be a cut off point in taking it ..if its making you feel well, we have been frightened into not taking it ,you right about anxiety.. does make you feel.you are not living x daisy 

[Conolly]

Hello daisy,

I know what you mean! In the end it should be up to us to decide but unfortunately it's not that simple. There is also the possibility of lawsuits and suchlike if a woman would develop some nasty disease due to hormone replacement. Doctors have to follow the guidelines for their own safety, and ours of course, but they're never going to satisfy everyone. I'm sure you can continue your hrt if you want to assume the risks, or am I missing something?

Conolly x

[Hurdity]

Hi Conolly

 

Sorry to hear about your symptoms and also about your mother dying relatively young, and the genetic condition you mention. I can understand your anxiety.  I found some information here which I presume you know about anyway if it is in your family: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrombophilia/#lifestyle-advice - which gives all the different types of genetic thrombophilia. In your position I would want to know which type your relatives suffered from but also it does confirm that if you have it then HRT is not advised.

However there is also lifestyle advice given that help reduce the likelihood of blood clots - because it is not a foregone conclusion and I am sure you are doing all you can in terms of body weight, exercise, smoking, diet etc.

I'm not sure about lawsuits - I don't think this would apply - not in UK anyway? A causal link could never be proven. Also if a doctor has advised (have I read this right?) that you are OK to take transdermal HRT then presumably they feel that the risk in your case is not great especially as you are taking aspirin before long trips. Do you go on many of these, flying etc?

I  think you are doing the right thing by being referred and I would also seek specialist advice re taking HRT on an ongoing basis.

If you are not able to take HRT and the docs/specialist recommends against this, then there are prescribale options available - mainly anti-depressants (even if you are not depressed) which at least have a high chance of working on hot flushes. I can give you a link to a paper which discusses these - with particular reference to breast cancer but the findings (re hot flush efficacy) will apply to anyone who can't take HRT.

Hope this helps and do let us know what you decide

Hurdity x

[daisie]

Hi conolly .no I'm not taking HRT but I do think about taking it ..hope you get something to suit you sooner  the better x daisy

[Conolly]

Hello daisy,

I hope we can sort this out soon. Take care.

Conolly x

[Conolly]

Hello Hurdity,

Thank you for the advice. Doctors told me it was not necessary to know the exact genetic type because my family history was enough and also because I had a DVT episode in my 30's. They said I could benefit from the lifestyle changes and the low dose aspirin, so I accepted it. I don't drink, don't smoke and have good eating habits (sort of). I need to increase physical activity though, that's my first priority. Unfortunately long trips are required in my line of work (multinational company consultant), quite ironic... if only I'd known back then... anyway, doctors have reassured me that my risk is just a bit higher than the average population. Now I have to address this again because of menopause, and that's why I have joined this forum.

Conolly x

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on.

[Conolly]

Hello CLKD,

Of course. I'm still reading and learning, there's so much information. I'm inclined to try the ADs route and I've read you've been taking them for some time. I hope you can help me!

Conolly x

[CLKD]

I had my first panic attack at age 3.  I struggled over the years with events but somehow got through.  Due to anxiety I was anorexic from age 5.  Depression really struck in the 1980s so my GP gave me appropriate medication.  I've had success with ADs each lasting for 13+ years B4 pooping out.  I now take 5mg in the morning and 10mg at night plus 20mg of beta-blocka with that ...... and I have an emergency drug for when anxiety floors me.

Some ladies find that taking an AD regardless of the reason allows them to see the wood for the trees.  Some ladies recognise that the depression is hormonally triggered so choose HRT.  Some ladies find that they require both.  It's the Trial and Error that I find so tiring at a time I want to be well 

Maybe decide which symptom you would like to ease first?

[Conolly]

Hello CLKD,

Hope you're feeling well.Thank you for telling me your story, I'm sorry you had to go through all that since childhood, but I'm glad you have managed to become such a kind person!

I was a depressed child but was very good at hiding it from family. Perimenopause just made it worse so I might give ADs a try.

Your question is interesting and a bit hard to answer... I think the worse symptom now is health anxiety which turns into fear. Would ADs help it?

Thank you for being interested.

Conolly x

[CLKD]

Health Anxiety seems to be a nuisance during The Change.

Some ladies find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary useful.  We can so easily forget how awful we can feel on our better days  .  I had various symptoms: dry skin and itchy insteps; itchy back; occasionally flushes ....... most disappeared after 12-18 months.

[Nellymoker]

Hi Connelly.
I have a condition that sounds very similar to the clotting condition you have been diagnosed with. Did your hematologist mention Factor V Leiden, Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood?

[Conolly]

Hello Nellymoker,

Sorry about your clotting condition, happy to have a fellow sufferer to talk to, though.

I had a thorough explanation by haematologist, he said my condition is probably genetically dominant, as Grandma and Mum both had it.  Probably protein C deficiency type II or resistance as my levels are normal. I'm not savvy enough to understand the difference, though.

Are you going to try HRT and if yes, which regimem?

Conolly x

[Nellymoker]

Hi Conolly,
I've been lucky enough not to have a clot so far. I'm not a smoker and was very active and a healthy weight so I think that helped.
My only symptom was recurring miscarriage at 7-8 weeks and one loss of a baby boy at 6 months. Thankfully I was blessed with 4 (i know, I'm an Irish mammy ) beautiful babies.
Factor V Leiden was deemed to be the cause after 2 blood tests, and my last pregnancy when I lost one of twins at 10 weeks.My eldest daughter who also has the condition is now 7 months pregnant. All she needs to do is take a junior dose aspirin daily to protect her and little Beanie. To think that a simple aspirin might have saved my baby.
Due to exhaustion, insomnia and joint pain, mylifestyle is no longer as healthy. I've other symptoms of menopause and am hoping that if they're under control I might be able to get back on track.
I've a gp appointment on Monday. Im hoping he'll prescribe transdermal oestrogen. I've been doing a lot of research and I think it's worth the (slightly elevated) risk of dvt, so long as I can get my weight back in control and start exercising again.
I haven't heard of protein c deficiency. Does it affect you in ways other than thrombosis?. It you'd like feel free to message me.
Here's hoping we both get the treatment we need and feel better soon xxx