Hello,
I have returned to the forum after many years..I am in such a bad way (very little sleep, sweats/chills, exhaustion and memory really bad) that could not work out how to post a message but found this thread which is relevant. Thank you for the comments on here.
I went on hrt when 47 (am now nearly 59) so,following advice of GP and nurse, have made several attempts to come off over the last few years as told I had been on long time and that the benefits could now be outweighed by risks. I have been taking reduced dose since last August, gradually getting the dose down to about 3 days out of 7 up until Christmas, and nothing since, as thought doing okish (sleep has been poor for years anyway, even without hot flushes and being on the hrt) and had some hot weeks where assumed had a bug.
However over the last month have got increasingly worse, so back with the sweats - at least 10 heavy ones a day and through the night. Plus have had shingles, more hair loss again, eyes too dry for my contact lenses, painful knees, ...the list goes on, but probably the worst is the short term memory loss - finding it hard to read a book, forgetting the names of my own team members at work, forgetting conversations I have had, making mistakes, being complained about now to the point that may have to give up work. It feels like more than just bad nights causing this and am finding it scary. I think it is mostly post menopause symptoms again (especially as had a smear test from hell. Never having one again (and wont be called for one now am 59) -not been painful before. I could hardly walk home. Then two days later had period like cramps that lasted a week.
All that said two positives -no migraines, and upset stomachs (sort of IBS) have reduced.
I have finally relented and called GP surgery. I asked for nurse (as she was sympathetic about me going down the hrt route as she had also done so reluctantly). However she would not prescribe hrt again but is sending me for blood tests (not sure what for - had a load a few months back due to swollen ankle/foot and tiredness).
I dont think the blood results will show anything but am worried that if I can't get through this (am I just at the peak of it and will get better soon?!) I don't know what I will do. I have a holiday booked in June (my first abroad for a long time) that I am considering cancelling and just losing the £.1500 (insurance does not cover menopause!). When I get really hot I vomit, so don't want to be doing that when away, it is bad enough at home (and work).
Any advice welcome. I feel like an idiot and that I am making a fuss and should just get on with it. I expect my boss (who is 20 years younger) thinks the same.
Janouska