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[KarineT]

I can see from this site that finding the right HRT can be problematic.  It's supposed to help  with the menopause but it doesn't always and it can make things worse and that's why some of you are struggling to find the right dosage and balance. Should it be easier for someone in postmeno, as the natural hormones in your body at this stage shouldn't fluctuate that much, if at all.  Also, doctors are generally clueless, whicb doesn't help.  Gynaecologidts aren't any better.  As for meno clinics are they reliable?  Do they provide blood tests to check oestrogen levels?  Are private clinics better or are they there to make money? I don't think a private medical insurance would cover anything menopause-related so one has to pay an arm & a leg to probably get something fairly decent.  Not everyone can afford to go privately so they have to rely on the NHS.  I only wish there was good quality menopause care at affordable rates.

[Nas]

I totally agree Karine.

I am now post meno and frankly am having a horrendous time right now; far worse than any peri symtoms I had to deal with.

In my view, it should be far easier post meno because as you say, no fluctuating hormones and for some, I guess it is more straightforward. My GPs don't deal with me, as I have had breast cancer, which makes it doubly hard to deal with.

To date, I have paid two private specialists consultation fees and private HRT prescriptions to go with them - alot of money!

I used to think private clincs existed because they genuinely wanted to help women, but now I am not so sure.

NHS can be hard to deal with too. Long waiting lists, hurried appointments etc..

Things are okay if you can strike the correct balance from the outset. It is when things don't go tickety boo and you start bleeding, or are at the maximim licensed dose of HRT and still symptomatic, that things become more problematic.

[sheila99]

Have you asked the gp if they will prescribe based on the specialist's recommendation? They won't all but some will.
NHS is very hit and miss, some very good but sadly far too many GPs know too little.

[Taz2]

Hi Karine. I'm sorry you are struggling with your symptoms and are not being listened to by anyone. Have you tried any HRT at all or have you just been fobbed off by your GP? Don't give up.

Taz 

[Postmeno3]

I think what I'm maybe needing to understand more clearly from you, Karine, in order to help, is what your concerns specifically relate to? From previous posts, you seem to indicate that you are not experiencing any symptoms at the moment and have many friends and relatives in a similar position. Have I got that right? So, is it that you are worried about getting symptoms in the future and want reassurance that this won't be the case for you? If I've understood you rightly so far in this way, might some counselling maybe be a better solution for you in the interim to help you look at these fears for your future quality of life?
If, however, you do have symptoms now and I have misinterpreted what you've posted, you have an opportunity to explore that further with a knowledgeable practioner by dipping in a toe and seeing what the water's like for you?
Everyone here has their own journey and depending on how that's feeling, just like the fluctuations of symptoms, their posts may fluctuate, too. What is posted here can only belong uniquely with each individual and how they are at any given time, but my sense is you are hugely influenced by this. Separating yourself from it and discerning how much applies directly to you, right now, could prove very helpful for you. I wish you well with whatever you decide.

[Kathleen]

Hello KarineT

I think you recently posted about being two years post meno and that your main symptoms are low mood and anxiety.  I also note that you don't take HRT and that you hope that all symptoms resolve in the post meno phase because our bodies adapt to low hormone levels and we are no longer troubled by fluctuations.

I think for some women it is the new, low level of hormones that result in problems, for example those who have VA find that they need treatment for life because that part of their body doesn't adapt to low Oestrogen.

I understand that you want everything to settle for you and perhaps it will, only time will tell unfortunately.

Take care.

K.

[KarineT]

Thanks everyone,

This what's happening with me.

Although my symptoms are mild to moderate I am not frree from them and my main issues are emotional ones.  I find that these can be the hardest to deal with.  I can feel strange and spaced out.  I can feel low, weepy & anxious and it can happen just out of the blue so it's very unpredictable and I can never be prepared for this.   The physical symptoms are nausea, mucus build up in nose wich gives me a chronic cough, dizinness, palpitations, muscle & joint pain, gastric reflux, ear pain, headaches, chills instead of hot flushes, I rarely get hot fliushes but that does not mean chills are better, especially in winter, a weird feeling that my body is shaking from the inside, a weird one.

All these seem to come and go and I do wish that they will go away and not get worse as I progress further into postmeno.  Last year my estradiol level was 586 pmol.  I was already 1 year postmeno so, surely, this should have gone down even further.  I would be surprised if it has increased, as I'm not on HRT.

I do get influenced by what I read on this forum and, although meno is an individual experience for each woman,  I take note and worry that things could also get worse for me.  I am just hoping that this won't be the case and that my symptoms will fade to eventually disappear.

After all, the puberty is a phase so why couldn't the menopause be the same?  I wonder if it's because before puberty, oestrogen was not being produced by the body, and when it was, a woman's body relied on it for, maybe, 35 years. 

I wonder if any of you were absolutely fine before you hit the menopause.  The menopause, as I'm finding out, is not just hot flushes and no periods.  But I never knew from the beginning what it was going to be like for me.

[sheila99]

The views you get on this site are very much skewed because it's mainly populated by women who have problems not easily fixed. There will be thousands of women who are perfectly fine post meno but they're not on this site so you won't hear about it here.

On a different note why do I have 2 Xmas hats  but every other one has no hat??

[Nas]

Sheila is absolutely right.

The majority of women, are either sailing along nicely on a good Hrt regime, or are suffering, but don’t own up to suffering. The rest of us, are posting on forums like this, desperate to feel well.

You have a fair few symptoms there Karine and it’s not a given that they will fade into nothing. I suppose it’s about what is manageable for you?  Can you function with those symptoms hovering in the background?

I was certainly much perkier before menopause and less anxious and stressy. I can’t actually remember now!

It’s a very strange and often challenging stage of life. Personally it has consumed way too much of my brain and am sick of it 😬😬😬

[Hurdity]

Thanks everyone,

This what's happening with me.

Although my symptoms are mild to moderate I am not frree from them and my main issues are emotional ones.  I find that these can be the hardest to deal with.  I can feel strange and spaced out.  I can feel low, weepy & anxious and it can happen just out of the blue so it's very unpredictable and I can never be prepared for this.   The physical symptoms are nausea, mucus build up in nose wich gives me a chronic cough, dizinness, palpitations, muscle & joint pain, gastric reflux, ear pain, headaches, chills instead of hot flushes, I rarely get hot fliushes but that does not mean chills are better, especially in winter, a weird feeling that my body is shaking from the inside, a weird one.

All these seem to come and go and I do wish that they will go away and not get worse as I progress further into postmeno.  Last year my estradiol level was 586 pmol.  I was already 1 year postmeno so, surely, this should have gone down even further.  I would be surprised if it has increased, as I'm not on HRT.

I do get influenced by what I read on this forum and, although meno is an individual experience for each woman,  I take note and worry that things could also get worse for me.  I am just hoping that this won't be the case and that my symptoms will fade to eventually disappear.

After all, the puberty is a phase so why couldn't the menopause be the same?  I wonder if it's because before puberty, oestrogen was not being produced by the body, and when it was, a woman's body relied on it for, maybe, 35 years. 

I wonder if any of you were absolutely fine before you hit the menopause.  The menopause, as I'm finding out, is not just hot flushes and no periods.  But I never knew from the beginning what it was going to be like for me.

Hi Karine

What stood out for me is this "Last year my estradiol level was 586 pmol.  I was already 1 year postmeno so, surely, this should have gone down even further.  I would be surprised if it has increased, as I'm not on HRT."

Although estradiol readings are inaccurate this is a really high oestrogen reading for someone post-menopause but I'm not sure what happens to estradiol a year after periods stop if you re definitely post-menopausal. It could be that your ovaries are being stimulated but just not sufficiently for eggs to become mature in which case you may well still experience some fluctutions. Oestrogen levels overall drop sharply following the last period and reach their lowest level approx two years after the last period.

Following menopause oestrogen is still being produced by the body, but not at the same rate or level.

The other thing is have you had your thyroid tested at all, and also blood sugar and general blood count etc? The chills can be an indication of metabolism running slow and combined with menopause can seem like cold flushes so I understand. The shaking may also be an indication of thyroid problems.

As others have said - eventually your body will adjust to new constant lower levels of oestrogen without the fluctuations but that is offset by the symptoms caused by the lowered levels of oestrogen which are worse in some women and can worsen with age eg VA or osteoporosis - often much later - and remembering that some women go through menopause at 45 and live until 90 - it's a long time to not feel right, even allowing for ageing!

Hurdity x

[Dotty]

Hi I was absolutely fine till I hit 48….then everything went haywire. I never suffered with period problems or PMS or anything . 3 years post menopause I got a lot lot worse.

I had the internal shaking….a horrible feeling x

[KarineT]

Thanks to your replies as well, Dotty & Hurdity,

Dotty, the internal shaking is definitely s horrible sensation.  I wonder if it's the nervous system being affected and causing this.

Hurdity,  I had my thyroid tested and it was fine.  I will retest for this soon.  As for blood counts and blood sugar levels I don't remember having this done.  I will have to check where I can get this done.