SarahT - I hope you don't mind me using your thread to carry on my story...I just thought it keeps us ME'ers in one group and easily findable?
So....
I just needed to come an offload really.
It's been a horrible few weeks (tho don't know any other kind of weeks anymore)
My carer/partners brother died suddenly and all the devastation and heartbreak has been so terrible on him and the family. I'm trying to be there for him and keep my suffering to myself as much as I can, to spare him extra stress. He's amazing and always wants to know if I'm struggling but he is too.....and so we have to help each other.
On the latest perimenopause issues...
I wake up every day not knowing what awful new symptom will appear next....coz just when I just about get my head round something and accept it....another horrid symptom/s starts and it gets worse! I no longer say 'it can't get worse'....because I'm learning FAST that it does with perimenopause.
Now I'm dealing with symptoms head related.
I'm fully aware that as estrogen declines, things dry up. Eyes, sinuses, nose, ears, mouth.....
I've read with interest about this as I have suffered for years with sinus/ear issues (not infections...just blocked up, congestion, allergies) and thought to myself......I wonder if all I read about finding I may get am increase in these symptoms too?.....
Then BAM!
Noticing I'm getting way more dry in eyes, nose, mouth ears....and sure enough have had gum inflammation the last 2 weeks (never had before) incredibly painful,blocked ears that feel so full of pressure, and blocked sinuses, and incredibly painful right side of face (like a numbness pain) all into forehead, jaw, cheek, ear and it's been driving me mad.....its the not knowing why...and what's causing what...
The trouble is, I'm bedridden so nipping to the relevant professionals to address these issues is difficult.
So...I rely on nurses coming out to me.
A nurse came yest. Usually they find nothing. All normal as lots of you will relate....she said my left ear looks fine (it might do but it still hurts!).....my right ear has an infection (otitis externa) hence the pain and possible reason for refered face pain? So at least she found something.
I mentioned that I know perimenopause can have an effect on ears etc with decline of hormones and drying up leaving one prone to infection........she looked at me like I was just spouting Google and dismissed it.
![Angry >:(](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/angry.gif)
I'm so sick of these medical people being so flipping clueless about perimenopause.
Anyway...has given me steroid drops for ear and steroid nasal spray to help the eustation tube in its blocked up state.
I can handle joint pain etc to a point...but when you have extreme pain in your ears etc it's exhausting.
I listen to A Vogal talks menopause on YouTube. She's brilliant at explaining the 'rarer' symptoms.
https://youtu.be/OQCpziBnWFE?si=duxE0mdGp6mDtnviThis is about ears.
I'm gonna try sea buckthorn oil capsule which are supposed to help dryness in perimenopause and hope I can tolerate them. I'm so sensitive. The amount money wasted in supplements only to react badly...but I'm determined to keep trying.
I know you need to keep hydrated as not enough water makes all the dryness issues worse...but I hate water and struggle and then feel guilty.
Anyone else suffer with these head issues ears etc? Is this something that will ebb and flow or now be a permanent resident?
I'm just waiting now for the VA! this one scares me as bladder issues are hell.
I think 'perimenopause' has become the word I use all the flipping time now....and it's just become my whole life.....it used to be that my M.E dominated it......now, I don't even think about that.....it just simmers away in the background exacerbating everything else and keeping me bedbound.
Apologies LONG post thanks for listening xx
Love Dorothy xxx