Cant take it anymore

Thanks Mrs. Merm, I agree, I do worry about HRTS only because I am overweight and not a little overweight either I am 60 pounds overweight which is obese, and just being obese puts you at risk, so I worry that the HRT can aggrave these risks further. But, yep, I have to get relief I cannot take this.

Hi Lennie,

my theory is:-  

Get the right HRT (remember THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU) and your zest and energy will come back

your drive will help you get moving to lose that weight hun

I'm overweight too  

well maybe I should start taking my own advice, I've tried 3 different types of HRT to no avail, I still believe the right one is out there for me Lennie

            Here's to us and a NEW YEAR   Mrs M xxx

Hi MrsMerm and other ladies,

I read an awful lot about HRT before going on it.

Firstly the GP gave me premarin. I don't know if you are in the UK but I think this is their first "offer" it's the cheapest and is made from conjugated horse hormones.

Basically pregnant mare urine.

For me this was unethical and at that time I thought these horse (premarin, prempac - C, prempro, premique or the combined menopausal - osteoporosis drug Duavee (formerly known asAprela)) hormones were the only ones available. Mine went straight into the bin! Please read how they obtain the said urine from these poor animals.

Right the woman's health initiative (WHI) study into hormone replacement therapy and was stopped abruptly because it became clear that long term risks clearly outweighed the benefits were using Prempro.

We are NOT horses! These hormones have more side effects it is well known that they are not well tolerated by the human body.

Then you have your synthetic hormones of which one is livial (as far as I am aware this is the only one containing a synthetic testosterone type hormone)

I have a list here a lot longer than the mare urine ones (36 in total) and in not going to list them.

Then you have bio identical hormones of which one I am using brand name oestrogel. This type also comes in patches.

They only contain estradiol.

We make three different types of estrogen and I have recently found Hormonin which has all three (I'm using oestrogel but any problems and I will ask to try this one).

You need Progesterone unless you have had a total hysterectomy. The most natural is Micronised progesterone brand name Utrogestan.

Oestrogel and Utrogestan are what Professor John studd recommends (along with testosterone)

Probably the best you could do would be to see a private meno doctor if you can afford it. They will prescribe bio identical hormones made from plant extracts and very likely use all three estrogens they will also very likely prescribe testosterone especially if you have libido problems.

There are not many GPs here in the UK who are willing to prescribe testosterone as it is unlicensed for use in females and they have to prescribe "off licence"male ones which they are allowed to do but most seem unwilling.

Australia is the only country at the moment as far as I am aware who have a testosterone product especially for women (those lucky ladies)

So if you are able please go as naturally as possible. Hopefully by doing this you will be less at risk of adverse side effects. Also waiting months to see if this is the one that agrees with you.

Hope this helps lots of you lovely ladies and saves you from all of the research I had to do before I came upon this information.

Thanks for this Zigangie. I had no idea that this was how certain hormone treatments were made and given I'm against anything like this towards animals, I shall stay clear of the Premarin, etc. I couldn't agree more in that those hormone aren't meant to be taken by humans. I don't mind the NHS saving money, but not when it comes to something like this. It isn't right.

You've kind of helped ease my mind a little more about them too x 

*you

I just checked the symptoms and yes you are correct many of my symptoms sound like this, I am certainly going to ask the dr. to test me for this, Thank you.  I wonder if the hormonal imbalance triggers this, because almost 2 yrs ago when I started having other issues, I was checked about menopause, mainly it was anxiety and panic attacks that were horrible and heat flashes and cold chills, I had a little mole/lump removed from my shoulder, I totally freaked, it turned out to be benign, but I realized I was starting to have other things and my dr simply chalked most of this to perimenopause. But the issue of my thyroid was never addresed and I do have so much trouble losing weight, I hardly even eat and cannot lose weight.

I think another issue I am experiencing is frustration with the symptoms, I will start my day and then bingo here it comes every day.

Yes, I have horrendous tendonitis in shoulder and arm, chest bone pain too and I also have massive panic attacks. I drink coffee and I am going to eliminate it, because I have to see if its connected. I will address the vitamin D3 issues too. I eat a little sweets too, thats got to go too. Thank you, you and I have the exact same symptoms.

Hi ask gp to do b12 bloods as well have had same symptoms and found i was b12d so there may be a connection for you too

Yes,  eliminating these things helped me.  If you google D3 and hormones, there are some interesting articles on this deficiency.  I found improvement after supplementing with this vitamin and this was a doctors advice also.

Try to keep your stress levels down.  I drink one cup of chamomile tea (takes getting used to) before bed and it helps with any remaining anxiety, which by the way is almost back to the way I was before all this hit me.

Let me know how you get on.  It definitely got better for me within a few months, when I really thought during the bad bits, that it would never improve!

take care

 

Yes, I will make sure I keep you and the board posted, I have to tell you, I dont know what I would do if I did not have you guys, I know we have never personally met, but I feel so close to you guys. A few days ago my husband and I talked and while I know he loves me I received absolutely no sympathy, no compassion about this from him. His basic comment was "Walk it off" its so frustrating that the person with whom you are married does not really seem to care or get it and or both. I am calling the dr, this morning to set up my appointment, because honestly while I am not sucicidal, I can understand how someone could feel that way after going through this year after year.

Hi. Lennie, I can assure you that if I touch caffeine now, I have horrendous panic attacks. A few days ago, I risked one cup of TEA and thought nothing of it..until about twenty minutes later and the feelings came on. It's easy to forget that tea contains caffeine too. It was embarrassing as I was at someone elses home but after explaining it to them, they understood as the wife of the couple knew only to well how I felt. I don't mind decaff but now it's just tea as I daren't drink any form of coffee at the moment. I enjoy the taste, you will too I'm sure. Good luck.

Its funny you would address this because I just had a cup of decaf. I agree regarding the coffee and even most teas unless they are not caffeinated. Panic attacks are the worse, the fear, the anxiety is horrible,.

Hi Lennie

Yes do keep us up to date with what happens.  Just look at the replies you are getting. These women are all experiencing the same.  Caffeine is a no-no as others are now confirming by their messages. 

 

I read recently that even decaff coffee can have between 3 and 16/18 grams of caffeine in it. I believe it depends on how its produced and the make of it too. I couldn't agree with you more about the attacks infact I've said the name 'panic attack' minimises the impact they have. They are terrifying and more understanding of them would help.

Same here, I used to drink AWAKE TAZO TEA.  Not anymore, best decafe tea is TYPHOO.  Stay away from caffeine for now.

HI there.  I am going through a hellish perimenopause and have long-standing neck problems. I have terrible  tendonitis in my bicep which nothing seems to alleviate.I had an operation on my neck last January which cured it, but it has come back so that now I can't sit upright in a car, can't sit at a computer, watch a film etc etc.  Has your arm pain eased off? Do you have any suggestions? It's like having sciatica down the arm 24/7. Thank you

 

My mother-in-law was put on decaff a few months ago, (for her heart issues I believe), so it says a lot about the effects of caffeine. Typhoo, PG Tips and Ringtons make a lovely brew, mind you, I'm liking a few lately. Well worth a try and I can't tell the difference. Hubby's a pint pot man and he doesn't object either.

I have tendonitis in shoulder, bicep lower inner arm, one arm only.  The pain was awful for 4 months.  I then had physio, accupuncture and the pains which were unbearable, have eased.  I reckon hormones have levelled off somewhat and this is what has eased it.  It still comes in waves but not nearly as bad as at the beginning.  I have never had anything like this before, this only started when periods changed.  It is 100% connected to hormones.

I took a course of vitamin D3 which helped enormously.  Not immediate, but now 6 months later, although sometimes, in waves, I feel discomfort, my movement has improved and I don't feel crippled as before.

I think (although I know I was low on vitamin D3)  that over time hormones start settling making symptoms less severe.  That is my experience.  I hope you feel relief soon.  How long since this started?

It's only in one arm. Initially I thought it was linked to the bulging disc in my neck which was operated on last January. It has come back though. I suppose I've had it for about 2 years on and off. I might ask the physio to try acupuncture. I'm now seeing a shoulder specialist as the neck chap doesn't think it has anything to do with my neck any more. I'll try vitamin D3. Does your pain feel like sciatica except in the arm?

Hi Brevis

It is deep nerve and tendon pain. Awful pain.  I would imagine similar to sciatica although I have not had that.

Yes acupuncture (also called dry needling) gets deep into these points and brings relief.  They placed needles in my arm, shoulder, back and neck, so this could be really good for you.  A few sessions over a few weeks and you will feel better.  It is sore for a day or two after, but if you are used to the horrible pains of tendonitis, this will be nothing new to you.

take care

I will, I had an appointment last week and had to resechedule because I started teaching, but I am calling Monday, the issues have not changed and in a way has gotten worse.