Feeling Alone

Hi Mary, I am now 55, have had pcos since 8 years old( pcos made me menstruate very early) my adrenals have been suppressed by steroids for 32 years. The upshot of this is that I have developed 4 auto immune disorders and the possibility of drug induced Addisons disease is becoming a reality. If my adrenals don't awaken as I no longer take the steroids, I will need to take varying doses of hydrocortisone for the rest of my life to give me some immunity against infection. My teeth are dissolving, my nails have gone and I have no eyebrows and my hair keeps falling out. Thyroid fine - parathyroid hyperactive this has all come about because of having my adrenals suppressed for so long. Be very careful and make sure you are well informed before you agree to treatment to suppress your adrenals. If they try to put you onto Prednisolone, long term, you could end up like me and I wouldn't wish my health problems on anyone. On top of that I am in full menopause with loads of symptoms and really severe so on her patches. They have helped a lot, made me feel a lot better, on good days I feel fantastic, on bad days which I do still have, its horrible. I will keep on the hrt for as long as I can then as my Dr says, come off it really slowly, reducing the dose over a very long period in an effort to keep meno symptoms to a minimum. I hope that your Dr sees sense and sends you to an endocrine specialist because I seriously think you need to see one. Your Dr had no right to frighten you in this way, meno specialist or not, their bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired. Ask for a referral to someone who really knows what they are doing and I'm sure your mind will be put at rest. Good luck and let me know how you get on. X

Hello Everyone, I have NOT been able to get my emails from the groups in MONTHS I signed in and tried everything I even sent an email and have prayed about it and this morning my emails are coming in I thank the Lord 

I wanted to ask even in menopause with time for your period to start when you had them can you have all the symptoms but not bleed? I still have the anxiety, depression (biggie) inside nervousness neaseated , stomach cramps sweating bloating gassy and the list goes on. But I have Diverticulitis and have had like 3 tom 4 flares really close and on antibiotic wonder if menopause symptoms could make it worded or have caused it. Anyone e wake up sick to stomach, anxiety and feeling weird in the head ? I haven't had a period come June of this year in

two years. Does anyone e ever get that heavy low belly feeling hard to explain. Thanks

I just want to speak to the doctors and other people who say we're "unique" or that they haven't seen anything like what we're going through before.  That may be true, but who's to say that there is a "normal" menopause???  My gyn treated me that way, too, and I'm looking for a new doctor.  We don't have to put up with being treated like we're crazy.

?I'm sorry you are suffering so much, Mary... it's great that we have this supportive community.  Agreeing with Tina, I hope you do find an endocrinologist who can help you.  Keep us posted!

So sorry that you are going through this and feeling alone...you are not alone.

Your doctor's bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired....have you considered a second opinion? Another viewpoint from someone totally opposite your current dr....

And YES they DONT often know what to do for a patient and just grab something out of the bag. Here we are on a forum where women are sharing all of the same symptoms at vayring degrees, and he tells you hes never seen this? Thats bull crap.

Sorry for the vent, i just think you need to know that we get it, I get it. You are not alone.

This stage in our lives is all encompassing, over the top game changer at all aspects, and yes you do have all of those symptoms. They are Real, they are happening.

Its awul to feel isolated and misunderstood. I know because many people dont get it. And in fact many women do not have these things going on, but i will tell you that ALOT of us do have these things going on.

You should tell your doctor that yes ofcourse the adrenals are playing into this because its part of he HPA axis

(hypothalamus, pituitary,adrenal and duh when the sex hormones are depleted then we are doing double in managing status quo for our system. This goes for our thyroid too..its alll TIED together.

Adrenals are hard at work, and we have anxiety, depression, etc..etc.

Anyways do not feel alone or isolated ever, because what you have is real..and it will work itself out in time.

Sending SUPPORT and hugs your way. Your not alone.

x0x0x0

Hi Mary,  the standard line is that vaginal estrogen doesn't reach the bloodstream.  That's what they all say.  However there are plenty of studies that show otherwise.  Vaginal tissues are mucus membranes and are excellent for transferring estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  In many ways, no different than taking estrogen through the mucus membranes in the mouth. (Troche)     

I was also given vaginal Estrace.  Within two weeks my entire body came alive.  My hair and nails grew, my nails got thick and strong like they always were in the past, my energy returned, my attitude and sense of humor came back. I started sleeping better than I had in years.   Now if that wasn't the vaginal estrogen, I'll eat my hat. And if it didn't go systemic on me, then I wouldn't have seen such a different in my entire body.   It was the only thing I was taking or using at the time.  So while your doctor says he has never seen this, how many times as he run estradiol levels for women on vaginal estrogen???  

I'd be very careful with adrenal suppression. In many ways, that's the last thing you should be playing with.    Thats may be the start to a whole host of issues you really don't need or want. Adrenal hormones are incredibly important to health and well being.  Without them, you will literally die.  My ex husband had Addison's disease, and nearly did die.

Now I know this is anecdotal, but when I read you post I had to include something I heard.  I had a very difficult time taking estrogen, and finally took the leap and spent the time and money to fly half way across the country to be with what I thought was the BEST endocrinologist for female hormones.  This physician has written books, lectures, teaches other physicians, and has worked with some famous people.  What she told me is the reason I have a hard time taking estrogen is that estrogen suppresses the action of cortisol (a major adrenal hormone)  

In her opinion, the answer was to also supplement my estrogen with a small dose of hydrocortisone.  THIS IS BASICALLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOUR PHYSICIAN IS SAYING.  And that is why I am relaying my story.  I wish every physician had a good working knowledge of what these sex steroids do in the body.  And some of it may be individual differences between women.  But I've literally come to believe it's all nothing more than an educated guess.  What you hear from one physician, is the exact opposite from another.   Both can't be right.  But both can certainly be wrong based on your chemistry.  And in case you're wondering, after all the money I spent, I did quit seeing the fancy, expensive endocrinologist.  Her treatments weren't helping!!!!!

 What I experienced is that vaginal estrace does and can go systemic.  And apparently it did for you as well.  I think your first step is to reduce the vaginal estrogen and see how your are feeling.  And I'm slightly curious, did he ever recommend adding progesterone to your therapy?  It sounds like you are heavily dosed on estrogen, but there is no counter balance.  This would create many of the symptoms you're mentioning.  

I guess what I'm hoping to provide, is a response that says, please proceed with caution.  

Hi Mary, have you ever been tested for gluten intolerance? Maybe try an all gluten free diet, may help to balance your hormones, and can help with gastrointestinal problems if your sensitive...I've always had issues with wheat and gluten , and it wasn't until I reached peri it sky rocketed for me as do many other conditions seem to worsen at this time of life.. So just a thought maybe try going all natural and gluten free and just take supplements and eat right, just make sure supplements are gluten free too, shampoos soaps all natural too lots of gluten in everything. And see if it helps...