Hello all from lilangel1

[lilangel1]

Hello all
Cant say how excited I was to find this site and realise im not going mad even though most days i feel like it.

I am almost 51, live on the east coast of Australia and have been in perimenopause about 6 years but symptons have really gotten worse the last 12 months.

Have been on bioidentical HRT for 3 months but unlike most people im reading about after blood tests all hormone levels are fairly normal but very low progesterone so am on progesterone capsules, 1 every night with dinner stopping for 5 nights when having my period or when i should be as they can be quite irregular.

Dont have many hot flushes or night sweats, but have a lot of headaches, digestive problems, irritability, dry skin, insomnia, no sex drive at all but the biggest issue is severe anxiety and panic attacks.

Have been keeping a diary since i started treatment to find out any patterns of symptons month to month. The HRT levels have been increased twice already so still getting used to it all.
Anyway am feeling better already after reading some of the posts and knowing im not a total hypochondriac

[stumpy]

Hi lilangel



Stumpy xx

[susan]

Hi definitely not a hypochondriac, as many of us seem to go through this phase.

One of the symptoms of Peri-menopause seems to be a kind of escalated heath anxiety. Its like you go through your twenties and thirties never giving your health a second though, and you get to sometime during your forties and suddenly you spend a few years thinking you have every kind of illness under the sun.

It is odd though, as i think I am further into meno than you are and also been on HRT a couple of years, and that aspect of things has definitely calmed down.

Now have more physical symptoms than mental ones, I'm not saying I don't worry about my health anymore as I think it is natural to do so as you age, but I don't seem to worry about it as much as I did during peri-menopause.

I think the fluctuating hormones of peri tend to make one a worry-wart. But once you are post menopause and into constantly low but stable hormones you have different issues.

I had such bad aches and pains during peri that I was convinced I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 50, and here I am six years on from that still tottering about in high heels. PSML.

[gobe]

again lilangel1

I have moved your post to this section so more members can see it and welcome you.

[jacksfullofaces]

lilangel
Have you had your thyroid levels checked.
Jacks

[Poppy]

Hi lilangel1, big welcome from me too.

I'm 50 & currently on estradot 75 & utrogestan capsules for 12 days per month, which I take vaginally.
Using them this way, as funnily enough my dr told me not to take them with food at night but to wait for several hours after eating, which was disrupting our meals.
(Wish all drs gave us the same info!)

Like you, my biggest issue, without doubt, has been anxiety, usually manifesting as health anxiety.

Although I'm sad to hear of other women suffering the same, it has really helped to know that I'm not alone & I'm beginning to appreciate that maybe I'm not a complete hypochondriac!

Keeping a diary of your symptoms sounds like a great idea & think I'll start to do the same.

Good to see you here.

xx

[Gelis]

A big welcome from me, too.

Gxx

[shimmy]

Hi Lilangel

[Robyn]

Hi lilangel1 - Another Aussie YAY - now I won't feel so lonely....lol....

I'll just give you a heads up, that you will read references to a product called "Utrogestan" (which Poppy referred to above) on this site. It is a natural bio identical progesterone (not to be confused with the crappy compounded bio identical stuff that you pay a fortunate for and that are not regulated at all).

Unfortunately we don't have it available on prescription in Australia, but it can be obtained on line if you are ever interested. I use it myself because I can't tolerate any of the synthetic progestins that are in all the HRTs in Australia. We have lots of bio identical oestrogens available on prescription, but no progesterone...... Go figure.

Just wait till Julia G hits menopause and she finds out she can't tolerate the synthetic crap. Then we might get some action...lol...

[Robyn]

Hi Again

I’ve just re-read your post, and the other post you made, and I’ve got a few questions for you.

When you say you are on progesterone capsules – what type are they exactly. Also, are you on any oestrogen at all? Also, this male GP you mentioned, what exactly is he prescribing for you? Is it the compounded bio identical hormones, or is he actually prescribing PBS approved hormones?

All your symptoms sound very meno-related, so if he's only got you on progesterone, with no oestrogen, that's a problem, because to combat most meno symptoms you need to take oestrogen. Progestone is really only needed to stop the lining of the uterus from building up (if you've still got one that is). It really doesn't do much to help other symptoms.

Also, very few doctors actually take much notice of blood or saliva tests, because they are too unreliable and change constantly. So it's strange for him to say they are "normal". Most doctors monitor symptoms and prescribe accordingly. My GP flatly refuses to take blood tests, so I have no idea what my levels are.

[Gelis]

If you are on progesterone only the type is very important. I took Duphaston (dydrogesterone) for several years in my 30s as I had really bad PMS, and my cycle was all over the place. I found it wonderful - no side effects at all. From what I remember I took it from day 12 - 28 and then stopped; I then bled after a couple of days.

home.intekom.com/pharm/schering/duphastn.html

Once I needed "full" HRT I took femoston, which has this as its progesterone component.

It might be worth asking your doctor to look at this one, if your current progesterone doesn't suit you.

Gxx

[stumpy]

Hi Gelis

Im on Femoston too, suits me really well now its settled in a bit more

Stumpy xx

[gillypanda]

Hello lilangel1 - everyone here is really lovely and helpful

[lilangel1]

Thank you so much for being so welcoming ...
Am feeling very overwhelmed with all the information.
I didnt realise how much I dont know so I am going back to my doctor with a list of questions..
but I am feeling better just finding this site and I suppose you have to start somewhere