Just a quick update, still taking painkillers round the clock. My GP has booked me an ‘urgent’ ultrasound for 2 weeks time. Hopefully will get to the bottom of it. Thanks again for all your replies, probably would have muddled through without your advice to seek help. 🤍
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Need to get this off my chest. I originally struggled to get HRT as I was seen by the practices Hormone specialist nurse.
At the time I was 44 years and 9 months and she was hung up on the fact that I still had regular periods and wasn’t really struggling with Hot flushes. My symptoms included absolute exhaustion, itching, aching everywhere, hair loss / thinning etc. she did blood tests to rule out other stuff but then basically said it was anxiety / mental health issues and signposted me to help for that. She didn’t listen that I was anxious / down due to everything else and it wasn’t the root cause. I struggled on for another 6 months and went back and demanded a GP appointment, this time I was listened to a little more and given HRT. Which massively helped but having been on my current dose for 15 months I’m feeling those symptoms creep back. I didn’t need a nap in 2024 yet I’m now needing one at lunchtime and the crushing tiredness is back. I’ve finally managed to get through to the surgery and they’ve offered me an appointment with the hormone specialist nurse. Obviously my anxiety just went through the roof and I want to cry as I don’t think she’ll help or listen to me.
Why is this so bloody hard
At the time I was 44 years and 9 months and she was hung up on the fact that I still had regular periods and wasn’t really struggling with Hot flushes. My symptoms included absolute exhaustion, itching, aching everywhere, hair loss / thinning etc. she did blood tests to rule out other stuff but then basically said it was anxiety / mental health issues and signposted me to help for that. She didn’t listen that I was anxious / down due to everything else and it wasn’t the root cause. I struggled on for another 6 months and went back and demanded a GP appointment, this time I was listened to a little more and given HRT. Which massively helped but having been on my current dose for 15 months I’m feeling those symptoms creep back. I didn’t need a nap in 2024 yet I’m now needing one at lunchtime and the crushing tiredness is back. I’ve finally managed to get through to the surgery and they’ve offered me an appointment with the hormone specialist nurse. Obviously my anxiety just went through the roof and I want to cry as I don’t think she’ll help or listen to me.
Why is this so bloody hard
Is it a specialist Menopause clinic? Is there a gynaecology clinic they can refer you to? Sorry you are going through all that, it’s so hard.
No it isn’t a specialist menopause clinic just an in house specialist on hormones / menopause
- sorry if this is the same thing. I actually found her the least ever clued up person on peri menopause ever. She was fixated on the fact that my periods hadn’t changed, they had just not enough for her liking. Likewise I wasn’t getting regular hot flushes so to her I wasn’t getting the main symptoms somebody should expect. Because apparently there are only 2 symptoms.
I’ve had a word with myself and if I don’t get the answers I want I’ll just request a GP appointment like I did last time, only I won’t leave it 6 months. I was right last time and I know my body better than they do!
Request referral to a Gynaecologist. That woman sounds really bad at her job!No it isn’t a specialist menopause clinic just an in house specialist on hormones / menopause
- sorry if this is the same thing. I actually found her the least ever clued up person on peri menopause ever. She was fixated on the fact that my periods hadn’t changed, they had just not enough for her liking. Likewise I wasn’t getting regular hot flushes so to her I wasn’t getting the main symptoms somebody should expect. Because apparently there are only 2 symptoms.
I’ve had a word with myself and if I don’t get the answers I want I’ll just request a GP appointment like I did last time, only I won’t leave it 6 months. I was right last time and I know my body better than they do!
I have the Mirena coil for endo. I don't have periods and that has changed my life.
Despite going through hell in my younger years with endo, my peri M years appear to be easier going. I think not having periods is my secret for that.
I hope you find peace and comfort soon.
My left shin has been scratched to pieces in my sleep. Other parts of me are irritatingly itchy.
Thank you. May I ask how they diagnosed you with Endo?
Have you ever felt any weird reaction to mirena or other synthetic hormones if you’ve had them? The pill etc?
I was on the pill in my twenties and I swear it made me crazy! I know it’s unlikely but I’m wary of mirena affecting my moods/mental health.
I had that. It wasn't even so much itchy as the sensation of tiny things scurrying around under my skin - and every hair follicle overly sensitive. All over. It was constant and such a misery. I literally gouged lumps out of myself at night and my legs and forearms especially were covered in scabs and fresh wounds. I didn't even know it was a symptom. Certain fabrics in the day made it worse eg I couldn't wear anything synthetic that didn't breath or like raincoat material.
I had to keep my nails incredibly short to stop self harming.
Lasted months, nothing helped, and then one day it just stopped. It was so wierd. Actually one thing did help which was exposing my skin to the hot sun (which I didn't like doing as it looked so awful). But this was in the summer so not helpful now.
Sympathies to anyone with this too. If it's any consolation I was terribly worried my skin would be badly scarred (and I was relieved it wasn't on my face or neck) but another wierd thing is there isn't a trace now a couple of years on.
I have noticed with the itching that I can't use any shower gel other than Dove basic or it makes it so much worse - think we can become very sensitive to things during Peri
I've not had the itching for months, thank god! It tends to come just before a period with the extra drop in already low hormones. It would be so random; big toe, to left knee, to right ear, to belly button, then on and on... Exactly how you describe it, @Jelly Bean, I was convinced I had bed bugs the first time I had it!
My doctor is giving me a progesterone tablet and an estrogen gel to try as I've been really struggling with perimenopause symptoms lately. I'm 2 months from turning 46. I've been on the mini-pill because of severe PCOS and that stopped my periods but over Christmas and new year I had random bleeding, I've been having hot (and cold) flashes, night sweats, terrible itching, phantom smells, painful breasts and my anxiety is through the roof. I can't sleep and I'm exhausted. I'm already dealing with chronic illness and all of this is exacerbating things. I'm hoping that HRT helps.
Hope it works for you. I noticed slight breast pain when I started on HRT but mood-wise everything was so much better it was completely worth it. Good luck and we’re here to support!
I hope you feel better.
I have similar symptoms. I'm just about to swap from the combined patches to the gel and tablets. I am 45. Why is it so early? Just because peri menopause wasn't a thing until recently?
I have been ok on the oestrogen only patch but I just can't cope on the combined one (because I still have periods I have oestrogen only patch for 2 weeks, then oestrogen and progesterone for 2 weeks, evorelsequi). I feel worse than I did without HRT. Crippling headaches, massive anxiety and I haven't had a full night's sleep for weeks. Fun times. At least my doctor was supportive and said if this isn't any better that there are other things we can try, she mentioned an oestrogen spray, has anyone had that?
Thank you guys 
Taking an antihistamine every day has made a big difference for me. I was drawing blood from scratching so much.
I should probably stop taking them to check if wasn’t just coincidence or if it’s still a problem. I can’t bear the thought of it coming back though.
I've now started taking them. And I also got some Cetaphil body wash and lotion for itch prine skin, and it is soothing.
Do you also find your skin reacts to things that you've used in the past with no issues?
Mine does. I can no longer use dove body wash or Bold washing powder which id used for over 29 years. Plus I can develop new reactions out of nowhere.
I went out the other week and a friend had a strong perfume on. I gave her a hug and sat next to her for 2 hours and that was enough to set me off and I spent all night wanting to rip my skin off
I went to an appointment last week for an HRT review as I felt my symptoms are returning which is previously posted about. The thought of it was making me anxious due to a not listening nurse last time but it was a different nurse, she was lovely and completely listened to me. What a relief!
She took bloods just to check but they have come back fine. She has agreed to increase my dosage and I was on evorilsequi she prescribed a different type of patch but had just rang to say these aren’t available so I’ll now be on tablets. I didn’t want tablets but my brain just didn’t compute and say no. Oh the emotional highs and lows of peri
She took bloods just to check but they have come back fine. She has agreed to increase my dosage and I was on evorilsequi she prescribed a different type of patch but had just rang to say these aren’t available so I’ll now be on tablets. I didn’t want tablets but my brain just didn’t compute and say no. Oh the emotional highs and lows of peri
Has anyone had trouble keeping the evorel conti patches on their skin? It’s the one with the clear backing. I was fine this week with them but I put a new one on yesterday morning on my thigh and it was hanging off by mid evening tonight. I’ve put a new one on in a different area (I don’t use any creams on my thighs or anything) the only thing I did have in yesterday were leggings. They don’t seem to be as sticky as the oestrogen only patches with the silver backing.
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