Is It Over Yet? The Perimenopause Thread

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Replies

  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,586 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I'm feeling a little hormonal, which I thought was odd, because I had a hysterectomy 11 months ago. But I kept my ovaries, which can apparently still keep kicking out testosterone anyway for up to 20 years. I had my hormones tested earlier this year and the endocrinologist said I had the hormone levels of a young woman. I'm going to be 57 :lol: I've still never had a hot flash.

    I wonder if I can still have ovulation-related water retention...

    @claireychn074 how's it going?

    Drat it. I wrote a nice detailed response, got interrupted before I could post it and now it’s gone!

    The HRT is helping me HUGELY. Apologies for TMI and to those with a sensitive disposition, but the crime scene constant periods are now under control. I can plan stuff and even go out - absolute life changing. Blood work is getting better (ie I’m not losing so much blood), and my periods are so much shorter, lighter and not nearly as painful 😀 I am slowly losing the water so I don’t resemble a pufferfish as much either. Scans and checks on the fibroids and ovarian tumour still ongoing but I am currently one very happy person! I know HRT isn’t for everyone but crikey it works for me.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I'm feeling a little hormonal, which I thought was odd, because I had a hysterectomy 11 months ago. But I kept my ovaries, which can apparently still keep kicking out testosterone anyway for up to 20 years. I had my hormones tested earlier this year and the endocrinologist said I had the hormone levels of a young woman. I'm going to be 57 :lol: I've still never had a hot flash.

    I wonder if I can still have ovulation-related water retention...

    @claireychn074 how's it going?

    Drat it. I wrote a nice detailed response, got interrupted before I could post it and now it’s gone!

    The HRT is helping me HUGELY. Apologies for TMI and to those with a sensitive disposition, but the crime scene constant periods are now under control. I can plan stuff and even go out - absolute life changing. Blood work is getting better (ie I’m not losing so much blood), and my periods are so much shorter, lighter and not nearly as painful 😀 I am slowly losing the water so I don’t resemble a pufferfish as much either. Scans and checks on the fibroids and ovarian tumour still ongoing but I am currently one very happy person! I know HRT isn’t for everyone but crikey it works for me.

    Hooray! So glad to hear this :smiley:
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,586 Member
    Just thought I’d give an update for those considering HRT. Firstly, I know it’s not for everyone, and not everyone will want to take it. But it’s been life changing for me. I’m on month 4, and the difference is amazing. Symptoms of peri vary but being able to sleep, not lose as much blood, the huge reduction in hot flushes and just generally feeling so much better. My ability to perform at my sport has radically improved - due to the sleep and better periods I suspect - and I’m just not exhausted any more. I thought my low mood was due to feeling wretched and I feel much happier, calmer and just generally “with it”.

    I wanted to sail smoothly through peri and out the other side without hormones but I just couldn’t. For me, this is a workable solution and I feel SO much better.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Hooray - so glad HRT helped you @claireychn074!

    I too had a plan for getting through to menopause which did not work out, which was with my uterus, but I'm happy to be on the other side.
  • dralicephd
    dralicephd Posts: 402 Member
    So glad to hear you are feeling better, @claireychn074!!!

    HRT has been great for me, too. Mostly. I've had some issues with spotting and irregular periods (I used to be as regular as a calendar!), so the doc has adjusted things a couple of times. This has been a little rough, as each dosage change causes some side effects. Consequently, I've found myself falling back into old emotional snacking habits, and have gained a bit of the weight I lost.
    😞 I'm currently in "limit the damage" phase with respect to weight loss, while I wait for the hormones to level out.

    Despite this bumpy path, I wouldn't go back to the way I was before the HRT. It really has helped me tremendously.

    Happy new year, everyone!
  • ddsb1111
    ddsb1111 Posts: 864 Member
    edited January 17
    Just thought I’d give an update for those considering HRT. Firstly, I know it’s not for everyone, and not everyone will want to take it. But it’s been life changing for me. I’m on month 4, and the difference is amazing. Symptoms of peri vary but being able to sleep, not lose as much blood, the huge reduction in hot flushes and just generally feeling so much better. My ability to perform at my sport has radically improved - due to the sleep and better periods I suspect - and I’m just not exhausted any more. I thought my low mood was due to feeling wretched and I feel much happier, calmer and just generally “with it”.

    I wanted to sail smoothly through peri and out the other side without hormones but I just couldn’t. For me, this is a workable solution and I feel SO much better.

    Im reading different responses to HRT and weight gain. Did you experience anything like that? Or did it help because you regained energy? Did it effect your hunger at all?
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,586 Member
    ddsb1111 wrote: »
    Just thought I’d give an update for those considering HRT. Firstly, I know it’s not for everyone, and not everyone will want to take it. But it’s been life changing for me. I’m on month 4, and the difference is amazing. Symptoms of peri vary but being able to sleep, not lose as much blood, the huge reduction in hot flushes and just generally feeling so much better. My ability to perform at my sport has radically improved - due to the sleep and better periods I suspect - and I’m just not exhausted any more. I thought my low mood was due to feeling wretched and I feel much happier, calmer and just generally “with it”.

    I wanted to sail smoothly through peri and out the other side without hormones but I just couldn’t. For me, this is a workable solution and I feel SO much better.

    Im reading different responses to HRT and weight gain. Did you experience anything like that? Or did it help because you regained energy? Did it effect your hunger at all?
    No impact on hunger at all for me. I started HRT at the same time as a hypertrophy block so I’ve put on about a kg of muscle in c six months - I suspect that would have been harder with my previous symptoms (lack of sleep and near constant bleeding). If I was trying to lose I think it would help me, as I have energy to live well. I’m living, not just existing, if that makes sense.
  • ddsb1111
    ddsb1111 Posts: 864 Member
    ddsb1111 wrote: »
    Just thought I’d give an update for those considering HRT. Firstly, I know it’s not for everyone, and not everyone will want to take it. But it’s been life changing for me. I’m on month 4, and the difference is amazing. Symptoms of peri vary but being able to sleep, not lose as much blood, the huge reduction in hot flushes and just generally feeling so much better. My ability to perform at my sport has radically improved - due to the sleep and better periods I suspect - and I’m just not exhausted any more. I thought my low mood was due to feeling wretched and I feel much happier, calmer and just generally “with it”.

    I wanted to sail smoothly through peri and out the other side without hormones but I just couldn’t. For me, this is a workable solution and I feel SO much better.

    Im reading different responses to HRT and weight gain. Did you experience anything like that? Or did it help because you regained energy? Did it effect your hunger at all?
    No impact on hunger at all for me. I started HRT at the same time as a hypertrophy block so I’ve put on about a kg of muscle in c six months - I suspect that would have been harder with my previous symptoms (lack of sleep and near constant bleeding). If I was trying to lose I think it would help me, as I have energy to live well. I’m living, not just existing, if that makes sense.

    Thanks for your response, it makes perfect sense. I’m glad you found something that’s working! I’m so ready to get my prescription and feel like myself again.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Whelp, I finally started having hot flashes! I'll be 58 later this month.

    I took black cohosh for quite some time for my fibroids, which I don't think helped, but might have prevented hot flashes. I stopped taking it after my hysterectomy Nov 22, and have resumed to see if it helps with the hot flashes.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,586 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Whelp, I finally started having hot flashes! I'll be 58 later this month.

    I took black cohosh for quite some time for my fibroids, which I don't think helped, but might have prevented hot flashes. I stopped taking it after my hysterectomy Nov 22, and have resumed to see if it helps with the hot flashes.

    I read a quote from someone recently who said she was in her “personal summer” 😀 I’m totally nicking that!
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,345 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Whelp, I finally started having hot flashes! I'll be 58 later this month.

    I took black cohosh for quite some time for my fibroids, which I don't think helped, but might have prevented hot flashes. I stopped taking it after my hysterectomy Nov 22, and have resumed to see if it helps with the hot flashes.

    I read a quote from someone recently who said she was in her “personal summer” 😀 I’m totally nicking that!

    My mother always said that and I always thought it was hilarious. Until.....