Get to the route cause

[amberbrown]

Hi. I am not needing advice but I hope my post can help at least one person.

Ive had "asthma" supposedly for years, and am a lady of 65. My doctors always talked as if it is normal to suddenly get asthma,for no apparent reason, and live with it forever. I also have small lungs where I am not able to breath in as much air as other people, this means I get worn out, lack energy etc quicker than others. Have had this all my life.

Over the past few years the asthma has been up and down with me being rushed into hospital urgently about a dozen times, each time being there a week. Each time it being very time consuming, a lot of worry and hassle, and affecting my ability to run my business, earn a living, keep my head above water because of all of the outgoings with little coming in to balance it, and much else which is inconvenient when it happens about once a month. Never did any of the doctors speak of what caused the asthma, nor cared.

Then a few months ago I had a total hysterectomy - every piece - within a week or so of this I had my worst ever "asthma" attack, it was so bad my oxygene level went down to a dangerous level and I could not breath at all, the ambulance came and I was back in hospital. Where the staff decided this must be caused my a blood clot due to the hysterectomy operation a few weeks before. I told them I was sure they were wrong - because I had not been laid up in bed and had taken all of the medication and precautions needed - but they would not listen. Then after a bit they said well it is not thrombosis, you will be able to go home soon, and were once again going to send me home with nothing sorted out. Other than that my breathing was now better.

This really puzzled me. I went online and did a great deal of research and found that when you have a hysterectomy and have your ovaries removed your estrogen levels suddenly drop a great deal. This can cause lack of energy, fatigue, breathlessness, trouble breathing, depression, anxiety, bad temperature control, metabolism, feeling cold, and very very dry skin, and lots of aches and pains, amongst other symptoms.

when I was in hospital they had mentioned my legs had extremely dry skin. They knew that I had to have a lot of blankets and for years had slept at home with a sleeping blanket a lot of the time, even during summer, they knew I had depression and anxiety, struggling with concentration, and "asthma" and lack of energy and it all went back to - when I went through the menopause.

I immediately spoke to a NURSE at my practice and got them to prescribe me estrogen patches. Within 24 hours of taking them my memory was better, my depression, anxiety, insomnia, breathing, the lot. I felt about 20 years younger. That was a while ago. I am now able to go for a walk, go up the stairs without a lot of huffing and puffing, empty the dishwasher, pull some weeds up, walk around the shop, stand to bake a cake, and many other things I could not do for these years.

If you are female or you know a female with breathing problems, or any of the other stuff I have struggled with for years, please ask yourself if it could be due to a lack of estrogen. You may have your answer. Thank you for reading this.

[Itswonderful]

thank you very much for sharing this. There is, at last, more research into menopause and the effects of it on women. I can quite believe your experience and in the UK there has recently been recommendations for all women to have a health check age 45 and above specifically for menopausal symptoms. I’m so glad you have a happy ending!

[amberbrown in reply to Itswonderful]

thank you, hope you are doing well too

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Hi, glad you've finally found what was going on and are now feeling better!

I wasn't clear if you meant you do still have asthma but the oestrogen patches have really helped, or that your symptoms were all related to the menopause? Some women do develop asthma for the first time after the menopause. Or when they still have periods, their asthma can flare when they get their periods, and pregnancy can make some women's asthma worse (or better in some cases). Female hormones definitely seem to play a part and it seems to be partly why more adolescents/adults with asthma are women than men.

Asthma UK are funding research and have been talking about the impact of this. You and others might find this page interesting: asthma.org.uk/advice/manage... and also Asthma UK's report on why asthma is worse for women: asthma.org.uk/support-us/ca...

[amberbrown in reply to Lysistrata]

Asthma caused by menopause and then made far worse when ovaries removed.

[ReedB]

Thank you for your post. Hormones have always played a role in my asthma. In both pregnancies I improved greatly, to the point of not needing any medication. Now I'm realising that at certain times I become very tight chested which is probably the start of peri-menopause. Some health professionals are happy to acknowledge but sadly others aren't so it helps to share stories and experiences to become more aware.

[Jollygood]

Interesting. I’ve always been allergic to things but it wasn’t until I hit a ‘certain age’ that it developed into asthma.

[skydive7]

Hey! I am also 65 and having some of the same symptoms...breathing difficulty, coughing attacks...itchy neck and back from "asthma" attack...not allergic to anything...always sound congested for the past year...losing my voice...doctors just say you have a sinus infection...take the antibiotics...nothing changed...you have hay fever...got tested...nope...so hard to even see a doctor these days...they have changed to video calls...only one pulmonologist that takes my insurance and is all booked up until February...so I also am doing a lot of research and finding my triggers...since I quit smoking I will ask about the estrogen patches....glad to hear you a better! Cheers from NYC

[amberbrown in reply to skydive7]

Am sorry you are struggling. Personally I prefer chatting to a doctor online.

I've got sick and tired of travelling a long way - sitting for ages in a waiting room.

Talking to a doctor for about 20 mins and then a long drive back.

Half of the day or the whole day is gone, with nothing or little to show for it. Plus the cost or parking, petrol etc.

But I am self employed and I lose half or a whole day of being paid to work too.

I've found that how I feel goes up and down. I get a few days where I sleep well,good mood,no breathlessness or cough or asthma, energy fine etc. Then it goes the other way where it is hard to do anything at all physically or mentally. My doctor has increased by estrogen patch from 25 to 50 yesterday. So far still feel the same. Urgh.

Yet I know from trial and error done over the past three months with soya pills and patches that there are times when I feel terrific in all ways, far better than I did years ago.

So am on the right tracks. The naive thing to do would be to go back and forth to a doctor who cannot possible tell me that if I do this or that it will be fine all the time. It is obvious he is not a fortune teller who can predict that the dose needs to be adjusted just so day by day. I am not going to travel back and forth to be told what I already know, not when it costs me a fortune each time.

Hence I research and do trial and error.

[Kekememe1]

Thats a definite yes for me. I have noticed that my asthma is worse right around that time of the month! Always!!!