Is the menopause messing with your condition?

[Deminem]

Hi all!

I have AS and early menopause, I'm 50!

I had a rough patch health-wise, and feel although one can never be totally sure whats causing a lapse in health, my instincts tell me it's the menopause messing with me and my meds. moods and levels of madness lol!

I'm not on any treatment for the menopause, as my mother died of cancer starting in her breast at my age. So I don't feel convinced to go that root at this point.

I guess what I'm asking is whether others are experiencing a downturn in health when the menopause kicks in. I'm hoping for some clarity on this. To see whether my instincts are right and maybe see if things will get better in time after the menopause has run its course.

I take Enbrel atm but it's struggling to hold down my disease activity of late. Been on it 4 years with a 6-month gap while on Benepali.

Any help would be golden!

Thanks guys!

D

[Barrister]

My menopause started when I was 40. No treatment as I had no issues and I can’t say that it caused any other health problems.

Clemmie

[popsmith1874]

Hi Deminem how did you find the Benepali when you were on it as I've been on it since August and it stopped working at Christmas time after I had a chest infection, they added sulfazalasine 3 weeks ago 500mgs and I'm also on Methetrexate 20mgs

[Deminem in reply to popsmith1874]

Hia popsmith,

Bene didn't work for me, no no no!

I was on it for 6 months and ended up back at square 1 with all my original symptoms coming back, and some extra ones like headaches to boot! I feel as though I haven't been as good as I was pre Bene since. Even though back on Enbrel for 6 months or so. It seemed to have upset my apple cart.

Speaking of headaches, watch out for headaches on sulfazalasine, It's well known for them and I got them. They started after a few months taking them, and headaches were all day continuous ones. One day's headache went into the next day and so on it went. I had to stop taking sulf.

D

[popsmith1874 in reply to Deminem]

Yes I feel that I'm back at square 1 as well and will give it a month or so then if it isn't working then ill get in touch with my rheumy consultant, with the Sulfazalasine it was the 1 drug I tried 3 years ago it didn't work then and was dropped for Methetrexate so I don't hold much hope off it working now but will give it a try as my specialist nurse thinks it might work as a triple therapy so we will see but I have my doubts xxxx