Down over test results (early menopause)

[Kitten-whiskers]

Hello everyone,

just feeling a bit down after the results from the doctor about low hormones (something I had expected to be honest) its not so much the early menopause, I had excepted that i wouldn't have children, as I am not well enough to look after them but it's the fact the Thyroid problem is ageing me prematurely, what's next in the long list of horrible symptoms and illnesses, of course the doctor has just said I have to wait to see a gynaecologist, so no talk of threatment and how I feel, of course the doctor claims it has nothing to do with my thyroid because that is "in range" - in Range, what a joke, they don't have a clue and will they be any better at dealing with my hormone deficiency. Do I just buy the creams myself or wait for my appointment?

Best Wishes

[Rapunzel]

I was post menopausal at 46, Kitten-whiskers and I had the menopause from hell. If you are in perimenopause, you have my sympathy; a challenging time and together with hypo would have been very difficult. I went in a size 10 and came out a size 16. Raise me three dress sizes for hypo and here I am. Tammy Wynette sure had it right - sometimes it's hard to be a woman. What a crock of sh*t.

I have read somewhere that early menopause ( I kicked off around 43 and my clever GP told me I was far too young - the clueless knob ) is a symptom of Hashi's/hypo. I couldn't take HRT - Ma died of metastactic breast cancer - but I got through via Progesterone cream, a chillo pillow ( yes, really ) and most helpful of all - acupuncture. And I went 80% FTE at work after a while, but that was a mixed bag

This is yet another area where the typical GP knows next to nothing if you decline HRT ( woman's complaint, innit ) . Be careful with progesterone cream - I listened to a so called menopause expert it cost me £200 to consult, who told me to my initial relief that it was so mild, I could use it all the time. My fingers got very stiff - a typical sign of overdose confirmed by a saliva test. Careful with isoflavones - many are derived from soy. A book by Dr John Lee called what your doctor won't tell you about menopause and another one by Lesley Kenton called Passage to Power helped. Germaine Greer wrote a good meno book but I can't remember what it's called. Ditto Gail Sheehy.

You won't thank me for this at the moment, but my advice would be embrace your inner crone, the alternative to going through the menopause ( premature death ) ain't so pretty either. Surely there's a HU forum for this ? Finally ignore the huge amount of cr@p written about 50 being the new 30. If you're a rock star maybe - for us more conventional girls, get real Chrissie Hynde go and play with your guitar and keep your specious nonsense, which makes other fifty somethings feel rotten, to yourself.

At long last, here are some NEW Barbie dolls to coincide with her and our ageing gracefully.

Bingo Wings Barbie. Hide Barbie's droopy triceps with these new, roomier-sleeved gowns. Good news on the tummy front, too-dressing gowns with tummy-support panels are included.

Bifocals Barbie. Comes with her own set of blended-lens fashion frames in six wild colours (half- frames too!), neck chain and large-print editions of Vogue and Martha Stewart Living.

Hot Flush Barbie. Press Barbie's bellybutton and watch her face turn

beet red while tiny drops of perspiration appear on her forehead. Comes with hand-held fan and tiny tissues.

Facial Hair Barbie. As Barbie's hormone levels shift, see her whiskers grow. Available with teensy tweezers and magnifying mirror.

Bunion Barbie. Years of disco dancing in stiletto heels have definitely taken their toll on Barbie's dainty arched feet. Soothe her sores with the pumice stone and plasters, then slip on soft terry mules.

Mid-life Crisis Barbie. It's time to ditch Ken. Barbie needs a change, and Alonzo, her personal trainer, is just what the doctor ordered, along with NDT. They're hopping in her new red Mini Cooper and heading for Cornwall to open a B&B. Includes a real tape of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”

Divorced Barbie. Sells for $199.99. Comes with Ken's house, Ken's car, Ken’s pension and Ken's boat.

Recovery Barbie. Too many parties have finally caught up with the ultimate party girl. Now she does Twelve Steps instead of dance steps. Clean and sober, she's going to meetings religiously. Comes with a little copy of The Big Book and a six-pack of Diet Coke.

Post-Menopausal Barbie. This Barbie wets her pants when she sneezes, forgets where she puts things, and cries lot. She is sick and tired of Ken sitting on the couch watching the telly, surfing the channels. Comes with KY Jelly and Kleenex.

Men just get grey hair and droopy tackle. Same as it ever was...

(((Kw)))

[Kitten-whiskers in reply to Rapunzel]

Thank you Ranpunzel, its a lot to get my head round. I am so upset by it to be honest. I am 35 so hoping I am to young for this, The doctor said it's possible it could be something else but unlikely. so now I have to play the waiting game and then get examined and prodded about when i have all the hyp, adrenal, leaky gut and intolerances to deal with and this as well, no wonder im feeling depressed and crying

[JanePound]

I can only tell you what happened to me. At 47 my doctor (a new one) said I had gone into menopause as I was under medicated. My ovaries weren't working because they weren't getting enough thyroid hormone. By adjusting my meds and adding T3 I came out of it and my last period was when I was 58. I still went through all the symptoms and even now you could fry eggs on my skin in the mornings.

[Kitten-whiskers]

Thank you Jane, doesn't sound to promising for me, as I have trouble tolerating thyroid medications. It just gets worse and worse

[Kiwidel]

Chin up. Everyone is different - my mum said menopause was a breeze (but then she had just had me 😀). I'm not as young as you, but had it confirmed 6 months ago by my UK GP that I was menopausal - I'm 43. I'm not sure if this is hereditary or thyroid driven - possibly both.

He didn't refer me anywhere, refused to consider that it might be linked to an under medicated thyroid issue and just sent me off with 6 months worth of HRT. It relieved some of the symptoms (no more hot flushes and I am sleeping a bit better), but I have never ever really felt anything like I did before having thyroid issues - more energy and less anxious, but still fuzzy headed and podgy.

I'm now in Canada and saw a new doctor this week. She doesn't like HRT and wants me to come off it so she can run another set of hormone tests - I left the appointment feeling like someone might actually be listening to my view of the situation. I think it helped having my last TSH test results which were mid range, and my comment that I think my last doctor was cherry picking which symptoms he was willing to take note of. I planted a seed about trying a T4/T3 combo that is available here - no luck yet but it's early days. Good luck with the referral.

[Kitten-whiskers in reply to Kiwidel]

Good Luck Kiwidel - it does sound more promising. I won't have HRT but Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield recommended particular Estrogen and Progestone Creams - they are natural and can not cause the same problems doctors medications can : >