r/Menopause

My progesterone dropped DRAMATICALLY after 2 months even though I am faithfully taking my prescribed medication. Don’t know how to proceed. Already taking a large dose.

This past week has been better. I had increased my progesterone to 200mg 2 weeks ago. I was sleeping better the last 6 days, heart rate was better, BP was better, anxiety was a little less. Then, last night I fall asleep around 12:30am and was dreaming and woke up hearing my daughter put her key in the door to open it at 1:10am (her getting home from work). Then, the door didn’t open and she starts pounding on the door like 3 times. Scared me, jumped out of bed (mind thought is something wrong) ran downstairs and when I got downstairs she opened the door and was like what are you guys doing (I think my husband was at the top of the stairs). I’m like why were you pounding on the door and she was like there was a bug on it. My heart was racing like crazy, chest hurting.
I got upstairs and my heart rate was 132 (not sure if it was higher than that), chest hurting. After a bit I laid down and my stomach was bothering me. Of votes then my mind started thinking did I have a heart attack. Had issues going back to sleep. Didn’t sleep that much. Still feel crappy this morning.
It just seems like when I start feeling better or have progress I get worse again. 😢
Anybody have issues like that?
Did your heart ever race like that during the night and feel bad like that?

A new thing that has cropped up in perimenopause is hemorrhoids. I get a ton of fiber, I'm not constipated, I eat well, I exercise...I read that it's tissue thinning/loss of estrogen thing (I'm on HRT but low dose patch, estradiol .005% + 100 mg progesterone). I'm really struggling this week. I have a fairly mild case that's almost cleared up, but the surrounding tissue is red/raw from my ointment treatments. The resulting itching is so bad that I'm awake every hour, all night long with the itching.

My routine: I'm taking 3-4 sitz baths with epsom salts during the day. Wearing loose-fitting cotton clothing. Use a bidet. Intermittently using Prep H and Mayinglong Musk Hem. Ointment on them, plus area around = hydrocortisone, Calmoseptine, and Rx strength Lidocaine 5% as needed (not at the same time...I alternate).During the day, it's a light spread of Calmoseptine and there's almost no itching. But at night...yikes. I take a sitz bath right before bed...make sure I'm totally dry...apply a thicker layer of Calmoseptine all over...and still wake up nearly every single hour. Then, in desperation, I alternate between the hydrocortisone, Lidocaine, and Calmoseptine. Nothing works. Every...single...hour I'm up.

Anyone have a good trick to deal with the itching? What about prevention? I read somewhere that topical estrogen can help keep hemorrhoids from developing. I'm going to check with my gyno next month but thought I'd check here too!

OMG!

I had to jump through all the hoops to get my Rx filled for T gel. I've been on it a year. Last year, it was covered by insurance and I paid $10. This year they said it needs to be pre-authorized or over $400 out of pocket. We filed the paperwork but then they said we filed it through the wrong system and it was cancelled. I just know they're making it difficult so people will give up. F them. I gave up. I was running out of time.

I checked Good Rx. Walgreens wanted $350. CVS wanted $100. I figured I could live with $100. I had a new Rx sent to CVS and they gave me a different brand. I just opened the new stuff and IT STINKS. IT DOES NOT WASH OFF!!! I've washed my hands at least 10 times and this sh*t is still there! I tried every kind of soap, toothpaste, and baking soda. I even rubbed my deodorant on my hand. I don't know what else to try. Any/all suggestions welcome. HELP!

My old brand gave me no issues but this Actavis testosterone is so gross. I can't use it. I am sensitive to scents and I already have a headache from this! I just spent all that time, energy and money to throw this sh*t in the trash. I am so upset right now!!

Has anyone stopped Tgel cold turkey? What happens if I do that? It's gonna be a whole thing to get a new Rx for the other stuff. And hundreds of dollars. And time. But I absolutely can't have this smell attached to me every day.

Thank you for listening to my mini rant.

I’ve looked through the sub and wiki and can’t find this question answered. Apologies if it has been. I read the manufactures instructions for use of Divigel, which I have been prescribed at the lowest dose, .25 mg sachet of the .1% gel in the morning. I actually have a generic version of Divigel manufactured by Iromed if that matters. The instructions say “Avoid skin-to-skin contact of
application areas with other people
or pets. If skin contact with others is
to be expected, the application site
should be either covered with
clothing after the gel has dried or
shower before possible skin contact” i have low libido and was hoping this might change that, I’m interested in how other Divigel users handle “skin to skin contact”, are you showering before sex? Or putting some kind of sleeve on your upper inner thigh?? The other thing I’m really worried about is skin contact with pets, I have four cats and two dogs and my lap is often occupied, although yeah I do wear pants. But is that enough to protect animals from the estrogen? And if I apply it in the morning, will it still leave traces of estrogen on the sheets at night? I’m worried about the cats who sometimes sleep on top of the covers. If the manufacturer says to wash skin before “skin to skin contact”, certainly that means the hormones can transfer AFTER the product has dried and been mostly absorbed? And lastly, I know some of you mention using a makeup spatula for application. If someone could link or add a picture of the one they use, I would appreciate it. I shopped Amazon for one but can’t get a feel for what shape and material might work best, since I know the gel is to be spread, not rubbed in to skin completely. Thank you in advance for any info you can provide.

I feel like my life has been significantly altered in the past couple years. I have new, sudden joint and muscle pain, painful sex, nausea and at times lack any appetite, I’m sleeping only 3 hours some nights and other nights get zero hours of sleep. The insomnia has been the absolute worst part of the whole experience.

I bring up all these symptoms when I talk about peri with him and then he follows up by asking me how my hot flashes have been. I do not understand, why is he so focused on the one symptom I don’t experience? It’s all very frustrating.

Today I was singing a song, and then I recalled before I started HRT I would have ear worms, sometimes for weeks at a time. But now that I think about it, I haven't had one in months, possibly since just after I started HRT.

Anyone else have this experience?

PS I am 5 years post menopause and have been on HRT for about 6 months.

52F. Hot flashes are less intense, which I know is something. But sleep is still broken, the low-grade irritability is constant, and I have zero bandwidth by 6pm. Feels like the edge got taken off just enough that nobody around me thinks there's still a problem, but I'm still white-knuckling my way through every day. My doctor's response at my last appointment was basically "give it a bit more time". Maybe that's right. But how long did it take others to feel genuinely better on the patch, and how do you make the case for a dose increase when you're technically improved?

Ok, last time I posted on sleep issues you were all so helpful!

My current issue is having to pee 3 to 4 times a night! Very annoying! I am 67 so definitely post menopausal. I have been using Estradiol one to two days a week for dryness. I have tried a product called Estring. Estring is a slow release estrogen ring that you insert into your vagina and leave there for 90 days. I actually loved it, but I felt like it was causing me low grade anxiety so I stopped. Now I'm realizing my anxiety may be something else entirely and have since returned to taking Zoloft again.

Anyway, has anyone else had success with Estring or Estrogen in general helping with frequent urination?

Thank you!

Hi all. So, I thought I had reached menopause. At age 55, I finally had no period for a full 12 months. But then, at 14 months after the last period, BAM! There it was again - a textbook period, just like every other one I’ve had in the past several years. It ended in 6 days, as usual, with no spotting after that.

I know the rule is that any bleeding after 12 months with none is considered “abnormal” and I do intend to talk to my doctor about it soon. However, I am 99% convinced it was simply another period, albeit a very late one.

I am curious about others’ experiences with periods between 1 and 2 years after the previous one. Can anyone comment? Is this a “thing” (though maybe not a common “thing”)? Thanks in advance.

Hello! 52 years old. 2 years post menopause. For about 9 years, as I entered perimenopause, my
Left breast would feel heavy, slightly swollen and sore, like I was pregnant- and especially 2 weeks before cycle. My right one rarely gave me issues. I have went to my doctor yearly and a breast specialist years ago, had mammograms every 12-18 months and had an ultrasound years back. They just tell me fibrocystic tissue or normal fibrocystic changes. Well I thought it would go away after menopause and it did briefly, and now for a year it’s back. I cannot understand why?? I am using ice, heat, ibuprofen. No bra. Help, is it just me?? It’s scary to feel breast pain, especially in one. I feel so alone in this. Thank you for anyone responding who has felt this.

Hey y'all 👋🏾

So, I'm 53 and have been in menopause for approximately 4 years. I started HRT a year ago because the menopausal symptoms were getting to be too much. Three days ago I got a really heavy period.

I haven't had a period in over 25 years. They were always horrendous and by 28 I was having periods that were lasting almost a month, like, 21 days of bleeding and then a week off. It was a real problem because I am also a transplant recipient and became severely anemic to the point I had to have a blood transfusion. At that point, my doctor put me on active birth control pills with no placebos, and that was the end of my period. I only figured out I was in menopause when I started having all the symptoms and my GYN suggested I stop the continuous birth control. She said, if I didn't have a period after a year, I was in full menopause. I waited, it never came back, and after 3 years I started HRT like I said.

So you can imagine how shocked I was to wake up the other day and my bedsheets were soaked in blood. It's been 3 days and I am still bleeding pretty heavily. I have an appointment with my GYN in a couple of weeks, so I would like to know if there are any questions I should be sure to ask. I'm making a list to bring with me.

Thanks in advance, y'all.

I put the flair as hair loss bc that’s why (in addition to endometriosis control) I want to tolerate synthetic combined pill form of hormones as it increases SHBG, decreasing free Testosterone which will improve acne, hair loss, oily scalp/skin, excess body hair, guy stank /BO.

I tried lowest synthetic hormone pill actually indicated for menopause (starts with F) but it caused hair loss shed like TE and the hot flashes and sweats returned and were brutal. I tried LoLoestrin and it caused the same. All of this after unsuccessful trials of higher dose BC pills - Sprintec and Diane 35, the latter causing severe vulva pain (it’s an anti androgen)

I’m hoping to combine some synthetic form of hormones wirh HRT like patch, injection or gel with testosterone injections to prevent negative side effects of the synthetic pill and give me balance to simulate what the ovary woukd be doing. Ive thought about vaginal rings Annovera too to combine with HRT.

I have a history of PCOS with elevated adrenal androgens (DHeA, DHEAS), DHT and cannot tolerate any anti androgens or DHT blockers. Even natural DHT blockers cause issues.

Has anyone in menopause done this successfully? Ive lost my life (disabled) to endometriosis and this would be a miracle if it worked.

I am 54, my last menstruation was a year ago. I have no hot flashes, my mood and energy levels are generally good, unless I have several truly sleepless nights in a row, I have no anxiety, no brain fog, etc. But my sleep is just shit. Usually I fall asleep quickly (but definitely not always), but I wake 4-8 times per night and often stay awake for 1-3 hours before going back to sleep. Every now and then I have a glorious night of sleep when I only wake up 3 times.

Does anybody recognize this isolated symptom of menopause?

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I have a question that I hope I might get some insight on. Sorry if its a bit TMI. Vaginal dryness obviously is a typical menopause symptom we battle, but what about the fluctuation of this moisture level? What exactly does it mean when we alternate between dryness and more typical pre menopause moisture levels? I am post menopause and have noticed I have recently had a higher, pre menopause, level of comport vaginally. I had originally suspected this was hormonal fluctuations, but I also think I should be close to my baseline by this point. Anybody experience this, know anything about this? It's something that's been going on for a few weeks and a strange shift in my body. I have not currently started my HRT. I'm back to wanting to wear a pantyliner or period underwear and I'm just confused.

I’m at the magical 365 day and I’m so so happy! The next part of my journey begins! No one else really gets it but I had to share it here because I’m genuinely elated. Went out with my family tonight to a gig and danced my ass off to celebrate! I’m off to buy a white suit next!!

42F. My cycles are pretty regular and have always been so but they have become noticeably shorter in the span of last 2 years. They went from 26-28 days to 23-26 days. For those who went through menopause, how long did it the transition from shorter, but regular cycles to fully menopausal take?

My mom surgically entered meno at 43 so I don’t really know what to expect. Her other sisters who naturally entered meno were around 54-55.
But I had a laparoscopic endometriosis surgery 6 years ago. Luckily could conceive my 2nd child without any problems immediately after surgery but am wondering if it’s going to affect my timeline.
Thanks in advance for your answers!

I find myself having no patience for "useless" hobbies and also unhelpfully painting broad strokes with the word "useless". I don't know what it is but I guess I lost my whimsy with my estrogen.

Looking for inspo: What hobby did you start after meno?