How does everyone get along with sjogren's and the rest with going through menopause? Anything that helps? I feel like doctors ignore us when it comes to this. I think we overall tend to suffer needlessly. I am sort of feeling down right now though. My husband went to find out results of some blood work, and he finds something he is short of that should have been picked up on about 25 years ago. Though I was so glad he knows now, it made me depressed to know the things that many doctors just let slide by. My husband is looking forward to getting treatment now though the state is trying to cut his insurance off now. Say a prayer for us. Thankyou.
susanep :)
Hi Susan :)
I've just been through menopause and have to admit that I haven't found it a lot of fun. I joined a menopause forum round about the same time that I joined Sjogren's world.
I was offered HRT but I chose to refuse it as I decided I wantedone lot of symptoms that would actually go away. I didn't want to risk prolonging them.
The trouble is lots of symptoms overlap. The menopause causes increased dryness, dry skin, mood swings, depression, dizziness, hot flushes, night sweats etc etc etc. How does one tell which is which?? So saying - I'm not actually waking up with night sweats now - I sweat after I wake up instead.
I found cameraderie and support in the menopause forum much like I find in here and I found it helped tremendously.
I don't know when I started meno but since the age of 50 I just felt like I fell to bits! (I'm 56 now) Since 50 I got dxs of Hashimotos thyroiditis, SjS, Lupus, IBS X 2 (bowel and bladder), osteoarthritis, a hiatal hernia and so the list goes on.
Many people find HRT very helpful. It just wasn't the way I wanted to go.
Take care - Scottie :)
Hi there, I'm post menopausal as well at 51, I think I'd been going through the menopause since my mid 40's. Luckily I didn't get night sweats, just a few mild, warm flushes during the day. All the Sjogrens dryness set in after menopause!! I've found that Oil of Primrose and fish oil capsules are very good for symptoms and also Ovestin vaginal cream, which contains a mild estrogen. It's good for urinary symptoms, dryness and opportune bacterial vaginal infections which seem more prevalent after menopause.
If it's used a week or so before a pap smear, it can make the sample easier to collect and more accurate. I don't use it continually by will use it for several months then have a break for a month or two. I was never keen on the idea of HRT, and since it's association with breast cancer, it's not prescribed to women in New Zealand (unless there's special circumstances)
Cheers Lesley.
Hi,
I'm menopausal as well at 48, been diagnosed with primary sjs with positive blood tests since June, although I've been having symptoms for the past few years.
I have aray of symptoms, from very dry skin, very dry eyes, dry nasel passages, dry cough and shortness of breathe, servere fatique with muscle and joint pain etc, the list goes on!
But how do you know what symptoms are down to sjs or meopause! I really don't want to start HRT, (already on enough medication as it is).
I want one lot of symptoms that will go away, and not risk prolonging them, like you say Scottie.
I see from your post that you joined a menopause forum, I was wondering If you could pass this one on, or any advice would be appreciated on how to get through it.
I don't really know how much help is avalible over here in the UK.
Cheers Carol.
Hi Susan,
I'm sorry to hear that y'all are not doing well. It's interesting to see that your husband's doctor ignored something for 25 years? Did the doctor say why (if it's the same doctor)? What is with the insurance (that is so NOT right)? Is your husband retired?
I know what you mean about menopause, it's a mess for me too. HRT has never been an option for me as I have a genetic issue that prevents the use of it - so I've had to go "cold turkey". ;) ;D
Please hang in there and I'll keep y'all in my thoughts.
Take care -
Patze
I don't recall to much about menopause for myself. About the time I started so did Desert Storm and I became guardian of my 7 yr. old granddaughter for almost 2 yrs. I wasn't prepared to do both at the same time and it's sort of a blur, except for the night sweats. :D Combined with that my youngest daughter being critically hurt in an accident at the same time, I think my mind has just blanked out those times.
I do know that between the 3 events, my Sjogren's really increased, so when they say stress causes flares, believe it. :o
Take care everyone and take each day as it comes. Keep pestering those doctor's to look for the causes and don't let them pass you off.
Hugs, Pooh
Can I ask a strange question?
I'm 39, never had kids, my periods were always 23-24 days (from the start of the last one) and the last few months they've gotten strange.
This month it was 26 days, last month 28, July 22, and June 21. For many years before that they were pretty much 23-24 days between. Ever since I was about 32, my monthly symptoms (of PMS) have changed every few years. Something would be a regular thing, then 2 years later it would all of the sudden stop. My Mom never went through menopause because of a hysterectomy at age 32 so I can't ask her.
Anyone have any ideas? I know I should get checked, it's been 5 years or so, but has any of you ladies gone through this at all?
Thanks!
Hi gsmraxe :)
I think it would be something that is worth asking your doctor about. I had a friend who was menopausal by the time she was 41 but that's pretty rare.
There are various conditions that can mess with our periods. If our thyroid is 'off' - that can mess with them, for instance.
Again everyone is amazingly different. Some people take years to 'tail off' and others seem to pretty well stop dead.
Take care - Scottie :)
Hi Carol :)
The menopause forum I used to go to was at a site called www.menopausematters.co.uk (http://www.menopausematters.co.uk)
A group of us left there when somebody set up another site called www.menopausemadness.yuku.com (http://www.menopausemadness.yuku.com)
The second site mentioned has turned more into a 'chit chat' site but menopausematters was very helpful to me when I was in the 'throws' of it. Lots of info and stuff too - so do check it out.
Take care - Scottie :)