CAMPYLOBACTER: Anyone else had it?

[Janepie33]

Hot flushes getting unbearable - especially in this heat! I am now starting to consider HRT and I HATE taking medication.

Anyone out there tried it? Any good?

[Olly]

Never tried it, but I really highly recommend Femarelle - there was a thread on here a year or so ago about hot flushes, and Dogmother suggested this product. Not cheap, but I found it really made a difference. Thankfully I seem to be past that stage now.

[keyhole kate]

I think it is worth taking if only to protect your bones from osteo I have problems with absorbsion as I only have 90cm of bowel so I don't think I get the full benefit but some I guess is better than nothing imho

[The Dogmother]

A friend has just started on patches (having tried other things) and find them better than the pills and with no side effects.

 

Femarelle for me

[sadietoo]

Tried it twice, but just somehow never comfortable with it, so gave up probably before any noticeable effect. I don't do medication either. I'm another femerelle girl...

[craftyhunnypie]

Go to Holland & Barrett & ask about HRT alternatives! I once worked as a Saturday girl in a cake decorating shop. They made a HRT cake full of seeds..sunflower, linseed, pumpkin, sesame etc. It was that popular that women used to order it!! It's worth a try before the meds.

Good luck, it is not a nice time for any woman & I'm no where near there yet.

Emma.x

[Janepie33]

Go to Holland & Barrett & ask about HRT alternatives! I once worked as a Saturday girl in a cake decorating shop. They made a HRT cake full of seeds..sunflower, linseed, pumpkin, sesame etc. It was that popular that women used to order it!! It's worth a try before the meds.

Good luck, it is not a nice time for any woman & I'm no where near there yet.

Emma.x

 

My boss gave me a menopause cake recipe that sounds similar. You have just reminded me that I must give it a go!

[Chicken Shirl]

The best thing since sliced bread as far as I'm concerned. I am not a lover of medication, but after suffering for too many years from hot flushes I had to concede and went on HRT........I felt better immediately and took it for ten years.....I have friends in there seventies who are still on it..............Go for it.

[LisaP]

I'm not able to have HRT so not even a consideration here but I too was introduced to Femarelle through this forum and swear by it. In my humble opinion, as you're not keen on medication it might be worth trying something else first

 

Lisa P

[Old Speckled Hen]

Hot flushes getting unbearable - especially in this heat! I am now starting to consider HRT and I HATE taking medication.

Anyone out there tried it? Any good?

 

Absolutely bloomin marvellous

I always vowed to take my last pill on my "last ride"

My then doc (a woman) agreed but since I moved up here I could not convince my GP (a man)......spot the difference?????

Since stopping I have had to endure three years of up to 20 hot flashes a day,aching joints and muscles and I have aged ten years.

Take the pills!

 

PS

Oh.....a big one here...........weight gain!

[Ms Marple]

OSH- weight gain? With or without HRT?

[Old Speckled Hen]

HRT does not make you fat....just the opposite

[Seagazer]

I wouldn't take HRT as I have problems with my chest area (cysts etc) and would be too worried that it might make things worse.

 

I also can't see the point of taking HRT, when once you stop taking it, you get all the symptoms back that you started taking it for in the first place I think I'd rather have them whilst I was younger and just try to get through it. I've had the odd few so far and I'm on menopace.

[The Dogmother]

I think that the thing to remember here is that every woman experiences the menopause very differently; full-on menopause symptoms can be truly crippling.

[Margaret]

Would love to have taken it, but am not allowed to, my consultant wouldnt allow me.

Now on year 13 of hot flushes..slowley getting better, no longer have to wake OH to strip bed, and do now own a few jumpers, but I never understood it until I started how dibilitating it can be

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Having had one menopause (medically induced), I am dreading the onset of the real thing.

 

My mum went through hell, and her symptoms were greatly relieved by HRT. When she did come off it, she didn't find that everything recurred thanks to good management by her GP. We have a history of quite early onset menopause, and her good health, decent bones and a lot more are down to the good management of that phase of her life.

 

I found the symptoms of my first menopause very debilitating - not just hot flushes, but it affected my energy levels, concentration and memory function, I got crippling migraines which I'd never had previously, couldn't sleep ... the list was endless. If I'm going to have to go through it again, and HRT is advisable for me, I won't hesitate.

[Seagazer]

It's good to know that there are ways of managing the symptoms once you do come off of HRT. I only based my observations on what I'd heard from friends & on forums etc. I'm glad it's not necessarily the case. Sorry if anyone got upset by my previous post - I certainly didn't want to belittle the symptoms.

[Janepie33]

Went to GP today and he has advised a low dose of Prempak to start with. Have just taken my 1st pill!

 

Really hope they kick in quickly as the hot flushes have been unbearable in this hot weather and for the last 3 weeks I have been sleeping with an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel to cool me down in the middle of the night.

 

One thing I was a bit confused about was the fact that the pharmacy charged me double for the prescription. Something to do with it being a double pack, but I have enough packets to last 3 months?!?

 

Thank you everyone for your support and advice. It's so reassuring to talk to people who know how you are feeling.

[The Dogmother]

Helen, I'm glad that you're prepared for it, and given your mother's history and yours it is likely that you will have the same level of discomfort.

 

Mine started (for various gynae reasons) 10 years ago with varying levels of severity. Tablet HRT never worked fro me and only made me feel much worse. After a hysterectomy which sorted the last of the physical problems I started on Femarelle which suits me very well, I now take it along with one type of patch and both the GP and I are very happy with the combination. If you are trying HRT out, do be prepared to try different types and forms as there's invariably a combination which will suit you.

[LisaP]

Just seeing your comment about the ice pack, has reminded me about the Chillow. This was recommended to me by my wonderful GP (who I've had to leave now that we've moved to Wales ) she was so supportive. It is basically a thin pillow that you initially fill with water and it keeps you cool while you sleep. Luckily I don't currently need to use mine but it was a godsend when I did - first night I used it I had my first whole nights sleep for ages

 

The website is chillow.co.uk

 

Lisa P

[Eggasperated]

One thing I was a bit confused about was the fact that the pharmacy charged me double for the prescription. Something to do with it being a double pack, but I have enough packets to last 3 months?!?

 

I think the double charge is because the HRT contains two drugs - which seems quite an unfair system to me as you are actually only taking one pill. Mind you I am in Scotland and our prescriptions are free.

[Janepie33]

I think the double charge is because the HRT contains two drugs - which seems quite an unfair system to me as you are actually only taking one pill.

 

 

Ah ha! That will be it. Some days you need to take an additional tiny little pill. Seems a bit mean to charge double!

[Janepie33]

Just seeing your comment about the ice pack, has reminded me about the Chillow. This was recommended to me by my wonderful GP (who I've had to leave now that we've moved to Wales ) she was so supportive. It is basically a thin pillow that you initially fill with water and it keeps you cool while you sleep. Luckily I don't currently need to use mine but it was a godsend when I did - first night I used it I had my first whole nights sleep for ages

 

The website is chillow.co.uk

 

Lisa P

 

Sounds an excellent idea. I will check it out. Thanks

[Old Speckled Hen]

Jane

Ask your doctor for an alternative to prempak.

Prempak'c oestrogen is equine in origin,ie it is made from horse urine.

 

Every year, approximately 75,000 mares are impregnated and tied in small stalls, unable to turn around, take even a few steps, or comfortably lie down. Rubber sacks−which can cause sores−are strapped around the mares' groins so that their urine (known as PMU, or pregnant mares' urine) can be collected to make Oestrogen for HRT and Contraceptive pills. The mares are denied free access to water so that their urine will yield a more concentrated estrogen. The foals resulting from these pregnancies are considered unwanted "throwaways," and most are shipped off to slaughter.

 

Your prescription is a prescription for animal cruelty

[Janepie33]

 

Every year, approximately 75,000 mares are impregnated and tied in small stalls, unable to turn around, take even a few steps, or comfortably lie down. Rubber sacks−which can cause sores−are strapped around the mares' groins so that their urine (known as PMU, or pregnant mares' urine) can be collected to make Oestrogen for HRT and Contraceptive pills. The mares are denied free access to water so that their urine will yield a more concentrated estrogen. The foals resulting from these pregnancies are considered unwanted "throwaways," and most are shipped off to slaughter.

 

Your prescription is a prescription for animal cruelty

 

That's dreadful. I didn't know that and didn't even consider where they got the Oestrogen from!