Best Of
Re: What tips can people give on sleeping after having mastectomy and reconstruction
Hi,
Ah, ok. I hope it all goes well for you next week. Recovery is different for everyone, yours might be better than mine, I was just out of chemo when I had surgery and so was very poorly afterwards.
The thing to remember is it will get better...it is a time thing, just take it day by day. Do the physio exercises as soon as you possibly can, this will help too.
The breast care nurses will tell you everything you need to do, what to check etc.
Assuming you have someone at home with you, or a friend who can help you. That would be necessary.
Let us know how you are doing when you feel up to it.
Take care
Lou x
Pausitivity Campaign
Things have been fairly quiet on the forum lately - but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy!
I helped start a campaign - and I wondered if you might like to hear about it?
We are Pausitivity – a group of four ordinary women, who have never met, but who have joined together to raise awareness of menopause symptoms. Our aim is to inform women and enable conversations about menopause with GPs, family members, friends and work colleagues. We have no funding. We simply want women to recognise their symptoms and be able to have the conversations they need in order to get help.
It’s a simple concept – we want people to download and print our poster, share a selfie to social media to raise awareness, then put the poster on a wall anywhere that women (and everyone else!) will see it – GP surgeries, gyms, shops, workplaces. The aim is very much to encourage conversations about menopause – and just eight weeks since the campaign started, that’s exactly what has happened. A couple of weeks ago, we reached 951k people!
We would like to see our posters in every GP surgery, and on notice boards in hospitals, cafeterias, staff rooms and waiting rooms all over the UK. Anywhere where women, and everyone else, will see the poster and begin to recognise the symptoms.
We already have the backing of the Scottish Government, with the poster being used around Holyrood, we’ve been asked to take part in Menopause Awareness sessions at Holyrood, Bradford University has used it during their Menopause Awareness Week, and East England Ambulance Service has recently launched its own menopause survey and are going to link the poster into that. Manchester City Council have given their backing and we also have interest from Health Boards in Wigan, Sheffield, Newcastle and East Lancashire. We have MPs, and GPs (including Dr Sarah Jarvis, Dr Amir Khan and Dr Zoe Williams) supporting us, women all over the UK and North America are joining in and the momentum we have established in such a short time is a sure sign that there is a not only a huge appetite, but a definite need for menopause information.
We're off to the House of Commons on 14th October for World Menopause Day! We'll be there as guests of Eddie Hughes, raising awareness of the campaign.
We would love to work with all the Health Boards across the UK, but as the Scot in the group, my interest to begin with is driving this forward wherever I can in Scotland. Moray Council have already shared some poster selfies for us, and now that recess is over, one of our local councillors is aiming to get the poster distributed as a part of their menopause policy. We’d love your help to get our poster in prominent places to help end the taboo around menopause.
NHS Grampian have been incredibly supportive and are sharing the poster across their social media outlets. I'm in talks with Prof Grant Cumming to improve menopause services across my home area of Moray.
Schools in England will have menopause added to their sex and relationship lessons from sometime next year - I'll be working with local MSPs to see the same happen in Scotland.
Lots of exciting things happening on our new website - find out who we are, and why we’re doing this
www.pausitivity.co.uk
Twitter @Pausitivity2 and @Karen_Kenning
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-48288573/what-we-wished-we-d-known-about-the-menopause
https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/campaign-calls-on-women-to-share-menopause-symptoms-179881/
https://www.audreyonline.co.uk/i-got-so-angry-i-started-a-campaign/
Kaz
Re: Change of plan
Hi David
I am sorry to hear of your wife's diagnosis - it is not surprising that you are both feeling anxious. It is at least good to know that your wife will be having surgery next week as the waiting is often the worst part.
I think that your best option will be to speak with Janet's specialist about your concerns as he/she will be in a good position to discuss them with you.
There may well be other community members who have experienced a similar cancer and will be happy to chat with you about their experience.
Thank you for writing to us. We may have different cancers but we are a friendly group and always here to chat and support one another through the cancer journey and I hope you will keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
All the best
Rob
Re: Irregular periods
Morning @Graphia
sorry to hear you are having problems, unfortunately what you are experiencing is quite normal during menopause. I also had the same thing, tranexamic tablets are very good and will lighten the bleed quite quickly and will also stop the cramps. you will probably have an internal scan as well as external when you go so don't be alarmed when they tell you to undress.
I had 3 scans and 3 hysteroscopys and they have found fibroids, they like to put in a Mirena coil when the bleeding is like this so that may be something you are offered.
try not to worry as many women are experiencing exactly the same but if you start to have a lot of big clots and more pain then you should speak to your GP as they can get you in sooner for a scan.
good luck
Julie20
Re: Please can anyone help regarding my hapless husband
Thank you so very much
I am in tears again but with blessed relief for once.
Just writing down what I felt was cathartic but having such a fabulous response is so soothing.
😘
ps I like gin/wine/beer/ etc 😂
Re: What do I do next?
I'm so sorry to read your post this morning. At its very worst, menopause can have a debilitating effect physically on some women, but can also cause real emotional issues, relationship breakups and problems at work, with family members and friends. I'm so sorry that this has happened to you - and I'm sure it won't be any comfort to you to know that you're not the only one affected in this way.
Your symptoms sound awful - and you need real help.
I think we need to start with your GP and find a way for you to get your GP to understand the impact these symptoms are having on your life. Can you make another appointment? Ask for the person in your practice with the most experience of menopause. It might be a GP, or it could be a nurse practitioner - but you need to speak to someone with the experience to help you. If there isn't anyone like that, then it may be worth changing practice, which might seem like a nuisance, but you need to find someone with experience who can help.
You don't say what age you are. Blood tests after the age of 45 are no longer required to confirm a menopause diagnosis. A doctor will decide based on symptoms and period history. Even before 45, blood tests are inconsistent and may not be offered. Is the GP treating you for menopause symptoms or did they treat you for something else such as anxiety or depression?
Have you filled out a symptoms tracker? It's a really good way of showing a GP in black and white the symptoms that you are dealing with. If you find it difficult to communicate with your GP, you might find this way easier for you. It's also absolutely imperative that you make sure the GP fully understands the impact that these symptoms are having on your life. The GP needs to understand the symptoms, but also that your partner has left because of the impact the symptoms are having on your life. Any underlying relationship issues will fairly soon become all too apparent when menopause symptoms appear, and it's not always easy to explain or even understand what's happening to you. You may be surprised to find out just how many symptoms you are experiencing. Seeing them in black and white will help you to explain to your GP.
https://menopausesupport.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/MENOPAUSE-SYMPTOM-CHECKER.docx
There are lots of options for treatment. I'm not sure which tablets have been offered so far. The first line of treatment for menopause is HRT rather than anti depressants, but regardless, either of those treatments will take more than a month for you to start feeling any real effects. Switching tablets so soon doesn't seem to me to be giving you a fair shot at feeling any real difference. I'm attaching a factsheet about HRT to give you a better idea of what can be offered and how long it may take to work. https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt
There is also the option of asking for a referral to a menopause clinic. A menopause clinic specialises in all things Menopause and HRT related. You need to be referred by your GP (fingers crossed that there is a clinic in your area) but you will probably have to ask for that referral! And you shouldn't be afraid to ask! You deserve to be able to access the help you need. I'll pop a link at the bottom of this reply for you to search for one in your area. There are NHS ones, but there are also private clinics if the budget stretches that far. I would try searching just for NHS first. I certainly didn't have the budget for private! If there is one and travel/distance is an issue - you can ask about a phone or "attend anywhere" consultation which is a bit like a skype call!
I think the thing that I most want to share with you is that there is hope. You CAN find help for your symptoms - and I hope that I've been able to give you something to work with!
PLEASE let me know if you have any questions 😊
https://thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist/
Kaz
Re: Breast cancer
Hi Pauline,
You are very welcome here, you will find many who share similar stories to yourself, as @PositiveLady10 , Barbara has already said.
It is great that things moved very quickly for you, without much delay in treatment. It does mean you haven't really had a chance to catch your breath, it's like a whirlwind isn't it!
Did you have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy?
I hope you were able to get some recovery from that before starting chemo.
I had breast cancer too, but I began chemo first, then a mastectomy, followed by radiotherapy. I didn't have a chance to turn around after being diagnosed. Even before I had been told, the dr's etc had already mapped out the sequence of events as long as I was willing.
I was in chemo immediately, even while they were still trying to pin point where it was, although they knew it was in the breast, but couldn't find it to start with. It was found in my lymph nodes, so they knew it was there, just had to locate it. And then ensure it hadn't spread anywhere else.
I am so pleased for you that they caught it before it had a chance to get any further, I hope your chemo journey goes well for you. It is tough, but it is do-able, hang in there.
I think being diagnosed with cancer is the scariest thing to go through. It is very frightening, and we get faced with so many horror stories, and we have to fight our fears. All I can say is, don't give up, you will have dark days probably, but underneath it all, keep hold of hope. The dark days will pass.
Please feel free to ask any questions, if you have them. I was on FEC-T chemo. I finished my cancer treatment end of May 2016, I had follow up surgery 18 months later, as part of recovery from mastectomy. I was on Tamoxifen, but am now on Letrozole medication. It has been a very long road to recover, I found I suffered more side-effects after treatment had finished than during it. I still have on-going issues with bones, joint pain, mobility etc, BUT, I don't have cancer anymore. I am alive, and very thankful for it.
@PositiveLady10 , Barbara, so glad the anti-sickness drugs are working, they did for me too.
For both of you ladies, just know I will be thinking of you, and am here for you whenever.
Lou x
Re: Perimenpause
Manjit said:Why does perimenpause make you feel like a different person and why do you lose interest in the things you once liked
Oh @Manjit ;
Kaz
Re: Oncologist appointment
It may be worth giving the breast care team a call and explain you have been expecting an appointment, as per your surgeon, see if they can see anything in the system with your hospital number.
Did the surgeon say you would need further treatment? Of course, they will be waiting until you have recovered sufficiently from the surgery before commencing anything else, but I would have thought you'd at least have heard something from oncology. Definitely worth chasing up, in case the referral is stuck somewhere.
How is your recovery going? I do hope things have improved for you, and you are in less pain and discomfort.
Chat soon,
Lou x
Re: How can I get a direct help from expect?
@HousefaithHousefaith said:Hi Julie, thanks for replying to my email really appreciate it. Like you said everyone is different when it comes to menopause symptoms, am already on hrt since on Friday from my Dr, before then I have been taking menopause support from A.Vogel for at least a week plus. My symptoms are really difficult to explain to anyone else to understand what you are really going through. Another issue is l just had a hysterectomy Leaving my ovaries 14 June 2019 still recovering now having to cope with all these symptoms that I can not even explain my self. But some of the symptoms are tied all the time pain all over or sometime some parts of the body, itching ,blotting, foggy head feeling sick, some time really bad nausea, chest holding, dizziness, headache, painful eyes, itching eyes feeling heavy mostly from your waist down, no energy, but am not anaemic, most of the time my head feels so full that I have to struggle to keep my eyes open, but I don't know how to explain it properly which is so frustrating. Just to let you know that the Urology has yet remove the stent that was put in before the surgery. But my Gynaecology said am still recovering that may be the reason, but am not sure if that's the reason.
Thanks again
I'm really happy that you are now taking HRT. It does take about 4 weeks to kick in so keep at it. Your body still hasn't had time to adapt after surgery so you will be very up and down at the moment.
Nobody will ever understand what you are feeling of going through unless they are also going through it which is so hard as people just think you are either making it up or a drama queen but trust me none of our symptoms are made up. It's all very real and horrible.
Give your body time to adjust and just take things slowly X
Julie20