Hot Flushes

Not really jokey - throwaway comment I guess. Sorry.
It was a few years ago. She had blood tests and the Gp said it was borderline so there was nothing he could do. She’s no better but admittedly no worse. Her weight is her biggest concern. She eats very healthily and exercises but can’t lose weight. It upsets her I know. Thanks for the info though. I’ll pass it on - and for me too. ?

I'm only going on personal experience, and experience of people I know, (no medical qualification whatsoever), BUT

Hope you are being a bit jokey when you say the Doctor says there's nothing wrong with her and she can at least say that she has had relevant blood tests to establish whether her Thyroxine levels are borderline or whether, in fact, she might already have Hypothyroidism - if that's your worry. If her blood results show that's not the problem and she's not very well, she ought ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist for further investigation - a sort of health MOT ! A GP can only know so much - so someone who specialises in hormonal problems is likely to have different ideas and probably offer much more help.

If the GP is happy to refer, from what I recall when I lived in the UK, he'll write to one for an appointment through the NHS. In the unlikely event that he refuses - because he thinks he knows the answer to all things/or he is adamant that your Daughter is fit and well, then she would possibly do better to consider a private consultation. This usually requires a letter of referral, but checking with the Endo's private Secretary would confirm this and also let you know the cost of a consultation before you made up your mind whether to go down that route. I think that the worst thing is doing nothing when you feel that your health is just not right. Carrying on putting up with stuff - isn't that what a lot of us women do? A diagnosis is most important - feeling that you are being a nuisance or being dismissed because you have vague problems which you are putting up with, while not having much hope of feeling better...and soon...is not really the way to go. Just one life we have and it's been pretty dire over the last long months - so getting out there and attempting to get ourselves well is probably a really good idea! Good luck.

Sorry - also interested on behalf of my daughter who is always cold, cannot lose weight, has few body hairs, often tired - all (I think) symptoms of thyroid problems. Her GP says there’s nothing wrong with her. I’d love to get it properly checked.

Can you ask to see an endocrinologist through your GP or do you have to go private?

Grandmafrench

It's awful when everything is dismissed by Doctors as the menopause. Many years after menopause it can be anything but! Quite often it is, as Maddison states, a different cause entirely. Thyroid problems often create the broken thermostat problem! Along with all sorts of other things which plague older women when they are missing Oestrogen - like hair loss, constant fatigue, poor sleep, irritability, sweating and freezing, bladder problems, weight gain etc. Eventually my help came through seeing an Endocrinologist. Extensive blood tests, urine tests, the lot. We're all so different - we don't need to be dismissed as one group, ever. It didn't take long to sort out my health after many years struggling. Wish I had done it years earlier!

Totally agree, a lot of problems are put down to the menopause, when they might not be, you made me smile by saying thyroid can brake the thermostat

It's awful when everything is dismissed by Doctors as the menopause. Many years after menopause it can be anything but! Quite often it is, as Maddison states, a different cause entirely. Thyroid problems often create the broken thermostat problem! Along with all sorts of other things which plague older women when they are missing Oestrogen - like hair loss, constant fatigue, poor sleep, irritability, sweating and freezing, bladder problems, weight gain etc. Eventually my help came through seeing an Endocrinologist. Extensive blood tests, urine tests, the lot. We're all so different - we don't need to be dismissed as one group, ever. It didn't take long to sort out my health after many years struggling. Wish I had done it years earlier!

I started with the hot flushes 13 years ago i tried royal jelly, i thought it was working but come the summer they got worse, my doctor put me on HRT but i was only allowed to go on it for 3 years after which he took me off, they took a while to come back but did with avengence i moved house and doctors, by that time i was getting hot flushes every hour and through out the night and a massive one when i awoke, my GP checked my thyroid and noticed it was on borderline, and said it was okay but if i noticed any changes to contact him, i noticed i was becoming tired and my hair was becoming thin he checked my thyroid again and put me on thyroid medication and one beta blocker a day, that was about 7 years ago and i have to say not long after my flushes were drastically reduced , i still get the odd ones but life has improved

Yes, its like I have no control over my bodies heating system. Every night window wide open. Covers off and then ooh, cold again. Any tips on how to sleep better would be great

Mine are like my thermostat has gone? I get a bit cold (as normal) so I put a jumper on - instantly I’m on fire! Take jumper off - get cold again. Put jumper back on - fire!
I also notice I get a power surge (someone else gave me that phrase) when I wake up. As if my body is going ‘right we’re on again’? And when I get in bed - bit cold so snuggle in - minute later we’re on fire again. Drives me bats.

Zappy50, thanks, I'll tell my friend, who's suffering badly with flushes.

I remember, when menopausal, asking my mother (in her 70s) how long they went on for. Her reply 'For ever!'.

Thankfully, mine stopped after a few years!

Juicywords

I was recommended Femarelle years ago by a Consultant Gynaecologist, and it made a big difference.

Thanks I’ll look it up. ?

I was recommended Femarelle years ago by a Consultant Gynaecologist, and it made a big difference.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've tried taking black cohosh the last few days but have felt uncharacteristically on edge/anxious. I'm not sure if it's a side effect for me or coincidence, but royal jelly didn't occur to me. I'll look into that.

Just seen this. I’ll give it a try. Went through menopause 13 years ago but still having hot flushes. Drives me bats.

Thanks Zappy