Oh what to do. These hot flashes are doing me in. I just seem to be in a constant state of persperation. I am on HRT (In more detail in my intro) and Clonidine (for nearly a week) and since I have been using the Clonidine, they are worse than ever, I am even getting night sweats which I never had before, and I have to shower every morning, as I - to put it mildly- smell like a sumo wrestlers jock strap!!!!! Sorry about that, but I couldn't think of a less nasty thing that actually smelt that bad, not that I have ever smelt one of course!!!!!

I hardly get out, I never do socially, I just walk the dog in the morning, hubby does it at night. My GP has said that if the Clonidine does not work, she will refer me to Gynae at the hospital, but to be honest, I really cant see what they can do that the GP can't, so I have made another appointment on 14 Jan with a different GP (same practice) to see if he can help. I have read that Clonidine can take up to two weeks to work, is that right. I wasn't told this by the GP, but then I didn't ask. I just feel such a pain, my mother passed away before her menopause, so I really don't know the family history, if that makes any difference. I feel as if I am the only person in the world who is struggling like this, I know Im not, but its just good to have a site to be able to pour out all my problems, and hopefully realise I am not alone with this. Its natural, yes, but if we were made by a woman, we surely would not have to go through this!!!!!

Rhiannon

Hi Rhiannon

I'm afraid I have not had experience of hrt myself but there will be plenty of ladies here who will be able to give you some very useful advice. I guess it's a case of finding the right type and dose that suits you, everyone is different and what is right for one will definitely not be right for someone else.

I tried black cohosh and it seemed to work for a while but then stopped working. I experienced bad symptoms whilst on the pill and have now found relief from most things with natural progesterone cream. The only symptom I still get is hot flushes and even they are not as bad as they have been in the past. I understand Clonidine is prescribed for high blood pressure and am not sure if this will make symptoms worse but obviously you need to discuss this with your doctor.

I know how hard this all is and just how bad you are feeling but do read up the information on this site, it helped me no end and enabled me to make the decisions that eventually eased the symptoms.

Good luck and keep posting.

Janey

Hi,
You mentioned in your introduction that you were taking Clynival. Is that a form of estrogen? Are you still taking it? I know when I first started taking oral contraceptives to help with my peri symptoms it took three weeks for me to start feeling better. If you have been on the estrogen for awhile, maybe you need a higher dose. Or maybe a different delivery system like a patch would work better for you. After trying several things I am now on a bioidentical patch and prometrium (for 12 days a month) and I feel great. Don't give up! I'm not familiar with Clonidine but I read that it is a blood pressure medication that also relieves hot flashes. I imagine it could take a few weeks to work as well. However if your hot flashes are worse on the Clonidine (assuming you are still taking the estrogen as well), I think I would ask my doctor how to taper off of them. According to what I read, you shouldn't just stop taking them abrubtly because your blood pressure could spike up too high. Maybe that's just on the higher dose, so you could check with your doctor. Best of luck and let us know how you are doing.
Pam

Sorry, dozy brains, spelt it wrong, its Climyval and yes its oestrogen. To be honest, a lot of the symptoms are better, but the hot flushes and mood swings are just a nightmare. I am on 2mg which I think is the highest dose, but the patch may be an alternative, If things haven't improved I will speak to my Dr, when I go on the 14th. The Clonidine, is used for high blood pressure, but in much higher doses, the low dose is supposed to help the hot flashes. As I have only been on it for less than a week, it probably hasn't done anything yet as it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to work, which my Dr didn't tell me, I found it out online!!! Great eh!!! But at the moment, it is making them worse, so If I haven't improved by the time I see my GP its definately going to be tapered off, then, who knows.

Its a nightmare, I was watching telly earlier on and there was a concert on, and I cried my eyes out, I used to love seeing live bands, but at the moment, even thinking of it brings me out into a sweat!!!! I just want my life back, I am Wiccan by religion, I even wonder sometimes why the Goddess made women go through all these things we put up with, still, if it wasn't for my beliefs I think mentally I would be in a lot worse state than I am now. I remember the days when all I took was an aspirin, how I want those days back!!!!!!!! [font="Century Gothic"][/font]