Hi My Meno-Friends!

Women's health
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Hi Meno-Friends!  I just wanted to stop by and say HELLO!  I am sorry I haven't been online for a while.  I am still going through menopause but found out the most dibiliating of symptoms I thought were related to menopause (joint pain, stiffness, weakness and crushing exhaustion) were actually being caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disorder.  Not that those symptoms cannot be caused by Menopause -- they can, do  and are for some!  But mine was getting progressively worse and starting to cause like a "mummy" effect where I couldnt' really move when I reached the worst state.  Finally, the docs ran the right tests and found not only do I have RA, it is in an advanced state and aggressive.  Good news is they are treating it quickly and I am at home on disability now, no longer pushing pushing pushing to go-go-go commuting, working, shopping, cooking, cleaning.  It's all calm now.  I am preparing for treatment with many vaccines then starting Humira on 4/14 (it is an immune suppressant so I have to get 2 flu, pnemonia, shingles, TB, and Heb B vaccinnations, some of which are a series given over time).  I am optimistic.  

I am still with you in spirit ladies, but find myself posting more often on the RA section of this wonderful website.  God Bless you, "Pods" as Shaz calls ya!  You were a lifeline when I needed one.  I'm still on this site if you ever want to chat, just message me.

With much love and affection and Happy Easter!

Kim

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Hi Kim!

Sorry to hear of the issue with RA. Was wondering how you are doing and appreciate the update. Thankfully you are able to stay home and get the much needed rest. I have a good friend with RA and with the medication under control, she is able to lead a basically normal routine. Wishing the best for you!

Happy Easter!

xoxo,

Annie

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Hi Kim

sorry to hear about your RA, but pleased your shared your info..

I was very poorly in Jan and Feb and still not totally over it yet... i had Shingles Kim it followed on by my 3 slipped back discs, oooooooch .. Had no idea i had shingles until i showed the doc a load of blisters on my butt.

we all have shingles laying dormant in our nerves ( after chicken pox ) it just takes something to trigger it, as in my case 3 slipped discs on my back..

oh its horrid, ache from head to toe ... 😩

glad you have been diagnosed and now you can get the right treatment 

take care 

jay x

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Hi Jay!

Glad to hear you are improving-it sure has been a tough time lately for you as well. I hear Shingles are simply relentless.

I  used to see ads for some type of inoculation against them but haven't lately, wonder if they pulled that drug as well. Seems they release meds here in the States without really giving them a good test out.

Sending you hugs and hoping you continue to improve!

Annie xx

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OOOOO Jay!!!  So sorry!!!!  That is horrid!  I know about shingles.  It is aweful!  I had chicken pox as a kid and had to get the live shingles vaccine last week.  My arm is still swollen, itchy and puffy from that little tiny shot!  I feel for you smile  Keep in touch and let me/us know how you are doing.  xoxoxo

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Thanks, Annie!  I love to hear stories like that!  There are many and I am hopeful.  All-in-all, although I have been "suffering" for a while, my joints are basically in decent shame and if I continue to lose weight and get the disease in remission, I might be able to be active again smile  BTW, nothing motivates weight loss like FEAR!  LOL  Fear of the high cholesterol brought on by RA, fear of the high blood sugar... fear of the extra weight damaging my joints... Since 3/6, I have lost 17 pounds!  Woot!  

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Hello Annie 

i have never heard of a inoculation for shingles..

mind you i never thought i would get it either ..

its the constant aches that wont go away then the Doc said it can last months to years .. He said i have PHN ... 

then i read this 

The pain of shingles can be excruciating, but the condition goes away in a few weeks -- for most people. In some unlucky folks, shingles pain doesn't end when the rash goes away. It goes on. And on. This is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a form of neuropathic pain that can last for months or years, even after the virus is no longer active.

thought of great thats typical, meno and this and bad back ..

Jeeeeez 😂

hope your keeping well Annie

lovely you hear from you as always 

jay x

 

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Hi Kim

yes it is awful... 

Had a house move in the middle of all this and its been a slow house move for sure .

but.. That is life and we have to keep positive ... Feel aged 150 but trying to plod on .. With a few ooooch ooooch words out loud 😀

take care 

jay x

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Good to know they are still inoculating against shingles, wasn't too sure until I read your post, Kim. Glad to hear you got yours, I'm considering it, after what I am hearing lately! Yikes!

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Kim

i have lost weight too, all through peri and post meno 

down to 8st 10 now ... Wasting away ... I am 5ft 6 

my blood sugars years ago went crazy. was border line type then also chloresterol was raised ... My Doctor was baffled, But all okay now, it was peri for me they said that causing spikes etc .. My diet was and is good never eat fatty foods ever or too much sweet stuff, dont drink.  i was told to take magnesium and i do still now ( chelated magnesium as kind on tum) I use to crave chocolate ... And it can be a sign of low magnesium .. 

Jayx

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Congrats Kims! Excellent news Kim! 17 lbs-that is to be celebrated-now don't let the Easter Bunny tempt you this weekend. I told my husband to nix any kind of basket for me this year.

Ha! forgot to tell you- Naturopath has me moving on to an Integrative MD for the hypothyroidism....and that visit isn't til end of April-until then I feel like the Goodyear Blimp and hate going anywhere that I need to dress up-nothing fits and I have no intention of staying this way.

And seriously not eating much these days so I don't get it! Will update you early May if that visit is productive!

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Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I'm glad you are able to get it treated now. I hope your days get brighter and better soon!!  Happy Easter to you, too!  smile

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Good show, Jayx!  smile

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Thanks, Annie!  xo

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Thank you, Liggy!

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Oh dear Jay!

So sorry to hear of the PHN-if it's not one thing, than it's another with us lately. After years of pretty much avoiding visiting the doctors, it seems as though this past year I'm making up for it all now. 

I hear you when you say you feel 150 yrs old at times. Mine for a different reason and good Lord, I so sound like my mom when I was younger. Used to drive me crazy as I didn't understand. Nothing like experience to give us a greater understanding, now is there? 

Here is to hoping that we all get on the road to recovery real soon and perhaps your PHN will be a short course. 

As always, lovely to hear from you. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Jay!🙏

Annie xx

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Sorry you are going through all this. Hope you feel better and get better 

Happy Easter and just take it easy

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Thanks, Susan!  Happy Easter!

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Hiya!

Thought we hadn't heard much from you recently........now I know why.

I'm so sorry that you've had your rotten diagnosis, but I'm sure you're so relieved to finally have it, after all your attempts to get the right tests done.  No more stabbing in the dark, so to speak.

RA.  Well I for one am pleased for you.  No longer can your Docs dismiss you as an over-sensitive, aging woman who should just 'get on with it' = The Peri/Menopause, that is. 

Kim, with RA confirmed, you will receive the correct treatment, and for that fact alone, I'm pleased for yousmile. I've read many of your posts and felt that you were really low, and just struggling on.  Think its time for a bit of 'Me Time' for you now.  Get your meds straight, get your energy levels back up and get on with enjoying your life a bit more nowsmile

Hardest part of reading about your diagnosis is for me and the many others who also share the pain and inconvenience of your 'Peri' symptoms:  I'm praying that my hatred of Doctors generally won't let me miss a real health issuerolleyes 

Its so weird reading posts from our American 'sistas', when they talk about seeing their doctor/gynae/having bloods taken:  it all sound so perfect.  For us "Poms" in the UK (Kim, your "Pods" has me in stitchescheesygrinlol!!), we're heavily reliant on our NHS, and have to battle our way through our GPs to get to see a Consultant/Specialist.  As for all the different types of blood tests you mention here and previously:  we're lucky if they'll just check up for Vit deficiencies!!!  

I'd say that most women in the UK going to see their GPs about anything remotely hormonal (Peri/Meno) will waltz out the surgery clutching a prescription for ADs/SSRIs.  I know: I was one of them, but won't be taking them!  Its the first course of action for most:  'Let's keep these nutty ol' birds under - they're a drain on the system'!!  But I read this week that the majority of women being prescribed these meds (espeically in Peri/meno) do not even met the most basic of the criteria to prescribe them.  Afterall, our problems are hormonal imbalance, not chemical imbalance (for most of us, of course).

I digress, as usual...............but I am so pleased that you finally have something concrete to work with.  I can hear in the 'tone' of your post that your mood's improved. 

Well Kiddo, its onwards and upwards now.  Its great to have read a 'Success Story', and I'm sorry to put your situation in this bracket, but I feel if nothing else, you're going to feel so much better now during this long, horrible Peri journey, knowing that your symptoms of RA wil be addressed seperately.

Enjoy the sun, if you have any where you are.  We in the UK are to expect some uncharacteristically warm weather this next few days:  what with the lovely daffodils in bloom, that should cheer some of us upsmile!

Good to hear from you.

Sxxx

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Hi Shaz - you are so right... being able to put this in a "bracket" and know what's wrong is a huge relief.  I am sure that Menopause plays a role in exxacertbating these problems!  I am sitll an advocate for Meno relief!!!  LOL

I am so sorry that healthcare in the UK requires you to jump through hoops!  I think, for good or for bad, the reason ours tests are easy to come by (especially blood tests -- MRIs and other more comprehensive/expensive things take some "hoop jumping" to get here too) is because if the doctors don't exhaust reasonable efforts to diagnose and treat disease (and blood tests are considered reasonable, reliable for a lot of things and fairly inexpensive here), then they can be sued if you get sick and they could have/should have done more.  There is a "reasonable person" and "standard of care" clauses in all liability insurance policies that doctors must carry.  If they don't meet the criteria for doing what a "reasonable person" (aka "another doctor"wink would do and/or in meeting the "standard of care" set forth by other doctors, medical journals, experts and the precident set by other law suits, they could be liable.  So docs here, out of fear of being sued, cover all their "reasonable and standard" care bases... that's why blood tests are easy.

I doubt with nationalized insurance, your docs can be sued or if they can, it's much harder because you would have to sue the government, correct?

It's a very litigeous country, America.  And that's bad for a LOT of reasons... only when it comes to being sick or poor or homeless or discriminated against or disenfranchised does it come in handy to be able to play the "I'll sue you" card.  

All those wealthy poeple (and there are a lot) who can afford to be sick, have big homes, savings in the bank and don't have to work, etc etc etc complain about the high cost of litigation and how it drives up insurance rates.  But, they complain only until they need it... then they LOVE lawyers.

I have worked for 27 years in both the legal and insurance industries... and I have "needed" socialized medicine through the state for my daughter... so I see both sides of it.

I digress... again... as usual!

Yes, I am taking some "me time" now but it's not as relaxing as you might imagine.  I am so stiff and sore and weak because of this disease and how fast it's progressing that it is a chore just to wake, dress, eat.  It's not an enjoyable rest.  But it is not forever.  This too shall pass.  smile

I'll stay in touch with all of you through the Meno forum!!  And don't be a stranger... send me a message now and then and let me know how you are faring!  You are just soooo much fun smile

Kim