‘I came off HRT and six months later was baffled by my new symptoms’

Samantha Austin, 55, thought she was “through” the menopause after five years on HRT. Here she shares her story

In my late 30s my periods, which had always been regular, started to become heavier and the premenstrual migraines I suffered from started to happen more than once a month. It got to a point where I felt I had more migraines than not and it affected my social life, my family life and my work life as all I wanted to do was take lots of painkillers and lay down in a dark room.

By the time I was 41, my periods were extremely heavy and the migraines off the scale. I also now had very low mood and seasonal affective disorder. On a flight home from a family holiday in Orlando, Florida, I had the most horrendous period and migraine – I could hardly move my head and I struggled to control the blood flow. Two days later my period stopped – and it never came back again.

I had scans, blood tests and pregnancy tests and the GP concluded I had had an early menopause, which took me by surprise. I already had two children, and didn’t plan on any more, but now the decision was taken away from me, I was a bit put out!

Being a nurse, I knew enough to know that oestrogen is essential for healthy bones and the loss of it can lead to a decrease in bone density, so I asked my GP for HRT. He was reluctant and spoke to me about breast cancer risk but agreed to prescribe it for five years.

I took oral continuous HRT (Elleste Duet Conti) with no problems for the next five years. My migraines improved exponentially, my mood improved, and everything was great. However, true to his word, the GP stopped my HRT after five years and, now 46, I naively thought maybe he was right and it was safer to go without the hormones.

Six months later, I was in a very bad way. My migraines were back, and I had mood swings and irritation with my husband and kids. I had very low libido to a point where I prayed my husband would leave me so I didn’t have to keep brushing him off. My joints ached, I experienced dizzy spells and to top it off, I was getting no sleep.

I was waking up umpteen times a night with nausea – it was like being on a rollercoaster or a boat, my stomach was up and down like a yo-yo! But I didn’t recognise that it was menopause symptoms. I thought I had something wrong with my stomach and needed an endoscopy investigation. My GP gave me omeprazole and said it was reflux, oh, and would I like to try an antidepressant?

I didn’t have a clue about the reoccurrence of menopause symptoms so started reading up more.

One day I was doing some clinical research reading on dizziness, and I came across an article on vertigo in menopause and perimenopause. The relationship is not well researched but there seemed to be some evidence that pointed to oestrogen being one of the hormones that play a role in the development of vertigo. The vestibular system (inner ear) can be particularly sensitive to low oestrogen in perimenopause, and it affects blood flow and oxygen supply in the area, causing symptoms such as dizziness, brain fog or full on vertigo attacks such as nausea and vestibular migraine. I wondered if by going back on HRT, I could remedy this crippling problem and get some sleep?

RELATED: Dizziness and the menopause

I went back to the GP, but this time I saw a different doctor and explained my rationale for wanting to go back on HRT. I reassured them that I was aware of any potential risks if I restarted the hormones and it was agreed that I could go back on HRT.

Less than one month later, I was a new woman. I was sleeping through the night, I did not want to run away from home and I even started doing parkrun. I ditched the omeprazole and bought some trainers! I have never looked back.

This experience made me realise that perimenopause and menopause can affect women in so many different ways. I didn’t have a hot flush so that signpost wasn’t there. Looking back, I think I was having symptoms in my late 30s and I feel angry that I suffered unnecessarily for a long time.

However, I’ve vowed that through my work as an advanced nurse practitioner working in women’s health I will help other women navigate the choppy waters of perimenopause and menopause, and access support.

Keep pushing ladies – do your own research and remember that hormones are chemical messengers to all parts of your body and without them many different physical changes can occur.

Would you like to share your experience of perimenopause or menopause? Write to us at shareyourstory@balance-app.com