by Brenda
(Georgia)
I am a 57 year old female and this is my story:
I can't remember the exact date, but when I was around the age of 38 I had a total hysterectomy because of endometriosis. Well, I was put on hormone therapy and I stayed on that for about ten years. My doctor decided because of high risk of breast cancer, he would take me off of the hormones.
So....for the next eight years I had to go without any hormones. I started having the hot flashes, night sweats, feeling moody from feeling fine one day to depression the next. Then, came along insomnia, anxiety,and fatigue. What a struggle. I'm glad I am not working, for I would not be able to hold down a job for lack of sleep, waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety to point of thinking something bad was going to happen all the time.
After about the eight years, I told my doctor I could not stand it anymore. He put me on clonasapam for anxiety. It helped just a little bit to rest some at night. Finally another doctor checked my hormones through blood work, and said I had none whatsoever! So he did give me a prescription for estradiol and progesterone 100mg. I prayed that these prescriptions would help me.
Well, I am here to say that with the clonasapam, estradiol, and progesterone; I no longer have anxiety, hot flashes, and I am able to sleep at least 6-7 hours at night. Although I still have fatigue quite a bit. I think I have fibromyalgia. my sister is on disability with that. Anyway, it is wonderful to be able to sleep, and not have anxiety! Thank God for his mercy.
I also realized that cutting way back on sweets and soda, will help in the problems with fibromyalgia.
I don't know if some men doctors fully understand about women having night sweats, and anxiety! You get up in the mornings aching all over, feeling so fatigue, and you can't accomplish hardly anything that day.
It is so very important for women to get the medications they need as they get older. It is so very important for women to stay away from junk food as much as possible.