I agree. I am 47 and while I dont have any obvious symptoms I know its time and I need to have them checked. I have read many people feel menopause affects PN.

I am definitely in agreement about hormones or possibly rise in body temp as this occurs also as your period approaches and my symptoms are much worse then. My gp did suggest going on the pill to see if that helped

My Gyno has me on Vagifem for 3 years now. He has been my Doctor for over 20 years. So he's not a "rookie". He also told me Vagifem was safe and that very little of the hormone was absorbed into my body. I read these reports and told him what I found out. He reassured me not to worry and that it was ok to take it for as long as I needed too.
He said there was no correlation between the Vagifem and my SFN. But I believe menopause played a big part in my developing Idiopathic SFN!! They both happen around the same time.

I'm starting to wonder now, I feel good with the Vagifem and have no side effects, but should I be concerned about cancer and other S/E? Dont know what to think anymore...

Mrs D what are your thoughts about Menopause and I-SFN? As usual ,Thank you for your response.

I strongly believe menopause threw me into full blown Idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. They both happened around the same time. I was 52 when menopause started and started having Neuropathy symptoms around a year later, too much of a coincidence (?) But my Doctors will never admit to it.
I am perfectly healthy, but suffer with painful SFN! , life is so unfair.....

Hi again Marie

I find this very interesting. I started getting burning feet around the same time menopause started. Might research this further. If taking hormones would cure me of this pain I'd be all for it.

For many of us, it is part of the puzzle. It has been important for me to balance all hormones for all around health. VERY little estrogen for me. Mostly the other hormones.

I'm in the same boat, Marie. Am 52 and peri-menopausal. My SFN started within a month after going off the BCP last October. I'm considering just going back on them to see what happens even though no one will currently say my SFN is being caused by it. I'll see my gyn for annual exam in 10 days and will discuss it with her.

I believe a small bit does absorb into bloodstream but it is suppose to be more localised effect like Ovestin. I was having some issues with my cycle and read on Dr. Oz about Vitex (Chasteberry). Anyways I started taking that (bought at chemist), and all my cycle issues normalised again with the added bonus of my hyperthyroidism going into remission after 5 years. So this Vitex blend fixed 2 health issues.

I too was offered hormones but I was too scared to take them especially since when the blood test was done my hormones were completely normal. but a change in hormones both can play havoc on your thyroid and your cycle so I knew I did have hormonal issues, to some degree.

[QUOTE=AussieDebbie;1093384]Hi again Marie

I find this very interesting. I started getting burning feet around the same time menopause started. Might research this further. If taking hormones would cure me of this pain I'd be all for it.

Hi Debbie
That is exactly how it happened with me. It started with burning feet and tingling in my lower calves! It was around the same time menopause started. I was taking hormones (prempro) at the time, but I didnt take it every day the way it was prescribed. I took it maybe every other day or third day for fear of cancer risks. My Gyno kept telling me it was not helpful the way I was taking it, but I was stubborn about it. I wonder if I took one everyday the way it was prescribed if I would have felt "better" or diff..Its still not to late for me, I could try and get over my fear and start taking it once a day and see if it makes a difference in how I feel.
Ask your Doctor about it for youself and let us know what he or she thinks

[QUOTE=janieg;1093517]I'm in the same boat, Marie. Am 52 and peri-menopausal. My SFN started within a month after going off the BCP last October. I'm considering just going back on them to see what happens even though no one will currently say my SFN is being caused by it. I'll see my gyn for annual exam in 10 days and will discuss it with her.
Hi Jan
Im sorry you suffer with SFN! Is yours Idiopathic too? what is BCP? None of my doctors will say my SFN is caused by menopause either. But my feet started burning around the same time I became menopausal.. It felt like all *&^% hit the fan!! Mine is Idiopathic, I am otherwise healthy!! So frustrating.
Let us know how your exam goes and what your Gyno has to say about what could be causing your SFN.