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[tjsmith]

Hi all
I am new to this site and hrt so be grateful of hearing your experiences.

I am 39 and was put on hrt due to perimenouse along with standard symptoms the worst one for me is anxiety the feeling of fear being the worst one i was put on antidepressents two years ago and most part doing ok but now feel the old feelings creeping back.

My questions

Can anyone relate to this??
Is this normal?
How long until you felt settled??

I was given mirena coil and patches plus I was on pill before and just stopped it so I assume my own hormones also kicking back in??

I really would appreciate the support right now and hear of others experiences.

Thank you

[orrla]

Hi

Hormones are powerful drugs, remember! Now that you are taking them you need to get to know yourself, how you respond and function while on them. Personally I would not mix them with ADs. Here is a good explanation I've found recently: http://www.studd.co.uk/reproductivedepression.php

Feeling of fear could be a side effect of Progesteron but if you are on Mirena there is no better solution, I think. A trick might be to try few producers before deciding which suites you best - patches differ with some additions each put in and even a glue might make a difference - and try various doses too. This can be unpleasant time - of finding what you are most comfortable with, but don't drag it for too long - it will never be 100% fantastic for continuous time. You must understand that synthetic hormones are supplied in day by day always the same dose while your body's requirement changes all the time, so one day it could be too much but on other too little of what your body needs. Not much can be done until things settle... around 80?   (joke!)

I would suggest you keep diary of changes you notice and discuss with your doctor if not happy - and with us here, of course

Good luck! 

[Maggies]

Hi

I have been peri menopausal for some time and crashed in Feb ...due to marital issues.....started AD's and have now tried 4 types of HRT, they have helped with flushes etc but I still 'dip' at ovulation and menstruation:( my solution would be to own the anxiety- sounds crazy I know but it will pass and won't harm us. In terms of how long theses symptoms go on for I can't tell you but use the forum and family/friends to help you on the tougher days lovely and you and I like many other ladies will come through the other side.....

Love and hugs

Lyn

[Hurdity]

Hi tjsmith

 

I disagree a little with orrla re the Mirena as from what I've read it can have very mixed effects on different women. It was put forward by some as the "gold star" of progestogen treatment to protect the uterus while taking the oestrogen replacement part of HRT - due to its supposedly negligible systemic absorption ie the progestogen (levonorgestrel) could act on the uterus where it is required, without any of the undesirable effects women sometimes experience from taking the progestins in tablet HRT.

However from what I've read on here and on other forums, some women react badly to it and experience depression, anxiety and a whole host of other side effects - which in some cases have dramatically decreased after removal of the Mirena.

For other women, who do not absorb the progestin, or if they do, can tolerate it well, it is fantastic.

I would suggest maybe trying a different HRT type ie a different progestogen to see if it makes any differencve.

Also what size patches are you on? - You are very young to be in menopause and a higher dose than some of us older meno women ( like me!) would be beneficial -although the downside is needing more progestogen.

So - you could have the coil removed and try something else, or you could try increasing the oestrogen to see if it makes a difference to how you feel.

Also maybe your testosterone levels have also reduced prematurely contributing to your feelings? There is some information about this on this site, but testing on NHS is uncommon I understand:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

Are you under a specialist gynae for your early menopause? If not I would see if you could get referred to a menopause clinic if there is one in your area.

Hope this helps

Hurdity  x

[orrla]

I disagree a little with orrla re the Mirena.

I wrote about my own experience - of long 3 years on oral Progesterone and horrible surges of fear. Mirena seem to dealt with this. Funny enough, and this I can't understand, when it was running out (less Progesterone?) ca at 4th year, before I had it re-fitted, I felt awful again. Overwhelming fear at streets after dark kept me home - all gone after re-fitting. Around this time I started taking Multivitamins as well, perhaps this helped a bit too? I find purity of my diet is important - feeling best when on plenty of green vegetables, personally.

[Rowan]

" This can be unpleasant time - of finding what you are most comfortable with, but don't drag it for too long - it will never be 100% fantastic for continuous time. You must understand that synthetic hormones are supplied in day by day always the same dose while your body's requirement changes all the time, so one day it could be too much but on other too little of what your body needs. Not much can be done until things settle... around 80?   (joke!)"

I agree with this orria  

I also think that HRT should be that measured against  height, weight and build. I know  could not tolerated the doses that some ladies need.

[tjsmith]

Thank you all so much for getting back to me.

I will have to ride this out and hope for the best as my gynae adament will help.
I also have my own hormones kicking back in I assume as came of the birth control pill same day so this may also be a factor.

 

[Hurdity]

Hi again tjsmith

And just to add that whatever your gynae says - s/he is not you! However adamant/he might be, not all HRT types and especially the progestogens suit all women so just to be aware of that really. There are general physiological principles that apply to all women but we will react individually, and this definitely varies!

Good luck with it all anyway!

Hurdity x