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[dazned]

Does anyone think/ believe/know if stress can upset your hrt effectiveness ?

Looking back 3 weeks trying to see a pattern what set this episode of anxiety,Palps,nausea,panicked,etc. Was doing well 2 months on new hrt back working etc.  then my best,closest friend of 50 years ,her ex partner of only 4 months ex who been desperately trying to get back with her took his own life,as you imagine she was/ is distraught,he did it on her birthday and sent her the letter on said day ! I was obviously beside my self with worry and trying to support her and then bam 2 days later all my old pre hrt days symptoms came rushing back with avengence! I blamed it on new hrt but I wonder if all this extreme stress could have sent hrt off kilter ? Adrenaline is a hormone so is it possible it upset the balance ?  Antibiotics can so many be this could,perhaps had knee-jerk reaction blaming hrt not working 

[Kathleen]

Hello dazned.

I'm so sorry to read of your situation with your friend. I'm not sure if stress can alter HRT effectiveness in terms of absorption etc but obviously stress can upset us emotionally and that is what has happened to you. When you also consider that trying to find a physical and emotional balance is a struggle at this time in our lives then I'm not surprised you are suffering at the moment. What sort of person would you be if this event hadn't upset you?

I have no answers I'm afraid although I'm sure other ladies will be along with suggestions for how to cope.

Sending you hugs and best wishes. Take care.

K.

[Winterose]

What a dreadfully sad tale.  I am so sorry.

I think higher stress levels over a period of a few days can exacerbate symptoms, when I am under pressure at work I get warm flushes and anxiety rushes which are totally under control when not under deadlines etc.  Certainly for me thats how it is.

[Limpy]

Dazned - So sorry to hear about your friend, I hope she finds all the strength and comfort she needs.

Like Kathleen, I'me not sure if stress does alter HRT effectiveness as such. But, stress can make you feel so overwhelmingly awful, that HRT or indeed any other medication has a lot to go up against. Make sure you look after yourself as well as your friend.

[Millykin]

Oh Dazned that is so sad, it's so hard to say if it's affected your HRT or not but stress can affect us in different ways. Maybe the adrenaline causing a bit of mayhem. You have a bit much going on at the moment, new HRT, propranalol, not eating,  your friend, it catches up. Do try and eat little bits during the day, I know it's hard but it will help your body settle, you need the energy to function, rest, x

[dazned]

Thanks everyone for your support xx

[honorsmum]

How horrendous. 

I wonder the same thing. I believe my peri symptoms started last summer, in a low key, vague way, but I lost a friend to breast cancer in September, aged 38, and from that point, my symptoms seemed to really kick in. I know that my Crohn's started within 2 years of a period of huge stress, which apparently is a very common pattern for illness. My neighbour (male, 70's) saw a thyroid specialist last year, who asked him whether he'd had a shock in the recent past - turned out, my neighbour's friend had killed himself and my neighbour had reacted very badly to it.

My reflexologist lent me a book, "Your Body Speaks Your Mind", which linked different illnesses to different mental states. Very interesting, if a bit scary.

[Millykin]

Honorsmum that book dose sound interesting, I believe stress triggers certain things in different areas of us x

[nelliedee]

Sorry to read your post x

[BrightLight]

Dazned - I am also sorry to hear your situation.

I definately believe that stress response is intrinsically linked and also that we express our dis-ease through our bodies. Ultimately it is the belief in the mind body connection, which isn't just theory, there is science going on.  Although I can't explain it all   Some would say that yes the system is all linked but it wouldn't really show as symptoms unless a disease process was going on - I disagree and think that any stress, whether it be low nutrition, excercise, too little or too much or psychological stress can tip our systems into imbalance/


The hypothalamus, the pituitary, the adrenals and ovaries are all linked in various feedback loops.  Hoping your system calms down again and things settle for you - I wouldn't blame your HRT just yet x

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear about your friend dazned....

There is no question that stress bridges the gap between mind and body - this is indisputable, due to the phsyiscal effects of stress hormones. There is really clear simple explanation of stress and anxiety on the NHS website (with brief info on physical effects) - here are some of the pages:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/low-mood-stress-anxiety.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/understanding-panic.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/low-mood-and-depression.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/reduce-stress.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/understanding-stress.aspx

In terms of HRT - then if you are taking tablet HRT, anything that upsets the digestion - and it is well known that stress, panic and anxiety do have a physical effect - could well affect the absorption of tablet HRT, and therefore affect the levels of these added hormones in your body. The same effect would not be (so) apparent with transdermal HRT as this does not go through the digestive system - but may well also be affected through some of the endocrine feedback systems of these hormones as BrightLight suggests.

Hurdity x

[dazned]

Thanks Hurdity very helpful x

Just posted New thread about back to go today !