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[GypsyRoseLee]

Still on this rollercoaster of anxiety and mood swings. Just had 4 whole weeks of feeling great. But then my period finally arrived and have had a week of feeling like Hell again. Anxiety through the roof. Needing diazepam. Insomnia. Feeling really cold. Diarrhoea. The works 

My period was technically over a week late - all my cycles lately have been roughly 25 days. This month it was a 32 day cycle. And when my period came it was really light. Just spotting really. And only lasted 3 days.

I can't go on like this. I really can't. So I am asking my consultant for HRT when I see her next month. She has already explained she would like to start me on an oestrogen patch with separate progesterone feedback. Because I have always suffered with PMS she explained that the progesterone feedback stage might be tricky for me.

Have read on here several times that some women just take progesterone every 3 months to give themselves a bleed. I very much like the sound of this. And to be frank my periods are so light nowadays (only need panty liners and maybe 3-4 regular tampons over 3 days) that I doubt my womb lining will thicken that much.

I don't care how heavy or painful the bleed would be. I'll take it on the chin. I just need these mood swings and anxieties to stop. They are ruining my life and the lives of my husband and children.

How do you qualify for only taking progesterone every 3 months?

[Dancinggirl]

As you are still in peri meno I don't think they would allow a long cycle as you might find you got break through bleeding at odd times. You could have a Mirena fitted which would eventually stop all bleeds and this often suits women who struggle with progesterone - you then just add Oestrogen in patch or gel form alongside.  DG x

[GypsyRoseLee]

Yes, I am still peri. Still get fairly regular periods but very light ones. I honestly wouldn't mind about any breakthrough bleeding. I didn't react well to the Mirena coil a few years ago. Gave me constant PMS and I gained weight. So my consultant said she wouldn't bother with it.

[SueRoe]

GypsyRoseLee - I'm not sure that it is advisable to take progesterone only every 3 months to induce a bleed. When you've still got your uterus I think you have to take progesterone for about 2 weeks every month (the minimum I've read about is 10 days). It's not always necessary to stop for those 2 weeks, some women can take progesterone every day. It seems to depend on where you are in the perimenopause/menopause process and your age. Some of those women might take a break from the progesterone for a few day every 3 months or so to induce a bleed - might that be where you've got the 3 month bit from? Just dosing yourself with progesterone for a few days every 3 months is not something I've heard of - but I'm no expert and can only tell you what I understand to be the case. Not everyone gets a withdrawal bleed - I didn't. If you do decide to try HRT many women find the bio-identical form of progesterone called Utrogestan to be the easiest to tolerate alongside the prescribed form of oestrogen. I hope that your consultant is able to help you with the mood swings and anxiety. I too have felt at times that life in this state was almost intolerable. HRT helped me but it didn't sort everything out - don't expect miracles. Do you have to wait until next month? If you've decided you want to try HRT your GP can prescribe it for you. Good luck. Things will get better, don't despair.

[dazned]

GypsyRoseLee hi

I m on a three month cycle, I take estrogen only for 10 weeks then on the last 12 days I add in utrogestron 200mg vaginally,that then gives you a withdrawal bleed to keep the linking protected. Ian 55 though not sure if it's appropriate for Peri,however lots of ladies on here are on this type of regime so it does exist so you could ask your doctor if it would be OK for you to try. I have to go this way as it appears that I don't do well with progesterone. Hope you find something that suits you soon.

[CLKD]

Have a read of the menus, top of screen?  Could you send the Consultant an e-mail with your queries so that she/he has the answers at your appt.? 

[GypsyRoseLee]

Thank you Freda

I spoke to my consultant's receptionist and asked if my consultant could just fax my prescription over to my GP this week. That way I could have been taking HRT for nearly 5 weeks before I actually have my appointment with my consultant and will be able to discuss how suitable it is.

If she can't, or if she doesn't get the message (she only has the clinic on alternate Tuesdays) then I suppose I could ask my GP directly. But I'm not sure if they'd be willing to prescribe HRT so near to me seeing my consultant anyway?

I'm not expecting HRT to be a magic wand. But my consultant did assure me that I would feel very much better mood/anxiety wise. If I have to have progesterone feedback every month I hope she tries me with something like you suggested, as natural as possible. If I then still get PMS for a few days every month, so be it. I am used to PMS and can handle feeling irritable and bloated. What I can't handle is this awful, awful anxiety that just appears out of nowhere at any point in my cycle nowadays.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi dazned 

I am still peri, so don't know if I can follow the same regime as you? Do you still have fairly regular periods?

[GypsyRoseLee]

CLKD, they won't give out her email. Actually point of contact is quite poor. I have left 2 messages for her at the start of the year and actually wrote her quite a lengthy letter c/o of the menopause clinic. Never got a response 

[CLKD]

That doesn't give confidence then  …….. still, you have us!

[GypsyRoseLee]

This site has been a life saver, and everyone on it so helpful. I am so grateful I found you all 

[dazned]

You can only ask if it would be appropriate for you when you get your appointment . But there is no reason for you not to have utrogestron as the progesterone in this is the nearest to our own Iam told therefore the kindest .

[lancashirelass]

I use.utrogestan every 3 months but that is to protect me.from endo.regrowth and as i kept.my cervix.  Id ask gp to contact your consultant. 

[Mary G]

Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time.  It sounds as though you could be progesterone intolerant like me which always makes HRT more challenging - I also had a Mirena coil for contraceptive purposes which I did not get on with at all.  I'm not an expert on the peri-menopause stage but I would definitely recommend the oestrogel gel over the patch because I found it far more effective.  That said, you will probably find that your periods will become heavier once you increase your oestrogen.  As far as the progesterone part is concerned, I would say that utrogestron taken vaginally for 7 days every month would be your best bet because it is closest to the progesterone you produce yourself.  I have found that I do not get on with synthetic progestins (not to be confused with progesterone that you produce yourself) and they have bad side effects like migraine in my case.

I'm sure you will feel much, much better one you get started on the oestrogen and look forward to hearing how you get on.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Thank you MaryG.

Because I have always suffered with PMS, then went on to have severe PND my consultant said it was likely I wouldn't react well to the progesterone feedback part of HRT 

But I am prepared to give it a go and just see. What I can't cope with is never knowing what my mood is going to be like? My period finally started 10 days ago, only lasted 3 days, but I am STILL suffering with very low mood and pangs of anxiety. Yet this is the time of the month when traditionally my mood SHOULD have really picked up by now. Since realising I was peri menopausal I've had several 'bad' months like this, where basically my mood swings/anxiety never really improve through out the whole month. And I am just enduring the days 

Yet last month, at this time of the month, I was feeling on top of the world and had done for several weeks. It's so erratic.

Can I ask if your moods really improved with taking HRT? And were they 'reliable' if that makes sense? If I 'knew' I was going to get 3 'good' weeks every month on the oestrogen patch, then I could gird my loins and deal with a few 'bad' days once a month.