Hi Hurdity
I'm so sorry it's taken me forever to respond to you, and thank you so miuch for your reply. It was extremely enlightening and helpful. I'm on 1mg of Climagest which I'm assuming is the lowest doseage.
Last year my GP said I was probably peri-menopausal when they did tests on my hormones but earlier this year when my moods were getting significantly worse (and usually just before a period) I asked my GP to test my hormones again and I was in the peri-menopause and practically in the menopause apparently.
Thank you for explaining why my physical symptoms are probably milder, one GP did explain to me that Venlafaxine reduces hot flushes so every cloud. I do get hot on a nighttime but not as bad as I've heard some ladies experience this. I was always overly hot prior to having my overactive thyroid diagnosed so I'm pretty much used to always having a wet forehead!
My moods definitely seem to be cyclical and at least once a month I becoming overwhelmingly tired and have to go to bed at about 7.30. Again this isn't all the time but seems to be about once a month.
Is that usual?
Tahnk you for the article, I will read that with interest.
And once again thank you so much, you've been a blimming star!!!!!
Hi Aunty Biz
.... and another 
from me too!
When you say you were peri-menopausal since the beginning of the year does this mean you've been going through a while of irregular periods etc?
Because you are taking Venlafaxine and Climagest ie ADs and HRT, both of which reduce and often eliminate flushes and sweats and improve mood, it is likely your physical menopausal symptoms will be mild - at least that you won't experience debilitating flushes and sweats. This is why you are probably noticing the mood swings etc a bit more. The HRT will prevent the worst of the fluctuations in oestrogen - ie the mood dips at the end of the cycle, because there is a constant dose. Are you on 1 mg or 2 mg? If on 1 mg and you find this is insufficient there is always the 2 mg dose to increase to as your own cycle gets weaker.
Are your moods dependent on your cycle and is/was your depression also related to hormones?
The other thing is that the progestogen in Climagest can also cause unwanted side effects in some women - so perhpas you notice a difference in the second part of the HRT cycle and more pmt when you start a new pack.change to the oestorgen only tablets? If this is the case you might consider changing to a different type such as Femoston 1/10 or 2/10 which is very well tolerated and the progestogen in this one is most similar to our own natural progesterone.
In the meantime you might like to read this artcile which explains what's happening to the body during peri-menopause, if you haven't seen it already! http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php
Hope this helps
Hurdity x
