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[DEETLE]

Hello,  I am new to this forum and not quite sure how to use it yet.  I have been damaged by a medicine called valium that the doctors gave me when I wasn't sleeping (didn't realize it was peri menopause causing insomnia)   I was only on the valium for a few months and had a horrible time getting off that medicine and still healing from it..

Now, I finally realize I am in full blown peri menopause that has HIT me like a ton of bricks,  complete insomnia, anxiety panic attacks (never had these before) hot flashes, night sweats, pain, migraines the list goes on and on.  I cannot live any kind of a life right now.  So I am wanting to do HRT and could really use some guidance from others that are using it and having success.  My doctor has prescribed the estrogen and progesterone creams based on my blood tests but I can tell he is just telling me a standard answer on how to use it rather than tailoring it to my needs/symptoms.  I do NOT do well on pills so I am happy to use the creams instead.  I have heard some Horror stories of women using HRT and feeling awful but thinking maybe those poor ladies have not been instructed the proper way to use them based on their levels??  I am fearful because I don't do well on pharmaceuticals and the horrific experience I had with valium that HRT might now work for me??   Please any ideas or suggestions.
thank you

[CLKD]

Valium and others when used correctly give good results.  Without, I wouldn't be here! Many medications require short-term withdrawal and once out of the body, won't give further problems.  What I experienced earlier this year was 'bounce back' anxiety [following a sudden bereavement, long story short] but by gradual tapering of a similar medication to Valium I came through it. >phew<!  It took 5-10 days of gradual acceptance.

It can be Trial and Error - some ladies find that the progesterone section of prescribed HRT can cause unbearable symptoms.  Others find that using patches good …… it really does depend on the lady.  It won't be tailored to you yet but the GP needs to assess how your symptoms alter/not by using the current creams.  It will depend on where you are in the peri-journey  , how regular your periods are, your age; keeping a mood/food/symptom diary can be useful now that you are on HRT.  When does your GP want to see you to discuss how you have been on the regime?

Some ladies visit Prof Studd who is au fait with menopause and the various treatments that ladies may require, but he is a private practitioner.  If your GP is up to date you may find that you can forge a working relationship by discussing your requirements and by tweaking your regime.  There is occasionally a private e-mail facility to Dr Currie here .

Have a browse round, make notes.  Ask away ………. 

[CLKD]

PS - you may find responses to 'debbie' useful initially 

[DEETLE]

CLKD   who is Debbie?

[Dancinggirl]

Deetle - welcome to MM
Where do you live??  How old are you??
If you are UK based then you need to see your GP for proper HRT.  If you are in the USA then make sure you are seeing a recognised specialist for treating meno. Let us know exactly what you have been given.  It does sound as though HRT would help you but you need a proper dosage that has been tried and tested and approved by the proper health authorities.  DG x

[CLKD]

Another new Member ……….

Browse round, make notes 

[Hurdity]

Hi Deetle

 

Sorry to hear about your symptoms and bad experience with Valium - I am sure you will benefit from HRT. Now the NICE recommendations are that anti-depressants should not be given as first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms, but some docs have some catching up to do.

It sounds like you are not in UK though since you talk about creams? Many of us on here in UK use bio-identical HRT in the form of transdermal oestrogen ( Patch or gel) with progesterone ( as capsule taken orally or vaginally). As CLKD says you can get this from your GP through the NHS although some see a private specialist - not necessary though. You cannot really tailor HRT in terms of dose based on blood tests - only in very broad terms - because oestrogen levels vary so much and there isn't an absolute oestrogen level which will eliminate symptoms. We are able to tweak our doses by increasing or decreasing oestrogen dose, especially if we are using separate oestrogen and progesterone.

Hurdity x

[DEETLE]

OK I've been reading alot of the posts and keep seeing ladies say that they are progesterone intolerable??  what do they mean by this?  My doctor wants me to take the progesterone everyday in smaller doses, because when I tried stopping for the 2 week cycle schedule, It was horrific.  It sounds like most women cycle it???

[DEETLE]

also, can someone help me read my blood tests?    I would really love help understanding these for my age and symptoms..   My migraines the past few weeks are unreal.  I can only sit in a dark room for days bedridden.  I have to sit very still as if I move an inch they get worse.  cannot believe these symptoms are so severe??    also what are the panic attacks from?  they are very scary

my progesterone was 4.90  (took this test 3 days before period started)

Progesterone Reference Ranges
follicular              0.15 to     1.40
luteal                  3.34 to   25.56
mid luteal            4.44 to   28.03
postmenopausal    0.00  to   0.73


my estradiol was   117  (FYI i was taking 1/2 pump of estrogel for 2 days before this test, not sure if that was enough to show up in my blood)

reference range   0  to  357

[CLKD]

You need to go back to your GP?  Progesterone is at the 'end' of an HRT cycle I think  sure someone will be along with better advice than that! you shouldn't have to put up with headaches like those you describe!

[Hurdity]

Hi Deetle

Reference ranges vary a lot between labs as the one I looked at for progesterone is different again. It's difficult to say anything from your progesterone because it would be expected to be low at the end of the cycle. Not quite sure why it was measured really.

The reference range for estradiol also varies  depending on which part of the cycle it was taken and also what units the measurement is in - ie whether pg/ml or pmol/l as these give different readings. If it was pmol/l then it was quite low. If in pg/ml then sounds OK to me - but more important is how you feel.

When women are progesterone intolerant - it means that they get negative symptoms even when taking any progestogen - whether synthetic or "natural" ie bioidentical. Such women would feel bad for most of the second half of their normal cycle. There aren't many women who are extremely progesterone intolerant though, but many of us expereince some sort of adverse symptoms when on it which means we prefer to keep it to the minimum and therefore remain on a cycle for our HRT - so that we get some time on oestrogen only.

Most women experience classic pmt symptoms whether or not they are progesterone intolerant - these are the symptoms of progesterone withdrawal that come just a few dyas before a period ie tension, irritability, headaches etc ( although some of these symptoms in the menstrual cycle are caused by the dip in oestrogen too). Therefore if you experience headaches etc when you stop the progestogen part of cyclical HRT, this progesterone withdrawal involves phsyiological changes in your body as it leaves the system. Once it's mainly gone (the prog that is), then most women feel much better on oestrogen alone.

Those who are severely progesterone intolerant have the worst deal on HRT because they feel bad on the progesterone part, and then bad again for the few days after they stop, then they have the bleed and maybe period pains - so maybe only feel good for a week to 10 days. This is why some of these women are under specialists and are prescribed shorter courses of progesterone (under supervision) or a longer cycle (like I do).

The panic attacks in menopause I think are due to hormonal fluctuations which affect all sorts of processes in the body. Sounds like you need to get specialist help for your migraines. Are you in UK?

Hurdity x