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[MIS71MUM]

Hello All

I can't help thinking that my low moods and being emotional are linked to my cycle!

I have increased my AD medication to help cope with the anxiety, etc and am currently still applying 1 pump of oestrogel, and am on Day 11 of my new cycle.  I crashed after taking the Utrogestan and but then had a good few days, crashed again, had 2 more exceptional days, even helped out on a school trip yesterday and had a brilliant day.  This morning, I have woken up and I could honestly cry for England!

I know I suffer from anxiety/overthinking but the facts are; 2 Utrogestan cycles have created very small amounts of blood for a period, nothing like my old periods.  The gyny I saw said my lining was thin and my ovaries small, again not enough hormones.  My oestrogen levels approximately 1 month ago was 127.

I can't see how my days would be so varied on AD's as I have been on them 12 years ago.  So I think that this is down to my own hormones fluctating, either my own in the background with the addition of HRT too.

So, in order to stop these fluctuations, how can I do it?  I've seen on a previous thread that 4 pumps is required.  I am also considering the contraceptive pill as surely this would stop any fluctuations, although I have sticky blood syndrome, I'm not sure whether I can or not.  What about the coil? does this also stop the fluctuations?

[Dandelion]

Hello All

I can't help thinking that my low moods and being emotional are linked to my cycle!

I have increased my AD medication to help cope with the anxiety, etc and am currently still applying 1 pump of oestrogel, and am on Day 11 of my new cycle.  I crashed after taking the Utrogestan and but then had a good few days, crashed again, had 2 more exceptional days, even helped out on a school trip yesterday and had a brilliant day.  This morning, I have woken up and I could honestly cry for England!

I know I suffer from anxiety/overthinking but the facts are; 2 Utrogestan cycles have created very small amounts of blood for a period, nothing like my old periods.  The gyny I saw said my lining was thin and my ovaries small, again not enough hormones.  My oestrogen levels approximately 1 month ago was 127.

I can't see how my days would be so varied on AD's as I have been on them 12 years ago.  So I think that this is down to my own hormones fluctating, either my own in the background with the addition of HRT too.

So, in order to stop these fluctuations, how can I do it?  I've seen on a previous thread that 4 pumps is required.  I am also considering the contraceptive pill as surely this would stop any fluctuations, although I have sticky blood syndrome, I'm not sure whether I can or not.  What about the coil? does this also stop the fluctuations?

Hi Rather than up your AD meds, how about asking the doctor if you need to apply more oestrogen.
I went five years without anything as I didnt know I was in meno, and I kept increasing my antidepressant, and all that did was give me more side effects and make me more depressed.
It turned out that i needed different hrt, and I had to work my way up the doses before my flushes and IBS would go.
My moods are still low, but I dunno if that's cos i was on AD's for so long, they were a bugger to come off even though I weaned offf them.
Some women do require 4 pumps of oestrogel, but they are the ones who are suffering really bad. It took me to get to 100mcg of evorel before I felt any better, but moods are still low even though I get excercise etc nowadays. I get no flushes, just the bad moods left.
I hope this helps, as an increase in oestrogen dose can work wonders

[babyjane]

I have fluctuations.  I have not used HRT or had blood tests so don't know what my oestrogen levels are but, at 59, I suspect they still fluctuate a little even though there is probably not much circulating now.

My hot flushes can go away for days, sometimes weeks at a time then come back with a jump as if to say 'fooled you'!. I also suffer with anxiety and that can go up and down like a yo yo sometimes. Once a month I get slow intestinal transit, much the same as I used to get before a period, for 3 or 4 days so strangely I think there is still a little bit of hormonal variation still going on.

I just deal with whatever is happening at the time it happens by increasing or decreasing my ADs and beta blocker, reducing my stress by cutting back on busyness or using an osmotic laxative for a couple of nights.  It usually sorts itself out after a few days.

I have noticed everything being less troublesome over the last 6 months so I firmly believe things come right eventually.  This is just my own experience.

[Hurdity]

There is always oestrogen circulating even after post-menopause - it is one of our essential hormones - but it does stabilise at a constant low level eventually, with the time taking to do this varying amongst different women.

Miss71Mum - if you are peri-menopausal then the only way you can limit your own fluctuations is to shut down your ovaries hence your cycle - and most women achieve this through use of the combine Pill. Other than that - taking a constant level of oestrogen as part of HRT will limit many of the fluctuations and especially the later you go into peri-menopause. if you take continuous combined HRT when you are post-menopausal then you will be able to keep your hormone levels as constant as they can be ( although with tablet HRT this is less guaranteed as it is subject to the vagaries of your digestive system). If you are on cyclical HRT - then your oestrogen levels will remain constant ( subject to your own cycle now and again) - but taking progestogens intermittently may also have an effect. This however should be predictable - there have been many threads on Utrogestan and women's different reactions to it. If you use it over a long enough period of time you will get to know yours - ie whether you get bad side effects initially and they settle, or whether it accumulates and you feel worse and worse, or whether you feel fine but suffer from the few days pmt at withdrawal of the prog.

Nothing is perfect and certainly not HRT but you need to weight up whether you feel better overall on it and off it, your age, your symptoms, and the possible consequences of your future health without it (and possibly even with it in some cases).

Hurdity x

[EllaM]

Hi MisMum, I too am having a horrible time with fluctuations. After a couple of days of feeling slightly better after a horrible few days around mid cycle I am back to feeling physically terrible. Had awful joint pain during the night, feel sickly and exhausted.
Can anyone say whether the fluctuations can happen randomly during a 'cycle' at times when you wouldn't expect them. Do the normal menstrual cycle ups and downs go out of the window at this time.
Thank you x

[EllaM]

Oh sparkle, it's hideous isn't it. At times I just want the world to stop so I can get off as I feel so ill.
When I feel a bit better I start to look ahead then wham it all comes crashing down. I'm due to go away for the weekend to see my son at university but am now worrying whether I will be well enough as I have been on the couch all morning!
I presume during peri we can experience fluctuations anytime which is what makes it so difficult to handle. I was hoping some of the knowledgeable ladies on here may be able to confirm this.
My hrt just isn't helping with the fluctuations so am hoping the specialist at the meno clinic can help. I think the pill would be the best option but I'm nearly 51 so may have a fight on my hands. However, when it comes to no quality of life versus the risk of taking the pill (I have never smoked, don't drink much and am a healthy weight) I know what I want. There has to be a way forward for ladies like us.
Stay strong xx

[babyjane]

thought of things being no better or possibly worse I think I'll keep trying to ride out the storm without.  I'm 55 in September so surely the end must be in sight?!!?

I know what you mean about going away - we're off to Devon for two weeks on the 4th and as much as I want to want to go at times the thought fills me with panic - what a way to be!

S x

Bless you twinny

When I was your age I was thinking and feeling very much the same way (of course  )  I can remember making arrangements when feeling good and then panicking terribly and cancelling or backing out nearer the time when I just couldn't cope with doing anything much.

I have not taken HRT at all apart from Vagifem and I kept thinking to myself 'if it is no better by such and such a date I will go to the doctor'.  I never did as I found ways to manage all the way along.

It's probably cold comfort whilst you are feeling like this but in the last 12 months I have noticed things starting to get better and only this year my flushes and sweats go away for days, sometimes weeks at a time.  Even when they come back to play they are milder and don't last as long.  I haven't had to change my pyjamas in the night for a long time.

A very low dose AD and BB keep my mood and anxiety on an even keel and I am honestly looking forward to our Ruby wedding and holiday in the autumn.  Usually hubby goes places on his own as I freak out.

I got caught in gridlock in the town centre a couple of hours ago and I didn't panic.  that's a first for about 2 years now.

I would say the end is in sight but you might not see it clearly for a little while longer so do what you need to in order to cope Sparky. I have a few years on you.

Much love xx

[MIS71MUM]

This is an example of my hormones; Yesterday I was in tears at work - was totally fed up and disliked myself for all my past mistakes, etc.  Then today, I could have danced on the desks.  What else could possibly be so powerful to create such a contrast in 24 hours unless it's hormones. 

I had forgotten to apply my gel for 2 days before yesterday so unsure if this has contributed to my down turn.  Then today I have applied it and get a proper boost of energy and excitement...however, I am now beginning to feel it wear off.

[Hurdity]

This is an example of my hormones; Yesterday I was in tears at work - was totally fed up and disliked myself for all my past mistakes, etc.  Then today, I could have danced on the desks.  What else could possibly be so powerful to create such a contrast in 24 hours unless it's hormones. 

I had forgotten to apply my gel for 2 days before yesterday so unsure if this has contributed to my down turn.  Then today I have applied it and get a proper boost of energy and excitement...however, I am now beginning to feel it wear off.

Mis71Mum - I think GypsyRoseLee who has posted extensively about this responds similarly - maybe you could share ideas? Glad you are feeling better today

Sparky - you're obviously twins with several women on this forum it seems - from what I've read recently! Not surprising really as we're all women in various stages of menopause and with various common ailments!

Hurdity x

[MIS71MUM]

I'm off to see a new gynaecologist tomorrow, female and a member of the British Menopause Society. Hopefully she will be able to offer guidance or at least listen to me. Paying privately for this but I need too for peace of mind.

Yes I've enjoyed today and also been able to concentrate at work too.

[walking the dog]

Good luck mis71mum at specialist

[EllaM]

Good luck from me too. Please let us know how it goes xx

[MIS71MUM]

Thanks ladies - hoping for a miracle. Xxx

[dangermouse]

I think the pill probably is the most effective as I took a week's break a couple of weeks ago to try Oestrogel and as I used probably too low a dose, even after going straight back to the pill, my own hormones had a chance to go wild again!

I was fine the first week but last weekend, which would be my Day 1-5, all my nausea came back as my own very low hormones at start of cycle plus not enough pill build up allowed the hell I had suffered before to break through. Bad timing as was in Spain and heaving at 5am every morning!

It's all calmed down now but has shown me how strong the pill controls my untenable fluctuations. Even though I still feel all the different moods, energy drops etc. it's clearly keeping the severe nausea at bay. So I'd say either the pill or very high dose HRT is what you need.

I'm hoping the severe fluctuations are not ongoing until menopause and that we'll get a gradual decline at some point, as I agree it's pretty hard to handle at times!

[walking the dog]

Mis71mum how did you get on at the specialist?