Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Tempest]

Hello everyone!

Wow, I have some catching up to do here! I see quite a few new members so hello to you all, and I also see a lot of news from some of the lovely ladies using Tibolone (so pleased to read good things about this, in the main)!

I have been hunkering down and plodding away building up my levels again after being transferred initially onto the Estradot 25 (nightmare), working through a couple of week's of 37.5 (next to useless) and now on 50 (very, very slow improvement - slower than when I was using Estrogel. Damn that rash, or else I would probably switch back to it despite all of my swearing about it)!

Anywho, I'm still seeing my Psychiatrist. In the new year, he wants to start Venlafaxine as he feels I have severe anxiety and depression, but has just written for input about this to my Menopause Consultant. I'm seeing him again for my pre-Christmas appointment this Friday. I'm still in two minds about whether I want to go down this road, but things are very shakey here so I need to think about this seriously as this year has seen me almost on the verge of mental collapse. It's been very scarey at times, with real periods of crisis including brief hospitalisation, crisis intervention on a couple of occasions and rescue medication to keep me somewhat stable. All I know is I was never like this before menopause!

The second week in January, I'm back again seeing my Menopause Consultant and I hear from my GP that she is now somewhat nervous about doing an estrogen implant as she is worried that if I don't adjust to it well, it could add to my mental instability. I will discuss this with her further as I'm just getting this second hand from my GP and this was following a phone conversation my GP had with her - I find this rather odd as I received a letter fairly recently from her stating that the plan was to go ahead and attempt an implant in January.

I AM very nervous myself about implants, but I am journalling my HRT experiences and symptoms and have noticed that my problem is fluctuations and that implants would lessen the frequency of these considerably. I just don't know what to do if this option is still on the table!

My other thoughts are that if this is no longer on offer, that I may ask for Tibolone as I'm chasing rainbows here constantly with trying to get my estrogen levels up and the transdermal route just doesn't seem to be a great success for me. I really don't think I'm absorbing as well as I should via this route, and my Consultant thought that the levels I achieved on Estrogel reflected this. It is relatively early days on the Estradot 50, but it is barely doing anything compared even to the equivalent 2 pumps of Estrogel. I have no breast fullness (in fact, they are very sad and floppy), I have almost total insomnia, skin is dry, mood very low and anxiety is still present (but this could very well now be an added extra issue as well as related to hormones). I never really had hot flushes anyway (except when we hit silly temperatures here in Scotland). And I'm exhausted and achy all the time.

I spoke to the GP about this, and it was agreed that I should just stick to the Estradot 50 until my Menopause Consultant appointment and persevere so, yeah - Merry Christmas! And she gave me a prescription for Diazepam to tide me over....

I have to get a plan together somehow to move ahead in 2017 - this year has been very frustrating and very, very tiring at the very least.

Should I take the AD's? I probably DO need them now but it feels like 'giving in' somehow. Do I try an implant if it's still on offer? Is Tibolone viable for me as an alternative at my age and can I take it relatively long term (I.e. at least 5 - 10 years)?

Any words of wisdom and advice would be gratefully received. Thank you all so much for listening!

[cjmca]

I'm so sorry to hear of what you've been going through. All I can do is empathise - was also hospitalised due to what I call a mental crisis, was just unable to cope with all the symptoms, and lack of care too.

I can give you one bit of advice re:Estradot - place it on your butt cheek instead of belly, and alternate butt cheeks each time you change the patch. According to manufacturer, uptake of estrogen with patch on the butt is 17-25% more effective than belly, due to butt being a muscle with greater blood flow. Although the patch is changed twice a week, I'm pretty sure it starts to run out around 2.5-3 days. I don't wait 4 days to change it, technically I change it twice every 6 days rather than 7.  Like you I found the 37.5 useless, don't think 50 did much for me. Now on the 100 and waiting...!

[CLKD]

Perhaps B4 you agree to the implant have a chat with the Medic and ask about any reservations.  What many people don't realise is that they do chat with each other and share experiences when faced with un-usual cases. 

I didn't want to take ADs because I wanted to know what was causing my depression but eventually, after several stops and starts until one suited me - about 8 months  - I realised that I had a Life again.  What's to lose?  Why is taking medication 'giving in' - to what exactly?  I don't tell anyone about my medication regime any more than I would tell them when I spend time on the loo  - the people on the Need to Know List are my GP and Husband.

Physical oestrogen rather than an implant is probably 'easier' to adjust rather than a measured amount as I think that the implant would be? 

[dangermouse]

Goodness me, when I saw the title I thought you were considering a breast augmentation!

I wouldn't be afraid to try the ADs as you may need the serotonin support as well as the oestrogen as they're all hormones after all. They shouldn't be a first line if it's oestrogen women need but you may need more of a cocktail to balance everything out.

Can the implants be removed if you don't respond well?

[CLKD]

Tamoxifen is oral?

I read 'implants' and thought of teeth 

[Otes73]

I had Tibolone after ovarian failure 2 years after my hysterectomy at age 39.
It got rid of all my anxiety/depression and gave me great energy etc. The only problem I had was headaches so now trying oestrogel and Testogel. It's been a much slower progress with this routine but no headaches. The change with the Tibolone was much quicker, if it hadn't of been for the annoying headaches I would never of stopped it.....I felt amazing! 

It would be worth a go? The good thing is if you don't like it you can just stop and revert back to the patches?

X

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi Tempest

Our symptoms are so similar. I get the overwhelming anxiety and dread, but no hot flushes.

I would recommend at least trying an AD. I also felt it was akin to giving in. But then I started to feel so bad that I stopped caring, and I was prepared to do anything to feel better.

I started taking Sertraline back in July and felt a difference with days. I started on 50mg, then slowly increased to 100mg. I was very pleased with it, and had to keep pinching myself because I couldn't believe I was actually starting to feel better. It made me feel slightly dreamy, and pretty tired most of the time, but I didn't mind.

But, I still had a return of my symptoms every month, just after ovulation, but I could cope with it better, and the dip only lasted a few days.

But this month, something has changed again, and it feels like the tablets have stopped working all of a sudden. Rationally I know this won't be the case, but it's 'something' my body/hormones are doing differently? I don't know what?

I have broken down in tears to my poor husband several times this last week, and feel so low and desperate again.

But, you could at least give them a try?

[Annie0710]

GRL

I've just had a thought, my friend has been given tablets to stop her ovulating, would that help you ? Xx

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi Annie

I have heard of Zoladex injections which stop you ovulating. I know some women have them to cure severe PMS. I don't know how effective they are?

What does your friend have them.for?

[Annie0710]

I can't remember GRL, she briefed over it as I dropped the dogs off for our holiday in September.  I think because she was bleeding too heavily and frequently , she said they'd given her something to stop ovulation and it's working

I'd search all the avenues, there may be an answer for you out there.  It's too nasty for you to carry on suffering xx

[dangermouse]

GRL - I know of some women (think it might be mainly in Australia) where docs prescribe SSRIs for a few days or half the month for meno symptoms. If it is a desensitisation that you're having this might give you a break to avoid this and then you could just take them for the middle part of cycle when symptoms are worse and the stronger effect may come back. Check with your GP if they do that here.

If you were at max dose of Sertraline you would feel very tired in the mornings (as in too tired not just relaxed and sleepy) as this happens to people who no longer need the Sertraline because the stress cause has lowered.

[GypsyRoseLee]

It's interesting what you say about the tiredness DM. Since starting on Sertraline I have certainly felt much more tired overall, and especially in the mornings when I really don't want to get out of bed. But it's actually a really nice sleepiness, and infinitely better than waking in.panic at 4am.

But for the last few days that sleepiness & tiredness have gone, and I have started walking earlier and earlier, feeling anxious again. It's horrible.

I have been on 100mg for the last 8 weeks, and felt it was really working. But after the dip last month, and then this worse dip this month, I increased to 125mg a few days ago.

I don't know if I have just got myself into a vicious circle now. And I'm panicking myself because this dip is the worst yet, and so I'm making myself so anxious which is making me wake early again. But then I would have thought Sertraline should stop that vicious circle from starting?

[CLKD]

If the problem is hormonal then the dips will be a specific 'time', they can also over-ride the AD.  How are you today?

[dangermouse]

Yes I think thats probably it too, the lift in tiredness is a sign the Sertraline is being overridden. It will possibly calm down when in the calmer part of your cycle so the higher dose is a good idea or look into the cyclical dosing.

Peri hormone surges can go much higher than other times in your life so you may need to fight back with the stronger doses or targeted time frames.

Getting anxious about it is a natural reaction, especially with your fear of things getting worse again, but at least you know the level of relaxation you're striving for rather than just feeling around in the dark.

Also when you're feeling overwhelmed tell yourself (shout it to yourself if necessary!) that EVERYTHING WILL BE OK! Because that is the truth.

[Hurdity]

I haven't read all this thread - but all contraceptive pills - both the combined ones and the progestogen only mini-pill - prevent ovulation - which is why women are often given them in peri-menopause as they prevent mood swings, and especially the newer ones with estradiol in. Both contain high doses of progestogen though so you need to be able to tolerate this for them to work. However  - would be an alternative to anti-depressants for those who would rather. I'm not sure if there are other tablets too as well as injections?

Sorry that's off topic to the implants and the OP - but just picking up on what Annie0710 said!

Hurdity x