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[pollenB]

Hello everyone!  I have been taking Kliovance for 30 days. I'm also on Prozac for anxiety (for a few years now). I turn 50 in a couple of weeks. I was hoping for so much more, I am anxious for advice here.  I am getting awful joint aches in the night, groin pain, elbows, hips, shoulders, leg muscles, (mostly on the rhs) it wakes me and it's quite terrifying as I can't move my limbs to relieve it.  I also now seem to be having vivid dreams, almost night terrors. Sweats at night are much worse.  And the anxiety when I wake up is more heightened than before. I call that feeling of fear/panic on waking the 'heebie jeebies'.  For the past few weeks it's like I'm existing in a parallel world not properly engaged at all.  I'm feeling despair as I thought within a couple of weeks of hrt I would be feeling improved.  It's another 2 months til I go back to see the GP, but I don't know if I can stand this much longer.  Is it common, what would others do?    Thank you all. x 

[Taz2]

Hi pollenB - so sorry you are having such a horrible time but there will be lots of help and advice coming your way now!

Is this first HRT you have tried and how long is it since your last period? It can take three months before you know whether a particular HRT suits you or not. There are loads of different ones out there so don't despair. It can take a couple of tries before you hit on the right one but we are all here to support you.

Taz x 

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hello pollens- sorry you're having such a horrible time. Your symptoms are " normal " but it does seem as if the Kliovance isn't really agreeing with you. It contains a synthetic progesterone norethisterone which is notorious for side effects in sensitive women. I stayed on it for a month and I was going dolally so I came off and tried a patch which also had similar effect but mood improved when I cut it in half.
They do say to give it 3 months but that's a long time when you're feeling so ill so maybe it's not for you and you'd be better with a patch or separate oestrogen ( patch or gel) and progesterone.
You don't say where you are in this- are you peri or post menopausal? Your own hormones could also be kicking in and you're getting too much of one or both hormones.
I'd suggest reading upon the HRT preps on this site and going back to doc- watch out for norethisterone in the preps- quite a few women don't tolerate this very well ( or any form of progesterone but that's another story)
Femeston seems to be better tolerated if you like the idea of a tablet. I hope you find something that suits you soon but be prepared to try and give it time to work. Let us know how you get on x

[Hurdity]

Hi pollenB

 

I agree with what the others have said . Maybe you were given Prozac for hormonal anxiety? Had you started getting irregular periods when this was prescribed and did you have other symptoms at that time?

Hurdity x

[pollenB]

Thank you for kind and helpful replies.  Yes, this is my first HRT, and my last period was over 18 moths ago. Prior to that they came about 11 months apart for 3 years.  I was prescribed Prozac some 5/6 years ago for anxiety, and although I recall it helped at first I have felt it hasn't been helping me now for ages.  It seems I may need to change to a different hrt.  I am waiting for blood tests then I'll go back and see my GP.  She said we should sort out the hrt before we looked at the Prozac.  But I can't stand this!  Good to know there is so much help and advice out there. Thank you xx

[babyjane]

Hello, you are very welcome to the forum.  You could be describing what I started to experience when I was only a couple of years older than you are. I didn't know about this forum back then and I was back and forth to  2 of the GPs at our  practice for some years with the different symptoms.  I realised it was menopause when I had my first night sweat and started getting hot flushes.

To cut a long story short HRT didn't suit me at all and I got through without it, but once I found this forum I learned a lot about managing things and the support here is worth a lot.

I am now 60 and things have calmed down a lot but I can still remember feeling as you describe when I was at the start.

[pollenB]

Thank you BabyJane, I am glad that  you have found a way through. I already feel more positive knowing about this forum.  I can't stop visiting it!  I am also lucky in that my hubby and family are totally supportive.  There's an underlying feeling that I just don't really know what I am asking for when I visit my GP.  I just know that I am not the same person I used to be, and it can't be impossible to get my balances back again can it?  I had so much zest for life, and now I struggle to face each day. x

[babyjane]

No, it's not impossible but it may take time.  There is not an overnight fix like a paracetamol for a headache.  I believe HRT takes several months to kick in and sometimes it takes several goes to get the right one.  I am sure other ladies will tell you more about that.

In my experience it is not called the 'Change' for nothing.  For ages I wanted my old self back but I had to reach a point of acceptance that my old self was my younger, fertile, fitter self and she is gone and will not return.  that is not to say I cannot accept and embrace my middle aged self and my limitations but that didn't happen overnight.  I fought it for a long time and made myself worse.  It was a long process and it does seem daunting when you are at the start of it all.

I found it was a bit of a grieving process at first for my old self but now I have come to quite like my new, older, wiser self but first you have to get to a point of feeling a bit better.  A supportive family and a supportive GP is worth an awful lot 

[Hurdity]

Hi again pollenB

Interesting that you only started Prozac a few years ago - and I wonder if your cycle had already become erratic at that point? Sometimes women experience anxiety for the first time when approaching  or during peri-menopause (ie just before cycles become irregular when pms often worsens). In the absence of cyclical changes docs may prescribe ADs when actually the cause is hormonal rather than life events - especially if it is new onset anxiety.

Re your symptoms and HRT preparation now: that one is a continuous combined HRT which is usual if you are post-menopausal but means you are taking progestogens all the time which can be associated with low grade side effects - all the time. That particular brand contains norethisterone which can cause side effects in susceptible women.

Great that your doc wants to sort out HRT in your position. Although the advice is generally to give an HRT type 3 months to allow your body to acclimatise before trying a different one, personally I would want to opt for a cyclical HRT in the first instance - so you can get the dose of oestrogen right that eliminates night sweats, and find a progestogen that gives the least side effects.

If you like to take tablet hRT then Femoston is often better tolerated as the progestogen is more similar to progesterone (that we make in our bodies). It also comes in two strengths - the 1 mg like you are taking or 2 mg. That would be my next choice if your symptoms don't settle. You might then be able gradually to come off the Prozac.

Not sure what blood tests the doc is doing but presumably such as to rule out other causes of your symptoms?

Hope this helps and let us know how things progress - and hope your symptoms subside soon

Hurdity x

[pollenB]

Thank you all for your helpful advice.  I have hunkered down for the past few weeks.  It's been grim, I can't believe this is even me.  But in 3 days time I see my GP again, and I can get off these godforsaken hrt tablets.  I can honestly say that the past few weeks have been horrendous.  I have given up and am just counting down the sleeps.  My groin and hips and knees wake me every night now with hot and fizzy pain, I can't move my legs at the hips at all.  Sometimes my elbows, shoulders and digits Hurt too, but that's nothing compared to the rhs groin hip area.  I meet a friend every week now for coffee as part of my trying to stay human.  When we leave I have to spend about 2 minutes trying to manipulate my hip into a place where I can stand up and leave the table.  She believes me but I feel remarkably pathetic  I just cant push through the stabbing pain to get myself straightened up, if that makes any sense.  Sometime it happens when I get out of my car.  I can't stand it.  I hate it that I just dont realise whats going on.  if my husband wasn't so sympathetic then I couldn't cope    I read my first post, and it makes me realise just how bad and low I have become now    If this is hrt then I want to press the off button xxx

[Tapnut45]

Hi pollenb
Sorry you are having such a rotten time recently and that the HRT isn't going well so far. Not long now till your doc's appointment- allthe ladies on here recommend looking around the site and doing some research into what you want to try, and understanding what's in it and what you need in terms of cyclical or continuous hormones. If you go to the docs with a bit of a plan, you're more likely to come out with what you want. I didn't want to take conjugated esteogens as it come from horse urine, and after finding out about different types, I've gone for Femoston 1/10.
Daft question but are you taking any painkillers for your joint pain? I find paracetamol tablets with the addition of ibuprofen gel 10% makes me more comfortable (knees, right elbow, lower back.....)
Try and get as much rest as you can, be gentle with yourself and don't be ashamed to say "I can't do that today, I don't feel up to it".
Hope you have a good doc appt, good luck.

[Tapnut45]

Oh, I also just remembered seeing that others on here see the phyio or osteopath for their pain, your doc could refer you for physio on your hip? Worth asking as it's getting you down and restricting your movement so badly.

[Feelingbetter]

Hi I'm new to the forum as of today although I've dipped in and out and viewed posts whilst suffering in silence! I'm 53. Just under 3 years ago started to feel really low, lost that jump out of bed feeling in the morning, became very tearful over the slightest thing, angry at everything, low, tired debilitating lack of energy or desire to do anything, from book a holiday to go out in the evening to see friends. Also gained over 2 stone and suffered from still regular but elongated, heavier more painful periods. So 2 years ago  had a merina coil fitted with fantastic effect on my periods, they ceased completely which in it self made me feel a bit better but the mood, tears, tiredness continued. Finally after knowing what to do but sitting on the fence for 2 years wondering whether I should or shouldn't I went to my GP and asked for everol patches. I've been on Everol 25 for the last four weeks and cannot quite believe the change it has made to my whole mood, ability to cope with day to day situations and my general outlook on life, no more tears when I look at a pile of washing that just appeared from nowhere, no more foggy head, extreme tiredness. They really have been life changing cant quite believe it. I feel slightly stupid for not asking for them sooner. Id researched it made apts with GP and then had second thoughts. Anyhow just glad to be feeling a lot better and onwards and upwards. Wanted to share my HRT solution might not be right for everyone but if you are out there feeling awful it can make a difference.

[Shell]

Hi all,
Ive visited this forum so many times but ive finally joined today.
My story so far im 35 (just) i had severe endo and adenomiosis since age 12...not confirmed until trying for children age 20. I have had 7 laps and at age 31 had a hysterectomy. Still suffered with migranes due to my ovaries and would spend almost 3 out of 4 weeks with a migrane. In Oct last year the decision was made to take my ovaries, so started prostap and was given tibolone (no real difference). I had a BSO in April this year, the op was painless and i was back to normal in a few weeks.
Now for the feeling like id been thrown underca bus part!!!...after a week i was having hot flushes, insomnia mood swings, i literally felt like id been hit by a bus. I was then taken off tibolone and put on estraderm 50 patches, helped in some ways...but skin hair and joint pain was horriffic!!! Plus the patch wouldnt stay on more than a day as i exercise daily and have a physical job. My GP unwilling to help as i was too complex...referred to meno clininc but a 4 month wait??!! Paid privately was put on Sandrena but had migranes horrific, tried oestrogel but had a skin reaction and migranes. Finally on a patch of evorel been upped to 100mcg but because of the size of patch...it doesnt fit anywhere and causing horrific 48hr skin irritation after removal, but again GP will not offer the smaller patch of estradot as its too expensive!!!. I have 20 years of this and cant live with a patch the size of my hand for 20 years. Plus since it was upped from 75 to a 100 i have had backache...is this normal???
Sorry for the long post x

[babyjane]

Hi Shell, welcome to the forum.  I am a bit concerned that your post might be missed in the middle of PollenB's thread and you might not get the replies and advice you need.

Can I suggest you start a thread in the New Members section and copy and paste your post there.  I think more ladies will see it then as you clearly need some suggestions and advice from those who know about these things, especially as you are only young.

Feelingbetter, welcome to you too, please introduce yourself also in the New Members section