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[Shearerowen]

Hello,
Feeling in distress. About to start week 6 HRT. Am on eostragil gel and prog tabs plus testosterone.
Have suffered anxiety and depression for 30 years. On meds (anti ds) and was ok before hrt.
Gone thru menapause 5 years ago ish.  Got thru flushes, brain fog, memory scariness, painful cystitis (but without a water infection) etc but had really low energy and zero sex drive which damaging my relationship.
On hrt feeling emotional, upset, anxious, irritable, depressed, awake last night from 2am feeling awful mentally.
I only used one dose of gel this morning and am thinking of missing a prog tablet tonight. Not  :'(really sure what to do? Next appointment at menapause clinic in one month.
Anyone else felt this awful? Do I soldier on or give up.
Initially libido did return a bit after about two weeks but that had now disappeared again.
  Any advice so very welcome x

[DaisyB]

ShearerOwen - welcome to the forum
Sounds like you are getting it tough at the moment. Im fairly new to HRT but after Mirena coil went in earlier this year the horrible symptoms got 10 times worse inside couple of days. After sharing on this forum I realised that progesterone was the culprit.
I started sandrena gel - and few weeks back doubled the daily dose myself - all advice on here points to progesterone being the nasty hormone - sounds like you know this already.
Once extra estrogen went in I felt great within a day or so. That said nothing happening with libido so I'll be asking for testosterone at meno clinic next month. I would think about soldering on - from what I've read on MM it can take a while for a regime to settle for a lot of women. That said maybe a quick chat with gp to see if estrogen can be increased?
Hoping things settle for you soon. Keep in touch


DaisyB x


 

[Taz2]

Hi ShearerOwen - you will find much help and friendship on here and wont feel so alone.

I'm wondering how old you are and what type of progesterone you are using. I'm not sure about the side effects of testosterone as, sadly, my menopause clinic wont prescribe testosterone unless you are going through early menopause. It could be a combination of both hormones? Were you prescribed HRT purely for low libido and lack of energy? I say "merely" like it is a small thing but I mean had your flushes etc. gone?

Taz x 

[Roseneath]

I am on Wk 10 of HRT (ellestre duet combined 1mg) and not coping last few days.  First 6 weeks felt great. Now mood really low, tearful, anxious, brain fog (put bacon in dishwasher today.....), can't switch off from worrying about it...went on HRT as wasn't sleeping but have regular periods still but much heavier since on HRT.  Have been offered one of the SSRI antidepressants but jst not sure I want to go down that route. Currently take proprananol 4mg at night which has helped sleep problems. Seen 5 different docs but just feel they give me 10 minutes then shove pills at me (one old boy gave me valium!). It is truely a horrible place to find yourself in just when life seems to ask most of you on a work/family front.

[DaisyB]

roseneath so sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. I've been on HRT since April - Mirena coil and sandrena gel. I only started to get from dreadful list of symptoms when I doubled estrogen myself. How about picking the best out of the bunch youve seen and going back for review?? I went private route in the end but only because my female Gp immigrated without much notice and I had to wait an average of 4 weeks for the dr of my choice. As well as that they were so strapped for time I often got serious symptoms ignored in favour for the easier option which was to refer for investigation to a long waiting list.
That said private GP wasn't that clued in either re meno but i have only started to get somewhere by taking this route.
It is absolutely awful that we are hit with this at a stage that is often the most difficult in women's life's. Keep in touch and I hope you get relief soon.


DaisyB xx

[Roseneath]

Thanks Daisy B. I am finding this forum so helpful and a real lifeline. So am I right in thinking that you think also that too much oestragen may cause the anxiety to increase rather than decrease? I am worried that as my hormones levels weren't tested I may not be oestragen deficient at all which would explain why my periods have been so heavy recently and mood so bad mid cycle. Had a call into a lady GP recenlt but she just said either give it another month or just stop taking it and see . My call.  I feel like they think this bad mood thing is just a minor inconvenience and if not then are straight with the anti-depressants. Wish I had a clinic near me but I live 3 hours from a big town.

[DaisyB]

Hi roseneath - for me it was low estrogen levels - once coil went in it made things worse - I only got relief when I doubled the dose of estrogen.
This past few weeks I tried reducing to one sachet per day and the awful anxiety came back almost immediately! I then tried applying my estrogen gel on my bottom instead of thigh - I think the absorption was not as good because it was a fatty area , but the anxiety came back again within a day of trying a new area.
So for me it's too little estrogen I'm afraid.
DaisyB x

[Roseneath]

Appreciate yr info DaisyB.  It's weird. yesterday was the worst day I have ever had mood wise; thought I was cracking up in a fog of doom and gloom which nothing would shift. It's only 8:30am but I feel much brighter today, like a switch - the fog and anxiety have moved - it's like I have my old head back on. I jst looked through my calendar and it seems like its day 16 and 26 that I end up in pieces and at the Doctors like there is something terribly wrong.  Woops...just burnt the Eccles cakes (trying to run a B & B here!) maybe brain fog not completely shifted!

[Taz2]

Roseneath - I still feel it could be the Norethisterone affecting you in this way. Does it happen when you are on the oestrogen only tablets?

Taz x

[DaisyB]

Strange - I just replied to you before Taz and it's disappeared?
I was saying I had a bad day on Tuesday but at least I have figured out what triggers bad days now. For me it's the low estrogen - when coil went in all symptoms got 10 times worse in a matter of days ! Only eased with estrogen and once I doubled dose it was miraculous! Hope you saved those Eccles cakes!!

[Roseneath]

Eccles cakes burnt but I took the top off and put squirty cream on them - kids loved them! Felt good at 8:30am...not so good now at 11:30am. Funny it is on the oestrogen days (Day 16 ish) I seem to get it bad. I feel like a become this gloomy, scatty version of me  and the old forward thinking, get up and go, list making person is no where. I haven't taken a HRT today....so confused as to what to do. Seeing GP next Friday, tried to put a call in but she;s on holiday. Other GP just said it's up to me to make the call.

[DaisyB]

Roseneath don't be too hard on yourself- your doing the best you can in a bad situation - I met a work colleague today (same age) she's just recovered from cancer in last 12 months and hit the menopause because of her treatment. Her dad is very close to her and they found out last week he is terminally ill and has to go into a nursing home which has been devastating news for him and her.
We talked about being this age and how the timing of the meno sucks. But it is what it is and I do feel helping each other through the difficult days is what makes a difference.
I won't find the support guidance and advice through personal experience in my Drs office.
If I were to sum up how I feel about this phase of my life it would be I'm treading water but will get back to surfing one day  

[Roseneath]

You are very wise DaisyB     I think I get so wrapped up in these symptoms that it is good to remember some people are in a much bleaker place.  If only there was a Meno Pause island we could do to for a week and just cry/hug/chat. Heaven.

[DaisyB]

   Meno island - that could spell trouble    can I have the luxury suite?

[Roseneath]

Ok so I am off the HRT after call to the GP today. He said the side effects (if they are!) heavy bleeding/anxiety/brain fog/dizzy weren't worth any benefit (better sleep). Truth is I have NO IDEA at all where my hormones are -too low, too high...we are the blind leading the blind. But anyway I am off...can't feel much worse but guess I have to wait another 8 week to see if anything shifts! Got a catch up appointment on Friday. Want by Vit B6/Thyroid bloods redone but last time they said they were fine in Feb and woudn't have changed that much. Please can someone build that luxury Meno hotel so I can check in for next 10 weeks. We have a guest house so keeping going is v hard.