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[Roseneath]

I am wondering whether or not to come off HRT after having been on it for 3 months (Ellestre Duet 1mg combined). I am 47 , period regular but cycles vary widely (22 to 30 days). No hot flushes. My main problem was anxiety which culminated after an upsetting family event in me not sleeping for 5 nights straight and then two weeks of insommnia....awful time. Have seen several doctors and been put on Propronanol (still taking), sleeping pills (not taking anymore)...had basic bloods 6 months ago and OK.   The thing is all the info seems to say HRT is for flushes / night sweats / dryness / libido and people who have skipped periods...I have had none of that.  First 6 weeks I felt better on HRT but last 4 the anxiety / brain fog has returned..very bad in the last few days. Also periods have been MUCH heavier since HRT with a few clots that freaked me out.  Phoned doc & she says it is basically my call. I had no blood hormone tests before I went on HRT....was told they are just a glimpse so not representative. Should I push for hormone tests over a month or just quit the HRT ? Feel like I'm just desperate to feel ' normal' again. So many of these stories resonate with me but the docs just don't seem to have a peri-menopause strategy !

[CLKD]

I take Propranlol: 20mg night and 20mg morning: for anxiety as well as an anti-depressant plus I have an emergency drug 'as necessary'.  How was anxiety prior to the 'event'?  Sometimes hormones can cause anxiety during The Change and sometimes HRT can help.

Blood tests are reliably un-reliable at this time of Life 

It can take 4-6 months to notice benefit from either HRT or ADs etc..  If you can tolerate the HRT I would stick with it  a little longer to C if you notice benefit.  Some find keeping a mood/food/symptom diary useful too.

[Cazikins]

I agree with CLKD - try & stay with it for 6 months as things may well settle down - alternatively if things don't settle then try a different type of HRT, you'd be surprised what a difference they can make.
Hope things settle for you soon.
Cazikins x

[Roseneath]

Great advice. Important question. How do you put those cute photos on your profiles?

[CLKD]

Press your name and go to 'profile' and follow ......... 'choose your avatar' ........ press go and see what happens 

[Wantmylifeback]

CLKD

When you say emergency anxiety drug are you talking about diazepam? I was prescribed them when all this started and have always been too scared to take them!

WMLB

[dazned]

Diazepam was a real help to me whilst I was trying to find a Hrt regime to suit me. I only used them on a need to basis.

[Roseneath]

I was prescribed diazapam by an old doc at the hospital when I had 4 days of not sleeping. Took them twice but found the effect only lasted for an hour or two at most. 

[Wantmylifeback]

I was thinking of taking them in the evening to take the edge off and help with my sleep.

WMLB

[Roseneath]

I have found proprananol great for nighttime anxiety.  When I had the awful insommnia it was proprananol that got me off the heavy duty sleeping tabs. I just take 4mg before bed. I found the diazapam made me ultra happy / smiley (I felt like when I imagine ' drugs' are like) but not really sleepy or relaxed. I used it twice when I felt I couldn't get through the day mid insommnia. Camomile tea is good too.

[Wantmylifeback]

Do you mean 40mg propranolol at night time, I have these and think I might pop one tonight and hope I sleep through.

WMLB

[Roseneath]

Hope you slept OK. I had my first rubbish nights sleep for ages! Too hot, felt buzzy, weird dreams. Had a row with hubby at 2am (he is a menopause denier.....thinks we an just over ride it mind ove matter....) so that didin't help. Wish there was a home hormone testing kit as I am convinced all these things are just related to changes.

[Hurdity]

Hi Roseneath - sorry to hear about your husband - not a good time for a row! There is a section somewhere on here called "Advice for Husbands". Try "The Man Shed" here https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/manshed.php - maybe print it off for him!

If your cycles are varying widely and this is new for you, then this is an indication of the early peri-menopausal transition - according to the classification (which gives the general pattern that most women follow). It isn't necessary to skip periods as such. This, combined with your age and symptoms is sufficient for doctors to diagnose peri-menopause. For some women, often pms symptoms worsen before hot flushes begin and then doctors start women on ADs or prop... as you have been given - when HRT or even the CCP would be more appropriate. The hormonal fluctuations of peri-menopause mean that women may cope less well with life stresses than otherwise.

The other thing is some women don't get on well with the progestogen in that HRT type - so if things don't improve - especially during the second part of the pack - then this could be partly to blame and a different HRT might help. Femoston is better tolerated judging by reports on here.

Other options (to reduce the mood swings) are the CCP - there are two types that have a mild oestrogen (estradiol - same as in HRT) but will at least control your cycle so hopefully reduce the hormonal anxiety. They are QLAIRA and ZOELY. This would last you through some of the transition and then you could transfer to HRT at approx 50 or so. They should also limit the bleeding.

Hope you manage to get some sleep soon.

Hurdity x

[Roseneath]

Thank you so much for your wise words Hurdity. My husband and I are like chalk and cheese so it is never dull...I think it scares him when I am not happy, organised old me; he says I am the glue that keeps the family together. Problem is at bad times this just feels like pressure not to be ' weak' - let alone have the odd nap / cry!  I got a call back today from the GP and wa told it's best to quit the Ellestre Duet if it might be causing bad symptoms I didn't previously have....so I am going solo. He thought the dizzy/low mood/heavy periods of the last 4 weeks were side effetcs. Will be interesting if things get better or worse!

[CLKD]

Roseneath - which dose of Valium were you prescribed?  It's used as a relaxant in many cases for people who suffer intense back pain, as a pre-med and for easing anxiety.  I took it the evening B4 an event that I had to attend - for years, during the 1990s - 5mg and 5mg during the next day if necessary.  Now I have another drug to grab when anxiety over-whelms me but can't remember the name  but 1mg and I'm asleep within minutes or feeling better within 25-40 mins..

As for your husband - if mine ever hinted that anything is mind over matter he would be out the door  .  Does your husband think that about diabetes, heart disease, indigestion ........... 

I take 20mg Propranolol at night: but not too close to bedtime or I get vicious reflux  : and 20mg in the morning because I had early morning headaches on 40mg at night