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[Samade]

I have wondering whether I was approaching the end stage as periods going from 18-44 days and very very light. I've been getting symptoms including mood swings normal to sad luckily not angry and night sweats for the last 4 years. when I looked at
http://www.imsociety.org/downloads/email_downloads/2012_02_16_1773491/straw10.pdf which Hurdity kindly posted it says I'm early stage 
There are days I can't see how I can cope with the uncertainty of how long it will last, yet I understand we are all different.

Due to a previous confirmed oestrogen provoked dvt as yet the consultant will not authorise any hrt. However she says guidance may be changing. I'm seeing her next week so fingers crossed it has changed as I'd rather not be on an AD. It does help in one way but has given me anxiety. I feel I'm juggling my emotions at the moment and I don't want to consider what I will feel like if she says no!
Sorry a complete ramble

[CLKD]

An AD is unlikely to 'give' you anxiety unless that happened within the first 24/36 hours.  Decide which symptoms it *has* helped so that you can talk to your GP next week.

You ramble away.  My periods waxed and waned for a few years B4 disappearing each of us is different.

Make a list of the symptoms you would like to ease?

[Samade]

perhaps 'give' was the wrong word. I felt low and emotional before I started taking them but when I started them anxiety appeared about a week later and didn't calm down for about 4 months.  I still get anxious but not all the time, when I'm feeling good I can't imagine feeling anxious and vice versa, I'm definitely worse at certain points in my cycle. I used to be a worrier but never anxious. Strangely if I'm doing a presentation or have to tackle a difficult situation I do get anxious but its 'normal' anxious and I'm ok with that I even embrace it.
Something to help night sweats and brain fog would be good and as much as I'd like to think non prescribed supplements would help if the evidence was there they would be prescribed.

[CLKD]

Anxiety for that long is trying and tiering.  (sp).  I understand situational anxiety, because once I begin what I'm there for it can burn it off.  But anxiety now has no outlet  hence the emergency drug.

Quite right, if alternatives worked they would be on the NHS.  Some ladies find alternatives work until their hormones begin to take over so any benefits are lost.

Brain fog - we have threads here, i.e. 'doing stupid things'  .  Some ADs do help flushes as a side-line but there are other treatments.  Browse round ;-)

[Lizab]

Samade, don't get too caught up in which stage. No one says "early" has to last any specified amount of time. In my case, I think I was 37 or 38 when my gynecologist started talking about peri to me. She estimated I would be dealing with it until 42. I'm 40 now and believe I'm done. I can't say for sure as I was on hrt until January, but haven't had a period since stopping the hrt so I'm well on my way to making my year of no periods. I'm still dealing with mood swings, anxieties, and occasional hot nights though. Maybe I'll finish those by her estimated 42 but I sure hope it happens faster than that!

[Annie0710]

i watched a video on YouTube yesterday that was posted on here also yesterday

It was a female gp and I'm sure she said you can have transdermal after dvt

https://youtu.be/eMTwTuvSVT0

Have a watch and see if she did mention it.  She's really good

[CLKD]

GPs are so keen on putting us all into boxes  ....... so ladies don't reach menopause until 55 but some can have very early meno which is where the Daisy web-site may be useful.  Others continue bleeding into their late 60s 

[Samade]

Some days I can handle the uncertainty of how long it's all going to last and other days I can't bare the thought of it lasting a week!

[CLKD]

Some find keeping a mood/food/symptom diary useful.  Gentle exercise is a must to protect bones, brisk walking several times a week.  Eat well and keep hydrated.

[Hurdity]

The STRAW Guidelines are based on averages of populations of women and will account for the pattern in the majority of women -  so not everyone will follow the exact pattern - you may be an exception! Also the individual stages are also very variable in length. Try not to worry about how long it's going to last and hopefully your consultant will have some positive advice for your treatment. Are you otherwise at low risk for DVT re weight, BP, alcohol, smoking, family history etc?

Thanks for that link Annie0710 great talk summarising it all! Yes the GP Dr Renee states that there is no increased risk of DVT from transdermal HRT - and that the small increased risk is from tablet HRT. There is information in the paper you kindly sent me a while back - the 2016 BMS/Women's Health Concern updated recommendations on HRT:

Transdermal administration of estradiol is unlikely to
increase the risk of venous thrombosis or stroke
above that in non-users and is associated with a
lower risk compared with oral administration of
estradiol. The transdermal route should therefore be
considered as the first choice route of estradiol administration
particularly in women with risk factors.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2053369116680501

However that's not quite the same as having had a dvt but hopefully your consultant will advise. Good luck with your meeting with her! Do let us know the outcome and hang in there.....

Hurdity x

[Samade]

thank you Hurdity, wise words as usual. On good days I can see the logic, on bad days nothing makes sense so I keep telling myself "wait a few days" and it won't seem so bad.
My weight has crept up a bit after a few all inclusive holidays but luckily I've always had the lowest end of normal bp and low cholesterol (some good genes). I'm currently training for a half marathon so I think I'm fairly fit. don't smoke, rarely drink and no other family history issues.
As it was determined my DVT was caused by estrogen in the pill this is the main reason they are reluctant to try even transdermal. However the pill I was on was much higher in estrogen than the hrt options I'm hoping she might agree to a small monitored trial. After all when I had my dvt they monitored my blood weekly for about 3 months.I have read in other countries they will allow women who are on blood thinners to have hrt so its clearly a developing issue. I appreciate the technicalites may be more complex.

[Samade]

Well just seen my consultant who has agreed to HRT. She is concerned about my risk and we talked about it at length so fingers s crossed it's worth the risk

[CLKD]

How long ago where you on The Pill?  Surely what was in the medication won't impact these days and hopefully you will have a good result with an HRT regime.

[Samade]

It was 5 years ago on a higher risk pill, much higher oestrogen levels than hrt. She's starting me on half an everol sequi patch and will see me in January so fingers crossed after all the discussions it'll work

[Hurdity]

I'm pleased for you Samade - at least you can try something cautiously which might help! I hope it works for you - do update us

Hurdity x