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[Jstan61]

I've been taking HRT for about 9 years and tried various ones. Recently I decided that at 55 maybe I didn't need hrt anymore and have been gradually reducing the dose until I'm now taking femoston conti low dose, half a tablet a day.
It's been going well until a couple of days ago when a huge depression has hit me. I've never felt like this before even before I started hrt.
I've always been a really positive person.
Can't concentrate and don't want to do anything that involves going out. I'm in floods of tears for no reason and having unreasonable paranoid type thoughts.
I've got a phone appointment with gp tomorrow but has anyone got any tips?

[warwick01]

Jstna61

Hi it sounds like your having a hormonal crash. I had one when I stopped BCP GP thought it was a breakdown due to irrational thoughts ( I new it was my hormones) it lasted a few weeks and all settled. To be honest you were only on a very small dose of hrt, why not go back to half?? hrt has so many benefits both physical and emotional.

Quality of life is far more important

Wx

[CLKD]

HORMONES!  let us know how you get on with the appt., do you prefer to try anti-depressant meds or up the HRT dose?

[dazned]

Hi 

Lovely to have you on board sorry to hear that you are struggling !
Hopefully a problem shared....
How long have you been using half a tablet for ? Has there been any life changes which you can think of might be contributing ?
Maybe take one full tablet every other day then half the other days see if that helps. It's all about trial and error for each individual unfortunately . Keep us updated.

[CLKD]

Some ladies find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary to be useful.  It is easy to forget on our 'better' days how awful we can actually
feel  .  It gives a chart to take to the GP/Practice Nurse if necessary.

Why do you want to stop - if it's due to age, I work on the premise that Quality of Life is more important ;-)

[dahliagirl]

TBH the femeston conti low dose is such a low dose I would just stick to it until you are stable again.  Look at all the lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, vit D etc and get yourself into a nice stable place.

Then if you want to try and reduce it again, do it like Dazned says.

My husband had to reduce his steroids gradually. To start with it was reducing his dose by 2 tablets, then by one tablet, then when he got down to a smaller number of tablets (he started on 12  )  He went 3,3,2,3,3,2 then 3,2,3,2,3 etc because when you get to the smaller numbers it is only a small actual amount, but proportionally it is a BIG change, if you see what I mean.  He used to keep a spreadsheet 

[Jstan61]

Thanks everyone. I feel better just knowing someone is there to listen!
I've been taking half a tablet for about 2 months but thinking about it why do I want to stop?
Previously GP said she was fine if I stayed on hrt until I was 60 but I suppose I just thought maybe I shouldn't keep taking something that I might not need if menopause is over.
Things are quite stressful at work as well so maybe that is affecting my mood too.
Also I hadn't thought about the fact that halfing a small dose is a big change!
I'll wait and see what gp says but thanks for your thoughts 🙂

[Hurdity]

Hi Jstan61

 

I quite agree - there is absolutely no need to stop HRT at your very young age and as said you are already on a low dose.  Unfortunately oestrogen depletion as a result of menopause can lead to low moods and depression even in positive people. I am still on HRT in my mid 60's and provided there is no medical reason to stop then hot foot it back to the doc and go back to the dose that suited you. Certainly swapping HRT for anti-depressants is not recommended for hormonal depression if there is no reason for you to feel this way and especially if you are normally a positive person (as I am too!).

Menopause is for life - it is the peri-menopausal transition - when periods fluctuate and before the ovaries pack up - that ends. Oestrogen deficiency is for ever with various consequences for women's health. Some women can't take HRT and there are other options available - but if you can, then you will hopefully reap the benefits of extra years of bone and cardio-vascular protection.

Let us know how you got on with the doctor and what you decide:)

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

I spoke with 2 friends recently who are through menopause and out the other side with no further symptoms.  One was really ill for a few years as her periods waxed and waned.  Don't lose hope ;-)

[Greyhoundgal]

Hi Jstan61

Your HRT is the same one I'm on.  At Christmas I had the same thoughts as you and decided in my wisdom that I no longer needed it so weaned myself off. By March I was into total meltdown, mood swings, tears, fuzzy head and doing the most stupid things.  I had a WellWoman appointment with our local nurse practitioner anyway so spoke to her and after a long appointment we agreed that I wasn't quite ready to come off it just yet so she put me straight back on.  I now take a tablet every other day (on nurses recommendation) and I find that keeps me straight.  I'm 56 and she was quite happy for me to go back on it and stay on for as long as we both felt it necessary.  I guess what I'm saying here is go back on, perhaps on the same low dose and see how things pan out for you?

[dazned]

How did you get on ?