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[Nik2502]

Hi
I've been on Evorel 75 since August and had felt amazing - until this week. I'm suddenly back to feeling depressed and anxiety and struggling to cope.
Do any of you lady's have this experience? Is it normal to occasionally feel like this (as oppose to all the time before)?
I'm a large lady and have had such a battle to get HRT in the first place - one consultant refused to even prescribe. I know hormones or lack of them are a major part of my mental health problems which started with the menopause.
I'm 48 and started menopause at 36.
Any advice would be much appreciated x

[Dancinggirl]

I think fluctuations in mood are very normal whether on hrt or not - perhaps you are vitamin D deficient. Symptoms of Vit D deficiency are low energy, low mood, aching joints and low immunity.
Exercise is great for general health and particularly lifting the mood - could you get out for 10 minute brisk walks 3 times a day and/or go to a dance class?
If you struggle with your weight it would be wise to try and get your BMI down now, as it gets harder as one gets older and if you need to stay on HRT then you need to control weight or they might well take the HRT away due to risks. DG x

[SueLW]

Transdermal patches or gel is the ideal HRT for anyone with weight issues (me!).  Very much less risk.  Your GP was wrong to refuse to prescribe for someone who went into menopause early.

Stick with what you are doing for a week and see if things improve.  It might just be a bit of a down week.  We will get those.  If things improve you will know that was what it was.  If they don't then you could experiment.  The first thing we all think is "I need more" but I personally have found that I often need less in those cases.  You have been using the 75 patch for a while so your levels have risen somewhat and now your body may be struggling to deal with it.  The easiest way to experiment is to remove your patch and see how you feel for a 24 or 36hr period.  When I used patched I found I needed to do this quite regularly to adjust the dose I suppose.  Once you start to feel worse you know you need to put the patch back on. 

If, on the other hand, removing the patch starts to make you feel worse you know you need a bit more and might need to ask for 100 patch.  We all absorb differently.  It's not the size of the patch that's important.  It's what your oestrogen levels are like inside your body.

[Nik2502]

Thank you ladies. I'll give myself a few more days to see how I am.
I just hate waking up every day not knowing how I'm going to feel. I've had three very stable months and have probably lulled myself into a false sense of security. I just hoped I'd never feel like this again!

[Robin]

Hi Nik,
You mentioned that your dips are cyclical so I wondered if you've considered whether the progestogen you're using might be causing them?

[Noheroicsplease]

Hi,

I've been on Estradot 75 for about 6 weeks. I change it every 3 days, on advice of meno consultant - I was taking 4 pumps of Estrogel daily and absorbing nothing, estrogen was at an all time low - off the scale low - but recent blood tests show that I'm nearing 200 levels of estrogen.

I feel better, for sure. BUT, i've also had dips. I've wondered if I'm getting enough progesterone via the mirena.

The dips pass. I also take testosterone, 2 pumps of Tostran a week.

x

[Nik2502]

Hi Nik,
You mentioned that your dips are cyclical so I wondered if you've considered whether the progestogen you're using might be causing them?

Hi Robin
No it doesn't seem to be. I'm finding the vaginal utrogestan great compared to oral.
I've felt so good since the summer and stupidly thought I'd found the miracle ‘cure' but clearly not.
Nic x

[Robin]

It's so frustrating when you think you've found the solution but maybe it's just a spell of your own hormonal fluctuations going on in the background rather than being caused by the HRT. I'm much better than I was now that I have HRT but I can still feel my own hormones fluctuating in the background causing mood dips they're not nearly as severe they were although my starting point was as bad as it could get. To to be where I am now although a long way from my 'normal ' it feels like a miraculous improvement. I used 75 for a while then moved up to 100. Have you tried testosterone? I was quite reticent but it has helped my mood enormously and definitely worth trying. Hope you feel better soon
Robin x

[Nik2502]

Thanks Robin. I've actually booked to see Dr Julie Ayres in Leeds on Thursday. I've heard mixed reviews about her and testosterone but will see what she says. I just want my life back! I've had to take yet another week off work to pull myself around and I can't keep doing it.

I've also done research and found antibiotics can disrupt your absorption of HRT and I was started on them last week for a skin problem. I've stopped them as I can cope better with my skin than the anxiety and low mood!

[Hurdity]

Hi Nik2502

Do you take the vaginal progesterone all the time and if so how long have you been taking it like this? Did you notice a change in symptoms after starting it?

Hurdity x

[Nik2502]

Hi Hurdity
I take utrogestan 7 days of my cycle as I'm sensitive to progesterone.
I've been on a combination of Evorel 75 and 100mg utrogestan vaginalkt for three months.
The dip started before I took the progesterone this month.
Nic x

[Robin]

Good luck for tomorrow Nic x

[Nik2502]

Thanks robin. I'll post how I get on x

[Nik2502]

One word. Pointless! Very pro Mirena even though I had horrific experience with ectopic pregnancy and coil a few years ago.
Basically I'm too fat and losing weight is the only other thing that will help. I didn't need to pay £120 to find that out!
I feel like a second class citizen where health professionals are concerned. I'm not diabetic, I don't have high BP, I live a relatively healthy lifestyle but I've always been big. I don't see why I have to suffer x

[Yorkshire Girl]

Hi Nik so sorry to hear this. No you should not suffer, it should not matter whether you are on the big side, slim or middling, everybody deserves to have help through the rollercoaster that is the menopause. It takes time & usual different treatments to find the one that suits. I really do hope you find someone who will listen and help. Sorry I can't be more help xx