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[Mag19]

I had an early menopause at 40, no hrt because of cancer risk according to gp. Have always suffered low mood anxiety etc. Recently at 55 had ovaries and tubes removed due to cysts and pain. I immediately got hot flushes and severe anxiety. They gave me oestrogen gel and progesterone tablet, stopped anxiety but suicidal about 10 days in. Stopped progesterone after reading posts here and the severe urge to die left me. Felt ok for a few days then raging anxiety whihc wakes me early, constant crying. Stopped oestrogen as can't take it alone, still have womb. Gp has offered patch with both oestrogen and progesterone as apparently transdermal will be less likely to cause suicidality. I'm am scared to take anything but remain crazy anxious and tearful daily and don't want to live like this. I'm not actively suicidal I am too chicken to do anything but if I could just turn myself off forever I would. Do I try again with hrt? I hate antidepressants but maybe I need them? Family concerned but clueless as to how to help. I cannot continue like this. Thanks for reading.

[CLKD]

What cancer risk exactly?  Not *another* mis-informed GP?

Many find progesterone rocks the boat  .  I am sure that someone will be along but I am sure that patches are less likely to cause problems, some don't have progesterone very often but do undergo regular scans to make sure that the womb lining isn't too thickened.


Do you have a dedicated GP interested in womens' health at your Surgery?  You can see on the web-site by the Qualifications, or ask.  Do you keep a mood/symptom/food diary, some ladies find it useful. 

Browse round.  Make notes.  This too will pass but you may need assistance to ease symptoms.

[Mag19]

At the time (15 years ago) there was still uncertainty about hrt and cancer and my gp said cos I would be on it for much longer starting at 40 it was not a good idea. And that's as far as the conversation went. I will try the patches I already do what I can food and exercise wise and was reasonably ok but this recent op has rocked me. I never suffered from anxiety much before, more low mood so it feels different. I can only surmise that the little bit of hormone my ovaries were supplying has now gone and that's why I am so wobbly. Or I'm having a total breakdown.

[Dotty]

Hi unfortunately your GP has given you incorrect information. There is very little risk of taking hrt before the age of 50 as you are just replacing what your body is missing. X

[CLKD]

15 years ago GPs were fixed on 'might'  but those results have been discredited.

Your body is in shock so be kind to yourself. 

[Hurdity]

Hi Mag19

 

Sorry to hear you're suffering and also that you have been given bad advice by medics.

The only combi patch is Evorel conti (or sequi but you would have a bleed with that). I would go  back to your doctor and firstly ask for a DEXA scan oir some sort of bone density assessment because you went through early menopause and have been 15 years without oestrogen. In your position I would also try the patches offered or alternatively ask for an oestrogen patch with separate progesterone - not the one you had before (which was probably utrogestan if it was given with the gel?), but tablet Provera whoich is sometimes better tolerated. Alternatively you could have a Mirnea coil to protect your uterus and then have oestrogen up to a level where you felt OK - although as your reaction to progestogens maybe unpredictable perhaps not this one as you might want it removed soon after insertion if you don't get on with it!

Let us know what you decide and how you get on

Hurdity x

[Tc]

Mag. Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time.
I had my ovaries and tubes removed last year. Because I was 53 at the time it was assumed by docs the surgical meno wouldn't  have such a big effect  as I would be going through it soon naturally anyway. anyway. They were wrong.
 
surgical meno is different. Even at our age and one of the main reasons is testosterone. The ovaries make 50 per cent of it and it does not decrease at meno the same way eastrogen does. It decreases gradually  with age. So with surgery the is a big drop instantly.also the testosterone made by the ovaries can convert to eastrogen when levels are low so that might explain why you noticed such a difference with them gone even though you were post meno already.
Testosterone prescription by docs seems to be hit and miss. But .it is considered that in particular oopherectomised ladies should be offered it.if they wish.

Even my anti HRT gynae actually suggested it to me.  I had thought that eastrogen levels had to be raised first but she said not in surgical meno.as we know force fact your levels will have at least halved.

Have you had blood tests. I think it might be usefuul.  it has helped me to see how much eastrogen I'm absorbing and to monitor testosterone.  Whilst blood tests are not always accurate due to fluctuations in natural peri, that is not the case in suremeno. The tests are more reliable as were working at a "ground zero" level as far as ovarian activity is concerned.

Ii dont know if you feel the same but I have felt because of my age the effects of suremeno are underestimated Not just by docs but by a lot of women I meet. Not on here I hasten to add. Everyone on here is very supportive and understanding

Keep posting wont you
X.

[racjen]

Just wanted to add my support - I had a chemotherapy induced menopause aged 50 three years ago, and it has been absolutely bloody awful, unbearable anxiety and suicidal depression. Have tried various HRT options, and while a high level of oestrogen seems to help with the depression, the anxiety is untouchable by any drug known to the medical profession. So my life has become a bit of a nightmare. I've had a lot of problems with anti-depressants - the side-effects are ususally too much to handle, but have now been on fluoxetine for 3 weeks and waiting to see if something good begins to emerge over the next few weeks. I was also prescribed testosterone, but for some weird reason it also made me very depressed. You have my heartfelt sympathy - these menopausal mood symptoms are just the worst thing ever xxx

[Mag19]

Thanks for all the replies. My gp won't prescribe testosterone, I think I read on here about it and asked her but she never offers it. I will ask again given the oopherectomy. She has prescribed conti patches so will give it a go as this anxiety level is unbearable. It's weird I wake up in a panic, sweaty, gut churning terror, I am worrying constantly about my family and bad things happening, although we have had a run of ill health in the family which has felt like a curse so I expect it's a combo of how I feel and what's already happened.
I've had a bone scan and have osteopaenia but I really have to chase to get it and feel rather demanding, I usually have to remind them I had an early menopause and it's recommended and will save me crumbling on them later on!
I am so shocked at how intense people's mental health is affected by menopause and I wonder how we can help ourselves more collectively. This forum is a godsend but I feel I need to see people. My friends are all in the ball park of menopause with varying experiences, some breezing it most not. All have said it just feels difficult to talk about and a lot of what you feel is so confusing, no one ever said it affected your head so extremely.
Anyway will report back on conti experience, I'm quite scared as I know it will take a while to settle on it and I'm really not very tolerant of side effects. Will keep researching, am going to get to the bottom of this somehow!

[CLKD]

Why not anti-anxiety medication until the HRT kicks in?  It really doesn't matter on causation, anxiety is anxiety.   

Cortisol - the waking up hormone - can be troublesome, I would wake up in the early hours in deep, pre-hensile fear 

Let us know how you get on?

[Burden]

If you really feel like you need to see people, maybe go with that hunch. I hope you feel better soon, Mag19.

[Mag19]

Racjen how are you doing? I have tried the conti patches for 10 days now, initially they miraculously stopped the crying and gradually the anxiety went down day 4 best day I have had in years. However day 10 and the tears are back, the dark thoughts of deep worthlessness, I just don't get it. Why did it work at first? Did it get me to some hormonal level that worked for me but as I continue with it the levels go up/I get used to it? Do I up the dose if possible, try anti depressants 😫 do something totally different. I will re visit the testosterone and getting a blood test for actual levels but gp will be reluctant. I don't want to keep chopping and changing trying to reach some kind of normal if that is unlikely as the ups and downs are doing my head in completely.

[CLKD]

Your body won't get where it is suddenly so any extra HRT may be effective initially but if your own hormones are waxing and waning it can cause problems.  Do you keep a mood/food/symptom diary?