I started a year and a half ago: estrogel (2 pumps) and utrogestan 100 mg which I take for 7 days orally days 21-28, a la Studd (who I don't see as I can only afford NHS).
When I began, I was perimenopausal, normalish periods, bad pmt that was greatly helped by Agnus Castus.
I've never had typical symptoms like hot flushes or night sweats but worsening moods, not helped by a bereavement and sharp decline in circumstances, financial and family. Obviously like any other condition, hormonal problems intersect with various personal issues.
I had read that depression and anxiety at this time of life could well be due to declining hormones so was very hopeful hrt would help.
The progesterone week is always bad so I assume I'm intolerant (and no longer take the agnus castus as heard it was incompabile with HRT) but in the last 3 months the "bad" progesterone week is turning into 2 weeks or more and the specific bad feeling I'm getting is rage and it's making life unbearable.
On the physical side, while my periods faded out on the HRT for the first year and a bit (were normal til then), in the last three months they are back, long and quite heavy, and are accompanied by spots (which I never get). Also painful hand joints in one hand only out of the blue.
The combination of rage/spots/new period pattern smacks of some hormonal storm.
What can I do?
I read a post on there that HRT can make moods WORSE for some people.
On the other hand, I see that lots of you have better results by increasing estrogel to 3 or even 4 pumps.
I am torn - should I phase it out completely or increase my dose - I feel that I cannot afford to get this wrong.
I am surprised by this deterioration after a year and a half
Before switching to estrogel I was on femoston for a couple of months and did not do well on it.
Physically I do the virtuous stuff you're meant to do - mediterranean diet, no weight problem (if anything am a bit underweight with BMI at 17 though I've heard BMI is bollocks), moderate exercise, regular schedule. I force myself to do these things but would really like to be under the duvet 24/7.