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[sed]

I am so so struggling....and what makes it worse I am only a week into HRT and to think I have to wait at least another 8 or so weeks to see a difference and in the meanwhile I am struggling with, Chest tightening, Palpitations, Shortness of breath and have noticed my eyesight seems to be deteriorating.  I feel generally run down, eat sparingly and my mood is low because I feel so run down and exhausted.  Fatigue is an issue too!  Dr is sure there isn’t anything else going on apart from menopause and anxiety so I have to just sit through pure hell until the tablets work/CBT works?  Really?  OMG. 

I try and cope by making myself busy - I nearly cooked all the meat in the kitchen just to keep busy, decorated my living room, listen to podcasts, read but because my physical symptoms are just nagging all the time I am just overwhelmed.

What else is there for me to do?  Sorry that this sounds so desperate but I am!

[Perinowpost]

Hi Sed

Sorry to hear you are struggling, which hrt are you on? Whereabouts in meno are you, and have your symptoms got worse since you started hrt?x

[sed]

I am on Femostone 1/5 to be reviewed in two weeks.  Well I would say I was peri because my last period was in March but my GP insists that the meds I am on is fine. 

I am would say my symptoms haven’t changed much - the only slight difference is I have nausea now and occasional stomach aches.  I have only been on it for 1 week.  I was wondering demanding to change to the sequential May or may not make a difference.  I am just so exhausted with it all.

[Perinowpost]

Although received wisdom is to stick with any hrt for 3 months I would swap it personally. I tried Femoston and didn’t like it. Have you thought about patches or gel?  they’re very good. I particularly like evorel patches. 

Peri is a very difficult time as hormones drop off, and cause all the symptoms you describe, but the good news is hrt can really help if you get the right one.  Unfortunately, it can take a few attempts to get the right one for you.

Don’t give up, persevere and I’m sure it’ll get better x

[CLKD]

If you aren't eating enough you will feel off colour - so snacking might help.

Also do keep a mood/symptom/food diary to chart progress. 

It is early for any HRT to kick in, the body doesn't usually get where it is suddenly.  So it takes a while for a take up of replacement hormones.

Do you have to work?  Be kind to yourself and rest when you can.  Gentle exercise.  As oestrogen levels drop off so the body may become dry: inside and out as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains.  Take pain relief when necessary.

Crashing fatigue can be common as oestrogen levels drop off. 

[sed]

Thank you - I have been signed off work for 6 weeks.  My mood has definitely gotten worse since the start of the HRT process but not sure if that is because my physical symptoms are restricting me doing my everyday things that I use to enjoy. 

I want so badly to push through and hope I am mentally strong enough.  Tried an SSRI but came off it.  All these meds need time to work and have to battle with heightened symptoms was too much. 

I have a blood test on Thursday to check my iron levels.  Not sure but worth a check I suppose.  Instead of improving I seem to be getting worse 

[CLKD]

Get the GP to check VitD levels too as being low can cause intense tiredness.  Although the UK has been bathed in sunshine we can still be low!

Rest.  Try not to plan too far ahead.  Snack, keep hydrated. 

[Floo36]

From experience things can get worse before they get better.

[CLKD]

It's whether we can bear to feel worse though  - when I had ADs I couldn't tolerate the nausea   

[JaneF]

I’m new to this too, so sending a big hug.  You mention that you’re taking tablets, have you considered patches or gels?  I only ask because the liver doesn’t have to metabolise them so might reduce some of the weird feelings you’re getting.

Wishing you all the best   

[sed]

I have made an appointment with my GP tomorrow morning.  My anxiety seems to be heightened in the past few days and not sure if it is a side effect to Femonston.  To be honest I wasn’t entirely happy with it because it was a Conti and have been advised it is incorrect.  Have had the first breakthrough bleed too (started yesterday).  Could be a reason 🤷‍♀️
 
I will see what he comes up with tomorrow and will mention patches too!

[Perinowpost]

It’s probably the effect of the continuous progesterone Sed, I know if you’re at all prog intolerant it can make you feel that way x

[Kathleen]

Hello sed

I'm sorry to read that you are suffering. Many of us can feel overwhelmed by  the menopause and all it has to offer so you are not alone.

If your GP can't help you perhaps ask to be referred to a menopause clinic.

Wishing you well and let us know how you get on with your appointment tomorrow.

K.

[sed]

So the GP has said the following :-

If i feel Femonston is causing my symptoms to be exaggerated (anxiety) stop taking it.  I shouldn’t be in Conti but sequential (not sure if that makes a difference at this stage) HRT is mainly aimed for those that have hot flushes etc. And for me anxiety is most bothersome. I should take setrolin and not take any HRT although he will confirm with his senior!

I am in such a dilemma - HELP

[Perinowpost]

He’s so wrong and completely out of touch. First line treatment for peri/meno symptoms should be hrt not anti depressants. If you are on a conti regime and cannot tolerate progesterone it will make you feel ill.  The way to get around this is to try a sequential routine, where you have oestrogen only for part of the month and then add in prog the rest of the month (to protect your womb lining). Many of us do this because we cannot tolerate prog all of the  time.

As Kathleen has suggested can you request a referral to a menopause clinic?  Definitely don’t be fobbed off by your GP though, at the very least you should go back and ask for what you want. Wishing you well, let us know how you get on x