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[Rosepetal73]

Because I feel really low; not much better than the progesterone phase  I am on day 7 of my cycle surely I should be feeling great?  I am on estradot 50 mcg and utrogestan for days 15 - 26.  I am not sure I can stand three months of this, I am almost ready to rip the patch off and start the sertraline.  I am taking HRT for low mood symptoms, not many physical symptoms yet.  Maybe I should try the HRT when I have more physical symptoms, when I’m not struggling with empty nest syndrome and the Coronavirus situation is better (even going out for a coffee is depressing!)

[CLKD]

 

how were your moods during your menstruating years?  I would feel low and nauseous in the 10 days prior to a bleed.  HRT takes a while to kick in, especially if the body is low B4 it is prescribed.

[Rosepetal73]

Thank you for the hugs 

I am/was still having regular 26-28 days cycles.  I suffered anxiety from age 11 which eased and then I had the most horrendous PND after my first child in my twenties and since my early forties I noticed lack of confidence, low self-esteem and periods of deep despair and it’s gone gradually downhill from there.  I am very noise sensitive and have regular episodes of paranoia

[CLKD]

Does peri relate to your 40s?  Maybe you need an anti-anxiety medication to ease those symptoms, which will allow you a clearer head to make informed decisions.  Some need HRT and other meds. for a while to keep 1 on an even keel. 

Is the paranoia treated with medication?  Are you supported by a mental health team?  Hormone upheaval can certainly play havoc with emotions, maybe have a look-see at the National Association for Pre-menstrual Syndrome web-site.  Dr Dalton did a lot of work on how hormones can affect women, causing some to commit crimes pre-menstrually. 

Was your PND treated and was there an element of paranoia then?

[Rosepetal73]

The paranoia isn’t too bad, it’s a low level thing but it’s still pretty uncomfortable maybe better described as extreme anxiety?  I am not supported by anyone and the whole hormone thing is something I’ve dealt with over the years but has increased since my early forties.  The PND wasn’t treated, I had a breakdown when my son was 18 months old and then it faded away over a few years.  I have quite a lot of insight into my mental health but sometimes it catches me off-guard.  The realisation that peri started to erode my self-esteem came as surprise, I just thought it was dealing with teenagers and I had become worse at my job!

[CLKD]

It's often a combination: hormone upheaval, we age so are taking on more responsibilities; kids, ageing parents, marriage/divorce ....... ; we take on too much and it hits.  Suddenly.  All within normal limits 

Paranoia is a specific diagnosis.  One needs to seek professional advice B4 it takes over, a friend suffered for 4 years, tried to keep it hidden.  We were in our mid-50s at the time.  ? hormones ?

Now that you know it's hormones ?  Do you feel easier?

[Rosepetal73]

I always knew it was hormones; it has that same PND feel but at least this time I don’t have a new baby to care for.  I thought the HRT would help but I feel worse, apparently I have a histamine reaction to the estrodot patches and I was completely unhinged on the utrogestan even though I was on  half the dose vaginally!  This is not going well but on the up side I am so much more educated about the options available even if my body has other ideas 

[CLKD]

That's good.  Little steps.