Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[loonarider]

Hi there,

Since I am terrified of anti-anxiety meds, I've decided on my GP's recommendation to try sequential combined therapy, but first I'd like to hear anecdotes from you all.

I''m just going to list my symptoms here, then I'd like to know what you think would possibly the best hrt for me - then I'll raise it with my GP and wiegh it all up.

Most days I am dealing with chest tightness and air hunger and I would describe it as a feeling like a band is tightening round the diaphragm area, under the breasts where my bra sits (don't wear bra;s anymore due to this).

Consisten panic attacks that sometimes last all day in bouts, and most days of the week. General dryness - throat dries up real bad at night to the point I feel like I'm choking, dry mouth accompanied by the sensation of eating hot chillis, mild flushes (no sweat but is noticeable, weird adrenalin surges throughout my body as if I'm on a rollercoaster, vertigo, racing heart rate that is more noticeable as soon as I go to bed and want to relax, foggy brain quite like I've cotton wool stuffed up there and nowt else, easily startled to the point I nearly jump out of my skin, irritability, nasal congestion at night mostly, forgetfulness, my vagina seems to have started to become a bit drier, mood swings, persistent cough, and the feeling as though I'm going to have the flu, but it never materialises.

All these symptoms are exacerbated 10 days before my period shows up, and sometimes doesn't leave for a week after it starts. So really I get probabyl at most a weeks break somewhat from the severity of these symptoms.

What would you suggest I should take? I keep hearing norithesterone, but isn't that mostly progesterone? Some if not most of my symptoms sound like estrogen depletion - but what do I know.

Need clarification and your thoughts on this, would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

p.s. If I had to get rid of at least two symptoms it'd be the panic attacks and breathing issues.

[Hurdity]

Hi loonarider

Your post got missed.

Sorry to hear about al your symptoms. I'm not sure they can all be down to the menopause though eg the chest tightness etc. Has this been checked out at all?

The main thing is - what is your cycle doing? Are you having regular periods still or are the cycles irreegualr and if so how long are they ie how much time between each period? This wiil tell you where you are in menopause - very approximately.

If they are irregular but frequent and you are under 50 and otherwise healthy the combined pill might help and there a couple designed for peri-menopause - because they would regulate your cycle and hopefully dampen the worst of the hormonal surges and hopefully some of the pms you are experiencing. One such tablet is QLAIRA which I think only has dummy pills on two days and the rest of the time you take oestrogen, and I think ( if I remember) progestogen on 17 of these (approx!). The oestrogen doses are variable but eventually ovulation is suppressed.

As for norethisterone - this is a synthetic progestogen and would never be recommended for menopausal symptoms as its sole function is to protect the womb lining. Sometimes women are givien a course of treatment with it if theiry are having excessive bleeding and it is also a component of many HRT types ( to protect the womb).

Hope this helps a little?

Hurdity x

[Jule1]

Hi,
Just wondering if you found relief for your symptoms? I am experiencing pretty much the same thing - with panic attacks/ anxiety and breathing issues being the worst, closely followed by severe digestive problems and very few good days... like you I also have nasal congestion and the constant ‘I am getting a flu’ feeling and the persistent cough. Oh the joy...! Have you found something that works? I hope things have improved for you...
Best, Jule