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[SaraC2773]

Hi guys,

I'm still debating whether to try HRT.  I'm using vagifem but obviously this is only giving a local benefit and I'm really suffering from hot flashes,  aching,  dizziness on and off,  dry eyes,  dry mouth,  weight gain, and just generally feel pretty rubbish a lot of the time.

I have recently gone back on venlafaxine as it always worked well at curbing my Health Anxiety and whilst it is helping I'm still worrying most days that I have something seriously wrong with me and some days I just feel really low and flat.

I'm just wondering if anyone has found that HRT has helped with their anxiety?

My sister in law has just started patches and found they are really helping and regrets suffering for so many years before trying them and I don't want that to be me.

Also,  does anyone have any suggestions as to where to start with HRT?  My GP has already said if it gets too much to let them know and we can try HRT but I get a bit confused and overwhelmed with where to start with it all!

Thanks

Sara

[pepperminty]

https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/what-is-hrt-and-how-does-it-help-skill-boosters-video


https://d2931px9t312xa.cloudfront.net/menopausedoctor/files/information/379/Menopause%20and%20me%20v15-03.pdf

Hi,

The gold standard is utrogetan and gel /patches. As this is body identical . Usually starting on a sequential regime if you still have periods or continuos if you don't.  But with a regime where you  take the progesterone for 14 days a month to get a bleed, you can see if it suits you. Have a look at the treatment tabs at the top of this forum.
Start on a low dose and stay for 3 months working your way up, seems to work well. You have to give your body time to adjust and build up the dose until the symptoms lessen.

It does help with anxiety as this is very common with perimenopause and menopause. It took me 3 months to bed in to HRt and I felt a bit dodgy at first, but it really helped me.

If the utrogestan doesn't suit you there are other ones to try. But alwys give it a few months to work and don't chop and change.

There are loads of women out there who taje HRt and you would not know it, as they are living perfectly normal lives.

Look at the loiuse Newson website also. I have put a couple of links up for you. Also she has pod casts that are great.

apologies for the typo's as banging this out quick as being called for dinner!

Good luck

Peppermintyxx

[CherrySG]

It does in my experience. I was put on  antidepressants for anxiety at age 47, I just used to worry dreadfully about everything, all the time. Of course now I suspect the anxiety was perimenopausal and partly circumstantial. Wish I'd known about Hrt and anxiety sooner.

It's taken about 18 months but it's gone now. I'm even off the ssris, although I do appear to get apathetic and depressed a lot. So I've traded anxiety for low mood! I'm trying Utrogestan as my progesterone instead of Provera in the hope that it will diminish the low mood. Way better than the anxiety though, and supplements can help with low mood. I'm 57 now and started Hrt at 55. I'm basically never anxious now but I seem to have traded that for not caring enough about things 

Like Pepperminty says, the safest is considered to be transdermal oestrogen (gel or patch) and bio identical progesterone (Utrogestan).

[SaraC2773]

Thank you both 

I think I definitely need something and that's really useful advice.

I will take a look at the links and speak to my GP.

[racjen]

Hi Sarah, in my experience it should help, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will. I had really acute,  disabling anxiety and depression which was definitely menopausal, but although a high dose of estrogen certainly helped with the depression, it's been impossible to find a hormonal solution to the anxiety. After taking an overdose twice I've ended up taking two different psychiatric drugs as well as HRT. Thank god I'm finally anxiety free though. after 4 years of hell x

[pepperminty]

 

Great and if you do decide to go on HRT and find you are feeling good , do pop back and put in a quick post and let us know , as positive stories are encouraging to hear.   I do recommend the pod casts .

https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/podcasts

PMXX

[SaraC2773]

Thank you Rachjen

Wow sounds like you've really been through the mill! I don't think I'll ever be completely free of my mental health symptoms as I've always been prone to it but I definitely think it has increased 10 fold since my hormones started going haywire!  I am really pleased to hear that you are now feeling better.

I literally feel sad that I'm ageing so rapidly,  this week I've had a burst blood vessel in my finger and now one in my eye.  I am prone to both of these conditions,  I think the finger thing is called "Achenbach Syndrome" and I seem to have a weak vessel in one eye which pops.  I did speak to the GP back earlier this year  who did clotting/blood tests as my HA convinced me that I had some life threatening disorder but it was normal and she said I just have a weak vessel in one eye which is quite common and the hand thing again is just "one of those things".

Thing is,  I never had either of these when I was younger and from reading up it does appear that the lack of estrogen weakens blood vessels.

As I very rarely have a period and the last one was hardly anything,  I think I am very much estrogen deficient!

Pepperminty I will keep the forum updated as I totally agree that positive stories help others.  I have to say that up until visiting this forum and watching Davina McCall's programme I wouldn't have considered HRT as the press have always tended to focus on the negatives like the increased risks of cancer,  blood clots etc.  It's funny how they don't mention the effects that the lack of estrogen has on heart,  blood vessels,  bones,  skin and just about every other body system!

[pepperminty]

Hi Sara,

i just posted a pod cast , i have listened to today - you may find it helpful - it is an easy and very reassuring.

PMXX

Racjen- great to hear that you have found some stability after years of torment. Long may it continue.xx

PMXX

[CLKD]

I remember your struggles racgen - little steps.  So pleased that you feel so much better 

HRT can help with anxiety.  Do U keep a mood/food/symptom diary Sara to chart progress?  I have successfully used Bachs rescue remedy mouth spray.

[SaraC2773]

Ooh thank you Pepperminty, I will be sure to listen to that.

CLKD, I don’t keep a diary but the weird thing is the last few months I have been going to the gym 4-5 times a week. The last few weeks I’ve also been paying close attention to my diet and cut right back on sugar, processed foods etc and I’ve been feeling worse than ever.

In fact I’ve done 2 COVID tests as I’ve felt so out of sorts with weird symptoms, I wanted to be sure it wasn’t that. I’m now thinking it must be hormones or lack of. Also had really sore boobs 

[sheila99]

Anxiety is one of those things that can be caused by low oestrogen but also has other causes. My anxiety came with peri and has been completely cured by hrt though it did take 3 months. If you had anxiety before your levels starting dropping it's less likely to work. There is nothing worse than suffering when you don't have to so I'd suggest you try it for 3 months and see how you feel. I decided quality of life was far more important than the small increased risk (but for me life was hardly worth living without it).

[vintagefiend]

hi Sara,

the short answer is "yes", but the difficulty for me arose during peri when hormones not consistently one level!! so i'd use oestrogel but find sometimes it felt way too much- i think it was just too early for me at that point- you may already be past that!
now that i'm actually menopausal- and to all intents and purposes at zero for oestrogen- it's been a lot easier to figure out
that is in no way meant to put you off- quite the reverse! but just be aware that there may be glitches.
if you're nearing actual menopause then it may well be beneficial overall to take hrt- i'm a big fan!
i also ended up on venlafaxine after first abortive attempts at hrt- needs must at the time- but i'm managing to wean myslf off extremely slowly as not a walk in the park to withdraw from!-
now that i'm basically sorted by hrt- i figure i don't need antidepressants but they did get me through the really messy bit!!

[CLKD]

I took 9 weeks to wean off an AD with support from the GP who had access to smaller amounts in tablet form not usually prescribed.  Every 3 days I would lower my amount ....... mayB with the odd break of 5-6 days if I felt withdrawal symptoms were trying to overwhelm me.  Bounce back was awful but I got there 

[SaraC2773]

Thanks Vintagefiend,

That's actually really interesting as I think one of my concerns is the dosage.  I always had to have a tri-phasic pill as I couldn't stay on the same level of hormones all through the month so I full expect I'll need to tweak HRT to get it right but I have always been very sensitive to hormones and just about everything else!

Really pleased to hear that it's working for you 

I have to say I'm not sure where I am in my journey although had irregular periods for probably about 5-6 years.  I went 11 months without a period so thought that was it but then had one and then three months later had another very light one. The hot flashes are constant at the moment,  along with really dry eyes,  intermittent joint pain,  fatigue,  lightheadedness,  forgetfulness, anxiety, depression,  the list goes on and on doesn't it!

Really appreciate the advice though I will start investigating.

[CLKD]

It does seem to go on and on and .......... 

It's 'normal' though .......... however!  Let us know how you get on.