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[Nas]

Hi again,
Still suffering greatly with heart palpitations, severe morning anxiety and body shaking. Is it still low Oestrogen causing this? High cortisol? Why is this happening?

I’m trying to make the decision whether to increase to 100 patch or switch to lenzetto. I moved to the 100 a week ago, but I’ve had a week of hell with it. All symptoms were worse, no sleep, anxiety, body shaking etc. I just cant cope with it all, so I’ve revered back to my 75 for now ( still poor sleep last night!)

God I just want it to end 

[CLKD]

How often did you increase the dose, every night?  MayB the hike was simply too much all at once.  Wait a few days 2 see if symptoms settle, then try adding the 100 for 1 night?

Or mayB, if the HRT is in general helping other than anxiety, ask for a dedicated anti-anxiety medication?  Some anti-depressants help but I would be asking for a short course of 'valium' - 5mg daily for 5 days - 2 C how it goes.  In the 1990s I used 'valium' successfully for 5 years: taken the night B4 an Event I was unable to avoid, 2mg at night knowing that I could take an extra the next day.  I never required the extra!

Cortisol surges would wake me in the early hours.  My GP prescribed Propranolol in 2002 which really helped.   It is truly awful to feel constantly anxious 

[appey]

Hi Nas
I completely understand where you’re coming from. Palpitations, too much cortisol, insomnia have been the bain of my life through my perimenopause, menopause journey on and off since 2017. I like you, kept upping my oestrogen patch but in the end, with the help of Claire Snowdon- Darling at balancedwellness.co.uk realised that actually low progesterone was my problem and that I had way too much oestrogen at the time. This was when I was perimenopausal. Obviously, this is just my body and yours may be different. Which progesterone are you using?
As it is, I am now struggling with oestrogel as i feel it is too strong for me and have now been prescribed by a private consultant, Biest which has more estriol than estradiol. I take 100mg utrogestan every night.
One thing you can do to help your cortisol levels, is to balance your blood sugars and make sure you are eating a balance of protein, fats and carbs. I always have a little bedtime snack to help - no protein, just fats and carbs eg an oat cake and almond butter. If you look at the balanced wellness website there’s lots of information there about that.
I hope that helps a little.

[Nas]

Thanks CLKD, but I think these symptoms are hormonal linked, probably low Oestrogen.

I’m talking about the 100 patch. I increased from the 75 to 100 last week and it made me feel ill. So deciding want to do now. Persevere or maybe switch product.

Propranolol doesn’t work for me and anti depressants don’t appeal. This is a hormonal issue essentially, so need to get the O level up somehow.

Truly awful as you say 

[CLKD]

Regardless of causation, surely you need relief from symptoms?  Some do require both HRT and other meds. to get rid of anxiety.  Once your hormone journey is further along, U can always try dropping the additional meds..  ?  R U able to cut the patch in half?

appey - yes I've written similar in another thread this morning, about PMT and eating every 3 hours. 

[Sazzle42115]

Hey Nas morning same here my anxiety levels are sky high in the mornings. 3 sprays of Lenzetto and also AD and still no improvement. I'm sat here wondering how the hell I'm going to be able to go to work tomorrow. I just don't get it. I'm eating pretty well doing healthy habits but it's getting to the point where I feel like I'm about to have a breakdown. I'm so jumpy all the time too, and get panicked by the slightest things that if it wasn't so scary would be funny. GP appointment in 2 weeks to review AD hanging on by my fingers. I wake up early and just lay there, now all I want to do is climb in to bed and not see anyone. I actually feel like I'm going mad. What is happening to our bodies? What are you thinking about work now? Xxxxxx

[Nas]

Thanks appey.
I’m on 100 utrogestan nightly and does zero for my sleep.
My Oestrogen levels are low I think, so can’t understand why the 100 patch would make me feel so ill? Unless the receptors were flooded from the additional hormones again?

I will certainly look at my diet and bedtime snack. Bananas used to relax me.

I hope your new product works for you, I didn’t get on with the gel at all, made me feel very ‘wired’ but we are all different I guess.

What a palaver! 

[Nas]

Sazzle, you and I are definitely in the same boat!
I echo all you have said.
I actually don’t know what to to either and am sat here wondering for how much longer I am going to cope, without having some kind of crash!

Work? No clue. Frantically looking for a new job, anything that doesn’t require talking to people or use of my brain!

Going to make GP appointment tomorrow ( thinking about what CLKD just suggested) and talk about a low dose anti anxiety drug I think. I have sertraline here,  but don’t know if that’s any good.

I wish you strength and relief sazzle.
What’s your next step HRT wise?

Xx

[Sazzle42115]

Not sure TBH going to have a big glass of water and go for a walk! I've said to myself that I'm going to stick with this until October half term (if I can I feel like a zombie) and take it from there. I'm mentally and physically exhausted, trying to keep occupied, but even the thought of making a shopping list feels a bit hard!! Let us know how you get on xxxxxx

[appey]

Hi Nas
Be careful of bananas. I used to live off them and would eat them to solve all my ills! - but then realised they are full of sugar which will not help your cortisol levels at all. I don’t touch them anymore unless they’re with something else.
Btw - if you can get hold of some melatonin that might also help with sleep. I had to be one of Claire’s clients to be able to buy it from her supplier, but you might be able to get hold of it somehow.
 I’ve been back on utrogestan for a month now and it’s taken until the last couple of days ‘to sleep through’

[Gnatty]

I posted about anxiety recently on a thread to do with Mirtazapine. I take HRT, but my anxiety went totally through the roof. When it gets that bad you just need something to give you some breathing space and tbh when it's that bad you'll take anything if you think it's going to help. I think you know when you reach that stage. For me I just couldn't see how I was going to manage for the next ten minutes let alone the three months you are often told to wait to see if dosage of HRT is going to do the job!!
To cut a long story short I am now taking 15mg Mirtazapine and it has been a game changer. I started with Sertraline but it made me worse. Please note though it doesn't do that to everyone. The mirtazapine started working very quickly so that I could cope with life, eat and sleep and now the last few days the last vestiges of anxiety have gone. As I said in my other post there is now too much pressure I feel the other way. Pressure to only take HRT and a guilt trip if you need ADs. Maybe at some point I will come off the AD and manage on HRT but not now, no way. The memory of how awful the anxiety was is too raw and I never ever want to feel like that again.

[Sazzle42115]

Gnatty, very sensible. I started on the 15mg of Mirtzaphine and the did help with sleep and appetite but GP said I would need to get up to 30mg to see benefits for anxiety and low mood been doing that since 17th August so early days I guess xxx

[Nas]

Thanks gnatty,
That’s it, mirtazpine it is then.
Any side effects? Grogginess? I need to sleep and lessen the anxiety. I don’t want to go off sick from work but I’m close now. What dose did you start with?

[Gnatty]

I started on 15mg and I am still on the same dose. I was groggy I think in the mornings for the first week or two but it wore off. I found that taking it at say 8.30 in the evenings meant it wore off sooner in the mornings. Mind you a couple of coffees can diminish that groggy feeling, although be careful that doesn't up the anxiety! I now take it at bedtime. I am coming up to five weeks and I think if the anxiety hadn't quite gone then yes would have upped to 30mg. Usually antidepressants show most benefit re anxiety between weeks 4 and 6 and certainly that has happened for me. But the most severe anxiety reduced pretty rapidly within days.  Diazepam 2mg is useful when first starting simply to take the edge off. Word of warning with Mirtazapine it does get the appetite going. I think that's why you sometimes see negative reviews, you need to be disciplined with your food intake once you are feeling well again!

[Sazzle42115]

Hi Appey
Hope you don't mind I've sent you a message re Claire SD xx