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[Stephan1e]

HELP. Advice needed. 47,  Perimenopausal symptoms but nothing dramatic. I started HRT just 1,5 month ago. 15  days oestrogen, 15 days with progesterone as well. I guess classic HRT for a newbie. The first week/ 10 days I felt depressed like never before, got better and first week/10 days of this month, again, I was awful to the family (first time my husband told me I was being a bitch!), I had to move out....should I stop HRT or this happened to other women who persevered and gained from it?
Thank you and sorry if this is not the place.......

[CLKD]

....... and breath.

HRT can take a while to kick in.

Why did you begin HRT?  MayB keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress.

Print out hints for husbands from the Forum: read and pass to all those in your firing range ;-).  "move out" where to? 

Which products have been prescribed, if you put the names into the search box you may be able to read how others have coped.  Do tell us anyway so that those taking similar regime can give advice.

[Taz2]

Hi Stephan1e. CLKD is right in that HRT can take around three months to settle down so dont despair yet. It would help us if you could tell us which HRT you have been given as some progesterones can cause PMT type symptoms including irritability and depression.

You have come to the right place for support and advice

Taz x   

[Stephan1e]

Thank you so much for your replies and advice.

Patches of 25mg Estradiol; was told to double and soon triple.
Utrogestan 100, last 2 weeks of cycle.

What I don't understand is why the first week of the cycles have sent me AWOL. So, when I am asked to double dose I feel it is counterintuitive as the treatment makes me feel worse.....100 times worse......

This week, I spent a night at a friend's and the second night in a hotel!

[CLKD]

Ask your GP for a referral to a menopause clinic?  Do look at Dr Louise Newson's web-site too, she is knowledgeable about the effects of various HRT treatments.

R U likely to return 'home' any time soon?  Have you been in touch with your husband since?

[Stephan1e]

Thank you CLKD

I am a patient of Newson's clinic but I have not had the answers to my questions yet...

Yes, came home yesterday and tried to explain my journey to hubby. He, naturally, is wondering why I have started HRT as my mental health went AWOL the day I started ....

Next step, GP and another appointment at the menopause clinic. Not before my third cycle so I am really scared...

[CLKD]

Which symptom would you like to ease first?  Why did U begin HRT?

MayB both of you should keep a diary regarding your moods etc..  Sometimes HRT isn't the route that helps.  Hormones are known to cause chaos, Dr Kathleen Dalton (NAPS) did a lot of research around PMT which can cause women to kill.  She represented several girls in Court to bring the hormone upheaval into the public domain.

Let us know how you get on.  What would happen if you stopped your current regime?

[HelloSam666]

Hi Stephanle,

that is more or less the same the situation i had. Peri menopausal and went to a private menopause GP and was given the same HRT prescription (to help with migraines & insomnia). After a few days i felt absolutely horrendous; physically and mentally. I felt far better BEFORE trying HRT and i thought i was getting premium advice by going private! I'm now taking progesterone cream only and feel great - see previous posts.

[Stephan1e]

Thank you for all your replies. It is so interesting.

I started HRT as had few symptoms and was at appropriate age; 47, fatigue, hair loss. Nothing dramatic...

"Sometimes HRT isn't the route that helps", first time I hear this...

"I'm now taking progesterone cream only" maybe this could be an option for me...

Yes, a diary could be helpful but to be honest the pattern is so obvious.

Thank you ladies. Please keep the suggestions coming!

[Postmeno3]

Weirdly, it could be a good sign in that it sounds like you're at least absorbing? It's much more problematic and a much more drawn out process if you're not. There's a tagged thread for husbands and partners at the start of one of the boards. However, I think men are do-ers and just get completely thrown if they feel there isn't a do-ing solution, an immediate one; bless 'em! 😊

[CrispyChick]

Hi

This is similar to me too. I'm 45. I've had horrific symptoms over the last 5 years, they've actually calmed down a bit now. But still got symptoms.

The meno clinic told me to try all the combined pills etc due to my age... I went through horrific trials. No idea why the pill makes me feel ill now, but it does.

Then trial - hrt. I only made it to day 20. The estrogen part was horrific for me.

I've now paid for private help. I've just been told my estrogen is fine. I'm low on progesterone, which can result in estrogen dominance (not necessarily high estrogen , just unbalanced).

I'm about to start progesterone only. Not started yet. I'm nervous as this has been a hell of a long time coming.

I am also slightly annoyed - it is all over the net that women in peri can be affected by the drop in progesterone well before your estrogen drops... In other countries they treat it. Worsening pmt is a classic symptom.

I disagree with the other posters - i think you should stop hrt. You're saying you had to move out of your house because your reaction is so bad...estrogen is not always the solution in peri. I'm my case I was adding extra estrogen when my estrogen levels are already fine.

You say yourself you don't have too many symptoms beforehand. I don't think you're ready for 'classic' hrt.

[HelloSam666]

Good luck Crispy Chick and i hope the progesterone works for you too, let us know how you get on. I confess, i was a bit nervous starting the progesterone cream but my god, I wish I had been aware of it a long, long time ago.

I still find it incredible that in this country, we still have such limited choices for women - prescribed HRT routine or nothing from the NHS or private menopause GP. No wonder we have to start undertaking our own research when the prescribed HRT makes us feel a whole lot worse. I don't want to spend 3 months waiting for the horrific side-effects to calm down and there's no guarantee they will anyway.

[CrispyChick]

I agree. I honestly don't believe they will calm down if your estrogen levels are fine. Why would they??? You're putting extra estrogen in, especially if your body is low in progesterone in first place - causing an imbalance.

We're led to believe menopause avd peri symptoms are all down to low estrogen. Dare I say, many on this forum shut down any chat on low progesterone too. It's not helpful as clearly some of us need that approach during peri. That's why I've suffered for so long.

If this works for me, I will certainly make a big post about it to help others.

[Nas]

Does anyone know anything about post menopausal bleeding and why it happens?

3 years post meno here. Been on oestrogen patch and utrogestan for over year. Keep bleeding with period type pains. Due another scan and biopsy soon.

Seems my body can’t cope without hormones, or with hormones. What a nightmare!!

[Suzysheep]

I turned completely psycho on combined patches. The menopause nurse said it was probably the progesterone. Some people are really sensitive to it. Maybe you should stop taking it if your marriage is suffering as a result?

Nas, I stopped HRT because of heavy bleeding after 3 years of none. I’m having a scan next week ( should have been done months ago)

I think some people are just sensitive to hormones.