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[QueenofReds3]

Hi Vicky
Sorry you are having a rough time, I totally agree with Gnatty. I have been there and still 7 years in and post menopausal although not perfect in a better place than I was, you have to give the patch more time it is not a quick fix all solution. I like you have tried different HRT and the patch seems for me to work the best,  I have good and bad days but I think it is not all hormone related. I do like ATB does by applying patch on different side of thigh. Try not to overthink , think about positive things places activities that you enjoy. You will get there I am sure, it is just for some it takes longer than others. X

[Vicky81]

Thanks all. I just feel like I've took a backwards step....is it normal to be up and down on the patch?

[Gnatty]

You have just changed your delivery method! You are bound to feel a bit all over the place, you need to give it time. X

[Vicky81]

I've just walked out if work and burst into tears... been keeping it in all morning.  I got in car and was crying to partner and then irritable bit and angry with him...I'm sat on bed now in floods still . Its like never ending ...then I'm questioning the patch ... is it this doing it to me?,

[Vicky81]

Queen of reds- thanks .  I know its a lovely mess but right now there is zero that I take joy out of it. Its just gone

[Unicorn]

Hi Vicky ❤ so sorry you're still feeling awful, I've been having a 'meh' blip for a few days too, even on 6 weeks of hrt.

Stick with it hun, don't change anything and take a day/hour at a time xxxx

[Marchlove]

Hi Vicky
Sorry you’re having a hard time.
I think though that you have to attempt to stop looking at hrt in isolation to everything else you have going on.
AD’s, especially when not properly supervised by a professional can be extremely disruptive which I think is where you main problem lies.
Who is monitoring all this for you? I know you work at Broadmoor, but just relying on colleagues isn’t really appropriate and in my opinion dangerous.
Please take this seriously and find a professional away from work who can help you.
Also, I don’t know if you drink, but alcohol and AD’s are a very bad mix, so please be aware of that also.
x

[Vicky81]

Thank you marchlove.. .I don't think its the sertraline as I've been monitoring it all closely wiyh my GP. My symptoms were like this way before I started any AD....xxx

[Nas]

Under the guidance of your specialist, you need to formulate a plan.
Whether it  be to stick with the patch for 3 months,  stabilize on an anti depressant, try CBT or counselling etc.

I also think you need a period of time off work. Your job must be very demanding? Just because you took 3 months off last year, that surely can’t mean that they would discipline you for taking further time off?

Your mental and emotional health is very fragile right now Vicky and you are also very young for such a high dose of hormones. Are they monitoring your Oestrogen levels carefully, against progesterone etc? Seriously, hormones are not to be messed with ( trust me, I’ve done a ton of that !) and whilst you had  a good  day in the week, you are very up and down and I wonder whether Broadmoor is the right place for you at the moment?

It’s entirely your call obviously, but as an outside looking in, I would try and take some time away from work in that first instance.

Are your other symptoms any better? Sweats etc? Is anxiety your remaining symptom?

Xxx

[Vicky81]

Thanks nas you talk sense....my job isn't too bad to be fair...been there years and its like family.
To be honest they're not monitoring my hormones  ...they say go on how I feel . But I've been paying each month for the female hormone test with medichecks to see.
I'm due to do another around 4 th May.
I thought last night I didn't have sweats....but il check again tonight. Yes anxiety; bad mood,; temper and crying x

[Postmeno3]

So, you had these symptoms before HRT, too? 🤔

[Nas]

Okay, your job is fine.

That leaves these symptoms. They can all be indicative of menopause.

How long have you had them?

How long have you been on any HRT?

[Vicky81]

Postmeno - yes it started with anxiety that I've never had before.

Nas- started around September October time....First the anxiety; then crying and anger; outbursts; can't grow my nails- very thin ...my hair started to get very coarse and thin too.
HRT- I started on gels in feb for8 weeks, now they have given me patches 100mg because the consultant told me I should have seen an improvement by the 8 week mark on gel and that it sounded like I wasn't absorbing it. X
On day 5 of the patch x

[Nas]

Okay, well it’s very early days for you on the patch. My first symptoms were hot flushes, but anxiety and sadness then took over. I couldn’t drive properly at all.

Anxiety if hormonal can take a while to subside, but you have to be patient. Don’t see the patch as the only fix to this. It took me a long time to realise that HRT isn’t always the silver bullet we want it to be. We have to often make adjustments in our lives too.

It’s very frustrating and I feel your pain. Take a day at a time and if a day is crappy, so be it. There’s always tomorrow xxx

[Postmeno3]

Right. Now we're getting somewhere. So you had this anxiety last year, long before HRT and you were also off work for three months with anxiety was it last Summer?
Then, I seem to remember you increasing the amount of gel not long after starting it? Maybe more than once? Have I got all this right so far? We're getting a clearer picture of how things have developed for you, Vicky. It seems a period of stability is what's very important now and that may include reviewing the type of AD which may be recommended at work, but is possibly not addressing your personal needs? Some of the side effects of Setraline in certain people match what you're experiencing. Perhaps read the patient leaflet that comes with it? There's a lot of knowledge on here about ADs, perhaps more relevant to your circumstances. Your doctor, however, should have an overview from last year and talk things through with you.