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[tracy5447]

Hi, I stopped taking estrogel 3 days ago (2 pumps) . I was haveng a really bad time on the 11 day utrogestan part. Im only 2 months on it but the utrogestan was awful with severe depression for most of the 11 days. i posted on here last month and realised that i could take it vaginally and cut down to one ( i watched a you tube video of a doc saying it could be cut down to one as its nearer the source) but after an appointment with my doc who wasnt best pleased that i was doing it this way asked me to try for another month taking 2 utrogestan at night and see how i get on but i cant face that depression again. Ive had 3 different types of hrt in the past year, Everil sequi and a tablet form of which i cant remember the name  but felt depressed every time i took the progesterone part. To be honest even the estrogel wasnt making that much difference to me so i guessed that i should maybe stop as the side effects were worse that the menopause symtoms for me. Anyway the past 2 days ive felt ok, no withdrawals symptoms and this morning ok too but all of a sudden about an hour ago i got a rush of anxiety, really bad, i felt it all over and realised i shouldnt have stopped suddenly. I took a half pump of estrogel to see if it would help. Is it a bad idea to stop suddenly if ive only been on it 2 months? I feel like i should re set and go natural for a bit to see what my symptoms are as the original anxiety and depression that i assumed was meno may have been made worse by marraige breakdown, house move and job loss within 3 months of each other. ( im 51) Tia

[CLKD]

As hormones rise and fall anxiety may hit.  Do U Keep a mood/food/symptom diary? 

If U feel over all better without adding replacement, mayB let your body settle for 5-6 weeks so that you can decide how much is hormonal.

[Betsy123]

If your original symptoms were anxiety and depression the gel probably helped. The progesterone is not great for everyone and personally it makes me feel down.  I've had a few different hrt mixes this year and I dont think it benefits as your body has to catch up. I do agree that additional stress can make you feel worse. I think the hormonal changes do have an impact though and problems seem a lot harder to deal with. Hope you feel better soon.

[tracy5447]

Hi, Thanks i will keep a diary, thats a good idea. I started on 1pump and was still told to take 2 utrogestan. I hadnt had a period for around 4 months prior to that.My original symptoms started about 10 years ago with a vaginal itch which i still have and was told it was lichen sclerosis, no sign of that now but still itchy, the rest of the symptoms started just about a year before my marriage breakdown/job loss/house move. Just sadness and anxiety really, i used to get hot but no sweating and usually after a glass of wine. I seem to have got worse anxiety in the past year trying all the different combinations of HRT.I am unsure wether to take the utrogestan in a few days ( i really dont want to as it puts me in a dark place) as i am stopping the gel for now to get a baseline of how i am actually feeling. In 7 weeks i move house again and new doc etc so maybe i will have a clear idea to put to her of how i am. Thanks for advice

[Bananacarnival]

Hi Tracy I'm in the same boat as you. I find the Utrogestan cycle disastrous, it's really frightened my two children and despite being on it im still bleeding heavily. So I have just come off hrt. No gel either.
To be honest, I feel a lot calmer. The irritability is gone.
I'm worried about my vaginal and bladder symptoms returning so I've started using Blissel gel which is the best one according to a very experienced physio.
Fingers crossed

[Peana]

Hi Tracy, I'm so sorry that you're having such a terrible time.  I can't really advise regarding the utro (I'm on mirena coil & patch), however, I've recently been through a very stressful time where my anxiety levels were unbearable for months.  I'm through the worst of it now, and my menopause symptoms seem to have calmed down significantly (I was thinking about trying to go up to 100mcg patch, but now I've actually managed to reduce to 50mcg, and weaned myself off of amitriptyline).  I've been reading a book which talks about how the body produces some estrogen (outside of the ovaries), and it mentioned that when we are stressed / anxious our adrenals prioritise fight or flight hormones over estrogen.  I can't remember all the technical stuff right now, but (in my experience) I can now see how anxiety massively exacerbated my menopause symptoms.  I still have anxiety, but have gone from a 9.5/10 to 2/10 and my hot flushes have reduced despite dropping from 75mcg estrogen to 50 mcg.  Hopefully, as things settle back down in your life, your hormones will have a chance to calm down and it will help with the awful symptoms you're having.  Thinking of you (remember, you're not alone and the ladies on here can support you through the bad times).

[tracy5447]

Hi Peana, and Bananacarnival. Thanks for the reply/support. Im on day 4 now of nothing and so far so good. I too was worried about myself with the low mood. I think if i could get rid of vaginal itch i would sleep better so i will go to doc when i move to the new place. I still feel a bit lost at the moment but hopefully in a few weeks i will feel a bit better. Thanks

[Peanut31]

Hi

For your itch you could try vagifem, or Ovestin.

I’m on this daily (vagifem) due  to terrible itching and bladder symptoms, ranging from cystitis, thrush, the need to go to the toilet all the time. It got worse and effected my daily life.

This has helped so much, I had urine samples, took thrush products, bladder scan, antibiotics with no success. vagifem has helped so much. There is also a vaginal moisturiser I use as well called YES, that helps too. This was all recommended to me from here. Look up symptoms of vaginal atrophy or vaginal dryness.

I was on HRT since June peri menopausal and I have decided to stop HRT. I never felt well on it despite playing around with the pump amounts. I became depressed, and anxiety went through the roof. Progesterone that suppose to make you feel calmer and have a good nights sleep caused the opposite to me.

I use to dread taking it.

I gained weight, and my boobs went huge and painful.

Since stopping, I’ve lost the weight, my boobs are back to normal size, no longer hurt, and I would stay I feel more balanced in mood, not perfect, but, balanced if that make sense.

If I go back onto HRT I’m going to try 1/2 a pump a day and take it really slowly.

I emailed Dr Currie for advice, and as I was peri menopausal I may not need as many pumps. I must stay once I cut the pump amount down I did feel better, but it was the Progesterone that causes me issues too.

Best wishes
Peanut31
 

[VanillaLover]

Hi Tracy,

Just to say hope things go well. It sounds like you have been through an awful lot lately, no wonder you have been sad and anxious. The anxiety could be hormone related or just a reaction to your life changes, if you are prone to anxiety anyway (I am).

I don’t blame you for stopping the HRT right now, especially if you are struggling with the progesterone part (lots of women do it seems).  Sounds like the physical symptoms haven’t been too bad (apart from the vaginal problems) so maybe it’s not needed at this time for you. I second seeing a doctor again about the itching with a view to getting local oestrogen treatment. When you start the new doctor as them to have a look and tell them it’s affecting your sleep etc.

The only thing I would say is that it’s advised to try any one type of HRT for three months before assessing, as it can take that long to settle. I found this to be absolutely true…if you do decide you want to try again then bear this in mind.

Peanut, I’m interested in your story, can I ask how old you are and how far into peri please? I’m not convinced that HRT is helping me massively right now- never got rid of the huge hormone swings. Some symptoms did improve at the baseline (sleep, flushes a bit, palpitations) but after 18 months the sleep is not great again. However the hot flushes have died down by themselves ….so I’m not sure exactly what role the HRT is playing here. I’m too chicken to try without though!

Thanks, Vanilla

[Peanut31]

Hi

I’m 45 years old. I believe my per menopausal symptoms started around 2 years ago, but I put my symptoms down to getting covid and still having long covid, and,  my only child going to university and moving away. Stress on the body isn’t good.

I then started physical symptoms brain fog, memory loss, night sweats. Heavy periods, infrequent periods. Depressed, anxious, lost of confidence, I couldn’t even manage the banking at work, something I’ve always done for years. Everything was overwhelming to me. You name it, I worried about it.

Night sweats, At first I thought it was my sheets so changed to cotton ones, then thought it was my night wear, you try anything to try and found answers to eliminate the issues.

What I will say is I have an underactive thyroid and Hashimotos which is an autoimmune disease.

I take thyroid medication and also monitor this myself as the GP’s only test TSH levels. They need to test T3 & T4 as T3 is very important. Thyroid issues I’m educated in, so I know it’s not my thyroid playing up.

I started in June on HRT with a private menopause clinic but my GP agreed to HRT, (my back up plan was the private menopause clinic if GP didn’t agree).

What I will say is, my hot flushes are coming back slowly, and a few other symptoms, so I may need HRT again but will try half a pump first daily.

This is the lowest we can go on (confirmed by a GP) and I will have to take progesterone,  which as you know protects the womb lining from thickening.

Have you checked thyroid and vitamin levels?

Medichecks do self testing kits for this, they are finger prick tests you can do yourself at home.

Best wishes
Peanut31

[VanillaLover]

Thanks peanut.

I am on 50 patch and utrogestan. Feel the 50 is an ok balance so far…..sometimes get high oestrogen symptoms still (sore/swollen boobs etc….at odd times) so loathe to increase. I do get crazy lows, symptoms all back, mood swings, sometimes still…around time of period (utrogestan does not control my natural periods for some reason but I’ll deal with that when I need to).

I think I just have to ride it out until my periods actually stop and then reassess.

I had bloods done this time 2021, all fine, but having more done in a couple of weeks as I’ve changed Drs surgery and they are being thorough!