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[Katherine]

Hi ladies,

I've not been on here a while, I increased my oestrogen from 2 to 3 pumps for part of the month where I get v tired (a week before and during my period) and it really eased the pre-period exhaustion. However just after the end of my period I've been feeling  a bit unwell, with that weird sedated but anxious feeling. Anyway I persevered with it but then recently I had one of my breathing episodes in the night but this time felt like I couldn't get my breath back. I had to call an ambulance for the first time in my life. I hadn't taken any HRT for a few days prior to this happening. I have had laryngospasm my whole life but it's got worse. I don't know what's causing this worsening, it could be any number of things but I haven't had HRT for a week as I want to see if it goes away when I'm not on it. My question is, is it ok to abruptly stop HRT? I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms yet except much lower energy. It says on the NHS website both oestrogen and progesterone can cause anaphylaxis and I'm wondering if I am sensitive to them. Am I supposed to taper off HRT? I just took an antihistamine 2 nights in a row (cetirizine) and my throat relaxed and I had the best 2 nights sleep of my life but apparently you can't rely on it for insomnia as you become tolerant. Any insights would be gratefully received. Sorry if its a bit confusing.

Katherine

[CLKD]

Tapering for most drugs is recommended.

Yours symptoms may be anxiety related.  The more one tries to take a breath, get to sleep, wake up in the morning the more the brain goes into survival mode  .  Perhaps some yoga, pilates or deep breathing exercises would help.

Gentle exercise around the house: walk a few steps, take a breath, walk a few steps then pant.  The body can't stop breathing when 1 is panting ;-).  I used to take anti-histamines to aid sleep although most now are 'non drowsy' 

[Katherine]

Hi CLKD,

Thank you for your reply. I have laryngospasm which is physical and involuntary and also asthma. I used to get panic attacks but they are totally different. I do agree with you though that trying to sleep, etc can have the opposite effect. Apparently Cetirizine is non drowsy but I've never found anything more effective for sleep! Not sure how tapering would work with oestrogen and utrogestan as they say to take utrogestan a minimum of 25 days a month. x

[CLKD]

Now that's technical and I don't understand technical 

How do U feel this morning?

[Katherine]

I feel better in terms of having more sleep and feeling like my breathing is more relaxed but worse in terms of lower energy and I am also getting more irritable and tearful more easily. It seems I can't have it both ways. The breathing thing is my priority though. x

[CLKD]

Lack of sleep and low energy may cause irritability 

[Katherine]

The cetirizine has given me 2 good nights sleep but I still feel depleted but not surprising given I'm going cold turkey I guess.

[SarahT]

Hello Katherine,

Am so sorry you have had such a scary time. It may be a simplistic way of thinking, but when I increase my patch I try to Do so in increments so my body has time to adjust to changes. If it were me, and I wanted to decrease my dose strength I think I would do the same  backwards and decrease slowly?
To be honest I would just be terrified of stopping hrt at this Rocky time for me.
Am.sure I heard a neighbour say they took anti histamine at night as the welcome side effect was it also helped them sleep too. I suppose we all react differently to medications.

I am sorry I can't help, I wish you well Katherine,  take care

[Gnatty]

I would just add that people take anti histamines sometimes all year round. Why don't you cut yourself a bit of slack and take the cetirizine for the time being to build up your strength and enjoy getting some sleep?

[CLKD]

Agreed.  Sometimes we over think X, Y, Z .  How do U feel this morning?

[Katherine]

Hello Katherine,

Am so sorry you have had such a scary time. It may be a simplistic way of thinking, but when I increase my patch I try to Do so in increments so my body has time to adjust to changes. If it were me, and I wanted to decrease my dose strength I think I would do the same  backwards and decrease slowly?
To be honest I would just be terrified of stopping hrt at this Rocky time for me.
Am.sure I heard a neighbour say they took anti histamine at night as the welcome side effect was it also helped them sleep too. I suppose we all react differently to medications.

I am sorry I can't help, I wish you well Katherine,  take care

Thanks Sarah, I was going to restart HRT last night and reduce gradually but within half an hour of taking Utrogestan I could really feel the difference of how I felt the past week without it and how it made me feel after taking it and I'm now sure that Utrogestan is not for me, I just can't take one more.

I am currently looking into the Mirena, so I guess I can't take any oestrogen until I sort out my progesterone anyway. There's so much conflicting info online about Mirena that it's hard to know what to do. You have helped Sarah, every viewpoint I get helps, two heads are better than one, they say. Thanks again xxx

[Katherine]

I would just add that people take anti histamines sometimes all year round. Why don't you cut yourself a bit of slack and take the cetirizine for the time being to build up your strength and enjoy getting some sleep?

Hi Gnatty,

Thank you for replying. I will take cetirizine when I need it, for now. I guess I'm afraid of becoming dependant on it but it can't hurt for a  while just til I get my HRT sorted out.x

[Katherine]

Agreed.  Sometimes we over think X, Y, Z .  How do U feel this morning?

Ha ha! I do overthink things, I don't like making mistakes! I felt less nervous this morning - Utrogestan does help in that sense but I've decided I no longer want to take Utrogestan (see my answer to Sarah above) and am looking into the Mirena. I'm relieved that I didn't have any breathing difficulties last night. It's confusing because GPs don't talk about side effects and natural health practitioners are against HRT so it's hard to get a balanced view.  I guess I could get a Mirena but I read up on the possible complications (perforation of the womb lining, infection, sepsis, cysts, ectopic pregnancy) and it scared me. So I'm just in limbo really.

I'm really grateful for you ladies support.xxx

[discogirl]

hi Katherine

I just wanted to wish you well xxx

[Katherine]

hi Katherine

I just wanted to wish you well xxx

Thanks discogirl, I hope you're doing ok honey xxx