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[Honeybee2]

Hi I have used the forum a few times when I have been feeling pretty low and have found the wise words and  support I have been given priceless
I have been on hrt for the past couple of years when I reached 51 tweaking the dose slowly every 3 months and I am currently on a 75 Evorel patch and 100 nightly utrogestran
Basically at the beginning of all of this  I was in a complete mess with awful symptoms that stopped me from living or working for a  while and this is why I was put on hrt it sent me mad .
It wasent until I went up to a 75 Evorel patch that I started to see improvements with crippling anxiety and jumbled mind which was my worst symptom.But basically I had every symptom of menopause which I found hard to cope with
I have been doing pretty well for the past 5 months since the increase to the 75 patch  but the last couple of nights I have been waking again every 2 hours with awful night sweats and noticed the anxiety and muddled head feeling again and basically it’s Frightening me I can’t go back to that awful  time again
I have noticed that I seem to get worse emotional symptoms about every 2 weeks for instance I can cry at anything I get a kind  of irritation like period ache that feels sore hard to explain  and also I have noticed that  I wee  more like my bladder is more sensitive
My mind has gone completely  overboard this morning thinking I am seriously ill as my experience with the menopause has given me health anxiety as I suffered so long without anybody recognising how I was feeling was menopause related .I have been checked out so many times medically scans bloods brain scans ecgs the lot and all ok
Why do you think I am getting night sweats again .?
Do other ladies suffer with health anxiety that has been triggered by the symptoms of menopause ?
I would really appreciate if anyone can relate and reassure me . Thank you xxx

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Honeybee. I am so sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. You say you seem to notice your symptoms change every two weeks so I am thinking this could be hormonal. Keeping a diary would be helpful because you are seeing a pattern in your symptoms and I think this is reassuring as you will know the horrid feeling will pass.

It is understandable to feel anxious especially with all you have been through. Do you think it is possible you may need more oestrogen? I wonder if going from 75 to a little bit extra rather then 100 may help. The night sweats sound like low oestrogen to me and perhaps a little extra will be all you need for them to go away.

Health anxiety is such a distressing thing to have but please know you are not alone. Meno seems to trigger health anxiety for so many of us.

Are you using any localised oestrogen for your bladder symptoms?

[Honeybee2]

Morning Flossiecake
Thank you for replying
I was thinking it could be low oestrogen triggering the sweats aswell I was doing so good on the 75 . I do note down the days I don’t feel right and the last time was the 24th July when I had night sweats 14 days ago and looking back 6th June I woke up early sweating with palpatations …. So definitely a pattern . I know I should take this as reassurance but I just can’t it’s like the anxiety takes over but feel like the awful anxiety feeling is another symptom that appears if that makes sense .Its like the horrible feeling in my gynae area effects something to my head that makes it feel muzzled and  not clear which makes me feel not completely with it .
Also no I am not on any localised oestrogen could this help with bladder issues ?
Thank you xxxx

[Flossieteacake]

Localised oestrogen will be a huge help for any bladder issues. I am not sure if you have read any of the vaginal atrophy threads but the symptoms include; bladder pain, constantly needing to wee, feeling you have a UTI but testing negative, vaginal dryness, itching. HRT often is not enough for vaginal atrophy and localised oestrogen can be the answer. You could try a cream or pessary, whichever you prefer. I like to use Ovesin cream but it is all down to personal preference.

Health anxiety does not seem to listen to any logic or reassurance so I can totally understand why you are feeling the way you do. You have been through such a lot which does not help.

[Honeybee2]

Thank you
Do you need a prescription for localised oestrogen ?
Yes definitely been through so much in the past couple of years losing my mum being so hard  and nearly losing my mind with this awful menopause and I am sure this has taking its toll and when I get off days I don’t seem to cope well and jump to the worst possible scenario  I have had cbt councilling which I found useful in parts but obviously not helped that much ! I think if I can completely balance my hormones life challenges would be so easier to cope with  I remember you replying to me in the past Flossiecake thank you so much hope you are doing ok xxx
I have had a slight cold this past week aswell could this upset things do you think ? Even with the cold I thought omg it’s something awful … what is wrong with me my emotions are all over the place I even cried at the end of the BARBIE film last week !

[Honeybee2]

Has anyone felt like me . Just sitting here feeling miserable teary and feeling horrible in my own skin x

[SarahT]

Hello Honeybee,

I do feel for you. Am sure there are far too many of us that can identify with how you feel. I have posted many times when I have been in a very low state.
By using a diary,I do know my moods vary a lot with my natural cycle. Ongoing work with my gp and so have gradually upped my patch to 125 in a bid to suppress my natural ovulation. My moods were extremely severe pms, with pmdd symptoms. I have now added in a very low dose AD, which I hope,along with waiting for the higher dose patch to take full effect should help my moods. I do see an improvement through the month.

One thing that others have always assured me is that these low spots ( and I do know how bad they are) will pass. I re-read my diary and can see this. And in turn an have reassured those same women the same advise when they find themselves embroiled in such a painful place.

I would speak to your gp maybe about upping your estrogen, Maybe a bit at a time to see if This helps you.

Take care x

[Honeybee2]

Thank you so much Sarah T
Yes there are definitely low days during the month and today is definitely one of them . I just can’t seem to focus on anything apart from how I am feeling . It’s just an awful state to be in my poor loving family must hate seeing me like this 😞.
Yes I may need an increase I had a blood test back in March when I was on the 50 Evorel patch plus I added in one pump of gel as my doctor suggested I wasent doing very well so dr did a blood test to see levels and oestrodiol was 240 so doctor suggested increasing my patch and leaving off the gel to see how things went suspecting that I wasent absorbing the gel well
 I seemed to turn a corner  and thought the more constant flow of oestrogen through the patch at the dose of 75 was the answer as my anxiety went and no more palpatations and very few night sweats and felt more like me . But if you think about it I was on equivalent to a 75 dose when I had bloods taken with the mix of patch and gel . So maybe an increase could be the answer as dr said with the blood level result there is room for improvement .
I just get myself in such a bad mind state and can’t think regionally .
I have no libido I don’t have sore boobs and feel like a hormonal sweaty  mess so like you said this could very well be a sign of low oestrogen as I think these are signs of low levels
Hope you are doing ok Sarah ?
Many thanks for replying to me

[SarahT]

Hiya
Is it possible could try to think more about this when you pass through this low mood? I only ask as when I am like this I just cannot think rationally, then when I feel my mood has lifted I can think clearly again. Its a bit of a Jekkyl and Hyde for me.
a diary is an eye opener for me as I can see a real pattern emerging. In some  ways I feel this reassures me as it alleviates the anxiety as I know this is a
 'normal' pattern for me.
I think 300 is the lowest in the range that drs look for? Others will know better than the on the technical side. So it may be needed to increased your estrogen?

Thanks for.asking. I have given up with my libido and brain fog. The Dr doesn't seem interested in that side. I have awful joint pain, waves of exhaustion
and muscle oain,but I feel as this has worsened it can't be hormonal related. I am doing furtgher investigations on  this.
I feel in general have I have improved ( believe it for not!) But the time leading up to my period. ( coil so no bleed) my mood can be severe still.

Work in progress.

[Honeybee2]

Sorry to hear this Sarah
Worrying that it’s something else can really take over and really effects your mental well-being I am so so sorry you are struggling so much aswell  . If it’s any reassurance I was convinced that I had some awful condition that no one had acknowledged or tested for . I literally had every test under the sun whole body scan brain scan all manner of blood tests endocrinologist referrals ect ect and nothing was found so I suppose what I am trying to say is you sound similar to me and it’s definitely hormone depletion especially if it’s in a pattern like me as I did improve so in a way this is proof that it’s hormones . We must try to remember this easier said than done tho . Also I had awful joint pain especially in my back but there has been big improvements since upping my patch.
are you on oestrogen gel or patch Sarah ?
What I can’t get me head around is how come we can’t be like other women who sail through this time of life . I know we are all different but it’s very strange .
I feel that my libido has packed its bag and left forever .
Let’s hope one day we will get there and feel human again

[SarahT]

I don't always find it easy to accept that some of us face continuing struggles hormone wise than others, I used to get so angry that my peers all went through peri and is meno relatively easily. That's why I find this forum so supportive, women who experience so many symptoms and are honest to give their advice to others. My anger has been hard to let go. I am 56 and still get pms every 4 weeks without fail. Never missed a period. My peers all  finished with this year's ago.

I am on estradot patch, now 125, and the mirena coil.isis not begin with oral utrogestan. Am on a low dose of AD, and have arthritis in both hips, and an underactive thyroid too! But believe it or not,generally I do feel an improvement as to how I have been!  Age has a bearing on joints too. I am having investigations to adequate going on.

But I still take each day as it comes. Lately I have been ok,but I know it is coming up to my 'period'  so feel a bit anxious. If need be I would up the AD. It's a quality of life I need to improve. I am trying to accept this is now I am and not to compare myself with others. I have been a lot hormonal  wise. I am striving for becoming a lot better.
Take carex

[Honeybee2]

Oh Sarah this struggle is real
What makes me angry is that womens health is not addressed in the way it should be ,
women are struggling day in and day out  trying to hold down jobs supporting family while fighting this awful feeling which they try to ignore and carry on as normal when realistically it’s a real hard thing to do .
 I feel like I need to seek reassurance from others on here who are struggling aswell to keep me sane .
To be honest this is the horrendous time for many women and wasent expecting this awful time and it’s really changed me .
Sending you a massive hug Sarah and to others who are reading this who are suffering aswell xxxx

[Flossieteacake]

You do need a prescription for the localised oestrogen. You could send your GP a message to request it as you do not need an examination in order to determine if you have VA.

I remember you mentioning you have had CBT and while this is helpful I think a more in-depth therapy would be even more helpful. CBT does not really get to the bottom of things and is more useful for coping methods. (That is my experience anyway)

You are going through so much and the last thing you need is to feel guilty for how your husband is feeling. He sounds like a lovely and supportive man who loves you very much and just wants you to be happy.

It is okay to take more then 75 oestrogen if you need to. I am sure your GP would be willing to prescribe you a higher dose. To me, the night sweats do sound like they could be a sign you need more oestrogen.

Do you find it cathartic to cry? If so then nothing wrong with crying at the Barbie film. It may have even been helpful.

[Honeybee2]

Thanks Flossiecake
Yes I do find crying a relief sometimes it seems to calm me after
The doctor did examine me recently and gave me yes moisturiser to use when intimate but no libido !
I think I will book up and have a chat with my doctor again and see what she suggests just hoping this blip will go as feeling pretty low today.
I just keep thinking this will pass but I feel this could be oestrogen levels as you suggested
CBT is ok but I really feel that if my body felt balanced I wouldn’t need it as I am convinced that the anxiety feeling is a feeling in my body driven by hormones not a thought giving me this feeling xx
Thank you for your advise and kind words Flossiecake it means a lot xxxx😘

[Flossieteacake]

Yes will be good to use along with the localised oestrogen but it is unlikely to be enough to use on its own. I use it throughout the day to stop me from feeing too dry.

If you feel the low mood is hormonal then the good new is, it is going to be improved once you find the right balance. Increasing the oestrogen could be all you need to feel more like yourself again.

I would actually add a tiny bit more oestrogen right away if it were me just to see if that helped me. Hopefully you can get an appointment with your DR soon.

You are so welcome.