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[Vicky81]

Hi all

I realky need yiur help.
Suffering really bad from physical anxiety and low mood from a huge dip.
Started on gel mo day eve.
So yesterday I noticed that I hadn't wanted to cry all day which I had done previous 2 days, however my mood seemed low in the morning, then I perked up ever so slightly...caught myself joking a little with partner, then at 6pm my mood went down, feeling the shaky anxiety again.
Has anyone had this? Does it not last as goid as the patches?
Or is it a good sign my mood lifted slightly then down? I've got terrible physical anxiety which I had when I first started this peri.....so I'm not sure what to do now? Xx

[Vicky81]

Do I ho back to patches if gel doesn't last?
Im waking up in fear its awful  x

[Dotty]

It takes a while for the gel to build up in your system. It doesn’t work in one day. You need to give it 3 months. You should start to see improvement before that.

The gel does last once it’s built up in your system.

[Hannahlou]

Hi Vicky,

Dotty is right, you should see an improvement once you have given the gel time to build up in your system. It’s not good for your body to keep swapping and changing. You’ve already got the ups and downs of your own hormones too. Stick with the gel now for the 3 months and see how you get on. I too suffer with terrible anxiety due to peri, but we have to consider that we may never get back to how we used to feel and maybe have to get used to a new normal. Not saying that we have to suffer, but just that things are changing and we need to remember that and to try and adapt as much as possible until things eventually settle down. I find that keeping busy and lots of walking help a lot with my anxiety as well as the support from friends and family and the ladies on here. You’ll get through this time. Give the gel chance to do its thing

Lots of love ❤️

[merrygoround]

What were you taking before Vicky? You mention patches, if you recently stopped them then that could be the reason why you feel the up and down on the gel, being used to a more smooth intake.

It's usually the progesterone makes you feel bad, are you taking that as well?

[Penguin]

I'd say that'll be the utrogestan making you feel like that, it's why I ended up stopping hrt as I dreaded those 12 days so much.

[Vicky81]

Hi I still on the 64mg patch .....but because plummeted so badly I've been on gel since Monday.  Just to add up my oestrogen told gp

I take provera

Not too sure what causes this extent anxiety I sat rigid on the bed ...I wasn't like this 2 weeks ago (,before gel)

[Nas]

Totally agree with Hannahlou.
Your body is going through some major ups and downs. You simply cannot expect to feel the same as you did previously, the minute you swap product.

How many gel pumps are you using?

You need time to adjust now Vicky. Stick with the gel. Start low and slow. If you don’t feel right immediately, don’t be tempted to add more gel (too much can make you feel bad also ) Allow your body to adjust to the new oestrogen. You may also absorb the gel differently compared to the patch. Some experience an instant “ hit” with gel, which then becomes more consistent. The patch is designed to deliver a more consistent level of oestrogen, as merrygoround said.

Re: the physical anxiety; have you tried propranol? It deals with the physical effects of anxiety ( racing heart/ sweating etc) but not the cause.

Try not do chop and change; that 
will worsen things.

Hang on in there.. anxiety is awful, but you may need
a few “ tools” in the box to keep a lid on it and not rely totally on HRT whilst you are in the settling in period. 🙂

[Nas]

Hi Vicky
Just seen you are on a 64 patch and using gel. You maybe you are on too much oestrogen perhaps? Were you absorbing the patch?

[Vicky81]

Awwww NAS that's nearly made me cry thank you for not having a go at me...I'm very fearful on here incase people get angry at my routines I guess.

I honestky was not bad before 7yh may then bang- heavy crying anxirty.
But u had blood test Monday it was 734.
So maybe I'm fluctuating??
So I still on patch too because  I too scared to cone off if honest I'm realky down and kind of feeling like I did when all this started.
Yiu guts think I've just had a huge dip in oestrogen? I'd love answers as I alone in this just so I know I'm doing the right things.
To be honest I've been putting about 5 pumps on throughout the day.....

Can you tell me what too much gel makes yiu feel like please? But just to note I had this shaky anxiety before starting it on Monday xxx

[Vicky81]

Well I guess as I was ok before this dip ....
Although i upped to 75 in Feb and ended up in A and E as ot was too high ...so since coming back down off this ....I got to the 8 week point of feeling not bad then plummeted and I mean awful anxirty crying

[Vicky81]

So I'm just thinking that my oestrogen has bypassed my 65 patch on its way down?
And plummeted?
I've never had the crying etc on too high...can you please advise me what I should do...I'm too scared to cone off patch ....in 2021 I was under the crisis team because of peri...I work in Broadmoor and would love to get back to work...
This drop only started realky from Tuesday 7th May xx

[Vicky81]

Plus woth gel do you keep dose the same?
I heard I yiu feel bad throughout the day yiu can add?

Please ladies help me out....these dios really do take its toll on me so much I was scared to get out bed xx

[Nas]

Everyone wants to support you and if it’s any consolation, I’m a bit like you, in the respect of if something doesn’t work fast, then I move to something else ( I’m very impatient like that!
Doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do though! 

Remember, numbers mean nothing in peri because as you rightly say, you are fluctuating. They are only meaningful, once
the fluctuations and periods stop and you and have been on hrt at least 3 months or so, then you can check for absorption.

Okay, 5 pumps is about the equivalent of 125 patch. And you are wearing the 64 patch . Assuming you are absorbing the patch, that’s 189 dose of oestrogen ( a fair bit!)

Having too much oestrogen in your body can make you feel mentally and physically unwell Vicky. You need to decide which product you want to stick with: gel or patch? If this anxiety is down to extreme fluctuations, you may have to ride this storm
for a bit. Alternatively, as you know you get on with the patch, maybe try the 75 again and forget the gel for now? You may also be benefit from an anti anxiety med; would you consider that?

[Nas]

Okay, Vicky. A plan.

1. Decide on gel or patch

2. If patch - try going up to 75

3. If gel  - starting dose is 2 pumps. Less than your patch equivalent. So maybe 2.5 pumps

4. If gel, do not keep adding during the day, you could end up feeling very unwell

If this were me, I’d try the 75 patch again. As you feel so bad, ask GP/ crisis team/ who ever you are under, for an anti anxiety med. REMEMBER, nothing works instantly. It takes time. Many women take meds in addition to HRT. Medication will be the same,  it takes time to kick
In. How can you help yourself whilst you go through this tough patch? Are you signed off work?

Have you spoken to your GP or menopause specialist about how bad you are feeling?