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[Helenmelon1974]

Morning! So as the title says, looking for advice for managing without HRT. I’m 50 and my only symptoms really are anxiety, which I’ve had on and off for years but has increased over the last 20 months after the suicide of my partner and then recently the sudden death of my daughters partner, so in all honesty that could be the cause rather than hormonal! I have started weekly counselling. I have acid reflux for which I take Nizatidine. Also sleep hasn’t been great.

I’ve tried Evorel Conti which was fine until adding progesterone. I then had a coil fitted which sent me over the edge and had to be taken out after 10 days! (Even though I’d had one before!) I was then given Evorel 50 and Utrogestan a few months ago and I’ll be honest, I’ve messed about with it so much. I start the Evorel and sometimes it seems to calm the anxiety but I then get panicky about starting the Utrogestan and stop altogether. I’ve done this a few times and I’m aware I’ve probably caused my hormones to be completely out of kilter now. BUT I obsess about it constantly and I think that in itself is not great for my mental health. When using the Evorel I don’t sleep any better (maybe I only need 6 hours sleep anyway?) and I wake up feeling groggy and horrible which also triggers my anxiety!

I’ve just had enough of worrying about HRT! I don’t know where I am with my own hormones as I’d had a coil for 5 years up until a month before I began trying the HRT. I know everyone says give it 3 months but I really feel that I don’t have it in me to keep trying! I’ve cut the Everol 50 patch in half for a few days rather than just stop the 50 straight away.

I’m thinking that maybe I need to have 3 months of my own hormones to see where and how I am?

Any advice re things that have worked instead of HRT would be very welcome!

[sheila99]

If you had a coil for 5 years and were OK with it why not have another one and use this for the progesterone part of hrt with an oestrogen only patch? My anxiety and insomnia took a full 3 months on hrt to go completely so perhaps you didn't give it long enough on a consistent dose? Sorry, I know I haven't answered your question but for me hrt was the only thing that worked.

[Helenmelon1974]

If you had a coil for 5 years and were OK with it why not have another one and use this for the progesterone part of hrt with an oestrogen only patch? My anxiety and insomnia took a full 3 months on hrt to go completely so perhaps you didn't give it long enough on a consistent dose? Sorry, I know I haven't answered your question but for me hrt was the only thing that worked.

Thank you for your reply. I did have a coil fitted and I really struggled with increased anxiety and severe agitation. It was so bad I told the doctor if she didn’t get me in to take it out I was going to do it myself! 🙈

I’ve got a call back with my GP later this afternoon so will discuss. I probably do need to persevere in all honesty. And maybe my body is in need of some progesterone because I’ve stopped and started the oestrogen a few times x

[Snowangel]

Sounds a bit like me 

I am so worried that I get to much oestrogen or that I will get other sideeffects or dont tolerate it because som underlying unknown healthissue or histamineintolerance. I had never heard about it until I started to google and magically developed symtoms of it  .

So I am probably not the one to listen to for advise when I mixed alot under a year with HRT. Up and down like a rollercoaster.

But something I actually know is that I am very sensitive to progesteron. I have never been able to take bc. I feel like shit. After many miscarriages i got lutinus for 3 month and was miserable.

When I started HRT I used provera 12 days a month and I was a wreck from day 2 and forward.

I talked to my dr and now I am only supposed to take it every three month for 14 days. That feels ok. I can deal with being depressed 14 days every three month.

Maybe that could be something for you?

I dont know what guidlines your country has but in Sweden you can do every three month even i peri of you have to much sideeffects every month.

[sheila99]

In the UK on sequi they expect a 28 day cycle. If you're on a 3 month cycle I'd strongly recommend you have a scan every so often to make sure the lining isn't building up. Maybe you get this anyway in Sweden but we don't in the UK?

[Ayesha]

My best advice if you decide HRT is not for you is to lead a healthy life as much as possible, no smoking and drinking. Do research into vitamins and minerals that will be helpful for bones, etc, and I don't mean multi-vitamins, they really are a waste of money.

Take no notice of those that say if you have a good diet you don't need vitamins, poppycock, old age is a cruel mistress and stops us absorbing some of them. I was for years diagnosed as pre-diabetes, a year of taking a daily zinc supplement I am no longer pre diabetic.

 

[Snowangel]

In the UK on sequi they expect a 28 day cycle. If you're on a 3 month cycle I'd strongly recommend you have a scan every so often to make sure the lining isn't building up. Maybe you get this anyway in Sweden but we don't in the UK?

We get scans to control that. First one after five years then once a year. Its the same routine if you take micronized progesteron.