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[KatieK]

1. 3 months at 50mcgs estradiol and 100mg of progesterone at night did nothing for my severe and crippling depression and anxiety.

2. Then 5 weeks at 75mcg estradiol and 200mg of progesterone at night did nothing for my severe and crippling depression and anxiety.

3. Now been a full week at 100mcg patch and 200mgs progesterone vaginally at night.  Im getting worse by the day - I'm now in respite.

Yes, I've tried various antidepressants, none have worked (they used to in the past) clean diet, excercise, therapy. 

I hear women rave about hrt and it being the magic bullet - it's so incredibly upsetting. 

How long did yall have to wait for hrt to help your mood? They say up to 3 months, but not once have I heard a woman say they had suicidal ideation depression but finally after 3 months, hrt kicked in.  Please give me some faith here.

[Nas]

Hi KatieK,
Sorry you are suffering so much; anxiety and depression are indeed brutal symptoms.

Would it be worth having a blood test, to check what you are actually absorbing from the patch? It might be that you would absorb better from the gel or spray, or even oral HRT.

Is it possible that the progesterone is causing the low mood and depression? I’m guessing you are using utrogestan?

The problem with HRT is that it can be life changing for many women, but not so for others.

I would definitely check what you are absorbing. You can be on 200 patch and still feel awful if you are a poor absorber or the progesterone is the culprit.

[KatieK]

Thanks for your reply.

I feel as though I get conflicting info re bloods.  I've heard a number of times that there's no point getting them as our hormones fluctuate so wildly even within minutes.

It would be good to know if anyone in fact did have to wait a minimum of 3 months plus to get any relief from depression and anxiety.

[Kathleen]

Hello KatieK

I am sorry that you are suffering and if it's any consolation, you are certainly not alone!

Are you peri menopausal or post? As I understand it your own hormones fluctuate during peri but by post meno this process has finished so blood test results should be more accurate.

You say that anti depressants haven't helped you, are you taking any currently? I ask because just recently my nurse practitioner mentioned that Pregabalin is being offered to women to treat psychological symptoms however I don't know if this drug can be prescribed alongside an AD. It may be worth talking to your GP about this as Pregabalin has a mood calming effect which might work for you.

I am sorry that I can't be of more help but I completely understand how you feel and you have my sympathy.

Take care and sending hugs.

K.

[Dramy3]

Hi

I was in exactly the same boat. Spent 9 months going from 25mcg Estradot patch, to 50mg then to 75mcg. Worsening symptoms (panic attacks, depression, suicidal ideation) during that 9 month period. I’m peri btw. Had blood tests (Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, FSH,LH, FAI) every 8 weeks (paid for privately through medichecks). This showed my oestrodial consistent at around 250. The meno GP even added testosterone to see if that helped and unfortunately it made things far worse and I ended up in crisis care.

Finally, I switch to oestrogel (2 pumps) and my Estradiol shot up to 750 after 3 weeks. My symptoms started to ease within 1 week though so I knew it was working. Have now reduced to 1 pump to hopefully lower my level to about 4-500.

I should add that I switched from escitalopram to sertraline during this time as well.

Im 6 weeks into this new regimen and feel better than I have in about 18 months.


So, get your bloods checked asap. Yes, the results can be unreliable but you need a gauge of whether you’re absorbing the HRT you’re taking. I wasn’t. If your first blood test shows oestrodial above 400 then personally I would test every 2 weeks for 6 weeks and see what changes. If it’s consistently good (400-600) then the HRT is absorbing and that’s not your problem. Or at least oestrodial isn’t. You’ll get a testosterone reading as well and that will tell you if that s a route to try.

BMS recommend Estradiol levels in the range of 400-600 to help with anxiety/depression symptoms. That’s why I mention those levels.

Oh, and do the venous blood test not the finger pri*ck one. Apparently that’s a bad word!

HRT may not be the only solution for you but trust your body. I’ve had anxiety problems for 20 years, but I knew this was different. It felt different.

Hang in there. It gets better.

 

[Dandelion]

1. 3 months at 50mcgs estradiol and 100mg of progesterone at night did nothing for my severe and crippling depression and anxiety.

2. Then 5 weeks at 75mcg estradiol and 200mg of progesterone at night did nothing for my severe and crippling depression and anxiety.

3. Now been a full week at 100mcg patch and 200mgs progesterone vaginally at night.  Im getting worse by the day - I'm now in respite.

Yes, I've tried various antidepressants, none have worked (they used to in the past) clean diet, excercise, therapy. 

I hear women rave about hrt and it being the magic bullet - it's so incredibly upsetting. 

How long did yall have to wait for hrt to help your mood? They say up to 3 months, but not once have I heard a woman say they had suicidal ideation depression but finally after 3 months, hrt kicked in.  Please give me some faith here.

While oestrogen did work straightaway for my meno symptoms, the depression and anxiety that came in peri in 2009 never went away.
Last month, I re-visited my menopause, which I ignored after going on HRT in 2014 and just carrying on getting on with it.
Turns out I needed testosterone.
I've only been on it a month, my Dr said to give it 2-3.
It's supposed to be a game changer for lots of women.
Not just for sex drive but for life force energy and helping hormones do their work, plus preventing future diseases.