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[CLKD]

Meema ......... what's to lose?  I would have taken heroin if I believed I would never have another panic attack  .  My GP however prescribed Propranolol to ease the surges which worked for several years.  There is help out there and not every1 gets awful side effects.

[Flossy McFlossy]

Hello Meema - and everyone else. 

I'm new here too and quite nervous about posting if I'm honest, but when I read your posts it was almost as if I could written them myself! 

So, I just wanted to say hi, and to say that I feel your pain.  And whilst it's awful that any of us should have to go through this kind of thing, it's also good to see I'm not alone.

The anxiety I am feeling at the moment is horrendous and completely debilitating.  Like you, I'm finding even basic tasks very challenging - I even struggle to get up most days.

I'm 52 and started HRT last January only to have it stopped by another GP in April, then re-started again in July by a more sympathetic GP.  I was initially using 2 pumps a day but increased that to 3 in early December. I also take Sertraline and have done on and off for years. That was increased from 50mg to 100mg in early November, then up again to 150mg a few weeks ago.

I'm sorry to report that the anxiety I'm experiencing is not improving but I guess this could be because I've taken the sertraline for such a long time already.  As the person above has said, what's to lose?

I was interested to read what another member said about spacing out the Oestrogel dose.  I think I will try that because I use the gel before bed, and then always feel so much worse first thing in the morning.

I do hope things improve for you soon.

I'm pleased to say I feel a little better myself just by posting this.

[CLKD]

   Flossy McFlossy - Is Sertraline a dedicated anti-anxiety medication?  Would your GP be willing to discuss adding another drug with it, i.e. something to take 'when necessary' or a betablocka with or instead of?

I've taken anti-depressants since 1988/9 : most did me well for many years B4 my brain pooped out so others were prescribed : as well as 'valium' [1990s] and Propranolol [2002-2020] which helped when needed .  I now have an emergency pill to take when anxiety floors me.  I have a phobia which is the base causation.  It stops me travelling, booking hotels, holidays .... even visiting friends  although I am able to go out and about on the spur of the moment. 

Gardening is my solace or sitting by water. 

[Flossy McFlossy]

Hi CLKD :-)  Thanks for the warm welcome.

I was prescribed the Sertraline for years (on and off) for depression/anxiety, and was once prescribed Propranolol also.  I tried to get off the Sertraline many times over the years but always struggled with side-effects coming off it, and then side-effects again going back on it!  In the end I gave up trying to get off it and was just bobbing along on 50mg.

This psychological stuff I'm going through these days is different though - I'm not sure I can fully explain how but on the whole it doesn't feel like the increased dose of Sertraline is helping, whereas in the past it usually did.

My GP has suggested trying a different Anti-D but so far I've said no because of those previously experienced side-effects.  I might review it with my GP in the new year. 

Thanks again for responding. You've certainly got a lot of experience to draw on :-) I hope you're managing OK yourself at the moment.  Christmas can be a funny old time. xx

(Sorry to Meena - didn't mean to rail-road your thread.)

[discogirl]

I have had simething similar. Been on stable hormones for a few years but had a crash in the spring after a series of stressful events,, losing all energy and having panic attacks.

I know it is not my 4 pumps of iestrogel as taken that for ever.

Did find that my cortisol was off the scale and DHEA levels non- existant, so I sm treating that and it has helped with energy and anxiety.

Test by saliva cortisol 4 times over the day ( preferably with DHEA) as one test and 8am blood test of cortusol at same time for full picture.

Hi AKatieD

I dont mean to hijack this post but I am interested in how you treat low DHEA levels if they are low.
thanks x

[CLKD]

What's DHEA please?

[discogirl]

hi clkd

its a hormone produced in our adrenal glands. Its peaks in our mid 30s I think, then it tails off xxx

[bombsh3ll]

I take DHEA, also known as "poor man's testosterone" for androgen replacement and am very happy with it.

Been on life extension brand sublingual for the past 2 years.

It has restored my free testosterone from almost zero to the top quintile for young healthy women.

Medichecks have a blood test for DHEA levels, which I have used and can recommend if anyone is interested in testing.

Some people advocate for saliva testing but in my experience saliva is not very accurate - I got two saliva tests from 2 labs on the exact same dose, time of day etc and one was undetectable, the other off the charts high.

[CLKD]

 

[AKatieD]

Sorry did not spot the questions. Yes, DHEA is a precursor hormone to sex hormones. It has a balancing effect with cortisol, so increasing DHEA (when low) can reduce high cortisol levels.

DHEA is not available in the Uk but can be got from iHerb. The micronised version was recommended to me.

Pregnenolone is available in the Uk over the counter and is further back in the precursor chain than DHEA in producing sex hormones. Some, like Dr Myhill, recommend using pregnenolone instead of DHEA.

Both can help control high cortisol levels and can increase sex hormones. Both are relatively cheap compared to HRT.

I started on DHEA and added in some pregnenolone later. My cortisol levels have gone from over the top of the range to now being low, within a few months.

I also have thyroid issues and the Paul Robinson books recommend doing both blood and saliva tests. An 8am blood test (i do fingerprick tests with Medichecks etc) which tells you total cortisol levels so shows if you are producing cortisol. Also the saliva cortisol tests give you the free unbound cortisol levels over the course of a day ( Genova, Regenerus etc do this) and can include DHEA. By comparing the two free/ total levels and including DHEA you can start to work out where any problems lie.

[Flossy McFlossy]

Morning all - this is really interesting and something I'm going to look into.

I had read that testosterone could help with low mood and motivation but my GP didn't agree - she said it's only for low sex drive and that's what NICE says, and it's not licensed for women in the UK so I do understand her position.  Not sure if you've found the same Meema?

I looked into getting it privately but it's a cost I just can't swallow so DHEA might be a good alternative.  It's definitely something I'm going to look into.

I hope you're doing OK Meema - your thread has certainly helped me.  Let's hope the New Year bring us both some solice and relief xxx

[AKatieD]

Sorry did not spot the questions. Yes, DHEA is a precursor hormone to sex hormones. It has a balancing effect with cortisol, so increasing DHEA (when low) can reduce high cortisol levels.

DHEA is not available in the Uk but can be got from iHerb. The micronised version was recommended to me.

Pregnenolone is available in the Uk over the counter and is further back in the precursor chain than DHEA in producing sex hormones. Some, like Dr Myhill, recommend using pregnenolone instead of DHEA.

Both can help control high cortisol levels and can increase sex hormones. Both are relatively cheap compared to HRT.

I started on DHEA and added in some pregnenolone later. My cortisol levels have gone from over the top of the range to now being low, within a few months.

I also have thyroid issues and the Paul Robinson books recommend doing both blood and saliva tests. An 8am blood test (i do fingerprick tests with Medichecks etc) which tells you total cortisol levels so shows if you are producing cortisol. Also the saliva cortisol tests give you the free unbound cortisol levels over the course of a day ( Genova, Regenerus etc do this) and can include DHEA. By comparing the two free/ total levels and including DHEA you can start to work out where any problems lie.