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[Rowan]

Was interested to read this

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24045394

[Kelly]

I started femeston conti low dose a week ago and felt better almost right away but suddenly I have blurry vision so felt I better stop incase its migraine related Seeing doc tomorrow to discuss. I was having extreme anxiety as well so could it have been that ? Having a week off Hrt to see if sight improves .
Any advice welcome

Kelly

[Gaynoranne]

I'm not sure about hrt been on various types and had problems with progesterone side effects and also reaction to sticky stuff on patches and am now in gel and 100mg of utrogestan which I have been on for 3 weeks. Since I've started hrt I've put on 1 1/2 stone and now have headaches and itchy skin (I have idiopathic urticaria triggered usually by NSAIDs) haven't got a clue what to do whether or not to carry on or give up the ghost and go back to horrible sleeping patterns or bash on regardless

[Dippie]

I do not take HRT and was very committed to getting through this thing without it.

Then it got worse.

It's been an enormous relief just to let go of the self-flagellation and open myself up to the possibility that I may need it. By need I mean that I would much rather have my kid lose me to cancer in a few years than remember me like this or, worse, be taken away from me and wind up in the foster care system because I was unable to take care of him.

I had no idea than meno was like this. The decision is less like homebirth vs hospital birth than it is like chemo vs hospice care.

I am interested in hearing everybody's story and have no desire or right to judge anyone's choices.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Dippie and Welcome to MM
There is still so much controversy around the menopause and using HRT, I think it can be very difficult to know what is the right thing to do.  On this site we are very fond of saying - "every women is different" & "Quality of life is very important".  Many of us have experienced self righteous and patronising comments from friends, family and often our doctors simply declaring HRT as too dangerous or going against nature etc. which leave us feeling guilty and somehow a failure for using HRT.  It isn't known exactly how many women experience moderate to severe menopause symptoms but I think a good estimate would be around 60% and the stress of coping with meno symptoms can cause serious mental and physical health issues. Many, many women are given antidepresants for the rest of their lives because GPs consider this the best option.  That is not to say that ADs are bad, as many women find they do need ADs alongside HRT to regain control of their lives.
Menopause symptoms can last many years - we had a couple of ladies posting on this site who are still experiencing meno symptoms 20 years beyond their period stopping.
The so called 'Natural Way' is a nonsense as far as I'm concerned. 100 years ago you were lucky to get to 50 so the menopause wasn't an issue.
The risks of HRT up to 60 (and possibly beyond) are extremely small so if you don't take HRT I frankly think it is foolish not try to give it a try if it gives you quality of life.
It's a personal choice and GPs should be better trained to help us find the best way forward.
I had no choice as I had a premature menopause so had to take HRT fro 20 years.  I'm off it now and not doing too badly but I still miss a good nights sleep.   DG x

[Helen Hounslow]

i am on climagest 1 mg and it has been really helpful.  I do sleep better, i don't have so many palpitations and i don't get any hot flushes.  also feel generally less anxious.  it took 1 month to really work, so be patient, though i know its difficult.  It worked well for me.

[Dippie]

Thank you, dancinggirl. I'm on the other side of the pond, so actually getting a prescription is going to be its own challenge, but probably nowhere near as bad as forgiving myself and accepting the fact that I just can't do this own my own--even after four unmedicated home births. I seem to be having more problems than the average duck and would be FURIOUS if anyone told my father that he didn't deserve his insulin and that he should just pull himself together and visualize whirrled peas.

[Dancinggirl]

Oh Dippie - please don't feel you have to forgive yourself for using HRT - you may have to ask others to forgive you for not using it earlier if you have been challenging to live with because of the meno symptoms.
Print out stuff from this site to show the doctor if you think there are gong to be problems - I'm afraid many doctors are still in the dark ages when it comes to treating the meno so it pays to be clued up and assertive.
Do check out the different HRT options - they will probably be under different names where you live but the various oestrogens and progesterones will be the same. As a first try I'd go for The Femoston combo as the progesterone in it is well tolerated by many women.
Good luck. Do start a separate thread so we can follow your progress and support you if need be.  DG x

[nissa11]

I started feeling pretty awful around my 50th Birthday and went down with depression, following a long stint of not being able to think straight, sleep or feel cheerful. I went to the doctor in tears and she perscribed anti-depressants. I now wish I hadn't taken them as they only masked the symptoms I had and made me put on weight. With no female members of my family or close female friends to talk to I had no idea that it was probably the perimenopause as I was still having regular periods. I could no longer work, which was devastating as I was a succesful teacher. When i came off the anti-depressants I had weird flushes. Still having periods so didn't associate it with menopause. The my periods stopped for a couple of months and then came back regular again.
A couple of years later and another bout of depression and anti-depressants. The when I came off these I started to have really bad tiredness and dizziness and had a couple of seriously heavy periods before finally the doctor took blood tests. I cannot tell you how ill I was feeling, especially at night!!!
I tried patches and my depression got worse. I was signed off work again and this time refused anti-depressants, opting for talking therapy, which did help as I had had several bereavements.  Then I went on Elleste Duet 1mg and after a few months on sequential HRT low dose I felt normal again, for the whole of the following summer I felt much, much better. Started regular exercise again and was sleeping and coping well. Vitamin B Complex also helped with this.
No 55 I have just been to docs as symptoms of brain fog, serious joint problems and extreme exhaustion were returning and I have now been put on Continuous Combined Therapy. At first Elleste Duet Conti 2mg and 1mg. I felt uncomfortable with the higher risks and went back and now I am on Kliovance 1mg and 0.5mg. I have had constant 'spotting' but hope this will pass in a few months. I am still exhausted but blood tests show nothing unusual, so hoping this will pass. Having slight issues with night sweats but this may be the weather.
All in all I think HRT has helped me a lot and I really wish the first doctor has thought of perimenopause instead of putting me on anti-depressants as they really took the joy out of my life. 
 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM nissa11
Thank you for sharing your story - so helpful to hear peoples experiences.
I personally think HRT will always be a bit of a compromise as I think many women find there are side effects that have to tolerated and it often only reduces symptoms - still thats better than nothing.
Many women feel absolutely wonderful on HRt while others find the side effects and only partial relief of symptoms frustrating.
The fatigue you feel may be because progesterone taken continuously can bring this side effect - many women choose to stay on sequential HRT for this reason.  It could be worth trying one or two of the other HRt preparations to see if other progesterone types suit you better - possibly Femoston(sequi or conti) which has a kinder progesterone?. Look under HRT preparations to the left of this screen for info.
It is extremely hot and humid at the moment so it's really difficult to gage whether it's the weather to our hormones giving us problems!!!!
Keep posting.  DG x

[julie53]

Hi dippie,
I was very much ike you, determined to get through things on my own with only herbal remedies. But when you realise how bad things get, every aspect of mylife & me not really feeling like me! I actually feel like i'm a different person. I am confused about everthing, not satisfied with anything & very angry about most things!! I;ve even been thinking abut just leaving my husband & son (who is nearly 18) & just being on my own. I have paranoia, thinking everyone is constantly judging me & criticising me too. So my doctor has put me on Prempak-C which will give me a monthly bleed too. I'm on day 6 at the moment & can't say I've noticed anything changing so far.
Does anyone now approx when you start to notice improvement?
Mine may very well be down to depression as I've got a hell of a lot of stress in my life at the moment so don't know if I should've just had anti-depressents?? There's my indecision & confusion again!!

[Dancinggirl]

Hi julie53 and welcome to MM
You have been given one of the old fashioned type of HRTs - it happens to be the cheapest!!!! Having said this, it does suit some women.  It is very low dose so depending on where you are in your menopause (peri or post) it could take a bit longer to kick in and you may need a higher dose preparation if you are not getting a reduction in your flushes etc.
If you find the progesterone part of this HRT gives you PMT type symptoms then you could try Femoston which has a kinder progesterone and suits lots of women very well.  It can be a bit of trial and error with HRTs as we are all different.
Do read up all the info under the headings to the left of this screen - it's great to be clued up. Keep us posted about your progress.  DG x

[julie53]

Hi dancinggirl,
Thanks for your info I will bear all that in mind. When I go back to my doc in 3 months I will mention Femoston if my flushes haven't reduced.  I haven't had a period for 5 months so i suppose I am just at the start of the 'proper' menopause?? Don't like the idea of having to have a bleed every month again tho, but i suppose that's part & parcel of having HRT at this stage.
I was on a fine line of accepting Fluxotine anti-depressants instead of HRT but didn't have a very good experience of Citalopram a few years back so went with the latter. Anyway will keep you posted & thanks for your support.
x

[Rowan]

If you are willing to plough through this, it really says everything you need to know about HRT, I think its excellent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy_(menopause)

[Kelly]

Hi I have had weird feelings roof of my mouth and sore throat funny tongue etc wondered if these were hormone related ( I do have a hiatus hernia though -and I am on ppi) when I asked the doc for Hrt she said as I was 56 and hadn't  had a period for 4 years it wouldn't do me any good at all and that I had had my menopause. Is this true?. I thought the menopause went on for years and years. Has one else had these symtoms or problems? Kelly