Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Mini2005 on August 12, 2013, 07:15:43 PM
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This forum has been a godsend but up to now I have never posted, just got peace of mind that I wasn't suffering alone.
My many symptoms started towards the end of 2012 but because I have Underactive Thyroid (following radioactive iodine treatment), it took a little time to establish where the symptoms were coming from. I started taking Elleste 1mg in February but it didn't really suit me so after 1 month I changed to Femoston 1/10. This was much better but I was still getting a fair amount of anxiety and "low mood". I then started also taking Starflower Oil and I cut out caffeine completely. I started to feel my old self then and had no symptoms at all. My doc was really pleased and we thought we'd cracked it.
In the last 2 or 3 weeks, I have started to experience quite a bit of anxiety again along with aches and pains and feeling a bit "down". It passes but I am really disappointed and started to wonder when I'll ever feel like me again. I have searched this forum and I think maybe I should ask the doc whether I need to increase my dose of HRT. It would make sense that maybe my hormone levels have dropped lower and my current dose of HRT just isn't enough anymore. Can anyone help please ??? :-\
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I think you have answered your own question! I started on Femoston 1mg/10mg but after about 6 months, my mood lowered and I felt quite tearful. I asked my GP if I could up my dose and I have now been taking 2mg/10mg for the past 18 months.
I think in peri menopause our hormones can fluctuate so much. The GPs usually start you on a lower dose and I think sometimes women find HRT doesn't suit them but don't realise they possibly need a higher dose.
I would make an appt with your GP to discuss trying a higher dose. Let us know how you get on. x
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:welcomemm: ........ medication can be Trial and Error as our symptoms alter, which in itself is tiring. Have you read the menus, left of screen? Give your surgery a ring and ask for a GP call back so that you can discuss whether to increase the dose? It won't hurt to ask.
Let us know how you get on!
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Oh and by the way - Welcome to the Forum!
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Thanks for your help. I have read pretty much everything on this site along with anything else I can find but because of the complication of my thyroid issues I sometimes doubt myself. I know there is no magic answer for any of us but it helps so much to get the opinion of people going through it.
I've had great support from my doctor throughout all of this despite blubbing in his office a couple of times. He is on holiday at the moment but I have an appointment to see one of the other doctors next week. I have propanalol to take in the meantime when I need them and I will ask to try a higher dose.
I will let you know how it goes - might help someone else hopefully :)
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Hi there Mini.
As CLKD it can be trial & error. I was on oestrogel until about 15 months ago. I had not been coping too well with flushes. Got a referral to meno clinic and was changed to patches. Initially a higher dose, but now down to lowest dose.
Hope you find your optimum level soon.
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:welcomemm:Mini
Dyan x
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Propranolol should be taken at least once a day. Which doseage are you on? Maybe take it on a regular basis to build up a maintenance dose which will help the anxiety. I take 40mg at night.
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When I first had an extremely overactive thyroid 10 years ago, I had to take Propanalol until it was under control. At the moment my doctor has advised just to take 20 mg as and when required. They work very quickly for a racing pulse and palpitations and there are days when I don't need them at all. Propanalol doesn't take away anxiety, it just deals with the symptoms.
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I take mine every evening and it takes away the anxiety - most of the time. When it hits badly though I need stronger quick release medication :-\
Did you ring your GP?
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I just have days where I have anxiety and palpitations etc so the propanalol do the trick pretty much straight away. I have lots of days where I don't need them at all and doc said he doesn't want me to take them all the time if I don't need to.
I finish my last pack of Femoston 1/10 at the end of next week and my appointment with doc is next Thursday. Good timing for a change of dose if he agrees for me to try the Femoston 2/10.
Thanks for your help. I'm not having it as rough as some people seem to do - I just have the complication of thyroid issues too. My doc says it's a nightmare combination but he's been fantastic.
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That's good that you have a sympathetic GP, mine usually listens and is able to help too. Otehrwise I return a week later saying 'I wasn't quite awake when you explained ........ last week' ::)
Let us know how you get on!
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I saw my doc last Thursday and said before he increased my HRT dose, he wanted me to try taking Propanalol on a daily basis to see if it helps. He told me to take 20mg 3 times a day until Tuesday then call him to tell him if it helped. Previous to seeing him, I didn't have anxiety every day and could go a few days without any problems. Since starting daily Propanalol on Friday, I have found that I have been getting anxiety symptoms 4 or 5 hours after the last dose. Today I have had the the most horrendous anxiety all day despite taking the Propanalol. I don't know why this is, but it certainly hasn't helped.
I will ring my doc tomorrow as requested and tell him how it has been. I think the most logical step now is to try the Femoston 2/10. Just hope this doesn't make things worse. Anyone else had this problem with Propanalol?
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Hi Mini2005
I have no experience of propanolol and presume this is medication connected to your thyroid condition?
However if you were getting a resumption of some of the symptoms of menopause that led you to ask for HRT in the first place, then my first port of call would always be to increase the HRT rather than increase other medication, unless your physical condition (ie the thyroid problem) requires it. After all the HRT - well the oestrogen anyway - is something we already have in our bodies which you are just replacing whereas the propanolol is a drug.
Hurdity x
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You may be anxious because you have upped the dose or it might physiologically be affecting you. My neighbour couldn't tolerate it but I take 40mg at night and when necessary 40mg the next morning. Add to that another drug for the really bad days on an as necessary basis ::)
Did you ring him yet?
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I really don't understand this at all. Years ago when I had a majorly overactive thyroid, I took propanalol in doses of up to 40mg 3 times a day with no problem whatsoever.
Maybe its because I have a combination now of underactive thyroid which needs thyroxine daily and the horrible menopause combination of symptoms. My body just isn't happy taking it regularly.
Since posting last night, I had the worst night's sleep and when I did sleep I had awful nightmares. So far today I have not taken any propanalol and by lunchtime the anxiety had disappeared. Still waiting for my doctor to ring but my mind is definitely made up - Femoston 2/10 for me now.
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It's nice when we make up our minds. Hopefully your GP will support your idea. My meds give me busy, long, involved dreams ::)
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I have now been taking Femoston 2/10 for 4 months and I am still getting a fair amount of anxiety and low mood. I have decided enough is enough and I have decided to stop taking the HRT altogether and see how I go without it. I just have a feeling that it is perhaps the HRT which is causing the anxiety and low mood because these are symptoms I didn't have before I started taking HRT. My main problems were recurring UTI symptoms and insomnia. I have some estrogen cream for the UTI symptoms and I think possibly the insomnia could have been down to my thyroid. Just a theory but I've got to the stage where I don't know what to do for the best.
I will carry on taking the Starflower Oil which seems to help the flushes etc. and see how it goes.
If anyone else has experience of this, how long before any symptoms might kick back in if they're going to come back at all.
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Hi
I take Propananol for an essential tremor...my hands shake mildly:( I do find it helps though with anxiety but I only take 10mgs three times a day......just a thought could you reduce the dose and see what happens....all the best
Lyn :)