Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Mandy H on August 24, 2014, 09:14:13 AM
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Hi everyone :)
Been suffering anxiety/depression since Feb tried various AD's (SSRI's) with no luck, also having Counselling. As my GP was reluctant to explore if it was hormone related my Counsellor advised me to self-refer to our local Menopause Clinic (the Dr there told me of this website) for advice. I was prescribed Evorel Conti patches. Only applied them little over a week but seem to be crying more than ever!! Would appreciate any advice/personal experiences i.e. how long before I may feel positive effects of HRT. When I went back to GP for prescription he still dismissed HRT and said it was AD's I needed. I'm willing to try anything to get out of this dark place.
Thanks, in anticipation!
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Hi Mandy - welcome to the forum.
It can take a while to get used to HRT and for the side effects to settle down so it is worth persevering. Some women do find that the progesterone in Evorel can cause low mood and pmt type symptoms though so it would be worth considering changing to Femseven which has a kinder progesterone if you find the side effects are too great for you to cope with.
How long ago is it since your last period if you don't mind me asking?
You will find lots of support and advice on here and there's always someone around to share things with, good or bad, so you wont feel so alone now.
Taz x :welcomemm:
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Feeling confused !! is femseven patches the same progesterone as femoston tablets
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Hi Mandy - Welcome.
Like Taz - says lots of ladies have problems with the progesterone part of Evorel conti.
Things may settle down over the next few weeks you've not been using them for long.
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Hi Taz n Limpy
Thanks for the advice I'll take it all on board... that's all I need, low mood on top of my low mood! I ad my last period approx 3 yrs ago. In the past could cope with all that was thrown at me then over the last couple years anxiety got the better of me for some reason, confidence dropped, I'm not the person I used to be :( but staying POSITIVE as much as pos and hoping hormones the culprit!! Glad I was told about this site, "a problem shared..." as the saying goes.
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Hello and welcome from another newbie. I have no experience of HRT so cannot comment, just wanted to welcome you. It's very nice here I am sure many others can help you with your questions.
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Thanks babyjane for your welcome message, I'm feeling reassured already about the support members give each other :)
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Feeling confused !! is femseven patches the same progesterone as femoston tablets
Hi Jo. They are different. The progesterone in FemSeven is levonorgestrel and in Femoston it's dydrogesterone.
Taz x
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welcome Mandy H, Ive been suffering from anxiety too hormone related, I didn't like ad's so on same patches as you Im on day two of the conti patches now, I did start to feel much better on the evorel 50 for the last few days on them, give it time you will get some odd feelings, I still am, but Im determined to give it chance, hope you feel a bit better soon x
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Hi karenja, thanks for your message. It's first time I've tried HRT so not quite sure what to expect or timescale. Got fingers crossed it WILL help. Will be interesting to know how we both get on, please keep me posted from your end. x
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Hi ManydyH, Im on day three of the conti patches now, it hasn't been a good day, woke with anxiety and have had it off and on most of the day, disappointing as day on on this patch was up and down, day 2 fine and now this, Im due to change the patch tomorrow, so will keep you posted, hope its going ok with you x
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Hi everyone
I'm new to the site too My doctor is the same regarding hrt im feeling anxious bad panic attacks and poor concentration and so tired during the day due to sleepless nights even after having a week in the sun last week it didn't stop the anxiety which got worse first day back at work today. Do any members have any suggestions to combat this other then hrt
Thanks for reading x
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Hi Gail, Speaking personally Im trying hrt patches now, but my doctor suggested Citalopram which is an anti depressant, which I didn't like, other than that you could try some herbal remedies, they do suit some people, just don't mix too many of them like I was which may have actually made me worst according to my doctor, sorry I cant be more help but I know what your going through x
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Hi Karenja
Thanks for your advice and your lovely comments.
I have just started using serenity cream recommended by one of my colleagues, I have only been using for a short time but have had a better sleep the last few nights. Wondered if any members had had a reduction of symptoms using this xx
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Hi Karenja and Gail. I'm doubting the patches as still crying a lot, and I don't mean weepy I mean BAWLING! I'm not due back to menopause clinic for over 2 months so not sure what to do. Taz2 mentioned changing to ones called Femseven. Does anyone know if the patches can only be prescribed, or if you are able to purchase 'off the shelf'?? I did read that low magnesium/zinc can play a big part on low mood, and that magnesium is particularly good for nerves/anxiety. I did lot of 'googling' and it seems magnesium taurate is the best tolerated type. I purchased some along with liquid ionic zinc... honestly I will try anything. I wonder how I've gone from being strong and confident to a quivering wreck :( - I have a supportive family tho' they don't understand why I'm now like I am either so nice to have some impartial support on here. Just about to look up serenity cream, not heard of it. xx
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Hi MandyH, sorry to hear your not finding the patches any help, how long have you been on them now? and are you still on the 50 ones, or the conti?, I would say wait a bit longer, and hopefully the magnesium taurate and zinc will help, let me know as my anxiety has come back since Ive been on the conti patches and if it helps I may try these also, I don't know about the femseven sorry, but have read femeron? not sure if that's how you say it is supposed to have kinder progesterone, so less side effects, but I don't know if your on the conti patches yet?, its very hard but I would say give it a bit longer along with the other supplements see how it goes, Im trying to stick with them for now, though there are times when I feel like giving up on them xx
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Hi there
Im about to finish my 2nd week of the avorel progesterone patches and i dont like them!! The oestrogen part was fantastic but now i cant sleep my joints ache i feel hot during the day and my head is all over the place! Im going to speak to my GP tomorrow because I cant accept this as its worse than before HRT. I want patches or gel but cant tolerate this. Any ideas please ladies?? Xx
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I know it's difficult karin but most HRT's give you side effects for the first couple of months or so. The advise is to persevere for three months if possible. The first month is always the worst in my experience and after this things should begin to settle down. If, after the three months, you find the progesterone part of the cycle is still horrible then you could ask to swap to FemSeven which has a different progesterone - although these don't stick as well. You do need to try for longer than three weeks though if you want to be taken seriously. If you are just finishing your second progesterone week then you are about to start the oestrogen only part again and should soon begin to feel much better.
Taz x
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Hi Taz, I assume Femseven maybe better as it does not have norethisterone in it? which seems to be what may cause the problem, doubt my gp will have heard of that though they were not familiar with femeron, he actually said never heard of it!x
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Yes the progesterone in FemSeven is kinder so not so many PMT type symptoms. FemSeven is known by most GPs I would think.
I've not heard of Femeron either :-\
Taz x
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Hi karenja, been on the patches 2 weeks now and yes they are Evorel Conti. I was really hoping the hrt would help with low mood, I can cope with night sweats, etc., but like I say I feel really low and anxious/panicky since starting. Will keep going with the supplements and soya milk and see what happens, oh and will definitely look into the Femseven ones. Keep going, things can only getter better x
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Hi Taz its FEMOSTON 2/10* I meant that's the one the gp had not heard of x
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How can he not have heard of Femston 2/10 all he has to do is look it up, for god sake! :-\
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It's hard to be patient but 3 months was what it took me to get full effects and don't forget you will still have bad weeks with your hormones chipping in! Don't fall into the trap of chopping and changing too quickly - it doesn't help!! Unfortunately there are no quick fixes! It took me 7 months to get mostly stable and I still have the odd blip ...
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Hi Suzyq
After having a bad night anxiety wise it helped reading your post there may be light at the end of the tunnel eventually x
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Glad it helped - try to just hang in there! I nearly quit several times in the first couple of months, but didn't! Have you tried cognitive behavioural therapy for you anxiety? I know it sounds rubbish, but it genuinely does help!
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Hi karenja
Sorry to hear about your ignorant GP!
As ellie66 says the doc only has to look it up. In cases like yours I would tell your doc about this site ie the main site and say you have the information from there and print off the information from the menu
ie here for cyclical HRT (progestogen for 2 weeks = monthly bleed)
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php
or here for conti (continuous progestogen = no bleed) HRT:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php
I agree with the others - re those having initial problems with the HRT - hopefully the side effects will settle and you do need to give this time otherwise you might try another one for a few weeks, get more side effects and conclude they are not working either!
In the meantime yes try to use other methods to cope with anxiety eg the technique on this site 3-2-1 anxiety exercise:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8454.0.html
Hurdity x
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thank you everybody again, along with ranting to all you ladies I have also emailed dr currie does anybody know how long she normally takes to reply? I assume she does not work weekends?x
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She replies quickly - generally within a day or two!
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thanks Suzyq, bad headache today just put third conti patch on one more to goes next tues, then next sat back to estrogen, am sticking with it as some ladies have advised to see if its the progesterone in evoril sequi making me feel awful x
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Hi karenja
You may not feel better immediately you back to the oestrogen only patches - because women often suffer pmt during the progestogen withdrawal phase, even those who can tolerate the progestogen itself. If so you should begin to feel better shortly after your bleed starts and the progestogen has cleared from your system.
Hurdity x
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hi hurdity Im on my third patch today, but even before I put it on I woke up with a headache and a bit of nausea, the nausea has passed but the headache hasn't assume this maybe pmt I used to get headaches before a period x
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Hi karenja
There are two types of pms really - those who are progesterone intolerant start to get unpleasant side effects as soon as progesterone starts to rise after ovulation - in the second half of the menstrual cycle.
While most of us experience some effects of progesterone at this time - perhaps tiredness, a bit of bloating maybe, perhaps some sugar cravings etc - for those who are intolerant the side effects can be much worse and include headaches, fuzzy/foggy head, fatigue rather than tiredness, and very low mood.
Those who are generally OK during the progesterone phase, maybe suffer from pmt when the progesterone (and oestrogen) levels drop dramatically just before the period - and sometimes when they rise just after ovulation. I talked about this on another thread today - that this is probably due to physiological changes and leads to headaches, tension, irritability - that many of us are familiar with! This dispappears once the period starts - or at least after a few days. I remember feeling the tension drop away as the progesterone cleared from the system, and my head would clear. It was such a relief!
If you are getting headaches during the whole of the progestogen phase then it could be that you are intolerant to this progestogen as has been said already. As others have said these side effects may disappear as your body gets used to this new hormone, which is why 2-3 months is suggested.
Some women feel nausea when oestrogen levels increase rapidly but this should settle hopefully!
I hope I'm not repeating myself too much or what everyone else has already said! Also that your headache clears up - a persistent headache can be debilitating.
Hurdity x
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Hi Hurdity, thanks for your reply, its actually the first time Ive had a headache since Ive been on the patches and as its my last week, (one more to go when I change to it on Tuesday) that's not too bad, had headache most of the day though, its cleared now x
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just to add I was told I have quite sizeable fibroids a few years back when I had to have a scan I was having a lot of urine infections, I was told these would shrink when I went through menupause but will this change now Im on hrt? x
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Dear Hurdity after reading what you posted i would associate myself as intolerant,my brain turned to mush, i couldn't concentrate , i flushed, felt sad and had insomnia for 5 consecutive nights. Having a full career this makes like very hard to tolerate. This is completely not me and i found it scary. My GP is happy to work out options after month 2, please can you advise best progesterone options to give me something to take to my GP , tablets are least preferred and im ok with a coil if nec. Thank you so much
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Hi Karin
Ive read that Estradot patches (changed twice weekly) and a separate progestogen for example Utrogestan is meant to cause less side effects, or Utrogestan 200mg taken at bedtime is meant to cause less side effects (monthy bleed hrt)worth looking up or chatting to the dr about, Im going to when Ive tried this for two months as well.
Hopefully the second month will be better x
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Hi karenja
Here is the information on fibroids and menopause from this site:
Fibroids
Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterine (womb) wall and are dependant on estrogen. They tend to shrink after the menopause but shrinkage may not occur, or they may even increase in size with HRT use. Increase is thought to occur in 25% of HRT users and mainly occurs in the first six months of therapy. There is some evidence that transdermal (patch or gel) but not tablet HRT nor tibolone may promote fibroid growth. [ref 24] Fibroid size can be monitored by regular examinations and sometimes by ultrasound scans. There is some evidence that the use of the progestogen releasing intra-uterine system, Mirena may cause fibroids to reduce in size. Mirena is often used in the perimenopause by women who have heavy periods and/or require contraception and can provide the progestogen part of their HRT.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossF
Hi karin - as karenja says - you could try Utrogestan which at least is the same as our "natural" progesterone, rather than a synthetic one. Re the Mirena coil - this seems to affect some women negatively but others swear by it - and I think it will depend how much of the progestogen is absorbed into the body and how you react to it. It contains the same progestogen as Femseven patches ie levonorgestrel.
Hurdity x
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Hi have been on Evorel sequi 50 g for three months , started to feel better but been really down and feeling anxiety , getting a little scared.