Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: janine scott on December 16, 2014, 05:42:27 PM
-
Hi am new to the site having a rough time am trying hrt patches as u can't stand the feelings I am having panic attacks anxiety thinking there is something seriously wrong I feel like a hypocondricat am nervous about the side effects of hrt as am 45 the doc said I nned to try it three months. Does anyone have really bad I detection feeling like choking I've had endoscopy and barium swallow nothing there but really struggle to eat can't have coffee alcohol tea etc am at wits end will this go away feel like am having an outer body experience I felt normally one day and not anymore.
-
Hi janine and welcome :)
Im in similar position...past two yrs have been perimenopausal for me! Think I'm nearing the end of this stage tho as not had a period since april.
I started antidepressants 10 weeks ago due to anxiety...still thinking about whether to start hrt or not, so can't help u with that sorry. But I do know from yrs of living with anxiety, ive had a few phases in my life where I constantly felt like there was a lump permanently in my throat - which is awful. The last time I got it I just had to tell myself it was the anxiety and that with each passing day I was nearer to it going - it never really laster longer than a week.
Wishing you peace xx
-
Thank you am not alone and know am not going mad as I sometimes feel I am I've tried antidepressants didn't help made we worse.
I hope you too find peace at this difficult time xx
-
Hi janine scott - I've answered on your other thread. Side effects of HRT usually settle (depending on the type) but if the progestogen doesn't suit you then there are others you can try.
Hurdity x
-
Thanks hurdity I just hope this gets better thank god for this site am not alone after all xx
-
Hi Janine Scott
I'm in peri and am actually on a break from HRT, but I had really bad symptoms too one of them was a lump feeling in my throat, but after starting HRT it disappeared with most other symptoms too. The worst being dread and doom feelings washing through you, scared of everything and at o e stage I wouldn't go out.
I was on patches too and they do start to work pretty quickly, first on the flushes if you are having them, keep preserving with them.
Take care x
-
Hi smokey thanks am just having a tough time the patches seem to be making my indigestion worse and am so frustrated with everything its an awful time xx
-
Hi Janine Scott.
Are you sure it's the patches causing stomach problems, I have same probs but after keeping a diary realise its the hormones fluctuating up and down but is defiantly worse during period I am taking omprezole was taking every so often but now I've decided to take them every morning before breakfast, remember fatty food starts these pains off I've cut right down especially pastry cakes fizzy drinks coffee and a lots of other things too, oh and not too much chocolate at a time!
I hope this helps,but it's all about experimenting and having everything in moderation. Xx
-
Hi smokey am not sure it is patches just know that before the patches indigestion seemed better than now trying gavison now I can't have tea coffee alcohol etc trial and error thanks xxx
-
Hi Janine
Sure it will get better - suspect indigestion is anxiety-related, especially if you are a bit anxious about being on hrt and peri-meno crap in general!
I've been on hrt form over a year and patches for most of that time! First 3 months are a bit unpredictable - good, then bad, then good .... Now I love them - feel human again so please try to persevere and relax as much as you can! If you have a bad day, take it easy and do something nice - I used to lie in bed and watch a movie - it does get better xx
-
Thanks Suzy am just having a tough time u do have some good days and I just take one day at a time I know am very lucky compared to some who don't have their health and I don't I like complaining for that reason but as the symptoms are so bad its really hard thanks for the support xx
-
Oh it's definitely hard - feels like it's never going to end - BUT it does!! In my bad days I was practically glued to the internet trying to find a new fix - now I'm just out and about, living life and not thinking too much about it all - and not that long ago I could barely leave the house for anxiety and panic!! Be patient, be kind to yourself and know that it will get better ...
-
Oh it's definitely hard - feels like it's never going to end - BUT it does!! In my bad days I was practically glued to the internet trying to find a new fix - now I'm just out and about, living life and not thinking too much about it all - and not that long ago I could barely leave the house for anxiety and panic!! Be patient, be kind to yourself and know that it will get better ...
Your words are very encouraging and reassuring.
-
Thanks Suzy I feel like there maybe light at the end of the tunnel now xx
-
That's great - there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hang on in there !!
-
Hi hope it's not to late to jump in on this thread.
I have just changed from 3 pumps of ostrogel per day to estrodot 50. It will be day 7 tomorrow and although yesterday was a really good day, I have woke up today feeling flu type symptoms with dizzy feeling.
I have noticed my patch is a little loose and is due for changing this eve. My question is, are these side effects esp dizziness common and will they settle???
W
-
Before I was prescribed HRT I took St Johns wort for anxiety and it took the edge off within a couple of weeks and an added bonus of getting rid of my night sweats. I took the one that had added 5 HTP (amazon). You cant take it with HRT as it interacts but if you're not on that yet I would recommend it. Anxiety was my worst side effect followed by dizzyness.
Good Luck
-
Hi warwick01
I use Oestrogel so have no experience of patches - however, I get flu-like symptoms and a woozy head when my oestrogen level is too low (amongst other things!). I would normally increase my dose until I feel better. Could it be that your patch is getting towards the end of its effectiveness?
Perhaps it might take a while to your body to adjust to a new method of HRT so maybe you'll feel better in a few more weeks.
Hope you feel better soon x
-
Thanks Ladies for your replies.
It could be a combination of going down to 50mc patch which is lower than 3 pumps of gel. My face is flushing all the time and muzzy head. I will give it a little more time and see if things get better.....
W
-
Hi warwick01 - I haven't used gel either but agree it might take a while for your body to acclimatise to the different method of obtaining oestrogen. I get slight dizziness/light-headedness how and again anyway but not seriously enough to do anything about it. I hope your side effects settle soon!
Hurdity x
-
Suzy those are the words I most want to hear. Just started estrogen about a month ago, and better, but not 'normal'. Oh how I miss normal. The normal I want is to be out there 'just living my life' and not obsessed with every feeling, twitch or twinge of my body thinking 'this is it'. I swear I might have post traumatic stress after this.
tara
-
You'll come through it! I was about as down as you can get and getting the hrt right seemed like it was gonna take forever! I made the mistake of fiddling with my doses too often (started on estrogel and could never get it right) but after 3 months felt better and after six months much much better... You also learn your own body so I know what it feels like when my estrogen is too high, progesterone too high or low etc although I generally now just ride out any bad spells knowing what they are and that they're only gonna last a few days.
If I got better anyone can!
-
Hi Everybody!! Just wondering how you are all doing? I'm suffering hormone anxiety and low mood in this perimenopause. Been suffering about 2-3 years. I didn't realise what it was during the 1st year but now I'm convinced it's peri. Any info on how you are doing now would be greatly appreciated. I know this is an old thread but I'd love some info on what has helped. Thank you. :)
-
Hi Desperatedee
What are your periods doing re length, cycle length etc - have you started skipping them yet and has your cycle got longer, bleeds lighter/heavier etc? This would give an indication of where you are in menopause. Maybe you also have other symptoms like flushes and sweats?
If you are still having very regular periods and maybe your cycle has got shorter then you are in the late reproductive stage ( according to the STRAW criteria) - which is the last stage before the peri-menopausal transition. At this point some women seem to experiencing worsening pms symptoms - due to the increased hormonal fluctuations.
Some women start HRT at this point but this can have a variable response because of the strength of your own cycle. If the cyclical low mood becomes worse then sometimes the CCP can be prescribed to suppress the cycle - if you are under 50? There are two types which have similar oestrogen to HRT and gentler than the strong synthetic types that younger women take.
Other strategies to help with anxiety can be found on the site nomorepanic so if you can cope for now then perhaps try out some of these ideas - if it is too soon for HRT.
There is an article on peri-menopause here which you might find interesting:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf
Hop ethis helps :)
Hurdity x