Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Tracey on July 20, 2017, 11:17:47 AM
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I just thought I would let you know how I am getting on. I had my review with my GP yesterday and I must say she was brilliant, she went way over the allotted appointment time to really listen and ask questions about where I am now with regards to everything that's happened over the past two years. We talked about how I had settled on the sertraline. I have been taking it for over two months now and only really have one side affect which is slight restless legs in the evening (not major). AD's have definitely got me to a better place and as I have said before the anxiety is pretty much under control. We talked about what symptoms continue to be an issue for me. Aching bones, hot flushes and constant vaginal itching still cause me a lot of discomfort
I had taken the advice from everyone who replied to my initial post and did some research on HRT so I knew what was out there and what all the possible side affects were, also what the pro's were. My GP said that she felt now was a good time to think about introducing Oestrogel and prescribed one pump per day for the next 3 months to see how I get on and then have another review to discuss if has made a difference. I must say I left the GP surgery feeling like I was holding a golden ticket to Willy Wonkers chocolate factory!!
I had my shower last night opened the pump bottle, looked at it for 20 minutes and then put it back in its box ::) ........... What is that all about? I'll sleep on it was my next thought. This morning I did exactly the same thing. Is it the apprehension of what it may or may not do for me. Is it because of possible side affects? What will happen when I have to come off it? Is it because its the start of another type of journey in this ever changing period of my life? Will I grow horns?
Has anyone else got to this point and felt the same way?
Tracey
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Hi Tracey
I am so glad you were listened to and had a good consultation with your doc and I felt exactly as you did when I first started HRT - I was very nervous and knew very little about it! The good news is you don't have to have progesterone which is the part of HRT which causes many of the problems. Take a deep breath and take the plunge! It might take your body a few days or weeks to adjust to the excitement of having oestrogen again - as it wakes up - but stay with it and I am sure you will benefit long term.
Don't worry about the coming off it - if/when that occurs some time in the future - was only saying to someone yesterday that it is the here and now which is important - you won't be able to take away the years of feeling better in the meantime. I am still on it in my mid 60's ::)
All the best as you start this new path and do post about how it goes and hopefully you will feel better very soon :)
Hurdity x
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I expect all you have gone through to get to this point has made it all seem a bigger deal. ;D
I found that I felt a bit :o for the first day or two, got worried about it but by the end of the week I wondered what the fuss was about ;) One pump should be a low dose anyway. Hopefully, you won't notice a thing and will gradually feel better over the next three months 8)
(For what its worth, I had one Sertraline once and never again! :-X ;))
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Thank you Hurdity and dahliagirl.
I think you are right about the fact that it has seemed like a long time coming and now that its here it really does seem like a bit deal. It is reassuring to know that this type of HRT has lower risks due to not having the progesterone and to know that its quite normal to feel nervous about taking that first dose!
Oh to feel better, now that is something to get excited about, or to even feel excited, not a feeling that has been in my repertoire of emotions of late ;D
Ok so hopefully tonight will be the first dose. Is that the best time of day to take use the gel?
Tracey
P.S Sertraline does take a bit of getting used to at the start!
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Great news that you are more settled re anxiety. Why not try using the one pump it should really help with the flushes . Give it a couple of weeks it is quite a low dose,you can always stop it if you feel that it's not for you. Likewise if you feel ok on it but that it isn't helping the flushes you can increase to two pumps see if that helps. ;)
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It sounds like you have staying power so you should be ok ;D By the 3 month review you should know where you stand. It is worth keeping a short diary of symptoms, so that you can look back at what happens (I find that if I feel good when the Dr asks, then I forget the previous 2 weeks - and also I am too polite and say 'very well thank you' all the time)
I take mine in the evening. There will be an initial rise in blood levels as it is taken in, then a gradual reduction until time for the next one. I am never sure if it is better to take it so that you are asleep for the rise, or the end of the fall........ It is probably best to choose a time of day when you can take it at pretty much the same time each day. I think that once you have taken it for a while, the time of day will be less crucial.
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So pleased that you found confidence from suggestions made in your initial thread to have a good discussion with your GP. As suggested, try 1 pump for a week and see - don't sit waiting for reactions though ;) ...... although sometimes I wake to see whether I've been asleep/not ;D.
Let us know how you get on. Some ladies do require HRT along with anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication, it is the Trial and Error that can be so tiring. You may find that once you have evened out you can drop the ADs .........
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Oh dear ladies I am on a complete downer today!! :'( :'( :'( I've just sat in the loo at work and cried my eyes out, so reaching out for some of your wisdom. I started the Oestrogel Friday – one pump on my arms which I put on in the mornings.
Felt so up last week after getting the prescription although it took a few days for me to get going on it. Once I took the plunge I found myself waiting for something to happen and quite excited about things changing for the better (quickly). My ongoing aches and pains hadn't been too bad the last few weeks but since yesterday I have felt just rubbish.
My neck started to get really stiff on Sunday and since then my aches have come back with a vengeance. My hips have started to hurt again especially when sleeping, it does ease somewhat once I get up and moving, my shoulder and elbow are also very stiff and sore. I just ache!!!!
Am I expecting too much too soon? It's only been 5 days since starting the gel. I thought things would only continue to get better.
Tracey
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:hug: Don't cry Tracey, it will soon pass. Just take a step back & try not to expect too much, too soon, from the Oestrogel (it's not fairy dust) ;). :hug:
As Hurdity said earlier "stay with it and I am sure you will benefit long term," & she's usually right.
Hope you feel better soon, we are with you holding your hand.
Cazi x
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Tracey- I am assuming you are still in work but hopefully feeling a little better. I came to HRT kicking and screaming. Never took any hormones in my life - mostly organic products in my home and make up bag :) eventually had no choice but to try as I'd exhausted everything else. First experience was compounded bio identicals from USA - too costly and concerns about regulation etc drove me off them. This year I've had coil fitted and started sandrena ( estrogel) - I only noticed marked improvement once I doubled my daily dose. I'm converted well and truly! Maybe you could contact GP and ask for quick review as you are feeling so low?? My practice allows GP to call back if you've already been seen and have a fairly quick query? Try not to lose heart - it's a bit of trial and error at the beginnning x keep in touch x :bighug: do something nice for yourself this evening ;)
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Glad i'm not the only one, got my hrt gel today Divigel 1mg sachets. I too have been staring at box debating will I won't I start and I just keep putting it off. I think I'm just scared of side effects, when I tried estradot patches in the past my anxiety went through the roof and as for my mood swings, well lets just say hubby was happy when I stopped taking it.i have HA so when I read leaflet and that hrt can cause blood clots and heart problems I started to panic. Maybe I'll start tonight or in the morning when I've calmed down a bit
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The support from this forum is truly comforting. Thanks for your kindness Cazikins - if only fairy dust was real! I am defiantly going to stick with it. I think because its been such a battle to get to this point I was expecting a miracle to happen over night, my low mood is almost defiantly my own fault for expecting that to happen.
Yes DaisyB, I am still at work, hiding behind my computer screen. I should get a little sign to put up that says 'HAVING A BAD DAY' but then my colleagues have been going through my menopause with me for the past 2 years so they know now to either speak to me or not ;D - they bring me cake often! Yes my GP is pretty good at telephone call backs, ill try and give it a bit more time and if things don't settle I will give her a call. I'm feeling a little better, just by talking to you guys :thankyou:
Tracey x
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Hi Yammy1
My anxiety is being treated with sertraline and wasn't caused by HRT, but is defiantly associated with my menopause. Anxiety and hot flushes were my first symptoms, coming and going until a major breakdown earlier this year. Try not to panic too much, my GP was very reassuring with regards to the Gel, she said it has much less risks than the combined HRT and to be honest, I really need a break from how things have been and want to enjoy life again. Others on the forum have really been supportive and helped me get going after being really scared.
Let me know how you get on, be good to compare how its going.
Tracey x
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Thanks Tracey, I'm being a little baby, I took half a Xanax earlier so feeling a bit calmer, I am definitely going to give gel a try just not sure weather I'll start tonight or In The morning. Maybe the morning would be better as things always seem worse at night.
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That's how I think yammy1 - more people around. My brain wanders off to all kinds of not quite normal places at night ::) You are not being a baby at all, it's big things in our lives and it's not easy! Took a long time to finally take this route but it's worth a try. Do what ever is best for you, don't put too much pressure on you're self
Tracey
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Yeah Tracey I'll leave it until the morning, just in case I have a reaction, at least day time it won't seem so bad. I'll let you know how It goes. Fingers crossed it works and sooner rather than later .
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When you start any type of HRT it does take a little while to settle into it. I always felt worse before better. I am sure you will feel better soon
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Thanks Paisley, its good to know that its going to take a while before things settle down and that things may get a bit worse to start with. I felt so terrible yesterday that I thought maybe I was slipping back into one of my lows. I don't feel as bad today thank goodness.
Tracey
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Glad you're feeling a wee bit better Tracey x it's a bit of a knock back when you think you're on the right track and you find yourself knocked back - but hopefully it's just the hormones settling. Keep in touch xx
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Hi DaisyB,
:thankyou: I certainly hope so and will keep updating how this magic mystery tour is going!
Tracey x
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Also I think the trouble with hormones is that they don't always stay the same so just because you have a bad day it doesn't automatically mean the next day will be, it could be much better. Xx
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Morning Ladies,
So the last week has been very up and down, good days and bad days. Im struggling with hip and shoulder aching all the time and the last 3 days I have seen an increase in hives. They are single and appear randomly over my body, and itch like absolute crazy. I have been getting these for the last year, rarely having a break from them. They are quite small and I am surprise how much something so little can itch. I get two or three at a time and they last for 3/4 days then go away, but as soon as they go another one or two will appear. I take antihistamine but they do not get rid of them, just dulls the itch. I also have hydrocortisone cream to help with the itching.
What I am wondering is, now that I am using Oestrogel, will this be making the hives worse? (just increased to 2 pumps per day) I am a little confused about these hives, is it hormones that is causing them in the first place. I have never suffered from any kind of allergy before. These only started when Perimenpause symptoms got progressively worse. Do hormone related hives go away once you are post menopause? Are they caused by Oestrogen or Progesterone. Just to clarify I have had a partial hysterectomy, still have my ovaries.
My Gp has tried prescription antihistamine but they didn't do much either.
They are really getting to me, and just wondering if anyone else has had problems with hives that have cleared up eventually.
Tracey.
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Tracey - just a thought.... my mum has been troubled with hives for months - she tested low on vitamin D but also has underactive thyroid. Even dermatologist couldn't explain it - no one seemed to relate it to a deficiency though?- I posted yesterday a link regarding rashes and vitamin deficiencies- maybe worth looking at if you haven't already ruled out?? I developed rash on my face ( rosacea ) and small cuts appeared and when one healed another popped up. Has stopped now - my B12 was normal according to GP but iron was low. I'm on complex B anyway. Hope that helps a little.
DaisyB xx
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Hi Tracey, I got hives when I had the mirena coil...doctors said it could be from the synthetic progesterone, a strange reaction to my own progestogen mixed with the synthetic ( hives every month even though I had no bleed) or an immune reaction to the actual coil itself in my womb. No one ever really had an answer - all I know is that I had it removed and the hives disappeared with it! I would add I am now using Evorel sequi hrt patches and so far I've not had hives with this progesterone- if indeed they were caused by hormones x
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Morning,
I've been trying to figure them out for such a long time. Its not food related as I've tried elimination diet (well as best I can) GP gave me a course of anti-biotics after antihistamine didn't do much, no luck there, just gave me thrush :-\
Had bloods done regularly as my liver enzymes had been elevated for a while, which seem to be settling now. Checked for vitamin deficiency - nothing obvious. I don't take any form on contraceptive as have had a hysterectomy. I actually think I am allergic to my own hormones though, its the only thing that could be causing it, along with the other symptoms of meno. No sure how to go about finding out.
One good bit of news, hot flushes have just about gone - :gym: since using Oestrogel. I would rather put up the aches than I would hives!
Tracey x
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Glad the flushes are better & hopefully you will continue to feel better. Getting rid of the flushes & the mental things will help you to cope with the hives. When we don't feel anxious & down we can cope with a lot more
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You can't be 'allergic' to your hormones ;-). However, a body can become sensitive to the slightest adjustment so if you're hormones are present progesterone can be problematic!
As oestrogen levels drop off so muscles may become lax = aches and pains which can be controlled with over-the-counter pain relief, get advice from the Pharmacist. Then 30 mins. B4 attempting exercise, housework, gardening etc., take a tablet which will give some relief.
The body can become dry which causes itchiness, aggravated by hormones - bugga ........... :sigh: