Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Jules53 on June 15, 2019, 08:44:32 AM
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Hi all
Sorry me again 😟. I have been on Evorel 50 Oestrogen patches and Utrogestan 100 for 2 and a half weeks now. I am having up and down days. Yesterday and the day before were better days but today (which is patch change day) I have woken up with bad anxiety. I changed my patch and the anxiety has lessened, but is still there. Just wanted to know whether this is a sign that my Oestrogen levels are low please. The last 2 days I have felt tired and a bit more sedated, which I assume is the Utrogestan, but today it is just anxiety.
I'm not sure which hormone is causing which symptom and would be grateful for some advice.
Thanks. Jules x
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Hi jules, do you do the 3 then 4 days patch changes as I've noticed a lot of women do every 3 days or every 3.5 days as they notice a dip otherwise x
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Hi Dotty
I do the 3.5 days change. Can low Oestrogen cause anxiety?
Thanks. Jules x
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Hi Jules
Unfortunately HRT is not a quick fix and 2 weeks is not going to be long enough to show much improvements. Speaking from personal experience, it takes 4 - 6 weeks for improvements to start and then further improvements follow for a further 6 weeks. Between 3 and 6 months on the right dose and type of hrt you should reach a state where your body is comfortable on the hrt and the oestrogen levels are at the right level for you. I found this very difficult as a good friend of mine went on hrt and was better after a few days. For me it was a lot longer.
Yes, low oestrogen can cause anxiety. There are oestrogen receptors all over the body, including the brain and it is low or fluctuating oestrogen which causes the anxiety. Although, there will be some ladies who suffer with it when oestrogen is high.
You have got to be patient and continue with the regime . Again , I speak from experience. If you look at some of my early posts you will see how desperate I was. I've been where you are now xx
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https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/menopause-and-depression
Jules, if you haven't done so already, look at Dr Louise Newson's website. It really helped me and helped me to understand what was happening to me and what I needed to do. x
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Thanks Dotty and Countrygirl.
I am very impatient. I am so anxious today. I'm out meeting a friend for coffee and feel so nervous, and don't know why. It's awful😟. May have to take a low dose of Diazepam to steady my nerves. I'm so fed up but know I need to be patient.
Thanks again xx
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Hi
Sorry me again. Am feeling so anxious and trying not to take a Diazepam. I have some Oestrogen gel here as well so should I try a pump of that in addition to the patch or just persevere?
Dotty- when you were trying to get your hormone levels right did you feel anxious on day but not the next? Did you take anything for your anxiety? Sorry to bother you again.
Thanks
Jules x
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Hi Jules
Adding a pump of gel won't help unless you are going to stick to that dosage. HRT is not designed for you to put the dose up and down as you feel like it. You need to give the patches 4 - 6 weeks to work and if you are still suffering them you need to up the dose of oestrogen for a further amount of time. You can't just keep adding a pump of gel now and again as this may cause breakthrough bleeding. As I said in my previous post, hrt is not an immediate fix. It doesn't work like painkillers when you up the dose if you are feeling ill.
I didn't use any medication for my anxiety. It's hard to describe exactly how I felt and what I was suffering from as I was so ill physically.
You've got to be patient I'm afraid x
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Ok, thanks Dotty. Did you have good days and bad when you started? Am feeling so aggravated and anxious today I don't know what to do with myself😟. Bloody hormones 😢.
Sorry to bother you again and thanks for your reply x
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Yes I was up and down for months. Some days I could cope with how I was feeling and other days I was a mess and would cry uncontrollably for ages. It was an awful time x
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Thanks Dotty, that's exactly how I feel. I've come this far so need to carry on x