Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Vicky81 on May 03, 2022, 05:41:33 AM
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Hi all
Just to ask i havent been out since Friday again and since Saturday I've noticed I'm more on edge, my hands have a tremor in them and gave been quite spacey.
I did, as you all know play about with my patch dose going from 100 to 150 then down again.
Do you think I'm not matched with everol?, or is it the up and down from dose change?
I looked back in my journal and this tremor jittery feel thing only came on Saturday....last Wednesday I went out had a drink in the sun etc....had some lip filler Thursday was fine in the room chatting with the lady etc...all fine in the car on way back and in the flat x
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Was that an alcoholic drink Vicky ? as that can give you tremors if you are on Sertraline.
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Hi Vicky
When you say you haven’t been out since Friday again, is this because you feel unwell? Or because you have had no plans. I ask as if you are feeling that your stuck at home with nothing to do it can cause anxiety which can manifest in hundreds of physical symptoms.
I know how awful it can be and sending you hugs
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Hi, no i havent drunk alcohol since last august.
Its deffo not the sertraline as i have been on this since January with no side effects at all.
I dont go out due to anxiety...because of peri.
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I am phoning clinic at 9 from work...i feel so jittery, and i am panicking now incase this stays with me! what a fool i was messing with the dose....i just dont know what to do now!!!
I also have a detailed blood test at 11 with Medichecks so i will see what happens from that too
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Do i just spoke to private clinic, explained everything. Dr Savvas adamant its not the upping and downing of patch....i am really frustrated as i have never had these symptoms since doing this!
I didnt feel listened to at all. He said it could be Psychological....my days i work in Broadmoor and i know when i feel "off" ...never had these physical shakes before....hand tremors, head lifting etc.
Another lady on here messaged me saying she had the same symptoms as me and it settled.
I just feel annoyed at myself, and also at the clinic that they couldn't tell me the solution, not even a "dont worry this will settle"
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If it’s any help, when I have bad anxiety I certainly have shaking hands, feel lightheaded, upset stomach, all sorts of physical symptoms. It can manifest itself in so many ways. So maybe it is your anxiety getting worse?
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Hi Vanilla - no i dont think its that, i have been not this bad since upping and downing the patch dose. Even my colleagues this morning agreed never had tremors...or the spacey feel, even on the gel - none of these symptoms, i also extremely tired....again this wasnt the case in the past.
Spoke to my Clinical Ward Manager here she said absolutely no way it is the Sertraline. Because i would have had all those symptoms at the start (been on them since Jan)
Anyway, i have booked a second opinion at Dr Panay Clinic on Thursday at 2.30pm. See what they make of it as Dr Savvas wasnt help at all. There have been ladies here private messaged me saying that this happened to them, but he wouldn't have it!!! If he had just said "yes its because you did that and it will subside" i would be content with that....not go down the route of psychological as if im imagining it. I told him i know my own body.
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Your doctor is a member of the BMS and helped write their guidelines on HRT. Why consult with him and then go to colleagues at a psychiatric unit and favour their advice? They’re not your doctors, they aren’t specialists in menopause like he is. You should listen to him as he knows your situation more then them. He’s paid to help you. Tremors are a known symptom of perimenopause and menopause and a known symptom of anxiety. They can happen with low or lower estrogen and as you are in the luteal phase and have changed your dose up and down so dramatically, it may be partly that. You won’t know because it’s only been a few weeks. I would in your position be having weekly therapy, not with anyone at your work, while you wait it out on the evorel. Remember it can take 3 months to settle.
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Hi Vicky,
Keep writing the symptom diary. I know it’s tough but you’re doing better than you think. You are sleeping well and doing a full time job. The anger seems to be a bit better too.
I would cut out all processed foods, drink plenty of water and do short bursts of exercise when the anxiety hits hard. I don’t mean a mandatory run every morning, find something online that lasts ten mins and can be done anywhere without your gym kit on. Also look at Headspace or Insight app for breathing techniques that lower the anxiety within 2 mins. They do work but we have to really commit to doing them.
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, getting rest, keeping work structure and believe in yourself. This is not forever. :)
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ATB - My colleagues are very experienced in mental health and highly respected, the advice was about sertraline not the patches so im a happy to take their professional opinions. For a "professional Gynae" to say these symptoms are not caused by the upping and downing seems ridiculous as i know my own body.
VictoriaV - thanks hun, yes i will keep going, keep o the 100mg patch for now and hope it settles. Like i say, i have a lady calling me on Thursday from Panay's clinic at 2.30 so that i can explain my current symptoms. x
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That’s the problem with Peri, I knew my body cycle until hitting peri and then the peri fluctuations took over. I think it takes a while for HRT to get into our cells and for our brain to adjust to it/ accept it/ rely on it. I don’t think my fluctuations calmed until about 4 months into HRT, most of the first 4 months I felt high but that was far better than anxiety.
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Well it’s totally up to you who you listen to. He’s telling you this for a reason. He sees thousands of women and understands better than anyone here what would happen, perhaps he thinks you weren’t on the higher dose long enough for it to affect you this much? Your colleagues don’t know what might happen with combining the medications for anxiety/depression & HRT, but your specialist will, he’s also aware of more of your case history. We do know our bodies, but as you keep asking questions daily maybe you don’t understand enough about menopause and HRT? That’s why you see him, right? If you’re carrying on with the patch as advised, then that’s what he wants you to do isn’t it? Perhaps it would still help you to listen to what he says about it being psychological and seeking extra help, outside of work, for that. You are testing a lot and seeking a lot of advice, you may want to pause and think if doing that is helping you or just confusing you.
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Hi i understand that, but he wouldnt listen to me on the phone really, thats why i was annoyed. You dont just get sudden symptoms out of nowhere. But anyway i shall be asking Panay on Thursday, and i asked if sertraline interfered at all with HRT and Dr Savvas told me that it doesnt.
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ATB, I don't think it is helpful talking to Vicky like she is a naughty school girl that needs to be told off! I totally agree with Vicky that these tremors could be caused by fluctuations in hormones and I don't blame her for asking for a second opinion.
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i am also seeking advice because i got the symptoms that ive never experienced until Saturday, i just wanted reassurance from him and you ladies that it was of the dosage upping and downing. I know one lady private messaged me then gave me her number to say tats exactly what happened to her on the patch. and that it settled. Just shows it can happen, and Consultants dont always know the answer
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Gnatty, please don’t tone police me. I’m not telling anyone off. This is a forum. People are entitled to their opinions. You use the words you want, and I’ll use the words I want. I’m encouraging Vicky to listen to her doctor so that she gets better and learns more about this. Constantly questioning the treatment before you give it time to work, is just going to make this journey harder.
Vicky, sadly we do indeed often get a new symptom, which may seem out of nowhere, but is a part of this horrible thing. It’s more complex for you because you also have mental health issues you’re addressing through treatment. Your doctor really is the one who understands this best right now. Doctors are busy and can seem abrupt or even rude, but it’s because they are busy and matter of fact. My GP rang me for something last week and it was the same. I in fact didn’t get everything I wanted out because I then got flustered. But it’s just because they are focussed on the most important thing and then they have to get back to other patients. You’re lucky to get a specialist phone call, my private doctor sends a message as she’s too busy to call. Nobody here can tell you with certainty what caused it. It might be the dose change, it might be what your doctor thinks it is and he will know more than us. That’s all I’m saying.
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Thanks GNATTY - Sorry ATB i have to agree slightly. I am new to all this and feel as though i am getting "told off" by yourself quite a bit. I do value your advice though, but its the way you put it across.
I am asking opinions from all angles as im very lucky to work where i do. The only reason i am on Sertraline is because we didnt know it was Peri at that time, so i just stayed on it i guess.
No matter how busy they are they should listen to you fully, especially when its private.
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Ok then I will ignore your posts and any PMs you send. I’m not going to have people say I’m telling them off because I’m saying things they don’t want to hear. I was polite and as helpful as I could be but I shan’t waste any more time. Please don’t PM me again.
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ATB - You have the patience of a saint!! xx
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ATB- that's absolutely fine I would rather you didn't message me. I'm not the only one that finds your tone quite aggressive. I'm glad yiu said you won't message or reply to my posts thats what I want . Best wishes
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I don’t message you Vicky, you message me, over and over about the same thing. I’ve reported your last comment as a personal attack. Completely unnecessary.
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Vicky I've just looked up what can interfere with Sertraline and found this
"What can interfere with sertraline?
Avoid cola drinks, chocolate and caffeine containing food items with sertraline since the combination can result in a condition called serotonin syndrome with symptoms of high fever, agitation, vomiting, nausea, rapid heartbeat, trembling, sweating and weird movements on the muscles."
The reason i asked you earlier if you had had any alcohol is that my dd inadvertently/was persuaded/? amongst company drank alcohol while taking sertraline and it knocked her back a fair bit. A lot of trembling, anxiety and low mood. It took a while for her to readjust.
I know you've had a lot of willpower re the alcohol but could any of the above have caused a blip in the sertraline action do you think ?
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Serotonin syndrome is something that’s very overlooked in mainstream medicine and can have awful symptoms.
Easily done with over medication, be it AD’s or even some supplements. Especially when not properly monitored by ONE doctor.
Through hormones into the mix and that will make it even more complex to monitor. X
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thanks both, hope you are well?
I have looked at serotonin syndrome and i dont think its that, but i do agree people do overlook this so much. I am only on 150 sertraline and havent had any side effects from this (very lucky i know). Until Saturday......up until today. Shaky, jittery, head foggy, not quite with it. I am waiting for my GP to call me this A.M as i do think my dose of HRT could be too high. I have this for 5 days now... feel out of it, horrid.
Minnie - thank you so very much for taking the time to look that up for me!! You could be right about the choc as i love a good bar of cadburys!! Luckily, i havent had fever, agitation, rapid heart beat, vomiting etc.
Just i said above really, the HRT has deffo brought this on. xxx
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Hi Vicky81
Just to let you know I have been experiencing awful anxiety, jitters, headaches, dizziness for several weeks now and I feel sure it is my HRT oestrogen levels causing it. I got to speak with my GP yesterday and have been for blood tests to test my oestrogen levels and have general bloodwork today. Wake in the night with a jump with the most awful anxiety/panic its vile and feeling really jelly legged and jittery and light headed all day. I am on Lenzetto and am very keen to see the blood results as to whether my levels are too high or too low. Do hope you can get some advice that will help you very soon but just to let you know you are not alone. I experienced the same as this also last year when I was swopped from Oestrogel to Lenzetto. Take care xxxx
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Hi pippa thanks so much for your message.
Yes its so awful that feeling isn't it?
I too had a blood test yesterday so shoukd get this back by Friday. Let me know how you get on with your test too ....
Tonight after speaking with gp reduced patch to 75mg....so il see what happens!
Keep in touch hun I'm here if yiu need me xxxxx
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Hello ladies.
Pippa52 and Vicky81 - I am sorry that you are both experiencing the dreaded jitters and as a fellow sufferer you have my sympathy.
Can I ask a small favour ladies? When you have your blood test results would you kindly post them on this thread for all members to see and learn from (though I expect that you were planning to do this anyway).
On a personal note I need to have my levels tested before my next clinic appointment in June so I am waiting until nearer the time before I arrange a blood test. Anything you ladies learn about your own circumstances would be very helpful and much appreciated.
Wishing you both well.
K.
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Hi vicky, firstly I just want to say, once you've been diagnosed with anxiety the automatic response is to put everything down to that, which simply isn't always the case, I too suffer from anxiety and know the difference between that and new symptoms, I also had those feelings of being spacey, lightheaded and the jittery shaky feeling when I first started patches, I also had it when my dose was too high, it's hard to describe the feeling, I also had an internal shaky feeling and my hands looked like I had a tremor, you are right to seek advice on it, you only have to do a search on here to see lots of women get that jittery feeling on hrt, hopefully it will settle when your body gets used to it, when I lowered the patch it went away for me, also if you want to post a question every day then that's your right to do so, we are all just looking for reassurance when we are new to this and desperately trying to feel somewhere near normal again, I feel for you, because I was you a few years ago so I know how tough this is, hang in there, things will get better in time, hope those side effects ease for you soon xx
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Awww that's so lovely of you.....and quite right.
Made alot of sense to me.
The dose was too high so gp has put me on 75mg see how that goes,, will stick with it for 3 months.
Yes with bad anxiety you need reassuring....its difficult.
Thank you for your support hun xxx
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You are very welcome, hope the dose of 75 works for you, take care xxx
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Hi Vicky, hope the new patch suits you. Stick with it! One day this will pass (that’s what I keep telling myself anyway)
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Awww vanilla thanks so much! Xxxx
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My blood result from Tuesday was 629 estrogen
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That’s a decent level.
Are the feeling better now then?
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Hi Nas
Sorry i got it wrong - it says 623.
So my first one was on 4th march - 1,615.
4th April 679
4th May 623.
FSH - 3.9
TSH - 1.36
FREE T3 - 5.08
FREE THYROXINE - 13.7
Hmmmm i am no expert by any stretch with all this, Have only started the patch over last two weeks so i guess i need to see?
Going to get the test once per month, i take it if it keeps going down that it means i am not absorbing from patch?