Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Lynnk on May 23, 2022, 12:29:31 PM
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Hi I am new to posting and looking for advice. I am 50 been having meno problems for a long time, have had a few HRT products, last was Sandrena Gel and Northesterone tablets. Had a problem with the tablets so used the gel only .... this led to a lot of bleeding and had to stop in Jan this year. I am having extreme dark thoughts, mainly about my relationship along with the other symptoms. Very very low. I have Evorel Conti looking at them in the pack and wondering what to do. Anyone have good results? My mum has osteoparosis becuase like me she had an early meno. Anyone have experience of intrusive thoughts?
Thanks in advance .... Lynn
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Hello Lynnk and welcome to the forum. I too had these thoughts when taking northesterone. It seems it can cause this in some people. I would stop taking them and talk to whomever prescribed them to you. Please do not delay as how you are feeling is awful. You are very brave to join this forum. I know how hard it is to talk about this.
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Thank you, I am not taking progesterone at the moment but have the Evorel Conti patches to start. Even on no HRT at all the thoughts are off the scale for me. I would try anything at this stage.
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Have you spoken to your GP about these thoughts? It sounds like you may benefit from an antidepressant.
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I had been on Fluoxatine for 7 years but managed to get off it altogether in Jan this year. Not sure about starting it again.
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I had been on Fluoxatine for 7 years but managed to get off it altogether in Jan this year. Not sure about starting it again.
Did you find it helped? I can understand you not feeling keen on restarting. If it helped then I would take it. I am on an antidepressant. I could not manage without one.
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If you are having intrusive thoughts you need appropriate medication. Sometimes what has been prescribed no longer works if we stop, do speak to your GP - it is known that hormonal upheaval can cause mental health issues, Dr Kathleen Dalton did a lot of research in the 1980s/90s. National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome (NAPS). You may find some information if you ask the question there, the more you learn the more informed choice you can make.
I wouldn't get out of bed without my daily medication.
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Lynnk
Well done you for getting off the anti depressants, your resolve should not be underestimated. If you only came off them in January it will take a while for your receptors to go back to normal. We are only in May I would give yourself longer if you can cope with the intrusive thoughts. In the meantime there are lots of things you can do to support your mental health.
Eat clean, as much fresh vegetables, fruit, salad and lean protein in your diet as you can manage. Stay off sugar, processed food and alcohol as much as you can.
Exercise regularly, doesn’t matter what just choose something you enjoy. Walking, swimming and yoga are particularly good.
Try an hrt regime which gives you oestrogen for longer without progesterone. For example, you could try a 6 week cycle. Or alternatively you could try utrogestan vaginally for 7 days only - you will need regular scans with this regime (it’s the one I follow and it works for me).
Minimise stress as much as you can. Whether this is in your work or home life. I went part time at your age (I realise this is not possible for everyone) and it really helped.
Finally, be kind to yourself, you have done extremely well and you are not alone, we are here for you x
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I also experienced intrusive thoughts, off and on during perimenopause. I’m feeling much better on HRT, for me it appears patches, Utrogestan and Androfemme are working and appropriate. I would encourage you to find a HRT solution that works, perhaps ask to be referred to a menopause clinic, or if you can afford go private.
I also congratulate you on coming off anti depressants, that can’t have been easy and it will take time to adjust to that. I say this totally without judgement. I was offered them twice by my GP who would not prescribe HRT, and I declined as I never wanted to go on them. My personal opinion is that it’s a serious decision and to be taken when other avenues have been fully exhausted. Too many GPs give women anti depressants instead of addressing their hormone needs, including HRT & thyroid, adrenal support and also addressing high prolactin- a very unknown issue that I see almost nobody discuss despite 1/5th of women experiencing this and the cause being benign pituitary tumours which can require medication. Perinowpost offered great advice on lifestyle changes and options that I personally believe helps. I think learning about breathing techniques & meditation helped with my intrusive thoughts, and exercise- which I could barely do before HRT. Please feel free to PM :)
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Great post ATB. Can you say a bit more about high prolactin (I’ve never heard of it)? Feel free to PM me also Lynnk x
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High prolactin can be caused by anxiety but it’s also an indicator of prolactinoma which is a totally benign non-cancerous tumour found on the pituitary gland usually harmless, but can massively lower estrogen and testosterone and be impacting the effectiveness of HRT. I have had very high prolactin over the last 5 years but it eventually comes down so we think it is stress related rather than a tumour, I would go for an MRI if I got 2 high results in a row ( 3 month testing ) but it is just up and down so indicates stress. Other symptoms of prolactinoma are vision issues, milky discharge from your breasts, irregular periods. It is naturally high when pregnant or breast feeding.
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Oh and 1/5 women over 35?? I think, have these pituitary tumours, some will know because of the breast milk symptom or other symptoms and require medication but most don’t know.
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Thank you all for replying. I was on 60mg of fluoxitine daily and was like a zombie. I am trying to be active and look at my diet, I am watching everything carefully now that I am more aware and awake. I will give it more time. I think I am going to give the Evorel Conti a go. I was scared of those too. What treatment is available if you do have the issue you mentioned please? I also had intrusive thoughts when I had my children and had severe post natal depression. Please believe me when I say there are totally all consuming and are stopping my life. An all round hormone roller coaster is how I would describe my life experience. Thanks again
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Prolactinoma is treatable when necessary, it’s not always necessary.
The recommendation at the end of this study is interesting, that every woman with anxiety and other mental health issues has prolactin tested:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924933815305642
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Hello all, LynnK I was wondering how you are doing on the HRT regimes for help with intrusive thoughts. I seem to be over thinking everything at the minute and having some unpleasant thoughts around my health. Oddly have been good for last few days but reappeared today. Think insomnia is not helping either. I'm due to start oestrogel this week once I get prescription and so hope this helps me calm down and get some relief from things.... thank you.
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Hi. How are you. Strangely I have been struggling with the thoughts again. I did the Evorel Conti in the end and I did pick up. I have had bleeding though and this in turn leads to the crippling thoughts. Just had 2 weeks from hell. I don’t know the answer except keep on trucking. I guess I am susceptible to these thoughts I have extremely bad health anxiety. Would be great to hear from you. Lynn xx
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This is a stressful time of year plus all the World events which are impacting on heating and food costs.
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Welcome back Lynn. Intruisve thoughts are very distressing. Do you remember what you found helpful when you had them before?
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Not really I think when you are in the middle of you you can’t really see a way out. I am overwhelmed and not coping very well. My mood is low maybe my patches have stopped working.
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Not really I think when you are in the middle of you you can’t really see a way out. I am overwhelmed and not coping very well. My mood is low maybe my patches have stopped working.
I can understand that. It can be overwhelming. Perhaps you need a tweak to your HRT? Is your GP supportive about menopause? You could talk to them about adjusting it.
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I also get intrusive thoughts, they aren’t nice.
Have you thought about some CBT to help with these?
Also, I think I’m right in that some people struggle with the Notheristerine for progesterone. Have you thought about another method of hrt? Maybe separate oestrogen and progesterone?