Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Dandelion on July 01, 2022, 03:43:31 AM

Title: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: Dandelion on July 01, 2022, 03:43:31 AM
Hello
I used to need 100mcg oestrogen patches, now I only need 25mcg.
I also take utrogestan
I am 55 years old.
Lately, I have noticed myself waking up in the middle of the night with that horrible feeling in my stomach, the type you get when you are scared, and it has been getting worse this last couple of weeks.
I hope it is hormone related?
Can anyone help?
Title: Re: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: Marchlove on July 01, 2022, 06:55:31 AM
Hi Dandelion

That’s so horrid for you! It most certainly is hormone related.

Have you only recently reduced your oestrogen patch to 25mg?
What strength Utrogestan are you taking and do you take it every night?

It could be that now you are on such a low dose of oestrogen you don’t need so high a dose of Utrogestan.

X
Title: Re: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: CLKD on July 01, 2022, 08:34:29 AM
It can be due to low blood sugar.  My GP prescribed Propranolol to take at night.
Title: Re: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: Pippa52 on July 01, 2022, 09:02:50 AM
I get that too - its horrible.   Hope so much things calm down for you x
Title: Re: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: joziel on July 01, 2022, 07:07:17 PM
I get this as well. Have you recently changed your dose to 25mcg and did you do this gradually?

You might need more than 25, that is quite a low dose. You could try 50 (2x 25s) and see if it goes away?
Title: Re: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: Dandelion on July 02, 2022, 08:02:36 PM
Hi Dandelion

That’s so horrid for you! It most certainly is hormone related.

Have you only recently reduced your oestrogen patch to 25mg?
What strength Utrogestan are you taking and do you take it every night?

It could be that now you are on such a low dose of oestrogen you don’t need so high a dose of Utrogestan.

X
That's the thing, I have not recently reduced my oestrogen, it's been 25mcg over a year.
Why am I getting the cortisol rushes now all of a sudden?
Title: Re: Worsening cortisol rushes on waking
Post by: Marchlove on July 02, 2022, 08:32:49 PM
You haven’t said what dose of Utrogestan you are taking.

With your  estrogen dosage being low you won’t need so much progesterone.

It’s a question of balance. The symptoms of low and high cortisol are very similar, either can cause anxiety.

Progesterone can increase cortisol, so from personal experience my advice would be to decrease the progesterone dosage.
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