Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Flan747 on August 24, 2022, 05:44:29 AM
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Morning ladies. Long story short I’ve tried a lot of HRT regimes under specialist and cannot get it right. 6 months now on patches and still not settled, bad anxiety and low mood creeping back in. Lots of bloods taken and I’m still fluctuating a lot, results on patches range from 348-1170, I’m peri. Also changed to 12 days utro 8 weeks ago from conti as still getting breakthrough bleeds so wondered if that has not helped things, Nervous of my appt as I know I need to change again. The one thing I haven’t tried is Lenzetto but I’ve heard it’s quite a lot weaker, I’m currently on 75, I’ve tried 100 and it made no difference! Any suggestions welcomed. I’m 3 years + on HRT and it’s getting me down. If I knew I wouldn’t crash completely back to where I was I think I would have ripped the patch off but that frightens the life out me! Sorry I’m rambling. I’m 53 BTW and was having regular periods until I started HRT
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Morning. Not feeling well myself but have you considered an anti-anxiety medication to help? Some do require HRT and ADs or anti-anxiety treatments.
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Hi Flan747
Which patch are you on?x
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Hello Flan. Could the ultrogestan be contributing to your anxiety? I know it can have that effect on people. I can understand you feeling nervous at the thought of another change. It could be you need the progesterone changed rather then a complete change. Many GPS do not have knowledge of this to perhaps your GP could discuss this with a menopause specialist to help come up with a suggestion.
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Thank you ladies for the replies. So no I’ve never considered anti anxiety meds but will jot that down on my endless list! Ive been on Evorel for just over 6 months started on 50 worked up to 100 then back to 75 thinking I maybe too high but now maybe it was not enough, as usual no idea which way to go. The only thing that has changed since changing the utro med is my sleep is so much better, I use it vaginally now for 12 days and before it was continuous orally and it made me really groggy and I had restless sleep. I’m under Dr Lethaby who specialises in anxiety so I’m really hoping for a solution soon, life is passing me by and no enjoyment in it what so ever.
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Thank you ladies for the replies. So no I’ve never considered anti anxiety meds but will jot that down on my endless list! Ive been on Evorel for just over 6 months started on 50 worked up to 100 then back to 75 thinking I maybe too high but now maybe it was not enough, as usual no idea which way to go. The only thing that has changed since changing the utro med is my sleep is so much better, I use it vaginally now for 12 days and before it was continuous orally and it made me really groggy and I had restless sleep. I’m under Dr Lethaby who specialises in anxiety so I’m really hoping for a solution soon, life is passing me by and no enjoyment in it what so ever.
I think it is good you are seeing a DR who specialises in anxiety. Perhaps an anxiety medication may be the way to go. I understand what you mean by loife passing you by. Hopefully Dr Lethaby can come up with something that is better for you.
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Thank you, I really hope so too, appt is Friday so will update afterwards. The other thing I thought of doing was maybe changing patch brands but not sure if I would be wasting precious time. I also have some gel so maybe using both would be another option we will see what she suggests? Has anyone tried a different patch brand out of interest? Xx
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Flan747 I really feel for you, it can be so hard getting the balance right with hrt.
I wonder if you’d be better dropping back to a 50 patch, I’ve always found an average dose of oestrogen is better and don’t do well with a high dose.
More pertinent though is progesterone, it’s nearly always the problem with mood/anxiety. Like Flossieteacake says maybe you could try either a) changing it, or b) using it even less with the approval of your specialist of course. I do just this using it vaginally x 7 days with regular scans. It’s the only way I can tolerate progesterone, and even then I still have a couple of bad days with withdrawal symptoms.
Good luck with your appointment and let us know how you get on xx
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Hi Flan, sorry to hear you are struggling. Do consider Flossies suggestion re the progesterone in the Utero as not everyone gets on with it, even though its considered to be the gold standard. There may be another progesterone you could try?
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Cross Post with Perinowpost! Her advice sounds good too.xx
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Hi Flan
Sorry also to hear of your HRT woes.
Just to say I would not consider anxiety meds at all while you are sorting out HRT - after all if there is no particualr reason in your life for you to feel anxiety and it has increased recently it is more important to sort out the HRT otherwise it's just a sticking platser rather than getting to the real cause ( that's not to say that some women may benefit) but I would be cautious about going down this route.
I do agree about the progesterone and also, if you were having regular periods before starying HRT and tyhat was 3 years ago you may not yet be post-menipausal - though you won;t be able to determine this. If so then your own cycle may be kicking in ( hence the irregular bleeds), and that being the case it could well be part of normal pms rather than the HRT.
The high variation in oestrogen levels from your blood results points to the fact that you may well still be ovulating. Cyclical HRT may help as you seem to be suggesting so why not continue like that for a few months and see how you feel? Also if you are taking it 4 weekly than ask if you can take it calendar monthly (slightly longer cycle) asnd possibly reduce to 10 days per month initially.
As peri suggests there is a very much reduced dose but this can only be done under medical supervision with regular scans in case the womb lining thickens - especially if you are on higher doses of oestrogen which you are - so could lead to heavier bleeds actually.
Hope this helps and all the best
Hurdity x
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Ladies thank you so much for your advice, I did actually think of dropping down to a 50 patch to reset or see if it actually helped, it appears my own estrogen is still kicking in so getting the balance is never ending. She actually said about changing the progesterone side of things last time but wanted to see if I could get on with the 12days per calendar month, I would say I’ve seen no real change from when taking it continuous although as I said my sleep is better. Hurdity I think your right about the anxiety meds, want to get the HRT side of things settled first, I actually had a scan last week and results showed no thickening so that was a bonus at least! She did suggest the conti patch but I was very reluctant to change as it only goes up to a 50 and worried it wouldn’t be high enough for me? Such a dilemma everyday overthinking what I should do. Also on Testim which doesn’t seem to be doing anything either 🙈 xx
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Had my appt today ladies and have been advised to try the following: change to Estradot patch and work up to 150 as I was previously on 6 pumps of gel and that was when I was more stable until the changes in the gel, switch back to continuous utro as I seem to be better when on it and increase that to 200 as that can also stabilise mood. Waiting for BT results for T and if it remains high she has suggested coming off it and consider going back onto Androfem as she has looked at me previous results and she thinks I was absorbing more than last specialist suggested and to be honest, it maybe that, as I have gone down hill since being on the Testim so we will see xx
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I really hope this works for you. I wish you luck.
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Thank you Flossie x
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Changing patch sounds like a good option, hopefully you absorb better on it as I think your symptoms indicate low Estrogen.
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That’s what I needed to hear today Floo! I increased my Evorel to 100 on Friday and wow do I feel rough! Yesterday I had a horrendous headache all day and I couldn’t settle,today pretty much the same! I’ve gone backwards since starting the Evorel in March. Will give the Estradot a good go when they arrive if not I may have to return to the gel which wasn’t great but so much better than how I’m feeling right now, struggling badly unfortunately. I did think about adding a bit of gel as a top up, any thoughts ladies ? X
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There is no harm in adding some gel. It does sound like you don’t take anything in from the patch, I don’t absorb on patches but only tried everol and Estradot.
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Thanks Floo! Going to try the Estradot , give that a good go and if not luck will by adding some gel. My sleep is really good, this morning headache has subsided and is manageable 🤞 xx