Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Annie1210 on February 17, 2023, 07:05:01 PM
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Hello All,
I am new here and desperately seeking some support and advice. I am 46 years old and have struggled with crippling anxiety for the past 18 months although I've got through a lot of personal change over that time (house move, job move, poorly parent etc.). I tried HRT patches and my anxiety seemed to feel worse, I was put on Sertraline but came off it as I felt really unwell physically on it. I'm really struggling with my anxiety again and due to start a new job next week. I'm really worried about what I'm going to be bringing into this new job. I've got ridiculous self doubts about my ability to do this job as it's a step up from what I've previously done. I have done similar roles to the new one before albeit post peri menopause.
I'm currently going do the wellbeing and holistic route, journalling, exercise, meditation, supplements etc but I'm at a loss. Can anyone help or anyone in the same boat?
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A change of routine however much I want it: holiday, visiting friends, making arrangements: throws me into high levels of anxiety. Spontaneous and I cope much better. U have too much time until you being that job!
I have used Bachs rescue remedy mouth spray successfully.
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Hey Annie1210,
That sounds horrible to deal with day to day.
Are you in perimenopause or post-menopause?
Some women find that progesterone is more calming than oestrogen in perimenopause. That is because they have enough oestrogen but have lost a good deal of progesterone. If that is your situation, you could try utrogestan (progesterone) on its own for a few weeks. If it helps, good; if not, then at least you have tried. But ask your doctor, who will hopefully know about these things. If it does help, the you could slowly introduce a very low dose of oestrogen too and build up to what you need.
If post-menopause, then the problem is more likely to be low oestrogen and your body is having a bit of a reaction to suddenly getting a dose of it. Which dose did you start on? Again, might be worth starting with a very low dose (even just 12.5 mcg - half a 25mcg patch or half a pump of oestrogel).
Lastly, some of us (me included) just don't do well with patches. I would love to use patches since they don't have to be applied every day, but they caused me real anxiety (which I had never experienced before). Oestrogel didn't. I have no idea why.
Hope you find a solution and that the new job goes well. Maybe check if they have a menopause policy during your induction.
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Hey Zoe - did you use progesterone in perimenopause? There are a few of us struggling with too high or very average estrogen and low progesterone on here so any advice would be helpful x
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Yes, I did, but not as a cream because it builds up under the skin. I took utrogestan only (no oestrogen) for about 6 months. Then I added in glutathione/NAC which made a big difference to oestrogen spikes, and then also needed some oestrogen and testosterone.
Interestingly, I saw an endocrinologist re my long covid symptoms and he said they were using utrogestan only for premenopausal/perimenopausal women with long covid. It helps to even out the long covid symptoms that spike around ovulation and menstruation. Many women on long covid forums say it really helps them, I have discovered.
To my mind, it makes sense because that is the hormone that drops off first.
Of course, some women can't tolerate progesterone, but many of us can and seem to really need it.
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Thanks Zoe and hopefully that’s all very helpful to Annie.
Is it bad that the cream builds up under the skin then?
You seem to have seen some really good professionals through your journey! So, do the endocrinologist and what you’ve read around long covid forums say utrogestan has been used only in those times ie for a few days around ovulation and again pre period? Or continuously?
It’s difficult during peri and I suffer in a similar way to Annie. I hope you find some relief and the new job goes ok.
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Thanks ladies for your reply. I am perimenopausal right now so I'm not sure what the deal is!? I have actually gone back onto the patches to see if it was the patches or just a difficult time of my life which was causing the anxiety. So difficult to tell when there's lots of other things in life going on.
I'm guessing I will need blood tests to ascertain if I've enough estrogen and not enough progesterone? I'm taking the evorel sequi patches so I'll see how it goes x
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Thanks Zoe and hopefully that’s all very helpful to Annie.
Is it bad that the cream builds up under the skin then?
You seem to have seen some really good professionals through your journey! So, do the endocrinologist and what you’ve read around long covid forums say utrogestan has been used only in those times ie for a few days around ovulation and again pre period? Or continuously?
It’s difficult during peri and I suffer in a similar way to Annie. I hope you find some relief and the new job goes ok.
I think the problem seems to be that progesterone cream can build up in fatty tissue, so it is different from utrogestan which is digested if taken orally and absorbed into vaginal/uterine tissue if taken vaginally. I am not saying there is no merit at all in progesterone creams but it is not regulated like utrogestan.
Long covid - continuous progesterone is what seems to be recommended: 100mg per night is what most women I know are taking either orally or vaginally. Again, medical supervision needed (and to get a prescription) since I think this is off-licence use of progesterone (taking it on its on without oestrogen). And I understand it is only used in this way in perimenopause, not post menopause.
Annie - blood tests are not going to tell you a lot. You need a doctor who understands menopause and who will listen to you talk about your symptoms. Start low and slow with the HRT would be my thoughts. Hope it works out for you! X
Scampidoodle - I have had some good professionals and some dreadful ones. I cannot describe how exhausting it is to seek out good medical help when very ill with long covid. I eventually found a good endocrinologist, a good menopause specialist and a GP who listens and is open to advice from specialists. Like many women on here, could tell stories of complete disinterest and lack of knowledge amongst medical professionals.
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I’m glad you found the help you needed ultimately!
Interesting on the utrogestan. I am under a consultant who specialises in menopause (though I’m not there yet) histamine and now long covid as she’s seen a real link with symptoms.
So, I’ll talk about utrogestan. I’ve tried the mini pill, prog cream and utrogestan vaginally all with no luck as I did see a link personally with my oestrogen. I’ve had enormous luck with the Mirena coil previously for this exact issue but it hasn’t worked well this time.