Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Geri72 on September 22, 2023, 11:10:51 AM
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Hi everyone
I have just found this site and just wanted to say hi :)
Suffered endometriosis and adenymiosis for half of my life and now 51 and two years into menopause I feel like I’ve gone completely insane ….nobody prepares you for this ….just started Everol patches 25 mg 2 weeks ago as my mood has slumped to an all time low with constant doom and gloom and anxiety is terrible ….sweats are horrific but through the day at work which is just so embarrassing …
Can I ask does Everol take a while to work and is there anything else I can try in the meantime
Have a lovely weekend everyone :)
G
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Hi :welcomemm: Most HRT regimes take a while B4 the kick in, the body has to recognise the uptake.
Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress.
Ask away. We talk about anything here.
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Thank you CLKD 🙏
It’s seems that it’s my mood the most that is affecting everything and my husband just says pull yourself together ???
I’m going to try that suggestions with the diary …thank you for that ….at this point I feel like anything is worth a try :)
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Hello Geri and welcome to the forum.
Meno can be tough and it really helps to have support. Perhaps you could show this to your husband so he has more of an idea of what you are going through.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2458.0.html
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There's a support document to print off, read then pass to husbands/kids/others in the house hold ;-).
Oh Flossieteacake : Great Minds and all that ;D
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Thank you both 🥰 Flossieteacake / CLKD
Its just such a relief to have somewhere to be able to say how you are feeling and people who actually understand
Work is just awful and the thing is there are women of a similar age but they just won’t talk about it …
I defo getting those print offs for the hubby …..also I have to say the recommendation is no alcohol with hrt ….there’s just no way I can deprive myself of the red wine 🍷 on a weekend …
Thanks again ladies 🙏
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You might need a higher dose, most (including me) seem to be prescribed 50mg in peri. Flushes usually go within a couple of weeks, others take much longer. My anxiety and insomnia took a full 3 months.
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Hi Sheila99 :) :)
Thank you for that … I was thinking this …I know the GP was starting out low as my first time on HRT but like you have said it takes a while ..I change the patch twice a week and I can feel a difference when I come to change the patch…on the last day the sweats cut in again …I definitely think I may need the 50
I’m glad you are finding relief with the 50 and feeling more like yourself :)
G
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Hello Geri 👋…
I started on evorel 25 patches (with continual utrogestan), maybe, 18 months ago, having been post menopause for 5 years. Couldn’t cope with the hellish symptoms any longer so took the plunge.
I increased to evorel 50 at my first review and have found the dose to be spot on. The 25 just wasn’t cutting it for me. You will find your own “level” that works. I would say that I noticed an improvement of sorts after 3 or 4 weeks but only really noticed a marked difference once I increased to evorel 50.
Incidentally, hubby and I thoroughly enjoy our red wine 🍷 too with lovely food at the weekend 👍
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Hi Songbird 😊
That’s really helpful ….i have a feeling the 50 might be what I need …I feel a very slight improvement with the 25 even after 2 weeks in , but still feeling wobbly with the low mood ….it’s awful trying to put a face on especially at work …I have a review with my GP on the 17th Oct so I am going to ask to increase then if I’m still the same ….
I’m so glad to hear about the red wine 🍷….it just makes everything feel sooo much better 😂 until the next day ….
On that note I shall definitely be having one glass tonight 😅🍷
Have a lovely weekend 😊
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If you don't feel supported by your GP do ask for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic, there R waiting lists. If by the time an appt arrives you can cancel it if you are happy with the regime.
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CLKD :)
I didn't know there were clinics ...I'm going to see if there are any in my area ....I do feel like my GP doesn't appreciate how low my mood is ...they didn't offer anything other than the everol 25 ...thank you for all the help ...so glad I joined ...don't feel so isolated with the symptoms now
😊
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We talk about everything here, including menopause ;-)
If U feel that the HRT isn't helping your mood: are symptoms cyclical? : do ask for something to help, some do require both HRT and Antidepressants or anti anxiety meds..
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:) thanks ...I'm going to ask for an anti depressant ...I feel like the low mood is the worst for me and can't shake it off ... I just don't want to depend on an anti depressant but I can't keep going like this
I will update and thanks for all the advise ..😊
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The nhs way is to start low and work up and really it's the best strategy as starting on too much brings it's own problems along with not knowing if you're on too much or too little as symptoms can be very similar. I would see how the hot flushes are by the time of your appointment. If you still have them imo you should increase, if you don't it's usually (though not always) the right dose and you other symptoms will resolve with a bit more time.
Up to you but personally I wouldn't use an ad unless there's no other option, if it's caused by oestrogen deficiency adding the missing oestrogen is by far the better option imo. I was offered ads instead of hrt but refused them.
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If the low mood is over whelming, using appropriate medication alongside HRT can really help. Once an HRT regime is easing symptoms, then the AD can be weaned off.
Let us know how you get on. There are plenty of choices, it's a bit Trial and Error sorting it.
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Hi Shiela
Thank you
I am worried that if I start anti depressants I will end up not being able to without them ....Its hard to see what's going to be best in the long term
I'm going to wait until my doctors re iew in October and ask about increasing the everol to 50 and maybe see if that helps first .. then think about ad if my mood isn't improving...at this point in time I wish I could wake up tomorrow like a brand new person :)
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CLKD :)
Definitely will keep you all updated ...I might see if an increase to 50 patch works and discuss ad aswell as a back up option
What a life !!
Also can I quick ask about keeping patches on ....mine start to come loose after showering etc...😊
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Hi Shiela
Thank you
I am worried that if I start anti depressants I will end up not being able to without them ....Its hard to see what's going to be best in the long term
I'm going to wait until my doctors re iew in October and ask about increasing the everol to 50 and maybe see if that helps first .. then think about ad if my mood isn't improving...at this point in time I wish I could wake up tomorrow like a brand new person :)
I have taken antidepressants all my life and would never cope without them. I feel they are an essential medication for some of us and if they help then it is worth trying.
Tegaderm dressings help me keep my patches on. I buy mine from Amazon. :)
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Flossieteacake :)
That's exactly right ...I've never had to have ad before however like you've said for you and many others they are a lifeline...I'm just worried about starting them
I walked out of my new job a few weeks ago( and now looking for another job ) as I just couldn't deal with the sweats and lowness...I was so embarrassed...the patches have took the edge off but just not enough yet
Thank you for the reassurance about ad ...its something I am going to have to think about if this continues simply so that I can function
Appreciated thank you 😊 🙏
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I started anti depressants first but it wasn't until I added hrt in six months later that I saw a big improvement. Not perfect but a lot better than I was.I don't think everyone stays on antidepressants for life, and the key to coming off them is to taper very slowly and agree a plan with your doctor rather than do it on your own.
However maybe increasing the patch is all you need! I'd suggest only doing one thing at a time though, increase the patch and give it a decent amount of time to work before you add in something else.
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Saying that, I have been on citalopram since last August and, despite it being only for a year initially, I've decided to stay on it for longer as the side effects are now gone and I am sure it is increasing my stability and mood.
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Hi Penguin 😊
This is really positive to hear …,I’ve just been looking online and it seems citalopram is highly recommended for low mood ….like you say it’s different combinations ….If I could shake off the lowness I would be happy with that ….the physical symptoms (other than the horrific day sweats) , haven’t been too bad fingers crossed but never say never
Thanks for this …updates pending 😊
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Keep us up to date.
Lifting the mood can enable us to see the wood for the trees ;-) and makes it easier to make decisions. I've taken ADs since 1988 for severe depression, as well as Propranolol for a few years to ease anxiety surges.
Now you have a few ideas you can relax to make decisions that suit you. Also, eating little and often might help the mood. How were you during your menstruating years?
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CLKD :)
I most definitely will update and it’s been great to have some ideas instead of feeling there’s no light at the end of the tunnel ; massive help thank you 🙏
Horrendous menstruating and 30s and early 40s spent most of it in pain until the doctors finally discovered I had adenymiosis and endometriosis instead of telling me it was just probably IBS ….it’s been an ongoing battle tbh … the pain is supposed to ease from these during menopause but it lingers like a toothache sometimes and rears it’s head…hysterectomy was suggested but I’ve avoided this as the pain isn’t as bad as it was
Just got to try and get some control over the moods which would really be a help for me
Have a good weekend 😊 G