Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Vicky81 on May 16, 2024, 05:48:56 AM
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Hi all
I realky need yiur help.
Suffering really bad from physical anxiety and low mood from a huge dip.
Started on gel mo day eve.
So yesterday I noticed that I hadn't wanted to cry all day which I had done previous 2 days, however my mood seemed low in the morning, then I perked up ever so slightly...caught myself joking a little with partner, then at 6pm my mood went down, feeling the shaky anxiety again.
Has anyone had this? Does it not last as goid as the patches?
Or is it a good sign my mood lifted slightly then down? I've got terrible physical anxiety which I had when I first started this peri.....so I'm not sure what to do now? Xx
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Do I ho back to patches if gel doesn't last?
Im waking up in fear its awful x
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It takes a while for the gel to build up in your system. It doesn’t work in one day. You need to give it 3 months. You should start to see improvement before that.
The gel does last once it’s built up in your system.
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Hi Vicky,
Dotty is right, you should see an improvement once you have given the gel time to build up in your system. It’s not good for your body to keep swapping and changing. You’ve already got the ups and downs of your own hormones too. Stick with the gel now for the 3 months and see how you get on. I too suffer with terrible anxiety due to peri, but we have to consider that we may never get back to how we used to feel and maybe have to get used to a new normal. Not saying that we have to suffer, but just that things are changing and we need to remember that and to try and adapt as much as possible until things eventually settle down. I find that keeping busy and lots of walking help a lot with my anxiety as well as the support from friends and family and the ladies on here. You’ll get through this time. Give the gel chance to do its thing
Lots of love ❤️
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I'd say that'll be the utrogestan making you feel like that, it's why I ended up stopping hrt as I dreaded those 12 days so much.
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Hi I still on the 64mg patch .....but because plummeted so badly I've been on gel since Monday. Just to add up my oestrogen told gp
I take provera
Not too sure what causes this extent anxiety I sat rigid on the bed ...I wasn't like this 2 weeks ago (,before gel)
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Totally agree with Hannahlou.
Your body is going through some major ups and downs. You simply cannot expect to feel the same as you did previously, the minute you swap product.
How many gel pumps are you using?
You need time to adjust now Vicky. Stick with the gel. Start low and slow. If you don’t feel right immediately, don’t be tempted to add more gel (too much can make you feel bad also ) Allow your body to adjust to the new oestrogen. You may also absorb the gel differently compared to the patch. Some experience an instant “ hit” with gel, which then becomes more consistent. The patch is designed to deliver a more consistent level of oestrogen, as merrygoround said.
Re: the physical anxiety; have you tried propranol? It deals with the physical effects of anxiety ( racing heart/ sweating etc) but not the cause.
Try not do chop and change; that
will worsen things.
Hang on in there.. anxiety is awful, but you may need
a few “ tools” in the box to keep a lid on it and not rely totally on HRT whilst you are in the settling in period. 🙂
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Hi Vicky
Just seen you are on a 64 patch and using gel. You maybe you are on too much oestrogen perhaps? Were you absorbing the patch?
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Awwww NAS that's nearly made me cry thank you for not having a go at me...I'm very fearful on here incase people get angry at my routines I guess.
I honestky was not bad before 7yh may then bang- heavy crying anxirty.
But u had blood test Monday it was 734.
So maybe I'm fluctuating??
So I still on patch too because I too scared to cone off if honest I'm realky down and kind of feeling like I did when all this started.
Yiu guts think I've just had a huge dip in oestrogen? I'd love answers as I alone in this just so I know I'm doing the right things.
To be honest I've been putting about 5 pumps on throughout the day.....
Can you tell me what too much gel makes yiu feel like please? But just to note I had this shaky anxiety before starting it on Monday xxx
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Well I guess as I was ok before this dip ....
Although i upped to 75 in Feb and ended up in A and E as ot was too high ...so since coming back down off this ....I got to the 8 week point of feeling not bad then plummeted and I mean awful anxirty crying
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So I'm just thinking that my oestrogen has bypassed my 65 patch on its way down?
And plummeted?
I've never had the crying etc on too high...can you please advise me what I should do...I'm too scared to cone off patch ....in 2021 I was under the crisis team because of peri...I work in Broadmoor and would love to get back to work...
This drop only started realky from Tuesday 7th May xx
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Plus woth gel do you keep dose the same?
I heard I yiu feel bad throughout the day yiu can add?
Please ladies help me out....these dios really do take its toll on me so much I was scared to get out bed xx
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Everyone wants to support you and if it’s any consolation, I’m a bit like you, in the respect of if something doesn’t work fast, then I move to something else ( I’m very impatient like that!
Doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do though! ;)
Remember, numbers mean nothing in peri because as you rightly say, you are fluctuating. They are only meaningful, once
the fluctuations and periods stop and you and have been on hrt at least 3 months or so, then you can check for absorption.
Okay, 5 pumps is about the equivalent of 125 patch. And you are wearing the 64 patch . Assuming you are absorbing the patch, that’s 189 dose of oestrogen ( a fair bit!)
Having too much oestrogen in your body can make you feel mentally and physically unwell Vicky. You need to decide which product you want to stick with: gel or patch? If this anxiety is down to extreme fluctuations, you may have to ride this storm
for a bit. Alternatively, as you know you get on with the patch, maybe try the 75 again and forget the gel for now? You may also be benefit from an anti anxiety med; would you consider that?
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Okay, Vicky. A plan.
1. Decide on gel or patch
2. If patch - try going up to 75
3. If gel - starting dose is 2 pumps. Less than your patch equivalent. So maybe 2.5 pumps
4. If gel, do not keep adding during the day, you could end up feeling very unwell
If this were me, I’d try the 75 patch again. As you feel so bad, ask GP/ crisis team/ who ever you are under, for an anti anxiety med. REMEMBER, nothing works instantly. It takes time. Many women take meds in addition to HRT. Medication will be the same, it takes time to kick
In. How can you help yourself whilst you go through this tough patch? Are you signed off work?
Have you spoken to your GP or menopause specialist about how bad you are feeling?
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Hi Nas has given you very good advice. You can’t just add pumps of gel when you feel like it. You will be making the fluctuations worse.
You really need to decide if you want to use patches or gel. You don’t need to use both. x
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Hi Nas has given you very good advice. You can’t just add pumps of gel when you feel like it. You will be making the fluctuations worse.
You really need to decide if you want to use patches or gel. You don’t need to use both. x
Vicky, if you read this, please take note. You will continue to feel ill if you keep adding gel. Make a decision today, yes? X
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I feel I need to add that you are all saying Vicky is taking too much estrogen with both patch and added gel.
But I think she's also on the combined pill too.
So this is a lot of estrogen. :o
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Vicky….please let us know exactly what you’re taking and we will help you.
Are you still taking the combined pill ? If so , which one?
Believe me when I say that I’ve been exactly where you are in a very dark place , but slowly , very slowly I began to get better with the help of ladies on here. xx
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Aww wow NAS I can't thank you enough for taking that time for me ...
I've written your plan down I think it sounds good.
Yes I'm off work at the moment.
I also rang the gp this morning to go back on duloxetine which I was on when all this peri started (but didn't know it was peri) and it sort of gave me a small lift....still had the physical anxiety but I'm guessing the quicker I take these now the better.
You're such a caring person NAS I'm so very grateful to you for caring about me xxx
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Yes I'm still on yasmin pill ...as this really did help me so much ....gp knows too and hormone lady I fact its the only thing afterctrying lots reslky stabilised me ...but did have to add sml patch Di to night sweats a bit. But I was riding along so fine on this for over a year.
Until I upped my patch to 75 while on my 4 monthly pill break and since then it's just gone down hill .....bit I also have been getting fat dissolving injections....like alot of them....so it seems uncanny I've plummeted like this a week after my last one ....not sure what you think? Xx
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And I've had recently LH bloods done which was 0.1
FSH was 0.3
My gynaecologist said yes its definitely suppressed your ovaries with those results....and these numbers I've had on every blood test .
What you think? Xxx
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It would probably be worth getting in touch with your hormone specialist now Vicky. You are feeling rough and are signed off. She will help you to take a step back and work with you ( hopefully) to get back on an even keel.
You are on the Yasmin pill, 64 patch, gel and you’ve been having fat reducing injections ( there is oestrogen stored in the fat cells ) all with your own
hormones going crazy in the background.
Write down each symptom and roughly when it began. Maybe ditch the gel if you feel okay on the patch. You need good medical advice i think and probably careful monitoring, so you don’t become too unwell. You only started the gel (this week ?) so not too bad. How do you feel about trialling the 75 patch, just to see how you feel and whether it controls the physical anxiety better? x
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Awww thanks NAS yes I spoke to soneone the other night about the fat injection she said ohhh you could have a point there....so obviously didn't know too much about it ....typical xx
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Vicky,
The plan that NAS has given you is exactly what you need. With the help of your GP/specialist and the ladies on here, you can and will start to feel much better, but you need to be patient and give things time to work. Take one day at a time and don’t expect too much too soon.
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Vicky....it's also worth noting that you may not be using enough progesterone if you are taking the pill and adding oestrogen in the form of patch and gel.
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Thank you again all
I use Provera for progesterone xx
Have decided to stick to my patch but have gone to 80mg . No more gel added.
Xxx
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I hope 80mg sounds OK?
It's just I've gone so low but 100 I'm guessing maybe too much at this stage?
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You were on 64? Then the next dose would be 75. Stick with that for a few weeks at least and see how you feel. If you still feel awful after a month or so, increase to 80 then? X
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Oh ok hun yes will do thank you so much fir today much love xxxxx
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I agree with NAS Vicky. Go to 75 patch and give it time to see how you feel on it and take it from there. Let us know how you get on
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Oh ok hun yes will do thank you so much fir today much love xxxxx
Remember, no gel if you are on the patch, unless under medical guidance x