Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Amy Dover on July 31, 2014, 12:13:30 AM
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I went to a new doc to see if We could get to the major anxiety/panic I have been having. I have been on a number of ad's that I haven't tolerated....it's been a circus. Bottom line is the new doc said I basically I have no hormones....very low levels I guess. He put me on 200 mg of progesterone to start plus a thyroid med. My anxiety has shot through the roof. He told me not to take the thyroid med...that was probably to blame. Well things have only gotten worse as far as the anxiety goes since I started on this regimen 2 weeks ago. I have been post menopausal for 6 years. I am 52 years old. Maybe reintroducing the hormones not a great idea? He said once those were balanced I wouldn't need anti anxiety meds or ad's. Can I just stop them cold turkey? I called his office at 8:00 this a.m. And told them how bad things were. They sent me an email stating I would hear back later this a.m. Never heard a word.
My mind is about shot. Racing thoughts, my chest feels tight, and nervousness/anxiety all day,every day. It wasn't this bad on ad's I know somebody on here has had a similar problem? Please, please tell give me a suggestion or 10!!!
Amy
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Sorry to hear your having these problems. :(
The doctor can't guess that the thyroid medicine is to blame - that sort of method is beyond me - sounds like doc is guessing away here (common issue from my own experience too).
Just wondering why are you just on progesterone? ???
From what you've said assuming that your on the UTROGESTAN 200mg. Like others I've not used this personally, but from the great info on this site the 200mg is down there for peri and the 100mg is down for the post menopause. Or perhaps I'm just misreading ::)
Either way if your hormones are so low then surely the doctor would be best to provide some estrogen to get your hormones back to more normal balanced levels.
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Has your doc suggested a different thyroid medication? If your thyroid function is low then this has to be addressed. The symptoms you describe can be down to progesterone as I also get anxiety and panic when using the progesterone part of HRT but they can also be down to an overactive thyroid which causes the heart to beat faster and for you to feel "wired" so maybe the thyroid dose was too high.
I agree with peegeetip in that if you have "no hormones" you must surely also need oestrogen to balance things?
I hope you get this sorted soon.
Taz x
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;)Thanks so much ladies for your info and input. I was on Armour thyroid...for about a week. Started it at the same time as the progesterone. Was taken off the Armour and told to continue with the progesterone. I was or am...not sure which, supposed to go see him next week. That may be when he was planning on adding the other hormones. I don't like the way this is going with his doc tho. He changed my diet, Paleo minus dairy, gave me enzymes for my stomach, and a concoction of some sort for my drainage, plus the meds, and I have felt worse in the last 2 weeks than ever. I have another name of someone who specializes In hormones and I think another opinion is warranted. I have a copy of the tests results that I can give her to view. She also takes insurance. Doc doesn't. And I've lost confidence in him and his staff because that can't seem to communicate back with me. As I told them
in an email last night, it might be better if they stopped taking new patients for a bit since they can't call or email people back when they have an issue. >:(
I have a lot more reading to do on this sight! There is a wealth of info on here! I have been told by others that reintroducing hormones after this length of time would not be best. That is where the ad's can help. I didn't take the progesterone last night, not sure I will take it again...at least not
without more info.
Keep the comments coming!! It helps!!! ;)
A
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200mg is heavy and I cannot even sleep on 100mg makes me so hyper. Why are you taking Progesterone of this dosage surely you should rather use some Oestrogen to help with the anxiety, like the gel and cut the progesterone down to 100mg see if this doesnt help, I doubt its the thyroid meds sounds more like too much progesterone. All the best.
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You seem to swing from 1 suggestion to another - I think that's because in the US you have the option to pay for appointments whereas in the UK we usually go to a Consultant via our Family Doctor. We also have Practice Nurses who are qualified to prescribe so are a Mine of Information ::) .......
If you are low on hormones how are you still standing? A gynaecologist would be my route, to discuss whether in fact blood tests are of any use: my gynae won't do them, he treats by symptoms only : and it is known that progesterone can have various awful effects for ladies who are taking HRT.
Have you read the menus, left of screen: I know you had another thread running and I can't remember if you did or not ::)
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Before going through the meno I was given a blood test to check my thyroid and hormone levels. Have you had bloods taken to determine if you have an under /over active thyroid?
I have an under active thyroid and was started on a low dose of thyroxine while getting bloods taken every month which they then upped my dose gradually, Im now on 100mcg of Levothroxine.
I was then put on HRT which has oestrogen and Progesterone, again a low dose then upped if needed.
I too suffered from anxiety and also have anaemia from time to time so again bloods taken every 6 months for that....which can also cause anxiety.
I have a little stash of diazepam 2mg for when I need it for anxiety, but I use it very sensibly.
Unfortunately, it takes time for things to come right but getting your blood checked for thyroid, hormone levels and anaemia is the starting point I would think.
Feel for you though with the anxiety....it really can be awful. Xxxxx
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Morning ladies! I have had blood tests that determined both my hormone and thyroid levels. The thyroid level was low...been tested by 2 docs. The hormone levels were tested by my gyn as well as this new doc and both showed very low levels.
My gyn had given me hormones at the end of the year but I was then found to have dcis..so she will not prescribe them for me. This doc feels like it is quality of life issue....my choice....with monitoring.
I do seem to be all over the place and not know what to do or think don't I. That's because my gyn sent me to a psych for ad's and they have been difficult for me to tolerate.
I have read a lot of info on here. Am trying to learn as much as I can. I see what is working for some and all the suggestions. I appreciate the feedback. I have never posted on a forum before....so if I shouldn't have started another thread I apologize. Been feeling alone and a little desperate and just wanted to be around women that understood.
Thanks again
A
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You can start as many threads as you want. There is always someone here to chat to even if it's just for a little support.
No need to feel alone with your problems as we are here to listen.
Honeyb
x
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The only thing is not to forget we are in a different time zone so some responses might take all day ::).
It's a Mine Field out there >:(
Having read around and 'chattered' to us on here, what do you feel you should do for your body right now?
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Hi Amy,
That's good you have had the bloods and established that you have an under active thyroid and hormone levels.
Now it's knowing what to do about it, it seems easier here in Britain as thyroxine seems to be the drug the docs use quiet consistently for thyroid probs and for me it has worked really well.
Now the hormone issue....and that's quiet a subject!! Before I went in HRT I had tried a lot of alternative remedies but as your hormones are changing all the time the remedies never helped for very long. I'm now on the HRT circuit!!
You must be feeling awful, actually really awful as both together are a nightmare!!!!
I really hope you find a solution soon where you live but meds take a while to settle into your system and can make you feel worse to start with so try persevere with whatever your Doc prescribes.
So what are you taking at the moment? Xx
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Thanks again for the replies! Renee, right now I am only taking Xanax .25mg every 4 to 5 hrs. Just to keep the anxiety at a low pitch. The doc said stop everything and try to calm myself down until he decides which to start first and at a much lower dose. He did call me and he said there are "a small percentage" of women that can't take progesterone and I " might " be one of them.
I sent atheist lab work to my psychiatrist then spoke with him on the phone as well. He feels like we need to find the right ad to help me through this. He agreed while we would be treating the symptoms it would still be beneficial to get me through, he said you don't have to suffer like this. We just need to find the right med and sometimes that takes time.
I have just about made up my mind that finding the right ad is going to help the most. I talked with a very good friend last night that has gone through a lot of depression issues, she's my age,a early meno as well. We discussed reintroducing hormones that have been dead or dying for 6 years and how hard it would be to get those regulated. She was so upset when she heard about the newest doc I went to.....she says it seems he is all about the money and selling his supplements. Especially since he doesn't take insurance and my first visit was over $1200. Including supplements and meds. The follow up will be over $300 . I can't afford that anyway. As he adjusts(or guesses) what I need ...he would want to see me every few weeks.
A
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Hi Amy
I don't have anything else apart from a hug for you, really hope you get to the bottom of it and find something to help you feel like your old self again.
xx
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Thanks kiltgirl, hugs are the best....prayers too, :)
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"atheist lab" :-\
Why would it be hard to get the hormone levels regulated? If your body requires hormones then HRT although can be Trial and Error offers protection against other conditions.
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Amy - I'm a little confused by why your doctor doesn't seem to have you on any estrogen. You said that your hormones were really low, but why just put you on progesterone? If you are post-meno surely you should be on estrogen mainly, and the prog just to oppose it.
I'm also concerned about you saying "right now I am only taking Xanax .25mg every 4 to 5 hrs". That's not a small amount. If you are taking .25mg every 4-5 hours, I assume that means you are taking roughly .5mg to .75mg per day and that's not a small amount. That's equivalent to about 10-15mg valium per day. Xanax is not a med that you should be taking for anxiety - no benzo is. They are highly addictive and shouldn't be taken continuously for any more than a week or two.
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I saw the atheist lab thing after I posted...lol
Dana.... I have been concerned about the Xanax dose as well. The doctor is the one that told me to take it like that and that often to keep it in my system while my anxiety has shot through the roof because of the progesterone, he thinks. Both he and my pshychiatrist said that was a very low dose...I have only taken clonazapam before so now sure how the doses relate to other benzos. He said that my system should be clear of the progesterone today. As far as the estrogen goes, as I said in an earlier post, I guess he was introducing one at a time.? I was supposed to go see him again this week.
This morning I'm having the same issues as last night. Tightening in my chest, exhausted and insides won't calm and headache. My son wanted to take me to the er last night cause he was scared for me. If things don't improve pretty soon I guess we'll have to make that trip to see what's going on.
Something has really gotten my system on high alert. And the scariest part is the way my chest is feeling.
A
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Why hasn't your medic suggested oestrogen?
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CLKD I don't know why he hasn't suggested estrogen. Maybe planning on starting that at this weeks visit? I'm totally new to the hormone part of this. That question will top the list when I speak to them.
To further muddy the waters...my psych got the lab work and stated that both progesterone and testosterone can increase anxiety...or energy. That estrogen was the calming one.....so... Off to read more so I can get further confused. :)
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Dana.... I have been concerned about the Xanax dose as well. The doctor is the one that told me to take it like that and that often to keep it in my system while my anxiety has shot through the roof because of the progesterone, he thinks. Both he and my pshychiatrist said that was a very low dose...I have only taken clonazepam before so now sure how the doses relate to other benzos. He said that my system should be clear of the progesterone today. As far as the estrogen goes, as I said in an earlier post, I guess he was introducing one at a time.? I was supposed to go see him again this week.
This morning I'm having the same issues as last night. Tightening in my chest, exhausted and insides won't calm and headache. My son wanted to take me to the er last night cause he was scared for me. If things don't improve pretty soon I guess we'll have to make that trip to see what's going on.
Something has really gotten my system on high alert. And the scariest part is the way my chest is feeling.
A
How long have you been taking the Xanax? Please don't take it continuously for any longer than a couple of weeks.
There are so many doctors who don't know much about HRT, and there are just as many who don't know much about benzos. Some doctors have a bit of a casual attitude towards them (especially PDocs), but the fact remains that the Pharma companies always say they shouldn't be prescribed continuously for more than a week or two. They are highly addictive, and once dependent on them it can be a very slow and painful tapering process. I know this first hand.
Clonazepam/Klonopin and Xanax are roughly equivalent to the same dose of Valium/Diazepam (0.5mg of C or X is equivalent to 10mg V). The main difference though is that they have a very different half-life. Clonazepam is up to 50 hours, while Xanax is only up to 12 hours, so that's why you probably feel you need to dose more often with the Xanax as its effect will leave your system a lot more quickly.
Valium, on the other hand, has a very long half-life (up to 200 hours). Short half-lived benzo aren't necessarily a good thing, especially once you are dependant to them. Longer half-lives make a tapering process a lot easier.
It is possible that once prescribed some estrogen that might help with your anxiety. The sooner you get your doctor to try it, the sooner (hopefully) you might feel better.
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There is an e-mail facility directly to Dr Currie ……….. might be worth a whirl?