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Author Topic: Mental health crisis  (Read 12554 times)

CLKD

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #30 on: September 23, 2020, 11:30:22 AM »

Yep. 

racgen - thinking of you
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Baby

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #31 on: September 24, 2020, 04:15:06 PM »

Rachel, how are you sweetie?x
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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #32 on: September 24, 2020, 04:30:46 PM »

Oh god, where to start? Two better days on Quetiapine - slept better, anxiety greatly reduced, felt in a better mood in general. Today the anxiety's crept back and I'm feeling really low, terrified that this one's not going to work either. Missing my daughters - it's pretty lonely in here, a weird mix of people and a lot of the time there's no-one around and nothing to do so bored as well.

They're expecting me to start progesterone on Sat because my prescription says '10mg days 14 - 28', but I never take it like that because I just can't tolerate that much, so I usually end up taking it with a full month in between, but only 5mg and for as long as I can tolerate it, which is usually somewhere between 2 and 3 weeks. Probably not enough, but I do get a bleed each time and no abnormal bleeding in between so I'm willing to take the risk. If I take it at the level prescribed now I'll be severely depressed within days (whereas at the moment although I'm low I can function) and that'll then make it really hard to assess what effect the Quetiapine is having. I have the legal right to refuse treatment but I'd really rather not have to go down that route as it's bound to create friction.

Horrible situation to be in - trying to explain the intricacies of menopausal moods and HRT to people who're barely aware the menopause is a thing, but who are in a position of power over me. If all else fails I can discharge myself, but I really don't want to do that because then I'll have to go and live on my own in an isolated place and I'll be at risk of suicide again. Plus if they think that's a risk they could Section me and then my rights'll be drastically reduced. Rock bottom tbh.....
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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #33 on: September 24, 2020, 05:08:01 PM »

Oh yeah, and I had to go back to hospital for basic checks, blood test, ECG etc. at lunchtime. Male doctor pulls up my top and bra to put ECG stickers on, see my mastectomy scar and says 'oh, what's this - gallbladder?' To which I really should've replied ' no you tosser, they cut my fucking breast off' but my usual spark (thanks btw CLKD) failed me. Do they not teach basic anatomy these days? I actually feel really upset now, like I've been invaded...
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Mary G

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #34 on: September 24, 2020, 05:10:18 PM »

racjen, having read your post, I wonder if the time has come for you to push for a hysterectomy.   I know it's a drastic step but you are clearly having problems with the dreaded progesterone.

I have suggested you try bespoke progesterone in the past but on reflection, I wonder if you should risk progesterone at all either continuously or cyclically.  I certainly don't think the fluctuations of a cycle are helping you at all.

Before making a decision, I would sound out the Newson clinic or another reputable menopause specialist but before committing to an appointment, find out if they are clued up on chemo induced menopause.  Give them a brief outline of your background and make sure they can help you before parting with any money.   From what I have read on here, induced/surgical menopause is more difficult to treat. 

Try to hang on to the fact than you did well on the Evorel 100mcg and aim to get back to that.  You would probably feel even better without the need for progesterone.

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Baby

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #35 on: September 24, 2020, 05:23:28 PM »

Mary what you said reminded me that last time I saw my gp he told me he had only had one lady before me who was so poorly with meno and she had an hysterectomy which helped her.
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Baby

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #36 on: September 24, 2020, 05:25:02 PM »

And sorry for calling you Rachael. I don't know what I'm doing half the time. X
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Uptick

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #37 on: September 24, 2020, 05:26:36 PM »

So sorry to hear that, racjen. Are you on the Evorel patches? What progesterone are you talking about? Hormones are so powerful, I don't know why healthcare professionals can't understand that!

Wow, gallbladder?  :o
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Mary G

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #38 on: September 24, 2020, 06:52:58 PM »

Baby, in extreme cases of progesterone intolerance, a hysterectomy is the ultimate solution and many women who have struggled for years experience a massive improvement from oestrogen only HRT without the need for progesterone.

Obviously this is a huge step but women should not be afraid to take this route if necessary and they have tried all progesterone options of course.
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CLKD

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #39 on: September 24, 2020, 07:30:55 PM »

racjen -  would you be able to access a social worker to advocate for you.  It's surprising how soon mental health services can 'take over' someone's Life  :-\.  21st Century seems to make little distance if 'they' won't listen.

It annoys me how each speciality doesn't seem to join up the dots in that some conditions may well aggravate others.  As for the Dr not recognising a mastectomy scar, that is beyond awful. Pity I wasn't with you  :bang: ..........  :kick: how demoralising!! what happened to respect!!

Half a day at a time, keep that spark as often as possible. 

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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #40 on: September 24, 2020, 07:35:01 PM »

Mary G, I wouldn't have to push for it, it's already been suggested to me by my GP and subsequently a gynaecology consultant. Went away to think about it because the potential risks are quite alarming and I wasn't convinced it would solve the problem. And then Covid happened so it all got shelved anyway...Right now if I could be absolutely certain that a hysterectomy would solve the problem I wouldn't hesitate, but how can I be certain?

And Uptick, yes I'm on Evorel and Provera. Tried Utrogestan and that was far worse.

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CLKD

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #41 on: September 24, 2020, 07:36:57 PM »

With men they can give a chemical 'castration' [they do it with male dogs too ;-)] but I don't know that option is available to us?

Glad that the medication has helped, it may be bounce back anxiety for a few hours but then the drug should take control.  Don't forget to eat ;-).
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Mary G

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #42 on: September 24, 2020, 08:08:46 PM »

racjen, it's good that you have the backing for a hysterectomy.   I suppose you will never know 100% as to whether or not it will work but if you have tried every progesterone option and dose available and you really can't tolerate it for more than a few days then a hysterectomy is probably your only option.

If you feel good on oestrogen only then that would be a good indicator.

I wish there were better progesterone options more widely available.   I thought progesterone was causing my silent migraines but it turned out to be oestrogen spikes, genetic hormone instability and the dreaded Utrogestan was the cause.   A hysterectomy would not have helped in my case but my problems were different.

Have a look at my thread in the Alternative Therapies section if you get a chance, it might help.
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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #43 on: September 24, 2020, 09:09:51 PM »

Part of the problem is that until earlier this year I was feeling good on estrogen only, and then that changed for no apparent reason (apart from the possibility it was the enforced change from Evorel to Estradot, in which case it's going to take a while before the change back has any effect). So right now I'm totally confused.
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CherrySG

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #44 on: September 24, 2020, 09:31:00 PM »

Part of the problem is that until earlier this year I was feeling good on estrogen only, and then that changed for no apparent reason (apart from the possibility it was the enforced change from Evorel to Estradot, in which case it's going to take a while before the change back has any effect). So right now I'm totally confused.

There are a few posts on here from women who have changed to Estradot and feel worse, so it wouldn't be surprising if that's a factor.
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