Estrogel and depression

Hi Emma

Are you still on this forum?

I’m post menopause and have been suffering terrible anxiety and depression, been off work for 7 months after working all my life.

Have a Mirena coil and now just started to Estrogel gel 2 days a go , one pump on each arm, feel sick and exhausted, how are you now had it helped you ?

Please if anyone else is reading this in the same situation as me or was in the same situation as me please can you reply with anything positive 

Thank you 

Hi Lori

I’m similar to you and hoping someone will help.

I have a Mirena coil and started Estrogel nearly 3 weeks ago , I feel nauseous and very low , I also feel like I used to feel when I was still having periods , I’m post menopause, I started on one pump of gel a day then increased to two but gone back done to one because of the nausea.

Lots of people say you need testosterone too but I don’t know much about that.

I’m try HRT as I have anxiety and depression and antidepressants have not helped and in fact made things worse.

I hope people respond to us , we need some encouragement from others if things get better.

Wishing you better times 

Hi Matt 

Yes I’ve never felt so low in all my life . I ripped the patch off last night going to leave it off for a day or too and see how I feel then if my dizziness and crippling fatigue comes back I’m going to just use half dose .

I had my testosterone checked and dr said it was ok .... it’s all a mystery trying to figure dosage out. 

I’ve read that the hormones have changed some women’s life for the better but also read that some women got very low and extremely depressed like us . 

It has helped with my driving and panic but the incredibly dark feelings are just not worth it . 

Hi everyone 

I came on here a few months ago looking to see if anyone else felt so bad using  HRT I tried the patches and estrogel plus the testerone and things did improve a bit as your body starts to regulate the intake of estrogen, but I have also been told that the sudden increase in estrogen can have the opposite effect,  hence the extremely low moods and anxiety,  every person is different and for some people it works ok, but for me personally I decided to stop it and try a more holistic approach, I can honestly say I felt worse on HRT....things have improved considerably since I stopped, that’s not to say I don’t get the low moods and extreme fatigue but they naturally only last 3 days then I’m back to normal .....I practice yoga, I have a massage once a month and watch my diet, get plenty of sleep, and try and control my stress and anxiety with Ayurvedic remedies.....good luck with the HRT I tried it for 6 months and it just didn’t suit me .....

Hi 

I had a call with a meno specialist yesterday and she explained that it takes a few weeks for the estrogen to work on the neuro transmitters in our brain to boast the serotonin levels , I’m gonna stick with it for another month then get my estrogen level tested it should read greater than 300 to be functioning normal so we’ll see.

I have suffered anxiety and depression for some time now and have been in a dark place for a long time , I spent yesterday crying and had to take extra Diazipam to calm down 😩 I’ll know after a month if this HRT is helping me as any improvement will be noticeable.

Take care 

Hi Sue

Thank you for your message, I’m happy to hear you have found what works for you , that’s just brilliant 👍

My anxiety and depression has gone on for a long time , always had bad PMS then last year had a breakdown, I’m 53 and post menopause, I’ve tried various antidepressants and had some terrible side effects including seizures! I’m off AD’s now and of course no seizures so I’m trying HRT , it might suit me and help , if I can get myself into a stronger mental health position I would then try a more natural approach but for the next 3 months I’ll give this a go.

I’ve started Mindfulness and also start some councilling this week so hoping for my life back soon .

Hi Matt

I totally understand  I suffered with anxiety and depression for years the HRT initially helped but then I started getting all the symptoms back, hormones are so powerful that they can triger such deep emotions it’s frightening, at one point I couldn’t see the point of going on it was awful ... if the gel doesn’t work check out evorel patches I found them more effective than the gel obviously my skin absorbed them better, when you feel so low starting yoga or any exercise is really hard but it will pass, maybe get a blood test with your Dr to make sure everything else is ok, I’m 54 now and I think I am through the worst of it ...keep chatting on these forums it does help as you don’t feel  so alone ...best of luck ...check out Professor Studs website there is so much info on there ..take care..x

I gave it 4 weeks on the full patch and that’s all I could take . Now I’m on 1/2 patch and feel a bit better already . I’m sleeping later on the 1/2 patch the full patch was giving me a sort of false energy ? I felt soooo tired doing things and it made me a bit hyper . 

I don’t feel an extreme happiness yet but that may be due to my situation as just got divorced last year . 

I suffer depression too and the patch just made it worse for me ..... be sure to monitor your moods as the hormones can mess things up . I do hope it works for you though . 

Hi Sue

Yes we read up a lot of Studds website this is one of the reasons I am trying HRT as AD’s haven’t helped me at all and I’ve tried 3 , couple of which has frightening side effects.

I know the feeling of thinking I can’t go on anymore it’s awful and scary to think that way.

I’ve had all my bloods done , all fine and I’ve started doing some exercise (which is wiping me out!) I do a little yoga and meditation but should really up the yoga.

Do you take AD’s or have you found a natural supplement?

Thank you for the message 

Hi Matt

I don’t take AD’s I refused them from my Dr, I feel ok now no anxiety, no depression except for 3 days every month where I feel super exhausted and a bit low. Since I weened myself off the HRT I started to feel much better back to my old self.

I take Geriforte which is one of the Himalayan brand (excellent) and also Vitamin D drops as well as a capsule, I take an Ayurvedic tablet for my bones and Omega oil ...I practice yoga daily and have regular massage so fingers crossed I think I have managed to balance the hormones out ...Do try geriforte you can buy it in Holland and Barret plus the Vitamin D....keep me posted how you get on ...xx

I forgot the most important one another Himalayan one ‘Asparagus ‘ in Ayurveda it’s called Shatavari, this is a must for women ...

Hi Sue

Thanks for that , I’m just 3 weeks into the HRT so will give it another month or so then if it’s not helping my dark awful mood will try your combination.

Great that your doing well now .

I’ve had depression for many years and taken AD’s , don’t think they ever helped me, now I’m post menopause I think the anxiety has hit me hard to and probably been bubbling away since peri 😩 

Hope things get better . I was on the full patch for a month and couldn’t handle it ... my moods were so low which I’m not sure is due to me or the patch but I think it was the hormones  . I’ve since cut the patch in 1/2 and see how I do on that . Going to a new women’s dr tomorrow . We shouldn’t have to feel down all the time .... it’s no life . It also seems that it’s a lot of trial and error ... 

Hi Lori

Let us know what the female Dr says , will be interested to hear her advice.

I’m sticking to two pumps of the Estrogel for now as adviced by DR Karen Norton who I spoke to. I have a Mirena coil for the Progesterone.

Hope the black cloud lifts soon 🤞

I will Matt . She’s just a women’s dr all hormones etc and she’s very expensive so I hope she’s my wizard of oz . 

I actually don’t feel too bad today ...I feel awake ! First day in a lonnng time  but as we ALL know it goes up and down . Once I level out please God ... I’ll NEVER forget these last 5 months ! I will never take a day for granted ever again.