Posted , 3 users are following.
i started HRT 18 months ago. most of my physical symptoms have disappeared, but i am still ill 5 out of seven days a week. the anxiety has lessened but i am still suffering. i thought i would get 100 better. i have read in a previous post that i will be better than before but it still has not happened . i am losing hope.
1 like, 7 replies
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Finkyb corinne62311
Edited
Hi Corinne,
It's great that your physical symptoms have improved. I've heard that they do tend to improve first. Are you peri or post? What type of Hrt do you take and what dose? I am not on Hrt myself but from what I have read is seems that some women have a harder time finding a regime that works for them. A lot of trial and error, rather than the magic cure we all hope for. Some ladies also need to take other medication along side hrt to control all of their symptoms. Is it the anxiety alone that you are hoping to address or do you have other symptoms that are bothersome? It may be that you need to adjust your dose or maybe try a different route, such as patches or gel. Some women absorb one better than the other. Some women struggle with the progesterone part or Hrt (assuming you have a uterus and need this) have you noticed this at all? If so it could be that you need to switch to a different one. Don't lose hope, things will get better, it may be that you just need to tweak things a little. If you haven't been to a menopause clinic it may be worth asking your doctor to refer you. Hopefully more ladies who are on Hrt come along and can offer some advice. Take care,
Finkyb
corinne62311 Finkyb
Edited
Hi Finky, i am post menopause, i am on 1.25 estrogen oral tablets, and 100 mg of Progesterone oral tablet. i also take WellBUtrin for depression and anxiety. 1000 D3 as it is summer and i have lowered from 3000, and 50 mg of synthroid as my numbers have increased
i do have a uterus but they removed one of my ovaries 20 years ago but i wasnt put on anything at that time. i am so scared to try a different method of HRT because "what if my symptoms come back?"i still have extreme itching on my hands, feet and nether regions. i get extremely tired in the afternoon, wild dreams that wake me up, mood is low, frustration. i do not have access to a menopause clinic, i live in a semi remote community 😦
thank you for responding to me and the advice.
Finkyb corinne62311
Edited
Hi,
I completely understand you not wanting to try another hrt and upset the balance further. I do hope some other ladies with personal experience of different types of Hrt can offer some advice on this. I assume you are on a continuous regime being post menopause. Some ladies do like to stay on a cyclical regime so they don't have to take the progesterone everyday, especially if they find it hard to tolerate (pms type symptoms). Although this would cause a withdrawal bleed. Perhaps have a chat with your doctor to see what they advise.
Hopefully now you have had a change in your synthroid you may see an improvement in some of your symptoms. Is this for hypothyroidism? If so have you had your iron, ferritin (iron stores) vitb12, folate and vitD (I see you take supplements so should be OK here) levels checked? These need to be optimal for our thyroid hormones to work well and can often be low in people who have thyroid problems.
As estrogen levels lower our bodies can become dry. This could explain the itching. Have a read about vaginal atrophy, see if you can relate. This can be effectively treated with topical estrogen in the form of vaginal pessaries or cream.
The anxiety and depression are awful symptoms to deal with on top of everything else. Have you ever tried meditation or talking therapy, it may be another avenue to explore. I have awful vivid dreams sometimes and I wake up in a right state. It's scary sometimes! I wish you all the best and hope you start to feel more like yourself soon,
Finkyb
corinne62311 Finkyb
Edited
thank you for all the suggestions, i may get brave and try a new medication or type of HRT.i am wondering if these symptoms are side effects of the HRT ? or maybe ill just always have an ailment and i should be grateful that i am somewhat better.
i am having a bad day today and am overthinking everything ill give it some serious thought when i have the mental capacity to make decisions lol.
thank you again finkyb
Finkyb corinne62311
Posted
Bless you, it is overwhelming isn't it. Have a good look at all your options. There is another forum called menopause matters, there are a lot of ladies on there that seem very clued up on the different types of Hrt. You will find many women sharing their experiences on Hrt and what has worked and what hasn't. Definitely worth a nosey around. There is also a section for alternative therapies which could be useful as well. Some ladies use the coil as the progesterone part of their hrt or use tablet progesterone vaginally (only liscenced for use this way in certain countries) and find this helpful as it had a less systemic effect . The more information and advice you can find may help you in making any decisions. I am always scared to try new medication but knowledge is power.
I hope your change in your other medication has had some positive effects. It's not easy to have other medical issues to contend with along side menopause! You have every right to want to feel as good as you can and I wish you nothing but the best in trying to get there.
Keep going but be kind to yourself a long the way. Tomorrow is another day and we try again. Keep us updated as I'd like to know how you get on if you don't mind.
Finkyb
corinne62311 Finkyb
Edited
thank you I will check out the other site i didnt even think to look for other sources of support as this site has been great. I will keep this site updated, a source of hope is always welcome.
Corinne
Finkyb corinne62311
Posted
There are lots of lovely ladies on here 🙂 but it never hurts to get more opinions and advice from those who live it and understand. Hope you find something that helps you very soon.
Finkyb