Posted , 10 users are following.
i have been taking combination HRT 10 plus years now. I have weaned down to 1 every other day, 2 years ago. I am experiencing anxiety, low moods , heart palpations and hot and cold flashes. Has anyone experience this after weaning down? I am wondering if I should increase my dose back to everyday again? ANY suggestions or thoughts appreciated.
0 likes, 21 replies
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shane66622 loretta63638
Posted
Why did you stop?
loretta63638 shane66622
Posted
I thought I should try to lower my dose. I didn't stop completely, I weaned down to every other day. Now I am thinking this is why I feel lousy?
Starting back to everyday today. I am 62 years old. Started taking HRT early 50's.
spurgeon1 loretta63638
Posted
hormones regulate processes in our body. it's just natural ageing. HRT isnt a drug or narcotic you should wean off of unless you are having negative results by taking it. In starving your body of a necessary hormone, you are essentially giving yourself menopausal symptoms.
Be sure to speak with your physician who prescribed your therapy and they will help you increase to a healthy symptom free schedule. If you dont like daily meds or creams, many women are enjoying pellet HRT. you might also mention the low mood. I have been taking cymbalta for abt 15 yrs. I've tried NOT taking it. I like being happy and emotionally peaceful so... I take it. I'm sure most ladies hate taking maintenance prescriptions but the alternative means suffering. Not just for the person taking the RXs: our husband, kids, family and friends. Maybe even the postman and pool guy. Anyone who gets near is at risk of getting verbally mutilated if I go AWOL from hormones or antidepressants.
As granny said to Kathy Bates' character, in fried green tomatoes, 'go git yerself some hormones, girl.'
spurgeon1 loretta63638
Posted
oops, I forgot to mention that taking DIM herbal supplement with the pellet is very important. it aids in the body's use of the HRT. I didnt think it was important at first but quickly realized the difference. Good luck nice lady, please take care of and be kind to yourself!
loretta63638 spurgeon1
Posted
thank you for your response, I am back to taking my hrt daily, i hope it doesnt take too long getting it back into my system. the anxiety is quite overwhelming. i also take antidepressant daily and anxiety medicine prescribed as needed and i need it now 3x a day. idk why i messed with the hrt but i am so sorry i did.
thank you for your concern and support. best to you always.
spurgeon1 loretta63638
Posted
you should bounce back quickly. look into biotin and collagen peptide powder to add to your routine. my hair is coming in thick and strong and my nails are better than they have ever been. my skin has lots more elasticity and firmness. my husband's shaves his head bc of Male pattern baldness but it is coming back in with strength and filling in. Good luck young vibrant lady!
loretta63638 spurgeon1
Posted
thanks again, i will once i get this anxiety under control, my brain is barely absorbing what i am dealing with right now. may i ask are you in the usa? how long have you been on hormones and cymbalta? do you see a functional medical doctor, or gyn?
spurgeon1 loretta63638
Posted
in USA. used compounded hormone cream and suppository for abt 10 yrs then saw brochure @ my general doctor's office for BioTe pellet. done that 2x so far and on a good level for now. cymbalta abt 15 yrs. tried going off a couple times or more but evidently I dont produce enough serotonin for smooth operation. that reason and chronic pain of RA can affect anyone's life so it does help me stay 'normal' and steady. my husband is an insurance agent and tells me most people who consider or purchase drug plans take an anti depressant, a statin, a thyroid or diabetic med, a beta blocker. ageing people all face the same issues. I take atenolol as well bc stress and high cholesterol does more damage than taking the rx's to control them. as I said before, we dont want to take these maintenance drugs but it helps us to live longer and cope with debilative or life threatening issues. I believe HRT to be just as important as statins, beta blockers and the other maintenance meds that are prescribed to help us prolong a better quality of life. interestingly enough, insurance companies refuse to recognize the health benefits and won't cover the expense. so we pay cash for it. not sure what us needful citizens can do abt that. another thing, men require hormones as women do but that isnt spoken abt much. viagra raises testosterone so men can perform. I think it important, for more than performance, but for more efficient body chemistry and processes. what if prostate cancer was an effect of diminished Male hormones? who knows? but yes, I see my obgen, gen practitioner and a rheumatologist, who is more on top of all health concerns than the other two seem to be. be careful of supplements bc many are misleading you about health benefits and since drug admin does not do testing/research on these, recommended dosages leave much room for ambiguity. my doctor actually had me on 6,000 bit d3 bc my blood test showed low level. then I spiked and we read that dogs were dying of toxic levels in dog food. Google that please. my RA doctor took me off all supplements and forbade that one. yes it affected my thyroid along with too much testosterone. so conservative therapy and close monitoring of your levels is key.
jude84900 loretta63638
Posted
Hi Loretta,
Why are you trying to wean off of your HRT? Are you on Bio Identical? I have been on bio identical creams for 3 years and just recently started pellet treatment consisting of estrodial and testosterone. I will stay on my bio's for the rest of my life. Once you are in peri menopause your body is not making hormones like it use to and then after menopause hits ( 12 months no periods ) you are going to be at the bottom of the barrel on these hormones that kept you healthy and happy. The HRT you are taking is replacing those hormones. Once you stop taking them your going to get all them nasty menopause symptoms again. Your body will never make these hormones like it use to. If your on synthetic HRT I would recommend getting on bio identical with a doctor that monitors lab numbers regularly. The pellets really are a slick way to get hormones released slowly in your body the most natural way with your body drawing on them as you need them. They are implanted in the upper buttock and usually last 3-4 months for women. You don't say how old you are but I am assuming if you've been on HRT for 10 years you are post menopause. Good luck
karen95753 jude84900
Posted
Im on same bio identical is amazing!!
spurgeon1 loretta63638
Posted
Loretta, sorry you are experiencing some rough times. I'm prob older than you but I can share another option. What if you tried increasing one or two doses a week instead of every other day for a couple weeks? if your body is low and giving you symptoms of low estrogen... I'm 60 and began HRT 5 mos ago to hopefully improve osteoporosis, vaginal issues and RA stuff. I had already suffered the menopause/withdrawal years. my first BioTe pellet was too much testosterone and my hair got really damaged and I lost abt 50%. the 2nd one we adjusted to 50% test dose and 75% est dosage. I feel better, no symptoms, my hair is coming back and I can fall asleep and stay asleep thru nite. the reason I chose the pellet was so I don't have to do another daily pill. if I want to adjust the dosage down at next install, it's simple. when it is time to get next install, there may be breast tenderness but I've not experienced hot flashes or nite sweats. Talk to an experienced HRT specialist abt what is right for you. There isn't any reason to wean off something our body makes to help us retain bone strength, maintain a conservative and appetite, plumps drying tissues, helps control stress hormones to our heart, etc. I hope you can self adjust in comfort but dont feel bad abt taking estrogen/testosterone for staying healthy, girl. I plan to live a lot longer and happier by taking it! p.s. I wish my mother could have had the opportunity. best wishes... spurgeon1
loretta63638 spurgeon1
Posted
Thank you for responding to me. I am going back to taking them every day, starting today. I cannot think of any other reason why I am feeling this way again. Hoping it gets back in my system fast, this is unbearable.
kaff57 loretta63638
Posted
loretta63638 kaff57
Posted
Going back to every day. Cannot live like this.
jeanette75991 loretta63638
Posted
Hi ...I've been on everel conti as Well but have cut my patches in half I read alot of ladies have don't this although my gp said you cannot be assured of how much you are getting I supplement it by eve primrose oil and multi vits I seem to be fine haven't noticed anyany adverse effects yet..maybe you can try that instead ...kind regards Jeanette
kaff57 jeanette75991
Posted
Hi Jeanette I was on those patches but I had Evorel/Conti two weeks and Everol the other two weeks it was the progesterone patch that I worked out was causing the worst side effects. I too was cutting mine in half as they do not do a lower dose? After my doctor prescribed me two other different forms of HRT that were worse I decided to cleanse my system and then see what happens. Having done this for 18 years from the age of 39 I feel I am becoming an expert.