Posted , 10 users are following.
I'm trying to work out why HRT is offered as a solution when it does not seem to solve anything. Has anyone had any kind of success with it? All I'm reading here are different people who are still going through hell and nothing helps.
I think my anti-anxiety tablets are actually making me worse, but either way, I can't see any solution to the way I feel, for the next who knows how many years.
0 likes, 17 replies
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supemack39 Mayfly1
Posted
Hi Mayfly,
which hrt are you taking? I was on Elleste Duet Conti and recently changed to Femoston Conti 1mg/5mg twice daily, and I feel so much calmer and pretty normal.Apparently the progesterone in the Femoston is a "kinder" one and is good for anxiety. The pharmacist at my doctors practice explained that certain progesterones can resolve certain symptoms. She was really helpful and took time out to explain, which really the doctors don't seem to know what is what. Hope this helps?
Mayfly1 supemack39
Posted
I'm not taking any HRT yet, I have had the depression of menopause come on overnight and I am seriously struggling. I don't know how to tell people just how bad I feel, and I can't seem to find anywhere that would give some hope for the future. I can't keep on like this. I have two jobs, I need to be able to function and I can't seem to get through the next hour but I have to wait and wait and wait for anything to work.
I'm on my own tonight and I'm seriously frightened.
Aberzerk72 Mayfly1
Posted
HRT is effective for different individuals at different doses. Your dose may to low and need to be adjusted or perhaps the combination of estrogen to progesterone is off.
Naturally to reduce anxiety you can try meditation, yoga, or take a warm bath with epsom salt two days a week to calm your nerves.
St. John’s watt is believed to help with depression,/anxiety, black cohosh for sweats and flashes, and soy can boost estrogen if your seeking a natural solution.
peter25058 Mayfly1
Posted
Hi May, My wife is receiving monthly injections of 'Abilify' which are admittedly 100% effective in treating her psychotic symptoms. (please see my thread). on one occasion, while not receiving the injection, she was in a 'slump'; I persuaded her to take 3 mg of Premarin (HRT), once per day. She seemed to pull out of it, but an episode months later was not relieved by Premarin.
I have found the term 'Bioidentical Hormones' but these seem to be 'pushed' by private enterprises, and I am therefore ( and possibly unjustifiably ) skeptical.
"SERMs" is another term ( selective estrogen receptor modulators ) that I believe refers to a particular form of HRT with lower cancer risks. I need to investigate this further, also.
My (our, I am the husband) biggest obstacle seems to be; because the anti psychotic drug is working, there is no motivation to find a solution that is more menopause-specific. As I said in my thread, 'the watch was fixed with a sledge hammer'.
Regards, Peter
lynda20916 Mayfly1
Posted
HRT came about as a solution to women's lack of estrogen in order to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats & osteoporosis. This was years ago, before the drug companies had any idea of the side effects of hormone therapy. Estrogen in many medications was touted as a "fountain of youth."
However, women began to get cancer, so they paired it with progesterone, so the lining of the uterus would stuff like a natural period. The same thing happened with birth control pills. When I took birth control pills in the 70's, some women were skipping taking the progesterone pills at the end of each month. As a result, they'd often not have a period until they decided to take the progesterone. Some women went as long as 6 months others 3.
Also, the amount of estrogen was dangerously high. Subsequently, drug companies formulated HRT with smaller amounts of estrogen. This may be why many women don't get relief from standard HRT today.
Studies were done of women who had been on the high dose HRT for years and the results were scary. HRT only helped women assimilate calcium for bones for only around 5 years. Women were getting endometrial cancer and breast cancer, cancer that responds to estrogen.
HRT was formulated to "aid" women, but also to make money for the drug companies! In my mind, they are still toying with dangerous substances. Two of my friends on the "safe" birth control patch developed blood clots in their legs. You only have to read the list of possible side effects of each drug to realize how dangerous they can be for some people.
karen77710 Mayfly1
Posted
zoe62821 karen77710
Posted
Can you share your experience. I want to feel fantastic.
karen77710 zoe62821
Posted
dvdm08 karen77710
Posted
Sochima822 Mayfly1
Posted
I'm more confused that you're asking such a question when you haven't had any experience with hrt. It works on many levels, but getting on the right one for your body can be the issue. Also, depending on your health, and current medication will also dictate if you're a candidate for it.
Conversely, if something doesn't make you feel good why would you continue to take it? Does common sense go out the door when you also take this medication?
jude84900 Mayfly1
Posted
Mayfly1,
Hormone replacement can be very successful. Problem is most mainstream docs don't know what their doing. Don't know much about what women go through in menopause. So many doctors treat menopause with anti depressants and anti anxiety pills when all women need is their depleted hormones replenished with the right ones. Sadly doctors still prescribe premarin to women and this has been a known culprit for problems with women. Our bodies don't know what to do with horse estrogen and that is what is in premarin. Natural hormones, bio identical have the same molicular structure as our own bodies have been making and keeping us healthy for years is key. Our bodies do know what to do with these hormones. I've been with a holistic doctor for 2 years. Best money I could have spent. Start by getting a doctor that understands whats going on, runs proper blood work and prescribes natural, safe hormones. Monitered right and prescriptions made specifically for you.These general doctors get people on all these other drugs with all kinds of side effects and they end up basket cases. I know, my sister was one of them. All she needed was hormones replaced and she got a basket of prescription drugs instead. Messed up from age 25 after a complete hysterectomy and gone at age 59. Diagnosed with depression, bi polar, you name it. On every kind of pill and all she needed was estrogen, progesterone, testosterone! She was in menopause!
HOLISTIC DOCTOR
BIO IDENTICAL HORMONES
BLOOD WORK REGULARLY
THE RIGHT SUPPLEMENTS
Sochima822 jude84900
Posted
Jude, I don't know who mainstream doctors are. but every gynecologist I've ever talked to, and even most gp's know exactly how to start a woman on hormone therapy. One bad experience does not mean all doctors are the same. My doctor won't even prescribed what I want in order to keep me off drugs and this that I used to work in the medical field. So please stop with the generalizing. While bio-identicals may work, they are much milder form of controlling hormones, thus you will still experience symptoms but to a lesser degree and just like hrt and bcp's they don't work on everyone.
jude84900 Sochima822
Posted
Dear Sochima822,
My reply was to Mayfly who started the thread, but being you replied to my response I will clarify a few things you seem to not understand. Mainstream doctors or otherwise GP's is who I am referring to. Most does not mean ALL. You are assuming I meant all. That was a wrong assumption. My own experience going to my own female gp told me she did not know from her medical training ( protocol ) how to treat menopause and or the use of HRT. If you have been reading on these boards it is VERY clear that many, not ALL women on here have been dealt the wrong direction on treatment and their stories and heartache show it every single day on this menopause board. I have the right to my opinion like everyone else on these boards just as you do along with my own experience to share which happens to be a positive one that I think many women can benefit from on here. For you to "scold" me to please stop with the generalizing is really out of line as was your comment above to Mayfly if the medication shes on causes her to lose common sense. There is a nice way to talk to people and both your responses to myself and Mayfly fall short.
Sochima822 jude84900
Posted
Mayfly1 jude84900
Posted
I didn’t want to waste any more time, I just wanted to cut to the chase and finish with everything. Because I was feeling such an excess of emotion, I wondered if it was the ant-anxiety meds I was on already. I had no idea. But there seemed no point in pursuing something which takes weeks before I know whether it’s going to work or not.
I rang my doctor, and he suggested that it probably wasn’t the anti-anxiety medication but I should use a bigger dosage to get me through the night and I also talked to a counsellor. I have various numbers and they can, as a final straw, refer me to the Adult Mental Health unit until I feel able to go home without being at risk.
It was a horrible evening, and today my doctor has been in two minds as to whether to treat the menopause first or my extreme depression, but we felt that since I have support systems in place now, I should try the HRT first. I hope that I will now be able to cope more going forwards and that I have a plan in place to keep me grounded.
lynda20916 Mayfly1
Posted
I wish you all the best, though some may seem to lack compassion, we all feel for you. Please read and note the side effects of the HRT you're prescribed, so that if things worsen you will be aware of what's going on. I agree with Jude about the bioidentical hormones, but perhaps they're not available in your area.
Please know that I'm thinking of and praying for you. xx
Guest Mayfly1
Posted