Not myself anymore

Posted , 9 users are following.

I turned 50 last year and have had menopause symptons since I would say,  46 when my periods stopped. I live in France doctors/gyneocologists are generally  pro HRT and have been given Femsept Evo patches, my gyneocologist is taking the same thing !  I have looked at the box for a year trying to decide whether the risks outweigh the positives. 

I do not really have much problem with hot flushes maybe one a week I i know i am lucky and usually one every night when i wake up, but for me I would like to know if the patches will benefit, extreme anxiety, terrible life changing low mood, impatience and irritability, I feel like I am lost myself.  I have a 9 year old son and a lovely husband but I have become a depressive, moody, sad person,  who could happily stay in bed all day and hide from the world. 

Anyone have anything positive to say for these symptons ?? 

Thank you so much.. 

 

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi - I am on HRT & its been wonderful for my hot flushes. Yes i also get very low, sad, irratable & yes just want to sleep! My husband said to me the other day "look at your face, you look so miserable" this really upset me more & I just felt like running away! He is a wonderful husband but its hard for them to understand as they dont know what were going through! There is anti depresants but its again another drug! I am on B12 which is meant to be good for moods. I am going to try 'Rhodiola stress relief ' its a plant A traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress, such as fatigue, exhaustion and mild anxiety? Its says you can only use it for 2 months, so I will have a go! Take care & look after yourself XX
    • Posted

      Hi 

      thank you very much for your reply, its so good to know we are not alone...and just talking about problems helps. 

      I will look into the Rhodiola it sounds very interesting.

      Take care too. biggrin

       

  • Posted

    Hi Smartie - hrt will help with sadness, guilt, and all life debilitating emotions - get onto it ASAP - it makes so muc positive difference - the oly difficulty is finding the one to suit your personal needs. Good luck - your 9 yr old needs you at full strengthsmile Loui
    • Posted

      Hi

      at last some positive feedback, thank you so much, I will try this patch and see after a month how things are going, glad its working for you too. 

      New, Old  me,  here I come fingers crossed ..............X biggrin

  • Posted

    Hi smartie,

    I was worried about starting HRT but decided to give it a go for 3 to 6 months to see.

    I'm glad I did it has made me a much happier person, the depression and anxiety began to lift within the first 2 weeks.

    • Posted

      Hi I am like Barbara. Have looked at the box of patches for the last 6mnths! ! I too dont suffer a lot with flushes it's more the joy has went out if life! ! Mood swings, sadness anxiety, unmotivated, dry eyes!! Just to name but a few symtoms i have. I hope you don't mind if I ask you if you put much weight on with the patches. I dont mean to be vain but my son getting married in a couple of months and iv already my outfit in. I had tried a 3 monthly no bleed hrt before and I put on quite a few inches!! And was constantly bloated and hungry!! And that was only for 3 months. Doctor took me off it be cos it gave me too much hormone and have me patches hence the fact iv been reluctant to take. Thanks for taking the tine to read this xx
    • Posted

      Hi Tina,

      I'm not on patches. I use a bioidentical transdermal gel and have the progesterone pills 12 days of the month.

      I have lost 5 lbs without trying. The HRT seems to have curbed my sweet tooth a bit if anything.

      I get a little bloated 3 days before my bleed but that used to happen naturally anyway.

      I'm certainly happier and mood is more stable.

      I don't like to put weight on but it seems OK so far I've been on it about 14 weeks and over the Christmas period where I usually do gain a few pounds but this year my weight stayed stable and now as I said five pounds lighter.

    • Posted

      Hi Zigangie, 

      thank you for your reply, its great to know you are feeling better on HRT I have decided to start the patches tomorrow, new month new me......

  • Posted

    I know you're feeling I've been going through this myself for the past few days that anxiety has been through the roof it's horrible my stomach has been fluttering a lot I just can't seem to get away from my coffee but I think that has a lot to do with my stomach but the anxiety and hot flashes come and go I get moody depression cry a lot my shoulder aches my elbows ache my hands hurt so much that we go through I'll be happy when it's all over
    • Posted

      Hi Monique, 

      yes everything hurts youre right. A friend of mine is in her 60 s and said that its great on the other side, which is good to know. I just don't want to waste 10 years living like a depressed, irritable zombie. ! 

      I find it amazing in this day and age that no one can tell us when it starts, when its over, it s all just a guessing game. I did do an ultrasound and a blood test and this more or less confirmed everything do you know if you are in menopause

      I can relate to everything youre saying, I hope you find a way to feel better soon.  biggrin 

  • Posted

    Hello

    I'm a year older than you and I think am in quite early peri. All signs are that full menopause is several years away and in fairness so far am not surfering much from symptoms. Like you I live in France and I find that the health system is way too keen to turn to drugs sometimes for problems that could have a gentler solution.

    I'm lucky as I have a old ob/gyn who tends to believe in not interfering unless really necessary and as I've not really complained about peri to her she's never suggested HRT to me but I know she's more the exception than the rule.

    In terms of the blues/mood changes have you tried vitamin D3? 

    I started to take a 5,000 mg dose daily about ten months ago really for general health benefits but found that immediately that I was in a great mood (no wonder its called the sunshine vitamin). I also had a lot of energy. I also take vitamin K2 with the D3 because it helps to make sure that vitamin D3 works in the right way. Maybe you could try that for a couple of weeks before you try HRT to see if it gives the lift you are looking for? 

    I also take magnesium (which has helped with sleep) and sometimes B12 (I started B12 because I had tingling in my fingers and this seems to help this symptom but a lot of people take it during menopause for energy) 

    Courage!

    • Posted

      Hi Victoria, 

      thank you for your reply and interesting you too live in France. I feel very lucky to live here, the healthcare is amazing. 

      I found your message very interesting and have made a note of what you take, am going to go to the Bio shop tomorrow and start taking the vitamins and see how i get on. 

      Glad you are a few years away and feeling fine. biggrin

  • Posted

    I am totally going through some similar things that you are except I just bled for 27 days,had multiple tests done found out that I am Peri at 40 years old ! I have four kids 24,23,4 and 2 yrs old . I finally stopped bleeding two days ago but I'm scared its going to come right back and I'm so irritable that my kids father is not only scared to talk to me for fear that I will snap on him but he has been sleeping on the couch for 3 weeks !
    • Posted

      Hi Unico, god poor you, it seems so young, although looking back I had my son at 41 and think I started peri not long afterwards. 

      Hopefully your husband can start to try and understand, i think husbands should read all the info they can on menopause as its so hard for them to cope with it. 

      Think having four children must be lovely, but also very stressful for you if you are going through peri with a 2 year old. 

      Hope things get better. biggrin

       

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