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post menopausal depression and anxiety

Lara1244 profile image
23 Replies

hi

I am post menopausal and have been left with many new health conditions. I had a total hysterectomy which cured my early stage cancer - everything was removed including my ovaries. Has anyone else been left feeling deflated in post menopause? I have ups and downs with mood swings and my anxiety (I have long-standing generalised anxiety disorder) has been up and down to point where I don’t know what another day will bring!! Does anyone else identify with my situation?

Thank you

Lara

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23 Replies
MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86

I’m sorry to hear that but I’m glad they were able to cure the cancer. How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? Are you able to use hrt? If so then I would highly recommend as it has been a miracle for me I felt the same post hysterectomy but now my hrt is balanced im so much happier again and it’s only topical hrt so very low risk xx

Lara1244 profile image
Lara1244 in reply to MyStar86

Hi MyStar

Thanks for your reply. I’m 63. Although I had womb cancer I may be able to use HRT and will look into.

Lara x

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Lara1244

I really hope the GP can help you as a low dose oestrogen would really make a difference. I’m 36 and had a total hysterectomy last year with everything removed and it was such a shock to my system I couldn’t sleep I was anxious all the time and felt like o couldn’t cope with anything. I have to have quite high doses due to my age and osteoporosis so it was hard to get the balance to start with but once I had the right mix it was like the dark clouds lifted and I was happy and normal again. I was the Lenzetto spray and pills but it is very individualised but the topical hrt is much lower risk these days like the spray, gel and patches. Good luck xx

Lara1244 profile image
Lara1244 in reply to MyStar86

Hi thank you for your reply - lots of info to consider,

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to MyStar86

I don’t know if I am allowed to ask but could you tell the amount of estrogen you are? I seem to need higher doses. I am not balanced.

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Mccrae

I went based upon my symptoms when I couldn’t sleep and had crawling skin that was awful but that’s also a sign of needing progesterone. The anxiety level for me was how I knew my oestrogen wasn’t right, it did take time I started on the sprays and it wasn’t enough then had the patches but I didn’t get on with those then went back to the sprays and I would not recommend this to anyone else as it carries many more risks I also take my old combined contraceptive pill. My gynaecologist allowed me to do this because I had endometriosis so I had to take some form of progesterone but prior to all of this I had Pmdd and a progesterone intolerance and the only progesterone I can tolerate doesn’t exist in any other form than my femodette pill. Plus with my age and osteoporosis they said I needed higher oestrogen anyway. So I went back to the sprays and as soon as I added back my femodette as well it was a miracle I could sleep and all the horrible symptoms went I was finally happy again but this all did take about 6 months.

I hope that helps a little xx

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to MyStar86

Thank you. I don’t want my dr to be concerned with me taking such a high dose. I just want her to know people do need higher doses. That why I was interested in current mg of estrogen to let her know I am not the only one

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Mccrae

I’m not sure I have 3x sprays of Lenzetto and one femodette pill you would have to Google to see the level of oestrogen that’s equivalent to.

How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? Younger people usually needed higher oestrogen and I have osteoporosis so also need higher due to that xx

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to MyStar86

Only 43 years old

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Mccrae

Have you previously been on the pill before? Are you on any hrt at the moment? If so what are you using? Some women need the 100 patches which is the strongest dose available I think xx

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to MyStar86

Never tolerated birth control. Been on progesterone since age 29. Couldn’t tolerate patch. On low dose oral estradiol.75mg daily and biest cream. Had to switch compounding pharmacy for cream and doesn’t seem as effective after being stable for a year. New cream and symptoms: anxiety, depression, almost withdrawal feeling, hair falling back out again, and musculoskeletal pain has come back with a vengeance

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Mccrae

Do you still have a womb? Just usually you should to take a combined hrt that includes progesterone due to the cancer risk but it sounds like you are only having oestrogen? It might not be that you need just more oestrogen you could also need some progesterone…..I had a similar situation and they just kept upping my oestrogen to the highest it could go and I still wasn’t right until I added in the progesterone. It can take time but most women do not stay on the same hrt indefinitely as the body changes we can become tolerant to the doses we are receiving and can need a different dose…..it might be worth asking about the spray if you don’t find the cream is helping as I found the spray very effective but everyone is different. I had to up my sprays to x4 daily which is higher than the max dose following my ileostomy surgery because I’m not absorbing the same amount anymore but that’s more related to my bowel issues xx

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to MyStar86

I am also on progesterone. Just trying to slowly increase new estrogen cream until symptoms subside

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Mccrae

Could you ask for an alternative to the cream like the patch or the spray as some people don’t absorb the cream. The spray is really good I drys in seconds and dose help me an lot when high dose patches didn’t even touch me x

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to MyStar86

just got off phone with dr. She explained differences in different compounding pharmacist. She is in agreement of new cream not being strong enough

MyStar86 profile image
MyStar86 in reply to Mccrae

What did she recommend? Did she offer an alternative oestrogen option for you to get started on? I hope you feel better for talking to her x

SingC profile image
SingC

Hello! I had sleep disruption & anxiety as part of peri menopause. Hrt helped that, but didn’t agree with me in other ways. So now I’m on low dose amitriptyline and it’s helping too. It seems that it’s very individual. But don’t suffer with anxiety alone. Do ask your doctor whether hrt may help. A huge number of women manage very happily on it.

Lara1244 profile image
Lara1244 in reply to SingC

Hi

So kind of you to reply. Yes I will approach my GP for options because problems only surface with post menopause.

Kind Regards

Lara

110201 profile image
110201

Hey! Congrats on kicking cancers butt!! I suspect due to this HRT would not be an option for you sadly. Have you tried something natural such as Menopace? There are many varying options for you to try and it’s specifically designed for that time in our life. In addition to that you could try a low dose antidepressant to help lift your mood and lessen your anxiety. Keep exploring options that are open to you as I’m sure there’s something out there that can help in your situation. Best of luck Xx

Lara1244 profile image
Lara1244 in reply to 110201

Hi

Thanks for your reply - I have tried menopace and other supplements but haven’t hit the spot. I will look at other options.

Kind Regards

Lara

WendeAnne profile image
WendeAnne

Lara,

I’m a retired pharmacist. I’m 62 and have Bioidentical HRT pellets. I use progesterone capsules at bedtime which are also compounded. Life saving stuff. Good Luck! We all need our hormones.

Lara1244 profile image
Lara1244 in reply to WendeAnne

Hi thank you for your reply - lots of info to consider!

Mccrae profile image
Mccrae in reply to WendeAnne

Do different compounding pharmacist use different methods while compounding. I recently had to switch to a new pharmacy with same estrogen cream dose but doesn’t seem nearly as effective

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