Combined pill? Any success stories?

[stripeyshoesy]

Briefly, I'm 40 and suffering.

A few years ago I had PND, which was purely hormonal.
I reacted extremely badly to three different antidepressants.

Subsequently found that using Evorel50mgs oestrogen for a week before my period cured the plunging low mood and anxiety/insomnia.

Now the "bad" week is lasting most of the month and I'm barely getting through the days. I'm getting sweats, sleep is horrid, I'm shaky, having lots of crying meltdowns. It feels like the PND, there are no other explanations for it, no stress, no issues, life is (should be) good right now. I'm living like a hermit and nothing I do is helping.

I tried a progestogen only pill before and it sent me totally off the scale with anxiety.

Has anyone had any success "flattening" hormonal spikes with the combined Pill?

I wish I could just take an antidepressant and some oestrogen and feel somewhat normal again. But I can't and don't have another year of my life to lose trying various antidepressants like I did last time (I lost my career then too)

So, is the combined pill an option? Can it suppress the wild ups and downs in my hormones? My GP is clueless and offered me Inderal. I'm looking to go to someone else who will actually listen to what I'm saying and not fob me off.

[FuckyNell]

So why not use evorel sequi all the time then? That's a combined patch, with continuous oestrogen 50mcgs and progesterone too for part of the month if you have your womb still.

Sounds like perimenopause to me

[stripeyshoesy]

Will sequi stop my own hormonal fluctuations? The reason I'm wondering about the pill is that it's stronger than HRT.

I'm also using 50mgs oestrogen at the moment and it's doing nothing for me.

[FuckyNell]

Oh sorry I misunderstood! I thought that it helped

Ok. So there is a bcp called Qlaira (sp) that I've read good things about. It's intended for peri I believe. You could research a bit on that?

The fluctuations are a nightmare I know. There's a lot of different types of hrt (and bcp) to try - it's a matter of trial and error.

[Survivor2014]

I just started qlaira for peri I'm 40 too. Just 9 days in, so nothing to report as yet.

[80sWaistcoat]

I'm on Qlaira for peri as HRT turned me into a depressed wreck.

Told GP that the progesterone was sending me loopy and that's what he suggested. It is helping in that the depressive episodes are significantly reduced - and I'm more aware of when in the cycle they are likely to happen - so I can be more rational about it.

Also, on GPs advice, take Agnus Castus which also helped with moods.

I had to try a few things to find something that mostly works - and it's a faff when you are feeling down anyway to keep having to go back. But it is much better.

Good luck in finding something that works for you. The power of hormones affecting your body can't be underestimated.

[stripeyshoesy]

80sWaistcoat and Survivor, I would be so appreciative if either or both of you could keep me updated on how Qlaira is working out for you.

I know everyone reacts differently to various medications (I had an antid horror story when they work so well for others!) but I'd be really interested to read if Qlaira helps either of you at all.

I'm getting pretty desperate now.

[stripeyshoesy]

FuckyNell the oestrogen helped enormously in that premenstrual stage and I was normal for a few years.
It's not working now.

[PollyPerky]

what blood tests have you had? Any?
Your GP should be testing your FSH, LH and oestrogen levels to see if you are having a premature menopause.
These have to be done on days 2-5 of a cycle, and twice over 2 months for accuracy.
Only then will you get some idea of what might help.

[stripeyshoesy]

My FSH and LH are normal according to bloods last month. My oestrogen is "very low" so GP did another set of bloods for comparison just yesterday. I won't have the results of those for a week and even then I'm unsure of my options. GP told me to use continuous oestrogen for now.
But I still feel terrible.

[80sWaistcoat]

I don't know if qlaira would be right for you, but I've been on it 3 years now and it's mostly ok. Better than not taking it!

[PollyPerky]

Is your GP willing to refer you or can you afford a private consultation with a gynae? Sounds as if GP is out of depth.

[stripeyshoesy]

I think he is PollyPerky. I'm going to ask for a referral because these symptoms are intolerable, particularly with a young family and a fulltime job.
I hope a private gynae can help me.

[PollyPerky]

Push for a referral- this is quite complex and your /most GPs are not clued up.

[2plus1]

I tried hrt but it wasn't enough to override my own cycle. I switched to the gedarel pill and it has been so much better. Mostly my symptoms are controlled with exception of the odd day. The only lingering issues are anxiety and ibs symptoms.

[stripeyshoesy]

Thank you 2plus1.
I've been awake since 3am with constant flushes and a racing heart. Can't continue like this or I'll lose my job.

[OnTheMove28]

The combined pill has always worked for me. I have been on Qlaira for 4(?) years - before that I was on Marvelon. I also had a brief and disastrous three months on Cerazette after my first DC was born. Qlaira worked for me but I am also on 10mg Citalopram for anxiety. Having just turned 50 I've been told I have to stop the combined pill so am back to square one and looking at HRT alternatives or a Mirena. To be honest I think the Qlaira was doing its job as I was feeling I could drop the ADs. Since I came off the Qlaira I feel I'm much more reliant on the ADs than I was before.

[Survivor2014]

Hi Stripey
Just an update finished my first month. 7 day bleed from day 10, and then a 2 day bleed on the last two days. The latter is supposed to happen but I reckon the former was due to it being the first month. Anyway, no rage, no pmt, no sore boobs, very light 2 day bleed. Hoping it will be even better this month. How are you doing?

[stripeyshoesy]

Thank you for the update Survivor! I'm glad you seem to be doing well.

I've just had a third set of bloods done and I'm due back to the gynae in a couple of weeks. I will refuse to leave his clinic empty handed this time!

Survivor, did you have any low mood or insomnia etc? If I am honest I can handle bleeding, heavy periods, erratic periods and cramps but it's the flushes and accompanying adrenaline and insomnia from them that leads to my low mood and anxiety. If I thought Qlaira could help with that I'd be thrilled.

[Survivor2014]

Hi, I was on ADs last year for other reasons, so mood was generally not great. But recently PMT dreadful, mainly rage. Sleep poor for the last two years, but in the last week has been perfect. Also was very sweaty at night, that's stopped too, but could be due to the change in weather. I had palpitations when trying to fall asleep, and that's gone too. I'm taking regular Epsom salt baths too.
To sum up, I feel good, even tempered, and sleeping very well. It's only month 2, but I do think its the qlaira that is making the difference.
Best of luck with your appointment, let us know how you get on.