Bad bad thoughts on HRT

[HelloEllo]

Hi all, nc for obvious reasons.

My GP has put me on femoston and I've got a month before my review. I've suffered from depression and anxiety since childhood but have got myself into a good place and for the last couple of years have had a good handle on my emotions/moods. I'm not on an AD's.

Since starting the HRT though, my mood has dropped badly. It seems to be the grey tablets as the white ones seemed to be working but this month I've been feeling down a lot more, (maybe it takes a while to get the grey ones out of your system?) Today I felt so bad i had suicidal thoughts, something that hasn't happened in years. Don't get me wrong I won't act on the thoughts, I see them for what they are, but I don't want to go back to feeling this way.

Can I go back to my GP early or do I have to wait 3 months and is there another type of HRT that won't make me feel this way? I definitely felt better on the white tablets so I don't want my peri symptoms back!
Tia

This is common but your experience is at the far end of the scale.

The tablets - see labels- are estrogen only for most of the month - then estrogen + progestogen for a few days.

Femoston is one of the 'best' as the progestogen is very similar to our own.

It's really a case of experimenting to see what suits you best.

If you can bear it, stick with it for another month as all gynaes say give any HRT 3 months.

If you still feel awful you need to swap to something different. This could be an estrogen (patch, pill, gel) with Utrogestan OR the Mirena coil.

I can't bear the thought of another month but I'll try. Thanks Queen.

I am on Femoston too and I find dydrogesterone milder than others progestins. It takes time and I think that finally our body and mind will adjust to the new hormonal state. Are you sure that your depression and suicidal thoughts are due to hrt. I was very depressed and anxious before my hrt.

Emerald yes I was feeling anxious before, it was one of my major symptoms but my mood improved hugely once I started the white tablets.

Maybe you're right, maybe it's the contrast between my mood on both tablets?

Maybe, give to yourself more time.
Our mind plays a huge role in our psychology, try to be positive and don’t look for side effects.
Hrt cannot replace our natural hormones, it helps but not except that is a magic pill for everything. :)

Thanks Emerald.

Can I also ask, my libido has completely disappeared on femoston, is there something separate that could work for this or would it mean a whole new type of HRT?

Personally. I found Femoston horrendous. The progesterone made me aggressive, angry & depressed. The suicidal thoughts increased the longer I stayed on it.

My GP totally dismissed me.

Absolutely awful.

HelleEllo I don’t take something for libido, I think that our mind plays a huge role for our sexual desire.
I feel that without insomnia, better sleep and energy I am more energetic sexually.
You can try livial or testosterone for libido but I have no personal experience.

I absolutely hated the progesterone part of the hrt and the symptoms that came with it were far worse than the benefits I got from the oestrogen, so I decided to come off it all together.

Strangely, I feel much better now than I did before I got on it in the first place. I do get some hot flushes, but they are bearable (first thing in the morning as in now!), I still sleep badly, but then I did so too on hrt, and at times feeling a bit down, but I know it's not me but the menopause and that acceptance makes it better to cope with it and make myself think positively.

Thanks all, you've been great. I'll take the last pack and speak to my GP.

God you poor thing. I also react violently to added progesterone. So much so I've considered hysterectomy as you can't take HRT without progesterone if you have an intact uterus... mirena was too strong for me and all pills made me want to lash out at the world. Def go back to your GP... and lots of for you

Thanks Viking, thats really kind.

I really don't want the mirena, I've heard bad things! I'm hoping there might be another type I can try but I'll wait and see.

Can I also ask, my libido has completely disappeared on femoston, is there something separate that could work for this or would it mean a whole new type of HRT?

HelloEllo - oral HRT can have a dampening effect on libido (because it helps to bind up free testosterone in the body so that it becomes unavailable) so if this is a problem it could be helped by changing to transdermal HRT ie patches or gel. If after changing and you are on a decent amount of oestrogen then adding testosterone might help. Depends where you are in menopause and your age too.

Thanks, Bellaciao, that's really helpful!

I'm mid 40's and only been diagnosed as peri a couple of months ago. My periods were still pretty regular, just coming earlier and sometimes heavier. My main symptoms were extreme tiredness, feeling down, hot pressure headaches etc. My GP mentioned the Mirena but I really don't want that.

Using patches or gel sounds like a good alternative, I'll ask her at my review. I've just started my 3rd pack so only a month to go! How quickly my libido disappeared is quite scary!

Here's a hug for you, hope you are feeling better

Thanks, Piano, that's kind

oestrogen in gel format (oestrogel) and utrogestan (micronised progesterone) is consifered the gold standard treament. ask for that.
i found patches didn't work for me so i swapped and now am happier.
i do get the blues but not extreme depression.

good luck.

Thanks, Kalifornia. My GP has swapped me to Elleste Duet so I'm trying that. No change yet but it's only been a few days. If this doesn't work I'll ask for patches or gel.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Hope you feel better soon Hello

HelloEllo,
I know this is an old post but i am in a similar position to you with femoston and am thinking about switching to elleste duet. I wondered how you got on with elleste duet?