amazing what 1mg of oestrogen per day can do

[RedRoses]

Within a month - no hot flushes, brain fog gone, mood lifted, sleeping.
Thank god a I had a decent doctor who recognised the symptoms. Apparently in a recent survey of over 3000 menopausal women 66% of them had been offered or given anti depressants even though there is not evidence that they work

I've been using Estrogel Pump for 5 days
I'm very tired and I want to sleep all the time
Is this normal ?

Are you on progesterone too? The utragestan made me a bit weary for thé first week. I also upped my gel to three pumps with my GP’s agreement and that helped. As did taking the progesterone at bedtime.

@Abraid2
I'm very new in this . I'm not sure what progesterone does on top of the ostregel.
Im peri but I have loads of symptoms.

Which progesterone are you on?I felt sleepy for the first week but then it settled. I like feeling sleepy at bedtime, though! Things have generally settled for me, 7-8 weeks in now.

Since I've been very tired taking 2 pumps in the morning I'm going to start tonight Instead.
Also what I've realised that I'm more calm and rye rage has gone and in only 6 days .
It's incredible.

I'm 48 starting to get symptoms, dryness, no period and then a flood.. I'm looking at options and don't want to go down route of HRT, I probably would have until my sister in laws sister had the HRT patch on her leg and then she got diagnosed with leg cancer (same leg as patch) leg was removed to her knee but kept coming back and 2 yrs ago she had the rest of her leg and hip removed, I don't know if it was coincidal or what , I reAly don't know which option to go down, is the mirena coil an option....

@RedRoses @ScreamingValenta @Ozziewozzie @Abraid2
Hello , please I need your thoughts ..
Been taking estrogel pump for over a week.
I feel more calm but can it make you more low ?
I already have depression but these days I'm feeling much worse suicidal.
Is it normal ?

Could be the progesterone ? If you take it? Perhaps speak to your doctor about your doses?

Ménopause Matters has a few threads on depression and HRT specifically progesterone like this one Lucky

www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=36075.0

@Abraid2 I don't take progesterone. My OB didn't prescribe it . I'm new with the pump
What do they do together ?

@LuckyElle Are you in the US? (You refer to your OB- in the UK we talk about gynaecologists not OBs.)

You need progesterone unless you have no womb. If your dr has not given you this, you need to go back and see another dr.

I have patches aand mirena and its completely changed me. Im really clear headed but get up so early and by 930 at night i need to go to bed. Its weird as i used to be a night owl. But i just sleep solidly until 7am every night.

@JinglingHellsBells Im in London. My OB yes like gynaecologist.

I do also have the merena coil for 7 years and I love it.
I just need to sort out this peri- menopausal business.
My doctor will give me progesterone too .
I just wanted to get some info about it as I'm only just started .
Thanks in advance .

@LuckyElle Your dr ought to have explained all of this to you. The Mirena coil gives you the progestogen you need BUT it runs out after 4 years as part of HRT so I assume yours is not 7 yrs old but that's the total time you have used it, and you are on your 2nd or 3rd coil now?

@JinglingHellsBells it's every 5 years , so I'm on the second one correct . It's fine I just wanted to get some inside about the progesterone..

The Mirena gives you the progestogen you need alongside the estrogen you have been given.

No one takes just progesterone/ progestogen alone, only along with estrogen.

The estrogen you have started ought to help with your anxiety.

@JinglingHellsBells thanks

...given anti depressants even though there is not evidence that they work

There is evidence that anti-Ds can help with some menopause symptoms. It is good that there is a range of drugs to suit different needs and preferences.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1876676

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4274337/

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S8756328216301302

Oh dear this old chestnut....

ADs.

NICE guidelines say clearly that ADs are not first line treatment.
They are for women who cannot use HRT or who also have depression not linked to menopause.

NICE Guidleines
Vasomotor symptoms
1.4.2Offer women HRT for vasomotor symptoms after discussing with them the short-term (up to 5 years) and longer-term benefits and risks. Offer a choice of preparations as follows:

oestrogen and progestogen to women with a uterus

oestrogen alone to women without a uterus.

1.4.3Do not routinely offer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or clonidine as first-line treatment for vasomotor symptoms alone.

1.4.4Explain to women that there is some evidence that isoflavones or black cohosh may relieve vasomotor symptoms. However, explain that:

multiple preparations are available and their safety is uncertain

different preparations may vary

interactions with other medicines have been reported.

There have been numerous articles in the media in recent months from menopause specialists about the terrible treatment of women whose GPs are giving them ADs instead of HRT. There is a national campaign amongst menopause specialists to have this practice stopped.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/menopause-antidepressants-symptoms-worse-hrt-shortage-a9148951.html