HRT or Anti depressants at 53?!

[febel]

Hi all, please be gentle and bear with me1 am very confused and don't know what to do and would appreciate a bit of advice/past experience. I have recently had the Mirena coil removed as was getting bleeding. Have had one in (not the SAME one!) for about 15 years with no trouble and no bleeds until recently. Due to my age doc fast tracked me through all tests for cancer as was a bit concerned but all is fine thank goodness and they said my womb lining was thin. Also had a blood test for LSH which seemed to say I had gone through menopause...although I have read that this test is not particularly reliable.

Anyway...since having the coil out have had horrid hot flushes...can't tell I'm having them as I don't go red, or prickly (had a few of those but not many when had the coil in) but omg I need to strip off! Also disturbing sleep patterns. In addition I am still very, how can I put it, sad...just very low and sad. Been like this for a few years now and have managed with exercise, friends, self care (a word I hate) fresh air, mindfulness etc although am getting fed up of trying to manage it. (I cried today in the car with partner cos driving down a main road I saw a broken down Uber taxi and felt so sorry for the driver standing against it! ) Also took Red Clover extract which worked for a bit...but doesn't seem to now. Also get very anxious, get brain fog , cry easily, and my judgement in traffic seems to be a bit lacking...I am scared in the car which is stupid as I have driven all over since I was 17. I also get migraines now ...my mum also did at "this time of life" . Am putting it all down to hormones...which says to me I haven't finished on the menopause?

Anyone any advise/thoughts/experience please or do I just try to stick it out.....although it's so tiring at times trying to manage it all!

Sounds like it could be menopause. Red clover didn’t really work for me so I went onto oestrogel and progesterone tablets. It seems to be helping. I was 55 when I went on to HRT, 20 months menopausal.

Have you discussed HRT with your GP? I'm not medical but it does sound very much like menopause. (I'm sorry I did laugh at "I cried today in the car with partner cos driving down a main road I saw a broken down Uber taxi and felt so sorry for the driver standing against it!")

I'm on HRT and it really really really works for me.

In retrospect I laughed too....
Just don't know what to go for...anxious enough and I catastrophise so much these days....over travel...and now over this...I look at the risks and think I am going to be that one in so many who will develop cancer etc.....
Is ironic to have to make decisions over meds when mind is so anxious and mixed!

My doctor told me I was more likely to get cancer if I was overweight or drank more than moderate alcohol than from taking HRT.

@febel

Just a quick reply - you don't 'finish' with the menopause.
Menopause is the state we are in for life after our last period.
The ups and downs that happen before and after that can last for 2 years or more than 20 years. Many women are still having flushes, mood swings and anxiety in their 70s and 80s.
In the past they used to refer to this as 'nerves' and treat with valium or whatever.
Now we know it's loss of esttogen.

Read up more about HRT and if you are comfortable with trying it, ask your GP.

The NICE medical advice is HRT for symptoms like yours. You are not depressed.

HRT is far less risky than being overweight and drinking more than 2 glasses of wine a day.

Worth reading the NICE advice (for the public) and taking a copy to any GP appointment as many doctors don’t seem to follow it:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Menopause

I’m 55 and started getting symptoms similar to yours last year. My doctor also prescribed anti depressants which I did not take. I found sage tablets helped with hot flushes but the feeling weepy and broken sleep where starting to affect me.

I had lost confidence in my doctor so I booked a private consultation with a menopause doctor (£240). It lasted 40 minutes and she covered everything. Blood tests showed I was post menopause so I am on body identical HRT which is brilliant - back to normal within 2 weeks. I can go back to my nhs doctor and get the prescription through them if I want so I don’t need to stay private.

As other people have said, being overweight, drinking and smoking put you at risk of cancer far more than HRT. However, the doctor should talk through family history, health etc and discuss your personal risks. Everyone is different.

My friend who is mid 60s never went on HRT and she is still having hot flushes 10 years later. She now wishes she had done. As another poster mentioned, these symptoms can go on for years. Talk to your doctor but if you don’t like the answers get another opinion.

Sending hugs and solidarity. The menopause is so much more than we are ever told. It affected me massively.

There has been an interesting thread about unexpected symptoms which I found very enlightening. (So it's not just me then...)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3612887-To-ask-you-to-share-your-unexpected-menopause-symptoms

I have many of your symptoms- mainly anxiety/panic/major rage and anger. I have had them for about 6 years now.

I have found that 5HTP and St John's Wort have really helped. When I stop taking them the rage returns.

My physical symptoms- apart from HUGE weight gain- have been mild so I decided to try other things before HRT. If I do go the HRT route I will go for body identical HRT.

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Thank you so much everyone for all your help and advise, really appreciate it. I never really thought much about the menopause and if I did thought I would power through it so it floored me a bit...and I've realised I've been affected by it by quite a few years hormonally, becoming v anxious and tearful and down for no real reason...and trying to cope with exercise, happy music, You Tube comedy etc, getting out. I'm slim, pretty fit, don't drink a lot so presumed I'd perhaps be ok.....but no....!