Low mood in second half of cycle on HRT

[KellyMarieTunstall2]

Hello everyone

I'm 48, been on HRT since last October. My main peri symptom was horrendous PM's after day 14. I felt down and was very irritable and it was worsening. I started on oestrogen and utrogestan vaginally and it seemed to even things out. However, for the past 2 months I've felt awful in the second half of my cycle. Miserable, moody, rage filled and tearful.
I still have regular periods. I'm currently using 2 pumps of oestrogen throughout the month, and utrogestan for 14 nights.
Has anyone tried increasing the gel to help mood? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have 3 young children and I worry I'm ruining their childhood.

@KellyMarieTunstall2 It's a really common problem!
You don't need 14 days of Utrogestan- the leaflet says days 15-26 which is 12. My consultant is okay with 10 days though I'm not suggesting that for you as it's less than the usual amount and I've had the 'ok' to do it that way. There are also some drs who say 100mgs is okay to use if used vaginally as more is absorbed vaginally compared with orally. (Again, these are menopause consultants, not GPs.) You could try upping the gel to 3 pumps for 2 weeks and reducing Utrogestan to 12 days as a start.

Just one question- how do you know you are still having regular periods? On the regime you're on, you will get a withdrawal bleed each cycle but it's not necessarily your own period.

@JinglingHellsBells thank you for your reply. I will reduce the prog to 12 nights and increase to 3 pumps and see how I feel. Progesterone has always affected my mood, the mini pill made me very depressed. I declined the Mirena and opted for the pessaries. I will ask about reducing to 10 days at my next appointment.

I had regular periods up to starting on hrt last October.

Thanks again for responding, you are so knowledgeable, I was hoping you'd reply.

@ JinglingHellsBells
Hi
I’m hoping you can give me some advice please. I’ve been on Evorel Sequi for three years. It has worked great until recently. I’ve started feeling really tearful, then really bad tempered and totally stressed out by the smallest thing. I feel like I’m going mad. I think it’s only when I’m on the Conti part of the patches. I’ve got an appointment with my Dr in a few weeks, but any advice would be great please. Thank you 😊

Hi
I'm new on here, finally realised I needed to open up and talk instead of suffering with menopause on my own. More bad days than good lately.

@Timeless69
Hi - I’ll help if I can, even if it’s just to listen 😊

Hi Thank you.
Is it normal to feel envious of the younger generation and to cry at the slightest thing?

I often feel tearful at the moment. Have you been to the Dr’s?

Hi
Yes I was put on medication for anxiety and low mood. Apparantley next best thing to HRT as I'm unable to have this due to DVT 20 yrs ago.. I was on them from April lasy year until January this year. Felt much better in mood and less anxious. Other symptoms remained, 3 months ago everything came back with avengence. I'm due to have a chat via phone call with GP tomorrow. I just don't want to keep taking tablets that don't reach all of symptoms or ease some. I had to have my final smear last week and had a really good chat with nurse who is also going through this. I found myself more at ease talking and relating to each other. As aful as it may sound. It's good to know I'm not on my own

Also we visited Warwick on Saturday and there was a walk in/drop in clinic for menopausal women. How amazing is this.
It's a shame there are not more across the country

@Timeless69 if you have time, take a look at The Menopause Doctor website before your call with the GP. There’s loads of info about HRT and supplements that may help if you can’t take it.
There’s so many women who have suffered for years, me included, because of poor advice from ill informed GPs.

I’m only week 2 of patches after 5 plus years of going to the doctors. It’s early days, but my sleep has been so much better and I feel much calmer than before.

Good luck with your Dr tomorrow - I really hope they sort something out. It’s awful feeling like crap ☹️

Thank you both.. Will have a nosey at website. Your right tho, they do keep saying "oh but it could be this or because of this and that" never directed towards menopause, so annoying.
Yes, hopefully I get some joy speaking with Doctor

Good luck 🤞

The menopause doctor.. Great website and some interesting podcasts too. Why didn't my GP offer patches? Something I can now put to them tomorrow. Good to hear they working if unable to take orally. This can be hell some days and I feel I'm constantly moaning or on another planet 🙈

@Timeless69

Hi - how did you get on at the doctors, and how are you feeling?

Hi, not much joy tbh, they can only fit me in for a telephone chat on the 10th September 🙈... Monday was a really low day, more of a crying day, just don't know how I'm going to feel each day when I wake up.

I hope you get things sorted soon