Menopause or depression, or both

[Thecatsbutler]

I'm 55, had a hysterectomy 5 years ago so not sure at what menopausal stage I'm at. I have been taking 1mg of femenest for about 6 weeks. Haven't had major physical symptoms, but definitely emotional. I'm all over the place, rages, crying, paranoia, anxiety, then absolutely fine.
I will ask to up my dose, but thinking of asking for some anti depressants too. Anyone on both HRT and anti depressants?

@Thecatsbutler.. Sorry to hear you are suffering this. I have always had awful PMT since starting periods. I'm now 49 and still getting mood swings and an underlying sense of doom which is with me constantly. I have tried anti depressants and HRT but both don't help. The only thing that helps me is exercise, getting away from everything/one! and walking in the countryside. I'm not bothering with drugs any more. The social prescriber is far more useful.
Good luck and I hope you find some relief from your symptoms

Thanks BooseysMom I have really tried to be heathy, lost a lot of weight, walking, I live in a forest so get plenty of fresh air, peace and quiet. Some days I'm fine, but other days I can go through the whole emotional spectrum for no apparent reason whatsoever.
My husband can seriously tick me off most days though
I have phone chat with my doctor this week, I want to try upping my dose of HRT and I will talk to him about AD's.
I have also realised that I probably suffer from intrusive thoughts and have done for years. I just thought I was a morbid bitch but now understand it's not normal.

@Thecatsbutler.. We are similar I think. I hate to think of the years I have spent feeling like this. I have tried prozac in the past but it gave me splitting headaches. I didn't know what to do. Upping the HRT might work. The doc told me to do this with the Oestrogel and maybe I didn't give it enough time before stopping. I've got high blood pressure so it said in the leaflet to stop so I did and now I've got headaches again. It's a constant cycle of despair!
I get the obtrusive thoughts too and have health anxiety too. We're a right pair aren't we?!

Following you with interest.
It only occurred to me this week my depression and dark thought could be my progesterone.

So, doctor upped my dose to 2mg of femanest. He recommend I try it for 3 months, then we'll try something else if that doesn't do the trick.
Dh is off to work for 3 weeks so I have decided to spend that time on myself. Taking time to exercise, eat properly, catch up on some reading, just spend some time looking after me. Have a really good look at my life and see if they is anything I can do to improve it.

@Thecatsbutler..hope you are feeling better today. How's the Femanest going? I haven't gone back on to my Oestrogel and Utrogesten and so far have not had any bad effects of stopping. Just hope it lasts!

I'm actually feeling like poop. Horrible constant headache, feel sick most of the day, knackered. It's definitely since I upped my dose from 1-2mg. I know I should hold out for a bit to see if it settles down but I feel worse now than before I started anything I may go back down to 1mg again, I can't do this long term.

@Thecatsbutler.. you won't believe this, but I'm exactly the same! I have just woken with a bitch of a headache across the side of my head and I get this most days now. It's horrible isn't lt. So you're getting this after upping your dose? I'm getting it after stopping! It's crazy! Like you I have sick feelings and my body feels all weird like fatigue and i have wobbly jelly feelings in my legs! What's going on?! I never thought it would be this bad!
I was all for no HRT, convinced I could control it myself with exercise etc but I'm too knackered to even walk upstairs!!
God help us!!