I feel mentally awful and not improving

[Krazykitty]

I’m hoping someone can offer some advice. I’m on my 6th week of Evorel Sequi 50 patches. One of the main reasons for going on HRT was for my mental health. I am on anti depressants (for depression) but they have not helped, been on various different ones for years.

In the past week or so I have really taken a nose dive and I’m really struggling to get through the day. I just want to curl up and die. I sometimes wish I could take the easy way out and end it all, but I know that isn’t an option so I’m just carrying on in so much mental pain.

I’m wondering if the patches are having a negative affect on me and making me feel worse. Do I just stick with it and hope the hormones will kick in and balance out or just come off completely.

I’m feeling so desperate and at a loss.

Thanks for reading.

Honestly, if you feel this bad you need to speak to your GP asap and tell them exactly what you have said here. I am on the same patches and suffer from depression although controlled, I felt very anxious/down for about 4 weeks but this has now improved and I feel so much better. I hope you have someone to talk to irl.

Do the Oestrogen only patches make you feel this way, or the progesterone part?

If they are naming you feel this awful. I would come off them.
There are lots of alternatives to try instead.

Take care.

Thank you both for your replies. I do have my dh and mum to talk to.

It seems to be the Oestrogen only patches that I’m feeling my lowest on. I think I might stop using them from now and get in touch with the GP for an alternative.

I had so much hope starting HRT, just getting some relief from my thoughts would be amazing and now I just feel so bad.

Thanks again for your help.

I know its disheartening when you feel worse than you expected. It might be that the dose is too high for you. There are lower strength oestrogen only patches, or you could try cutting one in half? It just try a different product altogether.

Really hope you find a Hrt which suits you 🙂

So sorry you feel like this. I don’t have much advice only that it will pass. As advised do get in touch with your GP. Have you noticed any patterns with your depression? E.g. meds that have helped in the past, or at least been ‘less bad’, seasonal issues, triggers, or themes to your negative thoughts?

Thank you so much for your replies. I will try and contact the GP (easier said than done) and tell them what’s going on.

The trigger this time is that I have to take my daughter into London later for a concert, I’m feeling at my lowest I think I’ve ever felt and I don’t know how I will get through it but I know I will and I keep telling myself this will pass, even though it doesn’t feel like it will.

I’m so sorry you feel so bad. I tried Evorel Sequi 50 for depression and felt not much better (although it did put an end to my early morning waking and night sweats, which was a step in the right direction). After a three-month trial of that, I’m now on oral progesterone (utrogestan 200mg every night for two weeks in four), and a constant 75 oestrogen patch regime. Early days (just finished first cycle), but so far feeling ok. I have read some people don’t get on with the progestogen in Evorel - I wonder if I am one of them, as I got pretty low in mood on them. I also read it’s the dip in progesterone in the weeks you are not taking it that can trigger low mood. It could explain why you feel worse on the oestrogen-only weeks. It might be worth trying to change from Evorel? Take care of yourself, I know it’s very hard having to wrestle with this stuff when you’re feeling low.

@FreedomFries thank you so much for your reply. That really helps me reading your experience with Evorel. Like you, my night sweats stopped but didn’t help with what I really wanted it to help with (depression). I am going to try and sort out an alternative and by the sounds of it, I think I may need something similar to you.

Thank you for your kind words too.

I hope it works out for you. I was initially prescribed the Evorel 50 by GP, then my appointment came up at the Newson clinic and they put me on the regime.

*new regime!

I’m exactly same OP. I actually feel better when I’m on the combined patch than when I’m just on the oestrogen one. Not sure why that it but I’m also very tearful and low and just feel like everything is too much. I’m also on Evorel. Waiting for a GP appointment to see if can alter dose or try something else. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks @ThelmaDinkley Sorry to hear you are feeling the same. I am currently on the oestrogen and progesterone half of the cycle now and feel a bit better, but I do need to make an appointment as I don’t want to fall down that dark pit again, I really need to sort myself out.

I hope you managed to get a GP appointment.

Hi,

I know this is an old thread but just wondered how you got on? Did you quit the estrogen patches? I have tried Evorel 50 but just had to rip it off as I feel dreadful - achey, heavy limbs and a foggy head. I got really dizzy about 30 mins after ripping it off

Hi @Oobiedo I decided to completely ditch the patches, I tried oestrogel well for a while and on a really high dose or low dose I just felt awful. After lots of research I decided to come off oestrogen completely and I am now just on progesterone (body identical). I use progestrone cream and utrogestan and this has been the one thing that has helped me.

I know lots of people on here think progesterone is the devil, but it has really helped me and the only thing that has lifted my depression and given me hope.

It’s so frustrating as I know it’s not a one size fits all and it’s all trial and error so I really hope you can find what suits you.

Hi there, glad you’re feeling better on progesterone, I think I have the same issue on the oestrogen only patches, they make me feel anxious and angry, can I ask if you are in Peri? I’d like to try just continuous progesterone but not sure if it’s allowed for women in peri? Did your GP prescribe the utrogestran?

Just wanted to add that we have all been where you are and believe me it will get better. I went through a really hard time as super sensitive to progesterone and had to change to taking it vaginally as less side effects as felt suicidal every 2 weeks had to take it. Am now on continuous as on hrt a year and it is better taking a smaller dose daily than flooding my body every few weeks with a high dose. It took ages to get to right dose and believe me it will get better. Also get bloods checked for thyroid and antibodies as my thyroid was off and this was making me feel absolutely exhausted and now on meds feel like myself again. Mind yourself and you will get there ok.

I had exactly the same reaction to oestrogen. The gel made me feel absolutely dreadful, shaky, jittery, wired and angry and depressed.
I was then given Everol 25 which was marginally better but after a week again the symptoms returned and I was in crippling back and stomach pain around ovulation with horrific bloating.
i removed the patch and have now applied a 25mg cut in half so 12.5mg.
I seem ok on that. I still have regular periods and I simply don’t think my oestrogen has dropped that low yet.
I feel fine on the progesterone two weeks apart from bloating and a windy tummy.