Help! Will testosterone sort me out?

[BrassicaBabe]

I'm a mess. I'm uncomfortable in my own skin. My anxiety is through the roof. My mood is low. I can't concentrate. I'm struggling to properly manage my work and home responsibilities - I just want to give the kids ready meals every day for example as the thought of food prep is just overwhelming! Oh and as if the world isn't cruel enough I seem to suddenly be extra sensitive to caffeine which piles on the anxiety. Yes, I'm trying to cut down, but a 30+ year caffeine habit is hard to break. 😂

I've been on HRT for 2 years. I'm 49. I've been on a 50mg patch for the 2 years. But recently my symptoms mentioned above sky rocketed and the Doc (private specialist) upped my patch to 100mg. I've been on 100mg for about a fortnight now and I'm a tad better than I was.

I have a prescription in progress for testosterone. But I can't pick this up until Tuesday.

Tell me please, is testosterone the missing piece of the puzzle?! Will this make me feel normal again?!

I'm quite desperate. Please throw me a bone

Testosterone might be the answer but in addition are you getting all your vitamins. I felt very similar a few weeks ago, exhausted, anxious, depressed, no energy or motivation, unable to concentrate. I’m also sensitive to caffeine now but can’t give up my only cup a day now. HRT seemed to stop working but private GP just wanted me to up dose which I wasn’t happy with. In desperation I visited a health food shop they suggested vit B complex, fish oil, vit D and passiflora drops for the anxiety. I’m starting to feel human again after taking these for a week. Their rationale was that sometimes we need things alongside the HRT and it’s really difficult to get all we need even from a pretty good diet these days. Testosterone might help but so might some supplements in the short term, if you haven’t already tried them.

No one needs vitamins unless they have a very poor diet. The one exception is Vit D.

Sorry but this is something I feel strongly about and most drs will tell you the same (incl my own meno consultant.)

OF COURSE H&B will tell you that you need them- they sell the stuff.

And it very easy to get all the vitamins we need.

@BrassicaBabe You need to give you higher dose time to work. Testo might work, but what type of HRT do you use and are you using Utrogestan- and if so, how much and how often?

I was simply sharing my personal experience to try and help OP. I appreciate your view and that of your consult’s might differ but no one size fits all. Some GP’s do support the use of alternative therapies.

Thanks both. I do have a supplement with most of those. It's mainly a magnesium supplement.

@JinglingHellsBells I use estradot patches. I was on the 50s. Self medicated myself up to 75 while waiting for my appointment because I felt I was going bonkers. Then doc upped that to 100mg a fortnight ago. So I've been on the upwards dose for nearly a month if you include the 75s. Yep, I take Utrogestan 100mg every evening. I'm on the depo contraceptive injection.

But I'm still feeling well and truly out of sorts!! Which is why I'm pinning my hopes on the testosterone. But can't pick that up til Tuesday Desperate doesn't quite cover it! I can't remember ever feeling this....I don't know how to even describe it...anxious, overwhelmed, sad, uncomfortable like toast crumbs in bed!

@Fififizz My dr is keen on alternative therapy but vitamins don't come into the category. You may as well flush your money down the loo! We only need a tiny amount of vitamins and most (apart from A and D) are water soluble and simply excreted when they are more than we need. If you feel you need extra for some reason, it's far better to eat the foods than take a tablet. feeling better is purely the placebo effect- it's well known!

@BrassicaBabe It may be the Utrogestan. I know you have been on it a while but it can be very sedating. Have you always used it daily (the post meno dose)?
One option is to go (back?) to using it cyclically for part of the month. That way you get a good 2 weeks without it.

Just saying this as I didn't get on with using it daily (only lasted 3 weeks!) and I'm still on a cyclical dose, in my 60s.

Thanks @JinglingHellsBells

I've always taken the Utrogestan at bedtime (guessing that's because of the sedative effect you mention) and everyday (because I don't have periods due to the depo contraception). I wasn't aware that folks took it and had gaps until I started reading on here.

At the moment I might take a sedative effect if offered to be honest. I'm leaning on wine the last couple of weeks!

I'm not familiar with all the newer types of contraception (too old for those by far!) but my instinct tells me that if you are using two sorts of progestin, it might not be good.

You could use the mini pill (probably need a specialist to sort it as it's the same pill but larger dose) or the Mirena coil. Both would work as part of HRT.

Just something else to think about.

I found vitamin D made me feel better and wish I took it sooner I also take b12.
My diet can be erratic and I am a veggie.
I upped my dose of oestrogel to 4 pumps for a while as symptoms were returning and go put this in my notes at my review.
Sorry you are struggling .

I'm far from an expert but have been taking testosterone for a year. Firstly unlike oestrogen I think they can determine low testosterone from a blood test so could be worth getting a sense of your level. I was actually (privately) offered testosterone only/first, as opposed to traditional oestrogen and progesterone HRT, which the vast majority of people start with as my testosterone level was unequivocally low and essentially causing most of my peri menopausal symptoms.

From my personal experience testosterone helps with, in order, energy, stamina, motivation and concentration. Three years ago I couldn't climb a hill but now I can power up them. So important as need all the help we can get to be active as we age. I felt kind of hollow inside, and would be knackered by 8pm. Now I stay up beyond midnight and seem to need less sleep. My well being is just better.

I'd say it took a few months to start feeling the effects though.

Are people getting this on the nhs or going private, I’m thinking I might need it too, but not sure if GP will agree to trial it

I’m with Jingling on the vitamin thing with vitamin D being the only one that we should all take during the winter months. If we might have a deficiency in any others then it would be better to get a blood test to see before taking supplements which would only be expensive wee if not needed and also look at diet improvements.

I’d give the increased patch dose more time to see if it helps and if it doesn’t it might be a good idea to get a blood test done to see whether you’re absorbing the estrogen. If not you could try a different option.

Regarding testosterone there are anecdotal stories of it helping with more than libido, however following the recent Channel 4 menopause programme this was posted by the British Menopause Society thebms.org.uk/2022/05/bms-comment-on-channel-4-programme-davina-mccall-sex-myths-and-the-menopause/

Some GPs who are knowledgable enough will prescribe it on the NHS or it might be a case of being referred to a menopause clinic. It’s prescribed off-licence for libido issues and usually after systemic HRT has been started.

OP have you had blood tests to rule out thyroid issues , and to check things like vitamin d and ferritin ? This is really worth doing if not. Thyroid issues are very common.
Like a pp, I also wonder about the contraceptive injection along with HRT , I don’t have any knowledge of how they interact, but I think it might be worth trying a different type of contraception. At 49 your chance of pregnancy is very low, could you switch to condoms ? If you could cope with a coil then the Mirena alongside Oestrogel is a safe way of protecting your womb and also avoiding pregnancy.
I think this aspect is worth reassessing, as the injection seems overkill at your age.

In my area I'm struggling to even get an appointment with NHS - it's URGENT appointments only as they're so short on GP's! I've been waiting weeks and weeks and unsure what to do - I'd feel bad insisting on an appointment when others may be worse off. How would I go about finding a private GP and how much would it cost?

I also think your recent symptoms could well be related to an underactive thyroid gland. It's very common in women in their 40s and 50s. I would ask your GP to check your thyroid function (a simple blood test). If it is sluggish, they will probably prescribe thyroxine for you, and all those symptoms - anxiety, poor concentration, feeling overwhelmed, low mood - should start to improve within a couple of weeks.

@duvet can you get a telephone appt not ideal but I had a consultation like that explained the situation and they then made an appt for me to come in. We also have a number of clinics locally that provide these services a colleague recently went to a private clinic and although it wasn’t cheap (about £275) they tested all her levels. which she took to her Gp where they took over and provided the appropriate prescription.

I’m on testosterone, it’s improved my libido and my energy. But my flat mood was lifted by upping my patch from 25 to 50.

In my experience and from what I’ve read you will only get testosterone from a GP if a) they are happy to prescribe it off licence b) your other HRT is settled and working and c) you emphasise loss of libido.

Good to hear flat mood was lifted going up a patch.

I've just gone from 50 to 75 so hoping that's what will work first.

Op I'd suggest getting a blood test overhaul at the Gp to rule out thyroid etc but it can take the 3 months to feel much different when you've been so bad.

Other idea is a blood test to check you're absorbing (I had this recently, I am absorbing but levels were really low) and whether a different way of taking hrt might help.

I've found the addition of testosterone to my HRT really helpful for mood and energy but it takes time to work so allow up to three months I think to feel the benefit.

I was a big supporter of HRT and was keen to try testosterone. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with hormone driven breast cancer last year and had to come off all HRT. I am taking anastrozole which pretty much reduces my hormone levels to zero.

I really wasn’t looking forward to going cold Turkey but have been really surprised by how I feel.
Until I had radiotherapy my energy levels were great. I had some muscle and joint pain but HRT had never really addressed those fully. I have the odd hot flush but the biggest improvement is with my sleep and moods.
I have had probably the most stressful year of my life, alongside breast cancer my DH had a stroke recently. My anxiety levels are low and mood is good.
I have regular bone scans (due to anastrozole) and there are no problems. I use a non hormone gel to prevent vaginal atrophy and although lower my libido is still there.
I think the hardest part of menopause is the wildly fluctuating levels of hormone rather than lack of them.
I now realise why post menopausal women are calm and seem to have life sorted.
HRT is not a fix it just helps. It does not prevent all aspects of aging. And it is not for everyone.
However, testosterone alone may be more effective. I know that in France they prefer just testosterone.

Sorry if a thick question but will they only prescribe testosterone if you have low levels?