anxiety better then suddenly a lot worse - 3 months into HRT

[Flockameanie]

I've been on HRT for just under three months (oestrogel + utrogestan cyclical). One of the reasons I went on it is that I'd suddenly experienced random bouts of anxiety (well, that was the final straw - also lots of rage, brain fog, joint pain, etc).

The anxiety thing went away within a week or two of starting. But this week it's come back even worse than before I went on HRT. For the past 5 days or so I've been feeling overwhelmingly anxious about nothing. Almost panicky. Chest feels tight and I think I'm having the occassional palpitation too.

I've fiddled around with the oestrogel dosage a bit since starting HRT. I was prescribed 2 pumps and started on that. Went down to 1 after the first cycle as I was horribly bloated, thinking I'd gradually increase to what the Dr prescribed. Then went up to about 1.5 pumps just before my 2nd cycle of utrogestan as I felt the joint pain returning. When I finished that last cycle of utrogestan (about 1.5 weeks ago) I went back up to 2 pumps.

So, now I don't really know where I am. Am I getting panicky because of too much oestrogel? Do I maybe need only 1 pump? I feel like I've messed around with the dosage so much that I don't know whether it's too much or too little oestrogel that's causing this. Or maybe not it at all, and something else? Either way, I feel horrible and I'm not sure what to do to make it better! I've got my 3-month review at the end of this month, but have found out that's only with the nurse, not the Dr. Trying to get an appointment to speak to the GP will take at least 2 weeks, if not longer...

I've been on HRT for a year OP. (Lenzetto spray & cyclical Utrogestan)
Initially the rage and joint pains went completely.
Then they crept back. Gradually upped the dose twice. Am now on 3 sprays.
That anxiety feeling has been with me for the last few weeks too.
I've just had my testosterone levels checked, as am wondering if that's the missing piece of the hormonal puzzle. Awaiting results. Then I think if it's low, I'm going to ask to be referred to a menopause specialist by my GP to get testosterone.
I find not drinking alcohol and lots of exercise helps get that horrible jittery feeling to calm down op.
It's an awful feeling isn't it.

You probably need more oestrogen. Get a medication review.

So my understanding is that you should stick to a dose for a minimum of 3 months before touching it- unless there are alarming symptoms obviously. So changing it yourself within that period has caused a lot of hormone fluctuations. It’s the fluctuations that cause most of the issues we have. So persevere with the dosage your doctor recommended unless there is something really really concerning. Anxiety can be managed with other methods, I like yoga nidra and vagus nerve exercises. Breathing techniques. That sort of thing. Try not to react so much to anxiety, it feeds the cycle. I know exactly what you mean as I’ve experienced it and panic and want to change something to help but changing up hormones frequently causes issues that take months to resolve.
just to check, do you take any other supplements? I started magnesium for sleep and anxiety but after increased anxiety and palpitations I hadn’t got before, I assessed everything over months and tested things and found actually naturally high levels of magnesium so the supplements pushed me over. Too much magnesium can cause palpitations! Something to be aware of.

Yes, I realise I probably shouldn’t have tweaked the dosage so quickly. I was feeling so horribly bloated though! I will stick with the prescribed 2 pumps for at least another month and then seek a medical review if things don’t settle.

I had that bloating for around… hmm maybe 6 months? But just when I was on Utrogestan. I used to hate that phase and now I feel heaps better during the Utrogestan phase! No bloating anymore. It should pass.

@WahineToa the bloating was pretty consistent for me and seemed more related to the oestrogen - as in it abated a bit when I dropped the dose.

I hate how trial and error this all is! I feel like I’m conducting an experiment in the dark and it’s such a pain trying to figure it out at the same time as being a parent to young kids and holding down a full time job… Grrrr.

Oh I know, it’s so complex and there is so little understanding out there for those of us who have a more difficult time. I had to give up my job at its worst, my thyroid was a right pain to get right too and then with HRT I had to tweak it again and watch symptoms again and oh god I just want to be normal and live! Without worrying about what symptoms can mean! I’ve had ultrasounds on lumps and everything during this! Isn’t it just horrendous!