What has HRT helped you with? (And anything else you recommend)

[GeneHuntsCowboyBoots]

Hi,

I’m up and down like a yo-yo with symptoms. I’ll be steady for a while and feel on an even keel then, bam, my anxiety is through the roof. (I’m taking the highest dose of Citalopram). I also have ME/CFS so I can’t do things like exercise to feel better as it has the opposite effect. I’ve read lots of horror stories about HRT and my catastrophising brain latches on to the negatives so I’m hoping to get some positive experiences as well please.

So, if you could let me know the positives of HRT for you and anything else you have found that’s helped. (For any symptom but anxiety in particular).

Thank you.

I’m on 2 sachets of Sandrena per day AM/PM

Moved to a 25 days out of 28 micronised progesterone (vaginal) due to sudden mood drop by day 10 on cyclic use.

Just added teeny tiny swipe of Testosterone 2% to the instep of my foot (on the basis that’s one place I can’t possibly get hairy and it absorbs well there for me) Today is day 2 of the T so too early to say what if anything that’s doing yet.

I think I started everything about six-eight weeks ago. I thought I wrote it in my calendar but can’t seem to find it.

So far the good news is…

Absolutely no overwhelming urge to end own life

No suicidal ideation (issue since summer ‘84, more recently improved with ADs, but HRT has really been the cherry on the cake with that particular issue)

Mood stable, chirpy, chill with no worrying AND no more random physical anxiety. FINALLY ! Looking back anxiety was my first symptom of peri.

Sudden ability to meditate (without having to start again because I got bored and first my mind wandered, followed by my body which forgot why it and I were on the cushion in the first place)

No naps required

No insomnia

No brain fog

Waking at stupid o’clock for loo only on the no progesterone days

Libido occasionally peeks out from her hibernation, looks around, but startles easily and goes back into hiding.

I think I look younger, or at least I don’t see a haggard old bag in the mirror

No more content aches and pains

Today I’m trying out half my usual does of ADs, we’ll see how that goes. I’m not wedded to giving them up. Just want to see how I go.

My thighs and bum are extremely soft and smooth from the Sandrena.

The bad news

1. I have ADHD so obviously seeing improvement in bum and thigh skin I went and slapped some Sandrena on my face. So far my face has not fallen off but I really don’t think that was a good idea because of the alcohol content.

2. I have spent a lot of money at the pharmacy.

My most pressing issues with peri were anxiety, mood, brain function, quality of life and wanting to be alive. So to say I’m pleased is an understatement.

There are a few apps I recommend, that I started well before biting the bullet with HRT, they helped at the time and are really paying massive dividends now I’m getting an HRT power up.

Woebot - I love him ! CBT via a chatty little bot, you can work through a holistic programme or focus on any specific issues you are struggling with. It’s free, not in app purchases.

Fabulous app - Really soothing and lovely app that very gently helps you create healthier, more “kind to self”, habits. Takes it nice and slow so not overwelming. Loads of content in premium (Any users get loads of “1 free month!” invites to hand out so you get plenty of time to play with it for free). I downloaded it thinking hippy rubbish, but I’m on my second year with it and it’s the first and last thing I do everyday. Premium for one year used to be €30 ish, but now €50 ish. Personally worth every penny to me.

How we feel - Free mood tracker app, but much more sophisticated than your usual tracker with some excellent coaching with high production values.

Thank you both so much for these replies. It’s really appreciated. I’m leaning towards trying HRT but I’m still a bit hesitant. I’ll look into the things suggested too.

HRT was a total game changer for me.

I was close to suicidal during PMT, as in composing letters to family and friends explaining why they were better off with me dead, raging mood swings, lethargy but rubbish sleep.

After a couple of weeks of HRT (oestrogen and utrogestan, to start but now have a mirena) I was so much more energetic and actually happy inside and I still often am amazed that this is how normal people feel. I am more focused and have lost the cba attitude. I can sleep for 7 hours straight.

I still have ups and downs as I assume my own hormones are still cycling away underneath but they are nowhere near as extreme as they were.

You could give HRT a go but stop if you don’t like it.

@AlienatedChildGrown you mentioned the amount you've spent at the pharmacy, so just in case you're not aware, (if in the UK) you can buy an HRT prescription pre-payment certificate. It's £20 and lasts for 12 months, and covers all the HRT meds.

@JosieOhNo That was very kind of you ! Unfortunately I’m not in the UK. To be fair the Sandrena and micronised progesterone are both under a tenner a box. The testosterone was considerably more expensive 🫣 But at least all the blood tests and scans aren’t horribly expensive.