Quick history - had a hysterectomy because of fibroids, kept my ovaries. Probably had menopause symptoms within 12 months of my operation, took a long time to connect the dots and uninterested GPs kept fobbing me off with antidepressants. I'm 51.
Started on patches about 2 years ago. Started on 25 then up to 50, have been on 75 for about a year. But I don't think they're "working" as much any more. I'm not having hot flushes. But the anxiety is back, with the chapped lips/dry mouth, the dry eyes, jojnt pain, the lethargy, the difficulty in getting to sleep. I'm not having the panic attacks I was having without any HRT and when I was on the gel.
But on the other hand, I have a lot going on. My dad died in the spring, my daughter is going off to Uni next week, and I'm about to start a PhD. It would be easy to write off my anxiety to other factors. Trying to manage those too, with Headspace, and walking, and taking vitamins.
But the physical symptoms like joint pain and dry eyes mean more estrogen is worth a try, right? I'm not even sure whether 75 mcg is a high dose, average dose, low dose... I just feel really overwhelmed and want to feel like me again.