Feeling Completely Alone

[Elizabeth181183]

Hi ladies

This isn't strictly menopause, so I am sorry - but it is HRT related.

Following my children, my hormones and cycle were really challenging. I'm 38 and while my periods are regular, the fluctuations were driving a lot of anxiety and mood swings, which I hated.

I saw a private female health GP who said the usual front line would be combined pill, but as I have migraines with Aura, she would suggest Mirena coil with Estrogel (HRT) to override my cycle.

I've had the Mirena coil now for 3 weeks and been on Estrogel just 2 weeks.

She wants me to get to 4 pumps to override my cycle, but I'm stuck at 1 pump.

I can't be sure what's causing it - the coil, the gel, the new hormones in my system, but I feel considerably worse. Absurdly anxious, crying a lot, waking up at 4pm.

I asked the female GP what to do and she said, just increase to two pumps. But I am terrified to.

I'm scared I've made a big mistake - and I don't know what my next steps should be. I don't really know who to talk to, as nobody else I know is on this regime, and am struggling alongside caring for my young kiddos.

Any advice or thoughts would be so appreciated.

Thank you

xx

Sorry :(

I think you have to be willing to try a few things.

I'm not 100% sure about the Pill but for younger women 2 types are recommended if HRT isn't right for you yet- one is Qlaira and the other is Zoely.

If these are less risky for migraine with aura, you'd need to check. I am sure that one is body-identical estrogen which may be less risky.

If your periods are regular, many drs wouldn't give you HRT (unless you also had other symptoms of menopause.)

Slightly off topic I'd not put more 'faith' in a dr who's female. (My own gynae- private - is male and is absolutely brilliant.)
There's no 'rule' that female drs know any more or better.

TBH I'd suggest you get a 2nd opinion on the Pill. Your dr may be right, but overriding your cycle with a large dose of HRT at 38 when you aren't close to menopause is tricky.

It may very well work what she's said, and you can only try.
But be aware that some women can't tolerate the Mirena.
One way to offset its side effects is to use more estrogen so that may well be the way to go.

Sorry I can't be more help but it's going to be a case of trying some things and maybe seeing a gynaecologist who's an expert in hormones.

Give it 3 months and if not better get it (the coil) taken out. They may tell you give it 6 months and most likely longer but it’s your body.

I often wonder if there is a difference in the women who have the periods stopped and those who don’t. I hoped it was just emotional at first but as time went on it felt uncomfortable down below (coil was deemed as positioned correctly) and break through bleeding on doing something physical such as walking was hard.

Sorry you are having a hard time 💐 removal is much easier. I’m convinced things got better following removal though I only started hrt couple of days beforehand.

I think you nay be struggling with PMDD. Has anyone mentioned this to you? It can often be caused or exacerbated after giving birth. How do I know? Because I was diagnosed after the birth of my son when I was 27. The issue is that those who suffer can become exquisitely sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and this ties in with you feeling worse once you added HRT to your own cycling hormones.

I am now post menopausal myself after having both ovaries removed and have to still be very careful with HRT as it can bring my symptoms roaring back if hormones are up and down too much. I'm in my 50s now.

Help is indeed available and you really do need to see someone who knows what they are doing rather than just throwing more hormones at you. What I'm going to do is pop a link in my next post to the IAPMD website (International Association for Pre Menstrual Disorders). Its a wealth of info on symptoms and explains so much about why this happens, and what help to seek.

Once you've taken a look and if it resonates with you, please make an appointment to see your own GP and tell them that you suspect this is what you're suffering with and that you need some real help as soon as possible (share the website with them - you can print off and take anything useful to your appointment). There is no need to go private or to see a female doctor specifically. If possible, ask to book a double appointment too to allow more time. I do hope this helps - you're definitely not alone.

@Elizabeth181183 Here is the link straight to the 'what is PMDD' page of the IAPMD website. Have a good read - browse the rest of the site too. Let me know if you think it feels like what you're dealing with. If so, you're going to be OK and help is there for you.

https://iapmd.org/about-pmdd

Thank you - this is really interesting.

A curve ball is that I actually tend to feel more stable and steady from ovulation, luteal, through to my period. It's actually been from my period to ovulation when my anxiety kicks off and I struggle. So, that doesn't necessarily fit PMDD.

But it's definitely something I'll explore, as I do feel hyper sensitive to my hormones, although prior to kids, even off the pill, I wasn't impacted at all.

Childbirth seemed to wake a monster...!