Has anyone experienced severe anxiety after starting oestrogen gel and progesterone?

[Robinonaspade]

Hi has anyone else got experience of being incredibly anxious after starting oestrogel and progesterone?
I'm finding anxiety off the scale and preventing me from doing daily tasks.

I wonder why some have an extreme reaction to it. I felt suicidal too. I have PCOS and a short luteal phase and had to have progesterone suppositories or injections for the first 10 weeks of my pregnancies as my progesterone was so low.

You would think my body would’ve liked it, but it had a severe reaction to the tablets. My body obviously loved the Mirena coil. I was literally bouncing off the walls with energy like a squash ball within 3 days.

JobShareDrama
I think the same as you about making time for myself, and I think that's the bit that helped me to unravel this week, ending up in A and E.
There is literally no-one to help out and give me the time. My husband has been fab, but has really serious health issues himself and been struggling to do things so I could have some time. It hit me when I was struggling there was none to call that day to come and get my daughter and things just spiralled from there. I don't think HRT is quite right, and the menopause symptoms I suffered did include being incredibly nervy and emotional.
It's reassuring, if sad, to hear other people's experiences as it helps me not to feel alone or as if I'm being daft and can't cope. The panic is very real. I just need to figure out how to settle it.

I promise you, you’re not alone. We all mainly suffer in silence.

Lean on Mumsnet. It’s saved my sanity and helped me out many times. Then, you can come back here and help the next woman in need with your experience.

X

Agree with jingling, this is an extreme reaction so you need to stop hrt and see a hcp at the GPs next week for an assessment.

To not be able to get out of bed sounds like a mental health crisis of some kind that yes while a new medication may exacerbate things it would be unusual to be affected to this degree. If you don't stop at least administer progesterone vaginally to reduce negative effects. No need for a different prescription or permission from GP, just insert high up in your vagina.

Has your mental health always been ok until meno?

Google panic attacks and strategies to manage though if it does persist. Good luck.

Janiie
Thanks, it it extreme and that's why I'm concerned. It is definitely due to stress as well, and I think the new HRT that helped with joint aches and fatigue at first, may be exacerbating things. I've been under tremendous stress for a sustained period of time and was awaiting a CBT 'top up' when palpitations kicked in and breathlessness last week. Just so relieved wasn't heart related and all bloods were fine.
I appreciate your advice and I think I'm in the middle of a storm that has taken my last bit of energy. Just need help to figure out what exactly is the best way to start getting back to being me. Hope that makes sense!

I think we all manage life's challenges and then it can get on top of us and spiral in peri then meno. All our coping mechanisms seem to stall a bit so we have to dig deep, reasses and really focus on self care.

Obviously if mental health problems too you'll need professional guidance but sometimes the basics can help. Lots of physical activity even just walking can wear us out and help sleep. Making time for ourselves away from the noise of life to recharge batteries is vital. I like noise cancelling headphones, a good playlist and a brisk dog walk no matter what the weather is doing to reset my mood!

It is hard though, we have ageing ailing parents, older kids still needing support and that is without the joint pain and general knackerdness that meno brings.

You aren't alone though as others have said. Just take take some deep breaths, try some calming apps and see a hcp next week for some advice .

Not the HRT gel but combined contraceptive pill. My daughter tried a couple to manage severe period pain. They didn't work enough so GP tried a third. OMG within a few days she had anxiety off the charts. Couldn't sleep, kept crying, was so scared. She has a tendency to be a bit anxious but can usually self manage very well. There was nothing we could do to sort this out. We ended up calling the 111 emergency mental health line. Essentially they said just stop it. We did but it took several days to settle and a few weeks to get back to normal. No more hormonal contraception for her!

Janiie
Thank you 💐 you explain things really well.

I desperately want to get back to getting outside but my usual coping mechanisms for breathing and keeping calm failed me! That's when I realised I feel more anxious 3/4 hours after using gel.

I think I just need a good rest, as lot of my symptoms are exacibated by lack of good quality sleep over a long period.

I tried to hold of HRT until I'd finished some other meds I needed, but perimenopause symptoms kicked in, and GP thought was worth a try.

Thanks for summing up things for me.

Just stop taking the tablets (and stop gel too.)

You won't have any womb lining build up as you're on continuous HRT and you aren't post meno yet so you are likely to have a natural period at some point.

FWIW some specialists always promote using sequential first anyway. This helps separate out the two hormones so you can a) get the right dose of estrogen first and b) introduce the progesterone and identify if it is the cause of any side effects.

It's also possible at the start of HRT to extend the estrogen only part to get the dose right (usually specialist guided rather than a GP.)

You might find walking outside very relaxing, or book a nice massage if funds allow, or follow some yoga exercises online. Slowing down your mind and focusing on your breathing eill help the stress.

Princessdebthe1st
Oh goodness, your poor daughter. I'm so glad that she's now herself.

Hormones didn't agree with me either for contraception, but I wasn't effected to that extreme. I've always been wary of taking anything!

How worrying for your family, I'm glad she's ok now.
💐

JinglingSpringbells
Thank you so much for this information and advice. Being outside in my garden is my sanity usually. I can free my mind out there, that's what I want to get back to.
💐

It’s frightening what medication can do to us. I took just 3 doses of mounjaro 20 months ago which caused severe anxiety, panic attacks and depression. Ive still not recovered and struggle with feeling on edge constantly.
op I find doing something physical is a great distraction, I’ve now got in to gardening which really helps.
sending big hugs it’s awful to feel like this 💐

Catsservant
Thank you. 💐You are so right about something physical helping. I'm sorry to hear about your struggles too.
I just need a bit of guidance from the GP on where to start with medication, I definitely don't want to take any more. I just hope I can keep calm enough to get down there xx

'That's when I realised I feel more anxious 3/4 hours after using gel'

Also I mean this kindly, I'm not negating or minimising your experience, but from a logical point of view it is unlikely gel is having this effect within 45mins. Transdermal meds have slow absorption not like injectable medication. Even oral meds can take an hour or so to kick in so gel will take considerably longer. I'm only saying this as it may well be more a psychological response. You've put gel on, you then worry and fret and 45mins later are in full anxiety mode.

Try putting one blob on or even half on a morning, get dressed and keep busy. Distract yourself or as I suggested have a calming playlist on and you may well be fine.

Or as we've said stop completely and see someone for advice next week.

Janiie
Thanks, I understand where you coming from. I meant 3-4 hours, but same logic applies.
I've woken this morning covered in sweat again on my chest but temp is fine. I think it's a mix of peri and stress. Definitely need to get to see GP. Thanks.

Oh sorry yes I see what you mean lol. Hope you get some help from GP

Thanks 💐 just need to get there!

@Robinonaspade The sweats are 'night sweats'. They are very common. I'm sure you know this.

I am many years post meno- almost 20- and still get them when I tried stopping HRT for a few weeks.

Estorgen is absorbed quite quickly- within the hour- so whatever you feel 3 - 4 hours later is peri not HRT.

In fact the solution is likely to be more estrogen but until you find a progesterone that suits you, you won't be able to judge.

As a comparison, when I started HRT in very late peri my consultant put me on estrogen only for almost 3 months to get the dose correct.

JinglingSpringbells
Thank you for your clear post. I think it is definitely the effects of peri menopause mixed with being very anxious and stressed.

I really appreciate your advice. I thought estrogen was absorbed quickly. I'm trying to look for rational explanations for feeling like I am...without much success!

I'm trying to focus on staying calm today as I really don't know how I can get into the appointment tomorrow if I'm offered one. I just feel completely overwhelmed. My husband is going to ring to try to arrange something I can cope with as I do need to be seen face to face.

I've had a horrible time using the mini pill once, and literally one dose of it sent me into a huge wave of anxiety and panic with unbearable fear that I had never felt before.

I'm extremely sensitive to medication side effects as I have a medication induced neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia that was caused by some prescribed off label antipsychotic after a head injury and post concussion syndrome a decade ago. I'm fairly sure that if I tried even bioidentical HRT, I'd probably have a bad reaction like the one I had to the mini pill.

My theory is that certain people are faster metabolisers of medication than others, hence have a greater disposition to adverse effects. Obviously, I am not a doctor and this is just a theory.

I have had a pharmacogenetics test done to see how safe certain medications are for me, and how well I can metabolise them. Maybe I need to see if HRT is on the results 🤔

So sorry you are struggling so much, OP. I hope your anxiety calms down a lot soon. I've been there with the severe anxiety after my head injury, and it sucks. Huge hugs 💗

Ah ah - I was right in my theory!

A good link here too, explaining progesterone sensitivity or intolerance.

Progesterone intolerance

Not necessarily. I've got a sensitivity to certain medication and how I metabolise it, and people who are a certain genotype do.

I had a dreadful adverse reaction to an antifungal cream once that exacerbated my symptoms of my movement disorder within litetally a few minutes. It's definitely something I didn't imagine, and I do very much believe the OP may be of a similar disposition possibly.

Thanks for your messages. All really useful. I just feel so wiped out today. Be glad when can get on top of whatever it is.

@ForeverDelayedEpiphany You may know that for women who are sensitive to micronised progesterone, they are advised to use it vaginally. Or rectally. This avoids a lot of systemic absorption as it's mainly absorbed by the uterus.
For severe intolerance, it's possible to reduce the usual 12/14 days a month but this is usually with supervision and monitoring from a doctor / specialist.