HRT-Feeling lost in myself

[Pinotgirl18]

Hi all, just looking for others experience and advice! Feeling a bit lost in myself at the moment. I have been on HRT since February 2026, started off 2 pumps but now on 4 pumps daily.
I just feel completely lost in myself and overwhelmed and anxious daily.
So much so I have handed my notice in at work as I just don't feel I can cope with the stress of the job and deadlines.
When does things get easier and you feel like yourself again.

That's pretty extreme.

Have you talked to your GP or considered seeing a menopause specialist?

There are many types of hrt and doses so maybe all it needs to swapping to a different sort.

Have you explored other types of HRT?

Which progesterone are you using?
Have you considered a change? Tablets or patches?
Have you spoken to your GP about this?

You may be one of the women who doesn't absorb gel very well.

Are you doing other lifestyle things to help other than HRT?
Diet, exercise, sleep etc?

Not a Dr. but I think it's the combination of progesterone + gel which is the key.

Where are you in terms of peri/meno and what progesterone are you taking?

It may seem extreme, but I honestly cannot cope with a stressful job. Yes I have spoken to my GP and menopause specialist. They agreed to up my dosage, and because how anxious they thought it was good that I was brave enough to hand my notice in and concentrate on my well being.
I am taking daily tablets of Sylnd,
Yes I am very active walking the dog twice a day, eating healthy, 1 coffee a day, alcohol only at weekends. I am not looking for criticism, I am looking for advice from others who feel similar.

I am 47 years old, so been suffering for a few years. I am taking Slynd tablets daily with 4 pumps. I just feel emotional and exhausted all the time.

I feel similar although I can't afford to give up work. Sorely tempted though!

It hasn't been an easy decision, because I used to love my job. The last 6 months I have really struggled with it all unfortunately. I am hoping time away I can sort my head out and get back out there.

Maybe Slynd isn't suiting you.

There are many other options for progesterone- you're on the off-licence mini pill that can be used with HRT.

Have the drs you've seen not suggested changing?

There is micronised progesterone, the Mirena coil, patches with Norethisterone, another body-identical progesterone called Nalvee ( it's dydrogesterone) .

You really should have been advised /prescribed a different type to see if it helps not just upping the estrogen.

Are you seeing a menopause specialist privately or one at your GP practice?

From what you've posted they are not offering you any options - which they ought to. You usually try 3 months of one sort of HRT and then switch if it's not suiting.

One example which I had privately was to use only estrogen for several weeks (in peri) to establish the right dose for my symptoms, then introduce a progesterone and see if I tolerated that.

You need more expert help, I'm afraid, and you're not being offered it.
My advice is that after 4 months you need to ask to try a different progesterone.

I'm interested in why you were given Slynd as it's not a first choice unless you said you needed contraception as well and they offered it as a do-it-all.

Nobody is criticising. The more holistic the info you give, the more likely someone will be able to help rather than offering a dozen suggestions for things you're already doing.

I agree with PP that your doc should be trying you on different types of progesterone, and different administration routes for both progesterone and oestrogen.

Yes, it wasn't a criticism @Pinotgirl18

Posters are trying to help.

If you had said you took no exercise, drank 5 bottles of wine a week, were 2 stone overweight and lived off UPF, that would have been relevant.

Lifestyle is very important along with HRT in terms of helping menopausal symptoms.

The NICE and BMS menopause guidance says specifically to consider changing progesterone if symptoms are not improving. Hopefully you can talk to your GP about this and consider ahead of the appt which you might like to try.

I got sensetive to caffeine about 2 maybe 3 years ago before I started noticing anything else im 42 ,I have anxiety anyway but it was way worse with caffeine ,now I get anxious a week before periods ,but i avoid caffeine, maybe try cutting caffeine out for a week or 2 see of there's any difference in how you feel ,I k ow exactly how you feel ,you're not alone ,it's like you can feel absolutely fine then a switch is turned on and in comes anxiety ,it's so strange also scary at times ,and I also get easily overwhelmed and motivation isn't there when I need it ,I have a mountain of washing to do but then it's the putting it in ,waiting, putting it out ,waiting ,brining it in, folding,everything is just too much ,I've also got 3 cats ones fine at 10 Yr, ones got kidney disease 8yr ,and ones 19 and it's hard work eveything seems so hard.

@Pinotgirl18

Have you had a blood test recently, and if so what was your ferritin & blood iron level?

Anaemia (low iron) impacts your whole body, as everything struggles to work without iron, including your brain. When I get particularly anaemic, I have zero resilience, cannot cope/heart races/burst into tears. Definitely investigate this x

This is me at the moment. I feel tired and anxious all the time, legs ache. I’m on 3 sprays and 1 x 100mg of progesterone (lowered from 200mg) plus testosterone.

Hi no I havent had a blood test, I will ask for this next time I see the doctor, thank you.

Great - 2 Just as an add on, my ferritin has been low at around 19 for years. Gp just says take supplements but they make me hideously constipated. After advice on this wonderful forum, I’m going to get a private iron infusion next week and hopefully sort it out finally x

Hi have they looked at other causes such as vitamin deficiencies, under active thyroid etc. we tend to blame everything on menopause but it could be something else as well.
I was very low in my vitamin D and iron levels. I was on prescription high dose of both for a while and now just take over counter medication. Low iron can cause tiredness, anxiety , memory loss and vitamin D deficiency makes you feel so low. That and HRT I feel totally different. Human and functioning again !!

Get them to check your thyroid too. When I had mine checked two years ago, I had borderline hypothyroidism and have been put on tablets.

An under- or overactive thyroid can affect you quite a lot physically and mentally.

Good luck. I hope you find some answers. I’ve really struggled with a tough new job (which I started two years ago when was I was 58). Although it’s OK now, the effects of menopause are having quite a significant affect on my life. I tried HRT but it was a disaster.

Hi I have been having an atrocious time, it affected me so badly psychologically.and physically. I am now on evarol patches 50 and utrogestan progesterone tablet 100mg and I am slowly starting to feel like myself after a very long time.

Hi I have been having an atrocious time, it affected me so badly psychologically.and physically. I am now on evarol patches 50 and utrogestan progesterone tablet 100mg and I am slowly starting to feel like myself after a very long time.