After months of living in a menopausal hell  that  I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, uncontrollable crying, deep depression, nausea, insanity---total meltdown--I'm back!!!  The real me who had a life and love and kids and friends, the me who had disappeared behind a flood of sadness and tears, has now moved back in.  I feel better than I have felt in many many months. I'm alive!!

Now , just more than a week after I started taking birth control pills,  I feel like my life is  a place where I can live again.  I can eat, I can work, I can laugh. It has been a near miraculous transformation. I really can hardly believe that a few days of hormone treatment can cause this kind of improvement!  

I know HRT is controversial. It certainly may pose health hazards.  But is it not a health hazard to be so depressed that suicide becomes a viable alternative to 24 hour suffering? Is life worth living behind a wall of tears? I think that the risks must be weighed against the benefits. For me, the benefits are already so enormous, the recovery so vast,  I am in AWE of the power of hormones.

I had lost my life worth living, and now I have it back. This is right and good. I think women should know that this stuff CAN and DOES WORK!  Birth control pills for menopausal women may be more beneficial than harmful. If  HRT allows me to lead a normal happy life, gives me joy and hope and the belief that I can survive, I conclude that the treatment has been a success!

I hope other women who read this will consider what I say.  My life has changed for the better, much much better., I have NO regrets about feeling human again. For me now, hormone therapy is all good.

I know what you mean - ERT saved my sanity!

Zelma

I was so pleassed to read your experiences with HRT,  I am not on it yet but seriously considering it in the very near future, I have been reading the wonders of natrual progestone , only to discover that it is not available here in canada. Yes I could ship it in from the USA but dont have the money to do it.  I have read of the risks of synthetic HRT, but like you feel that , if life is so bad you feel suicidal , there really is no choice. So HRT (synthetic, cause i cant afford anything else) here i come !!

Hello Jill,

I am also from Canada and I got a prescription for progesterone cream from my doctor. The pharmacy will make the progesterone cream for you.  It only costs me $20.00 Canadian.  Hope this helps!  If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

I agree that hormone therapy can work near miracles (but it does come with risks).

However, I'm not fond of synthetic birth controls pills IF a natural low-dose estrogen/progesterone would work.

It's funny how we're all so different. &nbsp;Being highly<br>sensitive to hormones, the birth control pill<br>would have me in the mental ward, on suicide<br>watch. &nbsp;

I'm so glad to read the first post in this topic. I think I am in peri and feel like sh***  My doctor put me on  Yasmine low dose birth control pills. This is my third day and I feel horrible.

You were on them for a week and said you felt better. I hope the same is true for me.

Mary Ann,

Sometimes low dose BC pills are too strong for us in menopause.  If you don't feel better, you may need to try something else.  Different combinations and strengths work for different people!

Zelma

Hi,

I'm not in meno yet. I think I'm peri (felt horrible for 6 months but still have regular periods).

I get tightness in the chest and feel like I'm having an anxiteity attack for no reason. Also depressed and don't look forward to things I used to.

Blood tests were fine, so was EKG. Woman nurse diagosed me as peri when the male doctor didn't.

4th day and don't feel any better.

Clerocks,<br> &nbsp; &nbsp; I read that in perimenopause, one third of<br>women feel worse on oral contraceptives,<br>one third feel the same and one third feel<br>worse. &nbsp;That amount of progestin would<br>make me morbidly depressed, within days.<br>

I would be interested in knowing what HRT you are on and the dosage. I am also on HRT, and although it has helped me, it did not make me feel like it did YOU! I WISH! I still have anxiety and depression, especially in the mornings.

I too have to share my experience with HRT. I am 50 years old and have resisted taking HRT (because of negative publicity). I have tried soy products, evening primrose oil, progesterone cream and vitamins. I really put up a good fight in addressing all of the sypmtom of menopause. I thought I was doing pretty good until I began to notice that I was becoming increasing reclusive (did not want to be bothered) and very anxious. I went to see my doctor and she put me on a low dose of HRT (allervert). In one week it has made all the difference in the world. As my doctor told me, oftentimes with menopause you do not know how bad you feel, until you begin to feel good. THIS IS TRUTH. Ladies, I feel terrific. It is a beautiful day here in Florida and I am on my way to the flea Market. I acturally have the energy to do this. In the past, all l wanted to do is stay in bed, watch old movies and cry. I can only say HRT has given me my life back in less than a week.

Estrace makes all the difference in the world for me! I was "losing it" fast - and when I added low dose testosterone, between the two, I feel like "me" again! To me, it is a blessing to be able to take these. Zelma

I just started HRT about 2 weeks a go. I have been waiting for that magical light swtich tht some of my freinds talk about but it hasn't happened yet for me.

I am also taking anti-depressants for severe depression. I can't say that I am out of the woods yet, but I am glad I am trying SOMETHING, because life was unbearable.

I take ativan and Tafil for the anxiety, but with the HRT I feel the anxiety slowly lessening.
Also, I'm having a breast lump biopsy done tomorrow and this could be playing into why i don't feel miraculously better.

Let's face it! I wanted to be one of those ladies who felt the change overnight! WAHWAHWAH!

I'll be sure to post when I REALLY FEEL the changes come. They can't come soon enough.

Karlar



Oh yeah, I forgot to post. I am on an HRT called Angeliq.

Karla

I started hormones about 5-6 years ago. Like alot of you, it gave me back my life. From what I read, estrogen itself should not be feared...the type of estrogen should be. June

I have read that we should take the lowest dosage for the least amount of time needed. Also you probably heard that the big study in 2002 was flawed. Another, recent study showed that women in their 40s and 50s do not have the same risks as older women. I say, if you need it, take it. I am on Prempro and I feel much better.

Me again. I've been on HRT now for one month and most of my symptoms have disappeared however, my anxiety came back again 2 days ago. If I were going to have a period, this is about the same time and I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

So far, I feel that the HRT has been a very slow improvement. I hope that in the months to come, I will feel better, but it's hard right now. We are all so different aren't we?

The depression is the worst. My doc said the HRT would help with the depression, but so far that is not the case.

Me again. I've been on HRT now for one month and most of my symptoms have disappeared however, my anxiety came back again 2 days ago. If I were going to have a period, this is about the same time and I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

So far, I feel that the HRT has been a very slow improvement. I hope that in the months to come, I will feel better, but it's hard right now. We are all so different aren't we?

The depression is the worst. My doc said the HRT would help with the depression, but so far that is not the case.



Hang in there. Now on month 4 and feel much better than first month. My GYN scheduled follow-up for 6 weeks after starting hormones. Thought that seemed too long [Wanted to feel better ASAP, like yesterday!], but must say, I only then began to really notice positive changes...

However, if you don't feel you're getting the benefits you wanted, it's always good to check in w/ your doc. We adjusted dose of prometrium a bit [added more] and now am much happier.

Best wishes to you,
new

Okay, checking back in on my journey. I posted this on another forum, but I want to
post it here, too.
Been on HRT for 2 and 1/2 months and feel much better overall.

Like Amanda previously posted, everything is better except I still have the morning depression
and anxiety. It is slowly getting better. With me, it's like 2 steps forward, 1 step back,
2 steps forward, 1 step back.

I still don't feel as good as I did before peri, but I've accepted that this is how it's going to be
for awhile until my Hormone Headbangers Party decides to quit.

On the HRT I have some side effects. They are:

1. Light bleeding (heavier than spotting) like I'm having a period, but it's not regular and
can last for two weeks.
2. Cramps
3. Headaches

None of this is a walk in the park, but I can put up with this opposed to what it was like before I went
on HRT.

I am hoping that over the months to come, i will feel better and better.
And I will be sure to post!
Karla

Okay, here's my update for anyone interested in the "journey."

I went back home for a few weeks (Washington) and saw my old doc. I told him I was feeling horrible and although I could function now and then, I really had not seen a good enough improvement. I showed him the HRT med I was taking: Angeliq.

He looked at it and said I needed a higher dosage of the estrogen. Angeliq has 1 gram. He said I needed 2 grams. He put me on Prempro.

He also changed my anti-depressant (Cymbalta 30 mg) and after 3 weeks of this new medication I am feeling better.

I know there is much controversy about HRT's, especially the kind I am taking, but life was just horrible for me and I just can't see living like this for months or perhaps years on end.

Karla

I think I've reached an age and a point in life when I want to reduce my HRT's again.
I won't see my gyn for a month but want to start now. Last time I started before I saw her.
I'm on 1 mg of Estrodiol and 2.5 mg of progesterone. Does anyone know the next lower dosage would be if I wanted to lower my overall dosage of HRT?

Hi,

I'm curious how HRT had helped you. What symptoms did they help you with? Why do you want to lower the dose? Sorry I don't have the answer for what the next lower dose would be. Do you have a doctor you could ask?

icedancer

I had such achey, weak joints after menopause that I had to stop playing my favorite sport--tennis. After taking HRT just for six months, I was able to resume playing tennis and have been for 20 years. I'm not sorry I did that at all. Also I noticed my skin stayed soft and smooth which made me look younger; I wasn't all dried out everywhere (???); I felt very positive and not down; no heart palps; no dull headaches. Just didn't feel like I was aging.

The reason I'm lowering the dose is I want to take off some of the weight put on by hormones. Plus after 20 years I doubt I'll be playing in any tennis tournaments soon. Yes I have a few doctors to discuss it with. I like getting personal opinions too though.
I've talked to the experts on here and will soon again about this. (if the joint weakness comes back on this low dose of estrodiol and progesterone, then I'll go back up)

I been on hrt now for three months and i have seen the improvement i do have a few good weeks a month now and the depression has calm down. Goodluck and hope it works out for you. lizardlover

Hi isthisme
what type of bcp's are you on?

I did decide to go back on HRT at a very low dosage. But it's unbelievable how much better I look and feel just having that little extra estrogen. I know my chances of breast cancer increases a little, but it's so little that it's worth the risk. Just living in itself is a risk in my opinion.

I am 58 and had my last period mid 04. I was a late "bloomer" at the menopause thing and my friends couldn't believe that I was still having periods! So in 05, lost our daughter in law in car accident. In 07 lost my brother in law, heart attack. same year later our grandson went in for routine allergy shot and is now in a wheelchair unable to speak or initiate movement...2 months ago my dad died...so it's been 4 years of hell...menopause didn't help!

So after 4 years of no periods I had one all of a sudden! My gyn did ultrasound and everything is ok but I have panic attacks, heart palpitations, NO ambition whatsoever. Deep depression and don't want to even be around people.

Needless to say, my husband has complained in the bedroom area also. There are days where I get up but don't even get dressed...or shower...or brush my teeth.

So,,,along comes my Dr...I told him my troubles and he suggested 1 mg Estradiol. I went on it for a month. On followup Dr visit he upped it to 2 mg. I've taken it for 2 days and can't sleep at night...I'm sure it will take a bit for my system to begin to accept this change...

What do you all think? Am I killing myself with estrogen? Oh forgot...my sister had mastectomy post menopausal...My Dr says I'm not high risk.

I NEED HELP...

Wow, you have certainly had your share of awfulness...and in such a short amount of time. You've hardly had a chance to recover from each of them.

I take Estrogel 1 mg (was at 1, then 1.5, took myself down to .75 to see how I'd do, NOT and now am back up to 1 mg). It helps a great deal with so many of my meno symptoms.
Are you taking any progesterone with it?
Also, when do you take your E?

I find that it energizes me so I do not take it at night or near bedtime. I use it in the morning but if I find I need a "bump" I will only do that mid afternoon. Any later and it effects my sleep.

c

I take it at night time. Maybe I should change that around.

I don't take progesterone...something about having a uterus? Not sure why but my Dr said no...he also doesn't believe in bioidentical hormones.

I'm just very concerned...about me.

What form of estradiol are you taking??
So, you don't have your uterus? If you don't, you do not have to take P (luckily one less thing to mess with....;-)

I don't think you're going to kill yourself with E, but you may not have any luck sleeping if you take it at night.

Switch it up and use it in the morning. You'll notice the difference right away.

In my opinion, E can be very good for you if it's used properly and for the right reasons.

Take care......

OOPS did I say I dont have a uterus...? I DO still have everything (sometimes wish I didn't)

I don't really know what kind of estradiol it is. Not sure how to find out either. I know this Dr a couple of yrs ago wanted me to go on Premarin and that's all changed. I actually had to talk him into giving me this. I felt like it's my last chance.

My regular Dr has me on everything...He put me on Zoloft which I hated...I'm on BP med, water pill and cholesterol med now...Geesh...and I hate to take medicine too. But I do already feel more pep.

But I often wonder if I should do the bio thing like all my friends but it sure sounds confusing to me.

Hi katyq,
I'm not an expert on HRT/BHRT by any means but I do know that as long as you have an intact uterus, you should NOT use estrogen by itself. You should be taking some progesterone along with it. I'm not sure why your Dr. "doesn't believe" in BHRT when he "believes" in HRT. The B route is so much better and safer than the synthetic that his bias is quite puzzling. For the record, I'm not taking either but am thinking about BHRT. Perhaps you should search around for another Dr. who DOES believe in BHRT. You might as well be taking what works better and is safer. If you haven't already done so, try asking Pete the pharmacist at Bellevue Pharmacy if he can recommend someone in your area. Good luck and keep us posted on how you do.
Jan

I went BHRT toute and the exprience was very unpleasant to tell the least, I went to another doctor, and he does not believe in BHRT either, thinking mini pill is much better for perimenopausal women that still cycle, as i do.
For what I understand, the estrogen is not major concern, the progesterone is. Natural progesterone as bioidentical, when not balanced with plenty of estrogen, can increase androgenic and mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone) hormones and this can lead to further imbalance and serious cardio vascular complications if ignored. The type of estrogen is least imporant than the type of progesterone, the best seems to be progestines that don't have androgenic proprties but offer same protection for the uterine lining.
Problem with menopause and peri-menopause, is that when estrogen starts to decline and drops dramatically, we barely need any progesterone, if no symptoms present.
The adrenals, if healthy, will take over, the liver, kidneys, fat cells will aromatize estrogen and everything should be peachy, ideally.
In reality, ovaries don't not shut down overnight, and while anxiety, hot flashes, and other nasty symtoms are due to wild fluctuations of hormones, the rest of the issues linked to estrogen difficiency, not easy to correct with ADs or BZD, supplements, vitamins, and healthy lifestyle.
I did my home work, tried to figure out why BHRT made me feel so bad, and it seems because of progesterone, that blocked the small amount of estrodiol I supplemented with, and gave me anxiety, depression, suicidal thought, fatigue, indigestion, weight gain, etc.
Now I understand why some doctors don't believe in BHRT, becase of the eash body unique ability to convert natural P into adrenal hormones, which causes majority of symptoms.
BHRT if used, it has to be at least, 2 g of estradiol for small amount of progesterone, to feel normal and prevent mental issues and vascular constriction that results in chest pain, heaviness, heavy heart beat, etc.
I read more about European HRTs, seems all formulation contain bioidentical estrodial and one of the syntetic progestines. Prometrium oral and vaginal gel are used mostly for short term, as fertility treatment, and to resolve medical conditions, as heavy bleeding, fibroids, etc.
Hardly it is used as routine and long term HRT with high rate of success.
I seem to get worse anxiety when my own progesterone spikes, as I have low estradiol when checked via blood test, once P drops, I feel much better and calmer, also more energy and less moody.
HTH,
I.

I tried everything--and I mean everything--with no good results. Then I saw a dr who put me back on plain old prempro--but with a difference. He recommended a few weeks off to clear my system (yes, it was rough!) and then going back on starting with 1/8 of a pill for a while. Raise dose by 1/8 pill every few weeks til I felt right.

Guess what--lovely on only 1/4 pill!

Hi Iradan

I don't understand what you mean when you say "BHRT if used, it has to be at least, 2 g of estradiol for small amount of progesterone, to feel normal and prevent mental issues and vascular constriction that results in chest pain, heaviness, heavy heart beat, etc.". Are you talking about an individual reaction? I've been supplementing with natural progesterone in cream form (40 mg daily on 21 days out of every 28) for over two and a half years and don't supplement with estrogen at all (although I do take phytoestrogens). I'm 21 months post now but was in the latter stages of peri when I first started using the cream. For me, it took away my anxiety, chest pains (which I think were part of the anxiety) insomnia, adrenaline surges, etc. in a way that conventional HRT (containing a bioidentical estradiol) didn't. I feel extremely well these days and have done for some time. When I first started using progesterone cream, I asked my doctor (who prescribes it) if I needed to supplement with estrogen to balance it. She said I'd have plenty of estrogen. I can only assume she's right, as I've felt so well for so long.

Just puzzled, that's all.

Wow, I can't even imagine going thru all of that! That has to still be very fresh, how truly truly tragic w/your grandson, as well...

Personally I would give it one more month w/the Estradiol, and then still if no improvement look into other possibilities. If I were you I would get possibly a book on this and/or HRT, there is alot of research out there, and perhaps you may find you answer there.

In addition, hun, you have been thru so much, does you doctor seem to think that w/all the recent stresses in your life could of brought some of this on, and if so has he offered you any help in that area.

Also, as you know being a woman, and though we tend lose that through peri (hope to regain in meno); but as women God has truly blessed us w/intuition, so if you don't feel quite comfortable w/what your doctor is telling you, then ease your mind and get a second opinion....

At any rate, I am sending your prayers, and also praying for your grandson that it is just tragic, and can't even imagine how his parents dealt w/that either... So surely praying for him too... Little ones just tug at my heart....

Estradiol can be bioidentical. It doesn't have to come from a compounding pharmacy to be bioidentical. If you don't have a uterus then you don't need to take progesterone. Some docs and women will disagree on this issue. I have my uterus, an in peri, but supplement with only E while my ovaries are still producing enough P to give me a period. I did take Prometriume (twice with horrrid side effects) and that was a bioidentical fda P from a standard pharmacy. Frankly, my attitude is that I will take whatever works for my body, be it bio, synthetic or compounded. The jury is still out on what is safer than the next. Good luck with all of this. And, yes, I am part of the club that "HRT has changed/given me back my life." Regards, JZZ

Katyq,

Estrogen will help regulate the sleep cycle, however I would not take it in the evening as it might keep you from falling asleep. If your dose it too high, it can make you anxious. Is your estradiol pill scored-if so you could possibly split it and take 1 1/2 mg. instead of 2mg. After you get the estrogen dose right, you could talk to your doctor about balancing it with some progesterone, which is available in different forms (capsules, creams). You will need to be one some form of progesterone if you still have your uterus to protect from hyperplasia of the endometrium.

We al different, I guess, my post I believe was addressed to women taking prometirum 100 or 200 mg to balance bioidentical bi-est, or something least potent in comparison to oral progesterone.
I have tried p-cream also, felt as bad as on oral progesterone. Your are one of the women whos body makes plenty of estrogen and can tolerate progesterone well, lucky you.
Every time I use any form of bioidentical progesterone, I become mental case, with anxiety, meltdowns, bad depression, muscle pain, etc.
perhaps, I am still cycling, and they way my body metabolizes progesterone into adrenal stimulating metabolite.
In any case, my expreicen is not unique but rather typical reaction to high dose prometrium in comparison to low dose estradiol.
Since you use only P-cream and feel good on it, then your body uses it for your advantage, mine was not, i first used Rx p-cream for 21 days a month, and after a month, I started bleeding every 2 weeks....
So I had to stop P-cream, then after feeling rotten still, I went on BHRT and did not have bleeding but oral and sublingual P was really poison.
Glad you have found what works for you.

I don't have a uterus and use P without E because I am still making enough E on my own to be in range. I know plenty of women can't take P but I wonder if given it in a method that would not make one dominant even more so would work for them? Still happy with my progesterone even with a somewhat bumpy road when upping the dose. Think I am all balanced out again but it takes a couple of weeks each time. I still haven't had the problems I had before taking it though. Like you I no longer have the anxiety problems, I sleep like a baby, no more adrenaline surges, no more hot flashes or sweats, no more numb tingling extremities or mouth, no more mood swings my list goes on and on.

I am so glad to hear this! I started Prempro today. I hope for a "full recovery" of my LIFE.

Good luck and please, keep us posted, on Prempro.
I.