I need my head examined!!! I decided to go with a lower dose bcp for cost reasons and now I am paying an even greater price for such a stupid decision!!

I have ALL the symptoms of low estrogen and I am paying dearly!!!

It never even occurred to me until Floater pointed it out. Then I realized I have been having ALL the horrid symptoms!!

I've sat here like an idiot for WEEKS, wondering why I feel so horrid.

HORRIBLE NON-STOP HEADACHES
DEPRESSION
ANXIETY
WEIGHT GAIN
FLUID RETENTION
YOU NAME IT, I'VE GOT IT

Yes, I'm very angry with myself cause now it's gonna take precious TIME to get back to where I was before!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

I have also had an extremely unnerving loss of sense of smell.

I never thought it was sinus related, but I began treating it as a sinus problem.

Nothing!! If I smell anything at all it's only for VERY brief periods, like seconds!!

On more than one occasion, while driving down the road, everyone hollers, "OH YUCK, IT'S A SKUNK!!" I could smell NOTHING!! Not even the slightest hint!!

I am totally frustrated!!!

To h*** with low estrogen!!!

HEY TW YOUR NOT STUPID!!!! IT COULD BE THE LOW ESTROGEN THOUGH. SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BUMP DOSE UP. AND HOW IS YOUR SMELLING SENSES IS IT STILL THAT BAD? HUGS TERRY

Terry, I am EXTREMELY irritated with myself! I have felt horrid for more than a few weeks now and it never even occurred to me that I was low on estrogen. I'm even more angry that it's going to take a while to get my levels back up to where they should be.

I just now flushed my sinues, which I have been doing twice daily for a week or more now and I STILL cannot smell!!

I love the smell of cinnamon and I cannot catch even the slightest whiff of it!! I can't even smell a stinking skunk!!

Seems very minor doesn't it?? And it is compared to what others are living with, but right now....... at this moment, I want my sense of smell back!!

GRRRRRRRRRR!!!! I'm a walking time bomb too!!!

Oh joy!!!

Listen, I'm so sorry! I am not acting like a lady and I feel nothing like one either! I feel like an old, worn out hag, which is what I never wanted to be. I never wanted to be a mean old grouch, but that is what I have become.

I sincerely apologize!

Aww, TW!! We all get frustrated and angry!! Hormones themselves make us more volitile! Or lack thereof! Or being hormonally out of balance! And everyone understands how terrible it is to have felt better, and then went backwards. Forgive yourself, and move on. This wasn't the right choice for you, but how did you know this? You didn't, until you tried it. Now you know....so....go back on the other pills. Sure it may take a little while to get back where you were, but at least you KNOW you will get there!!! You have something to look forward to.

In the meantime, do not beat yourself up. Use your ativan if you need to, to keep you calm. Just remember, better times are acoming!!

TW YOU ARE NOT A OLD HAG WE ARE I GET IRRATATED AT MYSELF ALL THE TIME. AT THIS TIME OF OUR LIFE WE WANT TO FEEL YOUNG LOOK YOUNG ANDWE ARE JUST REALIZING WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. I SOMETIMES FORGET I AM 50 AND DO SOME CRAZY THINGS THAT I PAY FOR LATER LOL. BE GOOD TO YOURSELF WE LOVE YOU. HUGS TERRY

TW:

dont worry about it! You are a lady and like the others said, WE ALL GET IRRITATED SOMETIMES.

I am sorry this happened to you.

Hugs to you and Happy New Year.

I SCREWED UP DIDN'T MEAN TO WRITE WE ARE I MEANT WE ALL GET IRRATATED AT TIMES.

TW I cannot imagine not being able to smell. Did you go to your doc about it? Maybe there is a simple treatment for that. Or perhaps rule out something like a nasal polyp. It seems like a long time to go without smelling stuff. I would probably go nuts

Thanks for the encouragement! You all are great!

Terry if you only knew how angry I was today, not only with myself, but with the whole freakin world, you would call me an old hag too.

I didn't want to see anyone today, but I told my son I would come and take Rebecca and get her out of the house so her mommy could get some rest.

I also took my dad, which was a nightmare. I didn't want to be near him. I was irritated with everything he did and everything he said.

I'm sure I'll catch some grief over saying that!

I feel like such a fool!

Kathie, I did take an Ativan today and I wanted to take the entire bottle too!

Please not this again!!!

Thanks for the rant!! I feel better already!

Thank you stitchnanny! I was beyond irritated, I felt like a raving lunatic and the only place I have to express myself is on here and then I feel even more ridiculous!

Happy New Year to you too,

bev

bchgirl, It can be very frustrating, although, I can smell sometimes, so I grab those moments as quickly as I can. It's very strange.

Bev - honey...this too shall pass...be as nice to yourself.... as you would with any one of us!

Crazy, I find that VERY hard to do.

I was doing so well. This was like a slap in the face.

Crazy, I find that VERY hard to do.

I was doing so well. This was like a slap in the face.

Crazy, I find that VERY hard to do.

I was doing so well. This was like a slap in the face.

Guess I made my point.

Just had to mention... my aunt lost her sense of smell right after using zicam. She's never had any trouble using it before. but then, one time, that was it... no more sense of smell. I had heard a report about law suits against the company, so did some research and found lots of people blaming that product. Of course, it might just be another peri symptom... but just sayin'. Hope the problem goes away for you... it must be awful

It must be horrible to lose your sense of smell as it would also affect your sense of taste too. Can't even grab for the choccies for comfort

Hope you're feeling better.

Dear T.W

Do not beat yourself up.I too tried to play the hero by going off HRT cold turkey-which by the way no Gyno. ever advised me not to do!Well I paid the price.Just like you felt very irritated,phobic and just "Off"

It took me quite a while to get back to where I once was but am telling you girl I will never do it again.I also suffered from a very bad sinus infection with no smell and now have a hightened sense of smell!

We cant win

But it is o.k. friend
You have learned what works for you so go easy on yourself .You are amongst friends
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

I hope by now that you are no longer angry with yourself. It is great to know that there is someone else that can do something "stupid". Back in May of '05 after 25 years of getting my teaching degree. June of '05 I was diagnosed with cancer. I had immediate surgery, but was told that I'd be instant menopause. I took myself on and off my AD's for various reasons. I am hopefully at the stage of fully accepting the idea that I will need to take medication for the rest of my life, but I have had to accept the fact that as I change my medication will change also.
Life stinks!

((((TW)))) Sometimes the most obvious things - you know the kind - the ones that are as plain as the nose on yer face are hard for us to see. It's okay...you will feel better again. We love you TW...hang in there.

Suz

Suz and historymom,

I am over that hurdle and doing much better.

Thank you all very much for putting up with me.

It helps tremendously to come here and act look like a total idiot, which is how I feel during those times.