Hi Hankypanks
Not much more that I can add which hasn't been said already. I know many of the ladies who've replied to you have been instrumental in getting me back on to the road of 'old me' again. Hope they do likewise for you
Don't let the 'normal' blood test worry you . I have found mine can range from severely deficient in estrogen to high normal depending on my body's mood. This is the joy of being in peri menopause!
From experience, I would advise you to think VERY seriously before taking Duloxetine . I learnt the hard way and believe me, it wasn't pleasant. I was prescribed it for severe nerve pain and ended up in casualty within 48 hours. Once I got used to the side effects, my body gradually accepted it and all was fine for a while. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with a hormonal cause for my pain and was told to come off the Duloxetine that the problems really began. It is really, really hard to withdrawal from it, not least because the lowest dose is 20mg so many people end up having to count the individual beads in the capsules in order to cut down gradually and avoid the horrible 'brain zaps'. Do research the withdrawal info online (also known as Cymbalta). I so wish I had done so!
I know we're all different, but I have to say I feel so much better on more natural HRT than I did on the Duloxotine or Amitriptyline as it's what my body is lacking, not an alien substance like the ADs were.
Good luck xxx