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Author Topic: How did you cope? Need ideas  (Read 2551 times)

Lizab

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How did you cope? Need ideas
« on: January 08, 2016, 04:49:01 PM »

How did you cope with your symptoms while waiting for your meds (hrt or ad) to take effect?
I am struggling with low mood, fatigue, and general laziness peppered with adrenaline rushes/anxiety attacks. I feel raw. I don't know how to get past these feelings when they come over me. I'm frustrated with all the waiting. First my gp thought to adjust my thyroid med, which meant waiting a couple months to see how that went. Well, it was a bad guess, so another several weeks to get that back in order. Now, I've started estradiol patches 2 weeks ago, and I'll add in 10 days of progesterone next week. So I'm still settling in with hrt.
Any tips on how to function with day to day symptoms while I wait?
Editing to add: The reason we went with hrt over antidepressants is because the crazy moods came out of nowhere in my second long spell of skipped periods after years of period troubles. We hope hormone adjustment will help.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2016, 04:54:49 PM by Lizab »
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CLKD

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  • changes can be scary, even when we want them
Re: How did you cope? Need ideas
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2016, 05:29:32 PM »

There are several ladies with associated thyroid problems.  Hopefully 1/some will be along.

I try to take no more than half a day at a time.  Deep breathing can help.  Rescue remedy?
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Hurdity

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Re: How did you cope? Need ideas
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2016, 05:31:21 PM »

Hi Lizab Sorry to hear about your symptoms. have you read the article on peri-menopause on this site:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php

re coping with symptoms - there are all sorts fo technisues that women use to help with flushes, sweats, and anxiety!

here's some info about the physical side of things:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/physical.php

and the psychological:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/psychological.php

Also there are sites like nomorepanic that deals with anxiety:
http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/

Some techniques to make you happier (allegedly!) here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/these-two-minute-daily-habits-will-make-you-happier-immediately-researchers-say-10364823.html


Whereabouts are you in menopause eg re periods etc - how have they been over the past year or two? What dose patches have you been given?

Hopefully you will begin to feel better very soon!

Hurdity  x

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dazned

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Re: How did you cope? Need ideas
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2016, 05:39:17 PM »

Also to add to what others have said,I don't know the exact science but hrt and thyroid meds do have some sort of interaction so please be aware of this and get your levels checked regularly especially at the start of settling on your hrt.
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Lizab

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Re: How did you cope? Need ideas
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2016, 05:44:23 PM »

I believe I am in late transition, as I have had a few periods in the last year (after a few years of short cycles, heavy periods, and extended bleeds), but my fsh recently tested at 101, so the doctor said although I may have a random period on my own, he considers me post-menopausal. I am on .375 estrogen patches and my progesterone will be 200/night orally for 10 days. I tolerated all the obnoxious bleeding, associated anemia, hot flashes and night sweats, and shook it off and carried on. Bit thhis emotional rawness that set in when the periods stopped is knocking me down.
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Hurdity

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Re: How did you cope? Need ideas
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2016, 05:48:42 PM »

Hopefully you will begin to feel better very soon. Also you may well want to go for a 50 mcg patch which is the standard late-peri/post-menopausal dose used for combi patches and should be suffucient to eliminate all flushes and help boost mood hopefully! Have you noticed a reduction in the frequency of flushes and sweats yet?

Hurdity x
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Lizab

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Re: How did you cope? Need ideas
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2016, 05:58:04 PM »

I haven't really, perhaps for a couple of days during the first week, but I don't feel any different now. That's where the frustration with waiting comes in. I know I need to watch and wait before boosting my estrogen too quickly, but I feel like I'm wasting time on this dose. I think I need reassurance from those more experienced that these months will pass and I will be normal again.
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