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[Hola Lolly]

Hola from Lolly!

I think we are in a viscious circle with meno.  I was one of the many who didn't put 2 and 2 together and was frustratingly treated for anxiety as a principle diagnosis for over a year.  I tried various different preparations of anti-depressant which didn't make me feel at all better. 
It's been an interesting journey, and the penny finally dropped when my symptoms started to resemble pregnancy nausea.  I asked my GP if meno could be making me feel so bad and he guffawed and said absolutely not.  He also said that HRT is only effective for hot flushes and for no other menopausal symptoms. 
I find a beta blocker in the morning a great help generally as an adjunct to HRT and look forward to reaping the benefits of the Oestrogel /Utrogestan regime.  This is coming from someone who works in the medical profession who refused to take an aspirin for a headache before all this started!
I do think you will find light at the end of the tunnel, but hormonal fluctuations can be an enormous challenge to even the most robust individuals. 
Two years ago, I didn't think I'd ever work again as I felt so bad, but now I've changed my working day to start later and things are becoming a lot easier.  Baby steps....

[EllaM]

Hi Dangermouse and Hola Lolly. Having an absolutely awful day today, feel dreadful, crashed on couch! Presume there is a surge/fluctuation going on as have been here before. It's just so debilitating and frightening.
Like you Lolly I was a very robust fitness fanatic who never sat still and would not take even a paracetamol but this has reduced me to a tiny shadow of my former self. I only wish we all knew how long the tunnel was which might help.
When I think about how little true help there is to help improve the quality of our lives I could scream 

[CLKD]

   all round!

[EllaM]

Thankyou so much CLKD. I love a good hug, if only they could magically make you better x

[CLKD]

They don't always though do they  ………

[Hola Lolly]

Hello
I assume you're not on any type of HRT at present. Is that right?
If that's the case, I was wondering if you might ask your GP to prescribe the oestrogel/utrogestan combo before seeing the consultant?
After reading all the posts in this forum and from personal experience, it would seem that this combo is the gold standard for treating difficult meno symptoms. Not ideal for everyone I know, but a great place to start especially as you are feeling very low. The longer we feel ill,  the more anxious and panicky we become, wondering if we'll ever get our old selves back.
I get all my treatment under the NHS, and that includes Testogel. 
If anxiety is playing any part in your symptoms, I would wholeheartedly recommend propranolol, a beta blocker which is great for making you feel more relaxed.  I take 40 mg every morning, and have done for months.  For me, the hormonal surges of peri bring on symptoms of anxiety and the BB's go a long way to easing that.  I don't think I'll be on them forever, but symptom control meantime is essential.
I wish I had taken BB's and the O/U combo right from the outset instead of struggling with SSRI anti-depressants, which did me no good at all.  I am back to work full time now which is great. 
I know what you mean about having good days and crashes.  The above regime gives me infinitely more good days, and I'd hate to go back to where you are now. It gets better!!! Xx

[Hurdity]

Hola Lolly - EllaM just explained in her post below that she is on Estradot75 mcg and utrogestan - which is what I asked ie if she was on HRT!

In your position EllaM if you are feeling that bad on the progesterone part I would be tempted to try the Mirena as the doc suggests and hope that you are not ultra sensitive to the very small amount that is absorbed systemically - many women do well on this. You could then perhaps very your oestrogen dose or at least then be less at the mercy of all the fluctuations that you are finding so debilitating.

Are your thyroid levels well controlled?

Hurdity x

[EllaM]

Hi Hurdity, my thyroid levels are good. When everyone thought the cause of my problems was thyroid related I did a lot of reading up and saw a private endocrinologist so know to keep my tsh level as low as possible.
Apart from the Mirena I'm also thinking about the pill to stop ovulation although being over 50 this may not be an option.
I really start to feel grotty from the end of week one of my cycle and often feel awful at mid cycle which suggests that it's the rising or fluctuating estrogen that is the cause. The added complication of the utrogestan, despite taking it vaginally, often does not help although some months are better than others. Lots of thinking and lots of questions to jot down before I see the consultant.
Thank you everyone for your much needed advice and support xx

[Hola Lolly]

Hello EllaM
Sincere apologies for my latest ramblings above. I completely missed your post about your HRT regime. 

I do really feel for you and the minefield you're going through just now.  I hope you have better times ahead. 

[EllaM]

Hi Lolly and no need to apologise.
I too hope things improve for all of us. Just wish it would happen now as it's so very hard to keep going xx