Hi Everyone, Newbie here and forums are not my usual MO, so please bear with me if I don't know the protocols.
I'm 50 and 3yrs into HRT to ease peri symptoms, following severe (like it isn't sever enough!) PMDD following having kids. Started getting worse 4 years ago, then the PMDD didn't seem to stop, with what was 1 week of sanity every month, reduced to a couple of days here and there. Anger, dysphoria, memory issues, lack of focus at work... blah, blah..
My GP (hormone specialist luckily) suggested it was probably being exacerbated by being peri-men. So suggested HRT. We started on cyclical, estra patches, utrogestan 200mg for the last 2 weeks of cycle. This didn't work very well, as could sense the patches not working to the end of their lifespan and progesterone has always been an issue for me, with my main problems being in the prog part of my cycle. So we tried Estragel, 2 pumps and continuous Utro, 1 per day throughout, as my GP thought that while I wasn't menopausal, the stability of continuous would help me regain some quality of life.
This did work for a while, although lacked libido and general drive. So we looked at testosterone, which also helped for a while. Although I stopped as I started to get unwanted hair (tho did feel more amorous. lol!)
I still get breakthrough bleeds occasionally and I'm premenstrual before hand, with sore breasts, anger, depression etc. These are quite random. but probably every 2-3months.
I'm here because I'm in absolute bits atm. For the last couple of months I feel like I did before I started any HRT. With serious depression and anger, tears, inability to cope. It's making me drink more to block it out. I have a family and a new promotion, which I have pressure to show I'm worthy of... Urgh. My partner doesn't work.
I'm resentful, frustrated and seriously feel like I'm gonna f*ck it all up, including my 30yr relationship.
I think I know the answer, but I guess I'm just looking for confirmation.... Does it sound like my dosages need adjusting, or maybe I'm getting closer to actual menopause?
I can't tell which hormone is dominant in this issue, to try and balance the dosage out. Sore breasts, irrritability etc, all symptoms of both high prog or est?
Thanks for reading my garbled nonsense.
Alice. xxx