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[Renee]

Hello everyone,

I am 57 and post menopausal by about 6 years. I was on HRT but unfortunately had to stop due to a thickening of my womb (7mm)

I had to stop immediately and then had a biopsy which has now led to getting the scope and another biopsy under general anaesthetic (date to be confirmed)

I have C PTSD and have taken Sertraline for about a year which was increased 2 months ago and its not helping my hormonal depression. I stopped my HRT in July.

I feel a huge difference between menopausal depression and how I felt pre HRT and I feel awful. Had a chat with my GP yesterday and was told I can't go back on HRT until all the investigations and results are back which could be next year!

I feel a huge drop in mood at the same time daily and I'm struggling so much.

Any advice as to anything natural that can help increase whichever hormone is causing this?

Thank you
Irene x

[CeCe]

Hi Irene,

I’m sorry you are feeling so low. It’s awful. I gave up HRT about 8 months ago because of the side effects. I never found the right combination, but I haven’t ruled it out for the future. At the moment though, I feel really well and I take the following for low mood/depression.

A good vitamin B complex supplement which will help to counteract depression. The B vitamins are the ‘stress’ vitamins and B6 in particular is needed to make serotonin, the ‘anti-depressant’ brain chemical.

At least 200mg of magnesium, which is a natural tranquilliser.

1000mg linseed oil capsule. The essential fatty acids are important for healthy brain function. I take this instead of eating oily fish (I don’t like fish).

Adding some ground flaxseed to your diet and other phytoestrogens might also help. Not necessarily soya though, there are a lot of foods which contain phytoestrogens. To make life easier, concentrate on adding beans (kidney, edamame, haricot, black beans etc etc) because the isoflavones they contain seem to be the most beneficial type of phytoestrogen at the menopause. . I throw a tin or two into most things I cook.

I hope you find something to help.

Oh and don’t forget the benefits of vitamin D, supplementing over winter is always a good idea.

Best wishes,
CeCe

I hope you start feeling better soon.

[CLKD]

Morning.  Which HRT regime had you been prescribed?

I would ring the Consultant's secretary, explain your mental state since stopping HRT and ask for a date for the biopsy.  7mm isn't actually that big though 'they' like to keep the lining at around 5mm.   Have U been given a clear indication as to why you require further biopsies?

R U able to take a cancellation appt., where someone cancels and you get called at short notice?  This of course will depend on how far you live from the Hospital.

let us know how you get on.

[Renee]

Cece thank you,
I will get on and purchase the B6 as I didn't know it had those type of benefits.....sounds great!

I have Fibromyalgia and CFS, my daily vitamin regime is high dose Vitamin C and D, magnesium and Omega 3 as these help with some of the symptoms of chronic illness.

Your advice is much appreciated.
Irene 

[Renee]

CLKD thank you,

I phoned my gynaecologist secretary a few days ago and she's on holiday so I then phoned another secretary a few times but no answer then I phoned the main switchboard for the dept and was told to keep trying the numbers which I have with no success.

I had a phone appointment with my GP on Tuesday and she said to split my dose of Sertraline to see if it would help the dip of mood I get late afternoon which I am doing but I personally don't think this will help.

Cece has suggested taking B6 so I'm just away to source this as I will try anything at the moment.

Thank you so kindly.
Irene 

[CLKD]

R U on the highest dose of Sertraline?  Could you add another dose at lunch time ?

Let us know how you get on. 

[pastie supper]

I had to come off HRT to go on a waiting list for tests too. It's very frustrating when we know menopause is time sensitive, keep us waiting long enough and we might just go away not needing the service any more 

I'd echo what cece said, plus black cohosh is good for classic menopause symptoms for me and I've heard other people say red clover helps them. I'd include depression as a classic menopause symptom.

I talked on the phone with my GP about how I was suddenly feeling suicidal and she was very defensive saying it wasn't caused by the HRT she had given me.
Whatever.
I was on sertraline, but had fluoxetine previously so I asked to get back on that, that helped me because they won't prescribe above the minimum dose for some reason, the only way to get a change is to switch brands. I asked for venlafaxine because it helps hot flushes which I suffer greatly from, but she refused because it was better to go with something we knew worked for my depression.

Good luck with your tests. 7mm isn't alarming, it's just a bit over the limit and they are mandated to run tests for you, but chances are it'll be fine.

And as clukd referred to, the squeaky wheel is first to get oiled, making a fuss can work to get you seen sooner than quieter more patient patients 

[Dotty]

Hi I had a lining measurement of11mm and had to have a hysteroscopy. I didn’t stop hrt. I wasn’t told to and there was no way I was stopping it. x

[sheila99]

7mm isn't frightening, they say it should be under 4 but 5 acceptable if on hrt (assume this was conti not sequi as it can be 16mm if measured before a bleed). Unless there are other health issues you could increase the progesterone. You don't say what you're on it's a known strategy to take 200mg utro daily instead of 100.

[Renee]

Hello everyone,

I so appreciate your helpful advice.

I am currently taking 150mg Sertraline, I was on 100mg pre scan then after stopping HRT abruptly which I was told to do I have been advised to increase Sertraline twice and it has never helped with this sudden black cloud that appears late afternoon.

I was on Evorel 50 patches with Utrogestan 100mg and felt great then started getting breakthrough bleeding and heavy bleeding after sex, then a scan which confirmed a 7mm thickness of my womb. My GP phoned me the same day I had my scan telling me to stop my HRT regime and within 3 weeks I felt the dark cloud.

From yesterday I have managed to get through to my gynaecology dept and awaiting phone call from the gynaecologist as I have no date for the camera and the second biopsy (first one wasn't very successful as she couldn't get enough biopsy from my womb after trying twice!)

This has truly opened my eyes to the difference between hormonal depression and other types of depression.
Thank you so much.
Irene 

[pastie supper]

Renee, how are you feeling now? Have you had any improvement?

Other women are given tibolone when they can't have the OE&P type HRT for various reasons.

Ime it works OK, I still got night sweats while switched to it, but I felt very much brighter in my mood than any other HRT, it gave me energy and maintained my libido too! I think it's probably worth being sweaty in order to still have the desire to get sweaty, lol.

It is known for not building up the womb lining as much as other HRTs, so it could be suitable for you, worth asking if you're still feeling very down.

[Grheliz1]

Could you ask if having a Mirena coil inserted for the progesterone could be tried, meaning you could go back to having a lowish dose of oestrogen?

I have had over three years of investigations for bleeding/polyps/hyperplasia, leading, ultimately, to a total hysterectomy. I have never stopped HRT in the whole period, switching from utrogestan to the Mirena.

Ultimately it never quite did the trick in getting rid of my atypical hyperplasia cells, but it gave me breathing space. The Mirena stopped the bleeding almost immediately.

If you say that the effects on your health and mental health of not being on HRT are now, you feel, outweighing the possible risk, perhaps the gynaecologist would let you try?

I made it clear to every specialist and other doctor I saw that I couldn't continue to work and look after my ailing parents without a good night's sleep, which HRT provided. I told them I drove up motorways in all weathers and times of night and it wasn't safe. I also explained that my work depends upon me having mental clarity and I couldn't afford not to work.

They were always very sympathetic.