Hello Ladies,
Sorry, long read but hoping you can share some of your wisdom / experiences.
Firstly, several months reading your posts and realising I'm not going mad - thank you. I'm 46 years old, I started HRT 12 weeks ago (Oestrogel 2-3 pumps and I've had the Mirena coil for a number of years now).
5 days after my A-Z vaccine and the peri symptoms started to switch on one by one over a 3 week period; tinnitus, dizziness, brain fog, night sweats, onset of allergies, dry skin and the main one being crippling anxiety and palpations. I'd never suffered from anxiety (other than the usual nervous tension most people get before a driving test of something), it was like a complete personality change and very scary for me and the family. I had my first panic attack during this time, although I didn't realise it was a panic attack, and thought I was slowly dying. It's been hell. Following a number of visits to A&E, GP and numerous blood tests / ECG's to all come back fine. I was prescribed various meds including Ad's and Propranolol which I did use for a few weeks and they helped take the edge off and I had, and still have, weekly CBT sessions via my works health insurance, which has helped from a day to day, but no amount of mantra's or breathing techniques removes the fear when in midst panic.
I cant' remember the point when I considered this could be perimenopause, but at the same time I was prescribed the AD's, hence I did not start these until I explored HRT having read that Ad's do not help hormonal triggered anxiety. I'd not suffered PMS before. I had no idea hormones could do this to you. I'm ashamed to say, I thought it was all hot flushes, irregular periods (I have the Mirena and no periods) and more ranting at the kids / hubby. In hindsight and after research I had subtle signs last year. I decided to go private in the end as while my GP eventually agreed it could be perimenopause, knowledge was limited and they asked me to do the research and advise what I wanted. I had no idea, and getting appointments would of added further delays to get treatment. My bloods showed low oestrogen (123?) although this showed normal when taken at the GP's - in fairness, my GP did say it was likely to come back normal, and they would base it on symptoms.
12 weeks on and I'm struggling and very confused. I've had a few good weeks, but I'm not there yet, it's been hit and miss. I've recently started to get the anxiety back and this has resulted in panic attacks, more than before with what I think are severe PMS symptoms (sore boobs, rage, headaches and intense tension, chest pain with palpitations) and started to bleed, but I'm sleeping ok, and other symptoms of low oestrogen have not reappeared, so now I'm thinking I may have high oestrogen / unbalanced with other hormones as it feels different, although I get moments when it feels like it's low oestrogen. When I increase, it makes me feels worse, like I'm having a surge. dropping back helps, but a few days in I feel the low E symptoms start. Not sure what is going on. I have contacted my clinic and had more bloods, now waiting for the results. I felt quite poorly last night, very tired, very sore breasts, racing heart and very anxious with the physical symptoms (tingly skin, chest pain etc). Last night I decided not to use the gel and this morning I just feel jittery, bit heady, but calmer than last night.
To add to the mix, I may have been caught up in the estrogel / Oestrogel debacle that's been in the press. I started to feel like this 4 days after starting my new pump, which is the one in question and could be this type / batch is not suited to me. My NHS GP prescribed sandrena over the phone when I was going through the GP and having a meltdown moment, but after bleeding on day 2 and not being able to speak to the GP for 2 weeks, I stopped it - another reason I went private but I still have these in the drawer and wondered whether I should use this in the meantime
Any advice or similar experiences shared would be appreciated. I'm not sure whether to continue with the gel or stop and wait until i speak with the meno GP.
Thanks in advance..
Terri.
