Totally Confused!

Hi - I am new to this board, but am posting in desperation! I had a full hystorectomy almost five years ago. I have been on HRT, four different types, for five years & I still don't feel good. I have night sweats, and horrible anxiety attacks in the night. I simply don't know what a full nights sleep is anymore. I have gained 15 pounds and the weight still keeps coming no matter what I do.

I have a friend that gets her HRT from a compounding pharmacy. She has the same symptoms I do and so I don't know that she's any better off, and she pays big bucks to be in the same spot I am.

I am sooooo confused. I just want to feel like myself again. I would appreciate any kind advise!

Hello and

I am so happy you joined us, and we will certainly try our best to be of assistance to you.

There is a wonderful book in the Hyster Sisters Store called "The Estrogen Answer Book" by Ruth Jacobowitz. It has been invaluable to me in my own study of the role of estrogen, and to learn about different HRT options available. I highly recommend it. There are also many, many informative articles on this site on the same topic. Have you explored our Resources library? It's excellent!

Trazodone has really helped me get a better nights sleep. Waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety was a big problem for me when my surgical menopause commenced. Have you discussed this symptom with your doctor? If so, what does he or she say?

It would help us to help you if you would "edit your profle" to include your bio, city of residence, date of birth, occupation, etc. I think it would result in you getting more comprehensive replies from the site members.

Many s and Best Wishes to You!

Hi

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble finding HRT that works for you.

Could you tell us what you've tried so far that hasn't worked and for how long you used it and what the dose was? What are you using now?

s

Thank you for responding to my post. I updated my profile, hope I did it right?! I am currently on Estratest HS (6.25). I tried the Climara patch, but my skin couldn't take it. I was on a plant based tablet (can't remember the name of it - another symptom!) which wasn't bad, but I was losing muscle tone and had no energy, so I ended up on Estratest. My doctor tried to increase the strength on the Estratest, but I gained more weight and my voice changed so I went back to the lower dose.

I wrote down the book title and the Trazodone ( I don't want to forget - Ha!) I have an appointment with my Family Practice Doc.
She seems to listen to me better than my OBGYN. I will talk to her about the 3AM anxiety attacks. It is nice to know that I'm not NUTS! That other people have some of the same symptoms.

I have a question, if you can answer it. I have a girlfriend who swears by Progesterone cream & says it would solve all my problems. I asked my OBGYN and she said it would be a waste of money, that progesterone is a uterus protectant and since I don't have one....I don't need it. Any input on this?

Thanks!

Hi again

Progesterone is one of those hormones that we either love or hate. I happen to do well with it as a part of my HRT, but others here have tried it and don't like it at all. You can find out more about Progesterone and other hormones by reading the Hormone Article List.

By clicking on Resources near the top of the page you can go to the Hormone Jungle category and find more information or do a search with your own search terms near the bottom of the main page of Resources.

Progesterone has been a topic of discussion here lately. To read what has already been discussed, just type in Progesterone in the search box on this page!

s

p.s. - on the update!

HI and welcome also,

Your member name sounds so much like me when I first found this web-site that I wanted to respond to your progesterone question.

I too suffered from high anxiety after my surgery and was told the same thing about the "no uterus" "no progesterone"

I want to share that while not all women do well with progesterone creme some do. I know it is called the "calming hormone" because that is what is does.

I started having panic attacks and major insomnia after my hyster and I tried several different estrogens which never seemed to completely help. I found a doctor that believes we should replace all the missing hormones we use to have and once I started using the progesterone creme I started sleeping like a baby almost immediately. The panic attacks stopped and my anxiety was back to normal.

I am a true believer in it. I think it is worth researching and see if it might help you. I did try the kind from Wal-mart first and I did start to feel better, however it wasn't strong enough and I went the compounded route.
Take care

Hello Again!

You did an excellent job of "editing your profile!"

I think you are wise to work with your family physician on your quest to become hormonally balanced. "The big picture" is so important, I believe, in this effort, and your family doctor knows the whole you, not just your female reproductive system.

I, too, took Estratest HS. I started out on it, but it wasn't "strong enough" for me. I went to the full-strength Estratest, but still had problems because the estrogen level was not high enough. I feel the best I have in ages after my doctor and I decided to add more esterified estrogens, in the form of Menest (generic version of Estratab.)

I believe that doctors appointments are most productive when the patient goes into them with their "reseach in hand." I'm happy to hear that you are writing things down, and are preparing for your encounter with your doctor. I think it makes it easier for them to help you, if you demonstrate that you are knowledgeable and are working to be their "partner" in your journey to good health.

Let us know what your doctor says!

I actually found myself waking up around the same time every am with the pounding heart rate when I took the estratest. For me, the lower estrogn and higer testo made me have more anxiety. At first I thought it was because I took the pill at night but even after switching times, I still had the reactive anxiety action.

Hi Sweetryn!

Thanks for responding to my post. Did you ever find a solution to your HRT problem? I would love to know.

Thanks!