Depression and no HRT

I am curious to know how many of you ladies who are not taking HRT for whatever reason or who are trying alternatives are having problems with depression. This seems to be my worst symptom since surgery. I can deal with hot flashes and all the rest but the depression is killer. So far, none of the numerous types of HRT have resulted in any long term help for my depression. I will feel better for a while, and then I will feel depressed again, no energy, total brain fog. I am considering going off HRT altogether. I really don't want to have to take an antidepressant, as I haven't had much success with them in the past either. Sometimes I wonder if these hormones aren't actually causing the depression.

Any ideas or input would be appreciated.

Hi Carol,

My family is just now discovering that wheat intolerance and celiac disease can cause depression. Have you been screened for those? My DD is a new person since we took wheat out of her diet....

just a thought. I hope you find relief.

I have had these moods on and off hrt, so I am not certain what is the cause or maybe what was lost from the surgery if that is the case.

I have found help with exercise, the kind that get's your heart rate up just enough where you are breathing a little harder than normal, but not exhausing yourself for at least 30 min. 3 to 4 times a week. If you can do some fast walking some everyday that may even work better than just a couple of times a week.

When I feel the sad mood coming I like to drink this herbal tea St. John's Good Mood by Traditional Medicinals. Please do not take if you are already on perscription drugs for depression. I would check with dr to see if it is okay for you to take this with any medicines you are currently taking.

Do you notice if the depression is less when you take more estrogen? I think sometimes too little can cause a problem, and you might talk to your dr about it as well.

s

I seems like the more estrogen I'm on, the worse I am depression wise. When I was on only .5 of estradiol orally a day, I was less depressed. It wasn't enough to help my symptoms though so I increased to 1 mg and got that foggy "dead head" feeling again.

I recently decided to try to give a patch a try again because I am concerned about oral estrogen and blood clots, etc. I had some Climara patches from before so I cut them in half and tried half of a .1 mg patch. For 2-3 days, I felt fantastic. It was like somebody turned the lights on. I felt completely normal and energized and just wonderful. Then I got all foggy again, moody, depressed, didn't want to do anything. When I applied a new patch, I didn't get the same good effect as before either. For the life of me, I can't figure out what is going on or what I need. I'm so sick of all of this I could scream. I took the patch off yesterday and the fog has lifted but now I'm back to not knowing what to do.

Are you still off HRT? How are you doing overall? I have an appt with my GYN on the 30th. He wants to try injections on me but I'm not too keen on that idea. I'm only 41. I want to do what is best for my health and I don't believe it's in my best interest to be estrogen deprived for all these years but what am I to do when nothing I take works or in fact makes me feel worse?

I am off the hrt now for 3 months, but I still struggle with moderate to severe hot flashes and some mood issues. I do the best on .05 Vivelle patch. There are a couple of reasons I got off, age, on it 4 years, appetite increase and some fluid retention, cancers in family(not breast).
I may be one of those who will have the hot flashes for many years. I would have thought they would have lessened , but by the third month they have actually increased.

I know it is a hard decision to make, but hopefully you can find something that will give you the most relief and just go from there. Have you tried the anti-depressants for symptom relief ? The anti-depressants increase seratonin levels (mood lifter) , as some of us have low levels and they have the added benefit of calming hot flashes.

s

I also hate the bloating from hormones. I wonder if the fact that I'm 20 lbs overweight means that I just don't need much estrogen. I would love to get some of this weight off but it's difficult when you just don't feel well enough to exercise or you get these insane sweet cravings (on patches). Sometimes, I feel like I could eat my weight in chocolate! lol

boy, I can relate to the depression,and add a little anxiety to the soup, plus alot of tears, I was put on progesterone 100mg. and the vivel patch.01mg. i found they both made me shake internally, so now i'm on nothing except an anti-depressant,and ativan for anxiety. i've been a psyc, nurse for 19 years and now im seeing the doc and the therapists. i dont know wether to go to e.r., or the psych. ward. god bless you hugs,karla aka anxous in cali any advise would be helpfull!!!