Surgical Menopause, 2 years, HRT

I am not sure how to write this. I have been to docs. I am on Prozac 20 mg 1 a day(this will be the end of week 4 and start of week 5), and 1 mg Estradiol (this will be end of week 5 and start of week 6). I also take synthroid .75 mcg. Blood tests(last) showed I was in menopause(I had surgery in 2006, and elected not to do the hormones, big mistake, was given hormones(premarin) in february and that sent me into a spiral of all sorts of things). Depression, anxiety, nervousness, headaches(weird ones) and not prickly feelings this week in my body and weepiness. Docs all say to give it at least two months on both drugs before we do anything. Just wondering if anyone has been there, done that and if you have any suggestions of what to say or do. I panicked before and got so flustrated(new word) because I was thinking crazy things and all. That is getting better. People say it takes antidepressants a good 6 to 8 weeks before you feel full effects. What about the hormones? And could it be that I didn't have anything for two years that it is going to take me a lot longer to get adjusted? I don't want to bother the docs again(I drove them crazy for last few weeks) especially if this is something that will pass soon. I am living, and there are people putting up with worse. I see improvements. Gradual. I am an instant fix type of person. Man, Ihave been doing everything ,eating right, walking everyday, sleeping(I wake up at weird times), taking my meds(1st the synthroid, an hour later the antidepressant and 4 to 6 hours later the hormone), going to church, being involved in life and trying to keep busy. Learned how to play the harmonica. Before the last few weeks, I was in a deep deep deep dark depression that was scarey and I don't want to get back there. I go see my therapist on Tuesday. I just don't know what to say to them. I don't want to stop the meds and have to start something new and go through adjustment period again. You know? Anyone been there? IF it gets worse, I will call the ob/gyn this week. The heart palpitations are gone.

Hi There!

Sounds like you are having a difficult time. I'm so sorry!!

I haven't been in exactly the same place as you but I've been in a similar place.

I suffered from a hormone imbalance for the last 10 years. I had PMDD which is an elevated form of PMS. Horrible feelings! I sought every medical professional I could from OB to Psychiatrist. There wans't a clear diagnosis.

I had chronic insomnia for a whole year before my doc. finally gave me something to knock me out. This was only after trying every antidepressant in the book. It was horrible, one of the worst times in my life. The interesting thing is that the insomnia was causing most of my problems. I wasn't depressed but I became depressed when I wasn't able to live my life b/c i was so sleep deprived.

Long story short, i've been on sleep meds for the last 5 years. I hope to get off them once I am able to stabilize my hormones.

I think i recently hit bottom b/c i'm 4.5 months post-op BSO and I think my reserve is gone and my HRT was not enough. I was and still am having horrible hot flashes at night and very sad mood.

I increased my dose from .05 to .075 applied to the butt instead of the abdomen and i'll see how that works for a few months.

I have typically been a person who needs immediate results. I have learned through years of trial and error, though, that patience is important. Because it takes our bodies a while to feel the effects of medication adjustments, we need to ride it out, at least for a while.

Some things that I do when i'm feeling frustrated is i try to keep myself busy with things that keep me from feeling impatient. I get reinforcement from my husband. He reminds me what my doctor told me about the first year.

I don't know if any of this helps but I thought i'd share.

Take care and I hope that are able to ride it out a little, as hard as that may be.

Good luck!



Tera
LSH 2006
BSO 2008, jan
vivelle dot .075
vagifem 25 pu X2 week

As I said in a previous post, it is going to take some time. You say you are seeing improvements, that is a good thing You said you were keeping a journal in the other thread, that is also a good thing Keep in contact with your doctor. Perhaps even print out some of your posts here to take in for the doctor to read.

in there.

I will. Thanks and thanks for understanding. It is nice to read others' information. Can you tell I am impatient?

God is good. Because. I just got a call from my oncologist. My bloodwork(6 month check up for cancer,etc) was all clear again! YUPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

congrats! though i didn't know you had a bout with cancer. so sorry!!!

That was what started all of this. No one wanted to give me hormones right after the surgery two years ago.. Thus the imbalances in my system-chemical and hormone-and when they decided to give me a hormone without a blood test, I went whacko..

Littlesister, I am so happy you got good news!!!!

Take Care,
Teresa

Any news is good.. Thanks, T!