Posted by Lorraine on June 26, 2001, at 23:14:02
In reply to Re: To All Women Over 45: Estrogen = Major AD! » Lorraine, posted by shelliR on June 26, 2001, at 17:01:29
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> Hi Lorraine. No, so far no symptoms. But I've got to be in that category. My sister stopped having perimenopausal symptoms when she added soy to her diet. Then after chemo and radiation for breast cancer she had one horrible, almost hemmoraging period and none after. So I attribute two glasses of soy milk a day to my lack of symptoms. But I don't know whether I would even consider estrogen replacement for my depression. My pdoc brought it up when I saw him on Monday. I think I would want to talk to my gyn. According to the statement coming from the estrogen study, it would not be a first line treatment for me. Did you consider estrogen replacement when your depression began?
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> BTW, how are your treatments going?
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> ShelliI begged for estrogen and was dismissively told I wasn't perimenopausal at 45 because I was "too young". When the estrogen was finally added (a year ago), it helped my cognitive function but I think the ship had sailed on derailing my depression train.
My treatments right now consist of holding steady on 15 mg Adderall a day; 5 mg Selegiline a day; and 900 Neurontin a day while I do neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is wierd. I can see that I can control my brain waves by the screen (i sees it with my own eyes). Each day that I go (and I'm going everyday because I really want quick results and it's the number of training sessions that counts), they ask me how I slept, how I feel and how I am eating. They adjust the training based on my feedback. Basically, they have been upping the amps every couple of days and today they started working my frontal area as well (ok, i give, is that my frontal lobe?) Some days I think i feel a definate effect (though, as you can see, i don't fully trust myself in this). Some days I have really broken down with weeping and stuff. (this is why I'm not sure the mood support is there.) But then when I go in, they up the amps and when I leave I feel my mood life. The other thing is my sleep patterns are disrupted for the first time since I've been depressed. The last is that I have lost some appetite. So I just don't know. I also have a hunch that I cycle in my moods, although I haven't kept a mood diary. Anyway, I figure I'm going to give it a bit more time to make sure it's been completely explored. (With vacations and all, it's a good three-four weeks before I know.) I also think I need a new pdoc in LA. One that's good with TRD and polypharmacy; one that is not shy about using amphetimines, TCAs and MAOs (although not all at once). How is your selegiline? Did you stay on it?
poster:Lorraine
thread:67708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010625/msgs/68030.html