Posted by Gael on May 30, 2004, at 17:44:58
In reply to Menopause, worsening depression, Lexapro...HELP!, posted by SickyVicky on May 29, 2004, at 18:30:20
No, you are not alone. I ended up in the psych ward for a week during that middle-of-the-cycle time and it took a long time to stabilize, but what helped was estrogen alone. Very controversial. I was taking the Cenestin (oral estrogen) and Prometrium (oral micronized progesterone) together and it helped stabilize my perimenopausal (whacky) cycles and mood swings, but eventually the PMS was worse than before, so I stopped taking the Progesterone and found the estrogen alone (and I also take Neurontin and Serzone, although since it's been pulled I have just started Effexor....we'll be seeing how that goes.....) made life just swell. I kid you not. It was miraculous. Of course it's very controversial and the OB/GYN was going to do a hysterectomy since unopposed estrogen is supposed to be a stimulant to cancer. I told her that the mental hell couldn't be any worse than cancer - she replied my moods would improve if I just exercised regularly. Thanks, doc. Anyway, I sought FOUR 2nd opinions and now see the head of reproductive endocrinology at the Med Center and take Prochieve, a 4% progesterone gel inserted into the vagina, which protects the endometrial lining from the unopposed estrogen, I still wear the Vivelle Dot, the estrogen transdermal patch, and just had my first period with NO PMS, except maybe a 1/2 of being a little grouchy. But I remember two years ago having to pull my car over on the side of the road to sob for 20 minutes and it was during the middle of the cycle.
Just keep people listening to you and insist that you want to try some hormonal therapies. One of the 2nd opinions I received was from a gynecological oncologist who said he would never ever put me on estrogen for any reason at all. My psychiatrist pointed out that an oncologist's basic premise is that cancer is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, whereas they have never had patients go through the mental hell of depression. Taking the estrogen is a risk I'm willing to take in order to feel in synch again: with myself, my goals and dreams, my husband, my children, my productivity in society. I'll take all those things over sobbing over days gone by and not being willing to set goals or be involved in life because I know depression will come along and take me down.
All the best -
Gael
poster:Gael
thread:351943
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040527/msgs/352189.html