Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Have Had Hot Flashes And Anxiety. Found Low Estrogen Level. Prescribed Medicine. How To Get Normal?
Question: Yes I seem to be going through menopause at this time. I am 46 yrs of age. have had the hot flashes and anxiety for about 8 months and it has progressively gotten worse. my doctor did blood tests and they cam back with my estrogen very low at 22 and I think my fhs at 89. he said they were very bad and prescribed progesterone and estradiol. he said it would take about three weeks to level me out. but in the meantime I can be so angry and not be able to control it but yet know that I am. and other times start crying uncontrollably over nothing. I feel so out of control for such a level headed person. anything I can do till meds kick in and will I go back to normal when they do?
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for your question.
Going through the menopausal transition can be horrifying, and understandably so.
Your doctor is right as hormone therapy would take ATLEAST two weeks to work, and may take more.
Meanwhile if your mood swings are unbearable, please consult a psychiatrist who would put you on appropriate short term symptomatic drug treatment.
That would be better than living through it.
Also a regimen of very healthy and regular exercise, a balanced diet helps.
Yoga and other meditation or relaxation techniques are known to have profound impact on these problems.
None of these , apart from counselling/ short term psychiatric medication , would provide acute relief.
Try incorporating soy isolflavones and vitamin E in your diet, in the form of supplements.
Avoid smoking / drinking / caffeine for the time being.
Take care, and feel free to ask for further clarifications.
Remembering that this is a phase that will definitely pass will help.
Thanks for your question.
Going through the menopausal transition can be horrifying, and understandably so.
Your doctor is right as hormone therapy would take ATLEAST two weeks to work, and may take more.
Meanwhile if your mood swings are unbearable, please consult a psychiatrist who would put you on appropriate short term symptomatic drug treatment.
That would be better than living through it.
Also a regimen of very healthy and regular exercise, a balanced diet helps.
Yoga and other meditation or relaxation techniques are known to have profound impact on these problems.
None of these , apart from counselling/ short term psychiatric medication , would provide acute relief.
Try incorporating soy isolflavones and vitamin E in your diet, in the form of supplements.
Avoid smoking / drinking / caffeine for the time being.
Take care, and feel free to ask for further clarifications.
Remembering that this is a phase that will definitely pass will help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So you are telling me that when the medications kick in I will be back to normal and not feeling like im loosing my mind
Hi again XXXXXXX
Once the hormone therapy starts working, you would definitely feel better.
" Normal " is subjective.
You might still need to take the help of counselling, behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques etc, as menopause is something you have to live with for the rest of your life, and you cannot assume that you would take HRT for all of it.
Take care.
However, it's a phase, and it will definitely get better with time, once your mind and body adapts to it gradually.
Requires dedication, awareness, willpower and lifestyle modifications on your part too.
Once the hormone therapy starts working, you would definitely feel better.
" Normal " is subjective.
You might still need to take the help of counselling, behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques etc, as menopause is something you have to live with for the rest of your life, and you cannot assume that you would take HRT for all of it.
Take care.
However, it's a phase, and it will definitely get better with time, once your mind and body adapts to it gradually.
Requires dedication, awareness, willpower and lifestyle modifications on your part too.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
so your telling me even though I take this medicine and even out as much as possible I cannot take it for a long time. so does your body go back through this again when you can no longer take it? how do you deal with it then? I can not imagine it!
Hi XXXXXXX
Please do not panic.
Try to understand calmly what I am telling you.
I am saying that the HRT and other medications will help you definitely, and the acute transition phase is the most troublesome.
Once you use the medicines, you will feel fine, and your doctor can continue them as long as there are no intolerable side effects.
But a few years down the line, your body would adapt to menopause, just like it adapted to puberty or reproduction, and you would feel fine.
YOu need to think positively, please.
Please do not panic.
Try to understand calmly what I am telling you.
I am saying that the HRT and other medications will help you definitely, and the acute transition phase is the most troublesome.
Once you use the medicines, you will feel fine, and your doctor can continue them as long as there are no intolerable side effects.
But a few years down the line, your body would adapt to menopause, just like it adapted to puberty or reproduction, and you would feel fine.
YOu need to think positively, please.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
