Are my mood swings caused by the menopause

[JaniceRuth]

Hi, can anyone help me?
I had a total hysterectomy 8 years ago. I was 35 years old.  My GP put me straight onto hormone replacement tablets - they were called solo.  After 6 years I decided to stop taking them because of the dangers of hrt that I had read about.  I have suffered with depression in the past but up until approx 2 years ago (when I stopped taking solo) had been ok and working.  Over the last two years my moods have swung from one extreme to another.  Happiness to extreme lows.  I have suffered hot flushes, especially at night and sometimes even feeling cold and shaky when there was no reason to be.  I have over the past two years put my moods down to depression.  However, I now believe it could be due to hormone inbalance.  I have arranged an appointment with my doctor for next Friday where I will be asking for a hormone test.

Can anyone advise me on their experiences and what else I could be suffering related to hormones.  What questions do I need to ask my doctor etc etc.

My depression before was constant, my mood was always low, never had moods swings like I have in the last two years. Could this be hormonal? or am I just suffering depression.  At the moment I take no medication for hormones, or hrt etc etc just for depression but it is having no affect on my mood swings.

Please help me.

[peggy64]

Have you thought about trying any natural products? I am seeing a Naturopathic dr and she has put on me something to balance out the hormones. Trouble, is usually need something for more than just progesterone or estrogen.

Usually our thyroid shuts down, our adrenal gland gets out of whack, our other glands just shut down, so it is a multi-glandular problem that needs to be treated.

I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!  The ND says it will take several cycles for my levels to balance out, so I just keep saying, okay, you can do this, one day at a time, sometimes, ONE MINUTE AT A TIME.

Men could not handle this. The poor babies.

[JaniceRuth]

Hi
I am already taking antidepressants and my mood swings seem quite stable at the moment but I know that won't be the case before too long.  They seem to come around in cycles along with the hot flushes etc.  I have gained weight also, like you all around the stomarch, and like you the reason I stopped taking HRT was because I though it was responsible!! My neighbour had hysterectomy last year and she doesn't take HRT and has gained weight again in the stomach area!!!  Oh, to be a man!  I thank you for your comments and wonder why us women have to always be the ones to suffer?
I am going for a hormone test tomorrow, they can tell if my levels are incorrect and if I should go back to HRT.  If HRT improves my moods then I think I will have to take the risk of the other side affects because at the moment they are affecting my day to day living too much and I would rather be happy for a shorter life than be miserable for a longer period of life.  Anyway, I will let you know how it goes. Thanks. Jan

[bev62]

After having a hysterectomy two years ago I also became very depressed. Even with hrt. I am no longer on hrt, but I am on Welbutrin and Zoloft for the depression and help really does help.  It seems like us women have all the luck, but God knew men was going to be wimps so we had to carry the burden.  
Ask your doctor about an antidepressant, it has really helped me.  Have you gained weight since your surgery?  I've gained about 20 pounds, all in the belly.  I thought the hrt had caused it so I quit taking it.  But the hot flashes are driving me nuts, so I'm considering trying something else.  Good luck and keep us posted.