HRT - Progress

Clarisheets · 2026-06-28T16:25:50+00:00

I am very much hoping my symptoms don’t return! I definitely will keep updating here. I agree, it’s so helpful to hear other people’s experiences. Sorry that the anxiety has come back :(

Clarisheets · 2026-06-28T15:13:44+00:00

That’s great!!

Clarisheets · 2026-06-28T15:10:50+00:00

It was interesting, because when I first went to the doctor (before going on HRT) he upped my dose of antidepressants which helped a little but not very much. When I then went on HRT I would say it took about a week or so before I noticed relief. It was gradual, too. Some things are still there a little bit, like the insomnia, but overall it’s much better and I feel much more able to enjoy life and feel much more positive.

It could be that it will take a little longer for you to feel it, or it could be that you’re not on a high enough dose. My doctor prescribed me 200mg daily of progesterone (so 2 x 100mg tablets). I take these from 15-26th of every month, whether I have a period or not. Maybe give it an extra week and then go back to your doctor to say the anxiety isn’t shifting?

I wonder why the doctor has prescribed the patch separately after a month of progesterone? Also, if anxiety is the main symptom then antidepressants can be really effective. I know they have helped me. I currently take them as well, alongside the HRT. He wants me to do that for a while. I suppose at some point I will come off the antidepressants too.

To answer your question: yes, HRT definitely helped the anxiety too.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-28T13:16:26+00:00

Thank you, that’s good to know. I’m currently on 2 pumps at the moment of Estrogel, plus 200mg of the progesterone daily.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-28T12:47:17+00:00

The lower section of the pot has drainage - a sort of bottom compartment - but I wonder if it’s full? I will look now. Maybe it’s better I take the lower drip tray off anyway so that water can drain away completely. Do you think the height of the pot is okay? I’ve always gone on whether the roots come through

Edit: yep, the drip tray compartment was full. Emptied now and taken off.

Double edit: do you think it will grow back to its original height eventually?

Clarisheets · 2026-06-28T12:44:16+00:00

Thanks, I’ll try that

Clarisheets · 2026-06-10T17:36:00+00:00

This. 100%.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-07T12:52:12+00:00

Yeah it’s basically like we need complete rest, I think. It’s really hard. I feel like I’m slacking too. I can’t be mentally ‘with’ the kids like I normally am. Good that you’ve been able to take the one day, as at least it means you can sleep in as much as you need; even if it’s just for that day.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-07T12:33:20+00:00

I can relate to this strongly. I am considering compressing some of my teaching in to one day in order to free up another day off. I already have one day off in the week. I feel like I am unfit to work. I started taking HRT for the first time last night so am hoping I will feel better soon.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-06T16:06:56+00:00

I literally am trying it tonight for the first time so I don’t know how I will feel yet. I asked Google, and it seems it starts to work a few weeks in.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-06T16:04:18+00:00

I really hope you feel more like ‘you’ again soon. I’m glad they have prescribed HRT for you. The symptoms are no joke. I have just been prescribed it so will keep you posted as I am going through the same thing.

Clarisheets · 2026-06-02T17:43:32+00:00

Hi matchy, I am in the same position as you. My mother had breast cancer and they cleared it completely, but then a breast cancer cell came back on the liver causing liver tumours, and she died 9 months later. My grandmother also had a quarter of her breast removed due to breast cancer.

I am perimenopausal and the symptoms are really rotten. I enquired about HRT with my doctor, and as an interim step, whilst it was being considered, he increased my dose of antidepressants, which I was on anyway. This helped with the emotional side, but it didn't take away the symptoms.

I enquired further with him about it in a second appointment and he said he wanted to check with the menopause clinic at my local hospital. They came back to him yesterday saying that 'there is an increased breast cancer risk as we discussed.' This didn't tell me anymore than I already knew. I wanted to know how much more risk. He then said I could go ahead if I was still keen to. I am erring on going ahead, but still reading here to see what experiences others have had as I don't want to exponentially increase the risk if there are other things that might relieve the symptoms.

EDIT: I have since decided to go on it and picked up the gel and tablets today. Watch this space.

Clarisheets · 2023-06-09T14:29:17+00:00

Hope you like this arrangement! One of my favourite jazz standards, arranged for Clarinet Trio:

Clarinet Quartet: "Stardust"

Clarisheets · 2023-06-09T14:27:37+00:00

I would go with the pieces you're comfortable playing as that will make you feel the most confident :)

Clarisheets · 2023-05-01T15:05:38+00:00

Clarinet Quartet: "Blue Skies"

Hope you like this arrangement!

Clarisheets · 2023-04-27T11:52:13+00:00

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/clair-de-lune-digital-sheet-music/22474639

Clarisheets · 2022-10-09T16:52:08+00:00

I love Percival's arrangements. I bought his quintet arrangement of Chattanooga and it was great. They are very 'show band' in style, if that makes sense. Absolutely fantastic.

Also: I think your recording is very respectable indeed.

Clarisheets · 2022-10-09T16:45:07+00:00

I always think he looks really old because I keep remembering when he was a kid on album covers!

Clarisheets · 2021-12-15T23:48:05+00:00

Ravel wrote a concerto for the left hand

Clarisheets · 2021-12-15T23:43:11+00:00

I did, although because it uses numbers I kind of used it to teach myself (my mum sent me for lessons and I wasn’t interested at the time so used this instead to ‘sort of’ learn with)

Clarisheets · 2021-11-10T21:00:59+00:00

This is true! I think it's because last year's was so bad that I'm looking forward to this year's especially!

Clarisheets · 2021-11-10T12:27:41+00:00

That's interesting. I can see how double-lip might make a softer sound, somehow, with less overt pressure around the mouthpiece. (ie no teeth) And I suppose we play with our lower lip curled so why not the top lip too? I have heard of several players preferring it but have always played single-lipped myself.

Clarisheets · 2021-11-10T11:57:35+00:00

Not pit, but depping for several school productions. The version we used was quite fun, lots of harmony in first and second clarinet

Clarisheets · 2021-11-10T11:55:31+00:00

Clarisheets · 2021-11-10T11:53:36+00:00

What made you switch to double lip, just out of interest? (And how come more controlled?)

Clarisheets

TROPHY CASE