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[Kittyjay]

Hi Hurdity
Thanks for your response- I went to the docs 2 years ago as I hadn't had a period for 5 months and knew I wasn't pregnant. He did bloods that showed fsh of nearly 100 and LH of around 50 and he classified it as 'post menopausal' so I had cyclical evorel sequi, gp agreed to a 3 monthly cycle but I had intermittent bleeding so we changed to femseven sequi and same happened (also these constantly fell off). He referred me for an internal scan at my annual review due to the bleeding and this showed a thin endometrium wall but some fibroids. He didn't seem concerned by these fibroids and said they are very common so was happy to go with my wishes of estradot and utrogestan.  This brings us uptodate! I can almost cope with the bleeding but the anxiety is horrendous. I only have to think about something and I get palpitations and panic overwhelms.....
I never ever had hot flushes but have also never had the oestrogen happy feeling that people mention! It's as if the oestrogen has no effect on me whatsoever.
If I think back I never felt quite this low on femseven but they just don't stick!
What is a usual oestrogen prescription for someone my age? I wonder whether to stick on another 50 patch over the next few days to see if it helps more at 100? Or is that not wise... Thanks so much xx

[Millykin]

Hi
I'm sure Hurdity will be along again to explain but I'm sure you are not classed as post menopause under the age of 54 until you have not had a bleed for 2 years and 1 year after age 54?
I was 42 and hadn't had a bleed for 7 months but was told I'm peri menopause. I'm sure this is right but I'm no expert. It's such a shame you are feeling like this with young family and Xmas so near, thinking of you
X

[Briony]

Hi Kittyjay, as someone else in their early 40s having problems, like Millykin, I wanted to send a sympathetic hug your way.

 I am one of these unusual people who, like you, prefers the Utrogestan 12 days to estrogen only (which seems to leave me flat). I too am considering Qlaira, as someone else suggested, as my own hormones are having random surges.  Have a look at Pixiegirl's post on this - I found it really useful. I can't take the CCP due to migraines with aura and family history of early stroke, but GP said she would prescribe Qlaira as she still thinks it is in my benefit. Perhaps being a smoker, you might fall into same category? Not sure how I feel about this, so currently waiting for HRT to settle (only in week 7).

Like you, I am also wondering if maybe  my 50mg patches need to be stronger as currently day three  of my bleed and literally overnight, my skin's terrible, nails splitting, exhausted, tearful and aching. However, fear of nausea /headaches is preventing me from upping it yet. Would be interested to hear what others think B x 

ps Enjoy Christmas with your children if you can - they make it special; when you're childless and OH is working 100 miles away for most of it, it's not half as magic (and that's even with behaving hormones!). Luckily my cats keep me company and appreciate lie ins as much as I do 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Kittyjay
You've had some great support and advice so far.  I agree with Hurdity that a long cycle would probably not be a good idea if you are having problems with bleeding. Perhaps try the Utrogestan on a monthly regime to see how you feel during each phe of the cycle.  If you feel good on Oestrogen alone then you know it is the progesterone causing the problems.

HAve you tried Femoston sequi - it has a kinder progesterone and many women do very well on this.
I had a premature menopause like you but I carried on with a monthly cycle right through my forties. Taking progesterone continuously can cause problems so this is why many women choose to keep to a monthly or long cycle regime so reduce the negative effects of progesterone.
I would just like to suggest you consider having  Mirena fitted.  Many gynaecologists recommend this for women who have problems with breakthrough or excessive bleeding.  The Mirena will result in the reduction in bleeding and should mean you get no bleed at all after the first few weeks or months.  Another advantage of the Mirena is that is will reduce the size of fibroids.  The absorption of progesterone is mainly local so any negative effects are usually reduced.  If you do opt to have a Mirena you simply have your patch for the oestrogen.  I had a Mirena for 4 years post meno and it was my best option at the time.
Regarding the awful anxiety you are experiencing - again this is quite a common meno symptom. Some women find a SRRI alongside HRT can be very beneficial.  I recently saw a gynae privately ( a very eminent specialist in meno related problems) and he finds that Citalopram works very well for many women.  I have a work colleague who is on both HRt and Citalopram and is really doing well.
DG x

[Kittyjay]

Thanks everyone you are so helpful x
My gp mentioned femoston but I don't want to take a tablet - I prefer patches.
I have also considered mirena and certainly haven't ruled it out, but when I researched it I found so many negative things about it it put me off. As I use the utrogestan vaginally I thought I wouldn't have the bad side effects as it is in the 'right place' straight away..... So would mirena be different?
Can anyone advise on what days you take the Utrogestan in a sequi fashion instead of my 1-25 days?
Still considering cutting a second patch in half to make a 75 dose of estradot for a few days over Xmas... Would that work? Thanks for your support its simply fab x

[karenja]

Hi I'm a lot older than you but suffer from anxiety really bad too ivè tried numerous hrt preparations and am now also on estradot and Utrogestan though I've only taken a few ultrogestan tablets and sm now going to take  it for 15 days starting tomortow - when I took a few ultrogestan previously they just made me feel
V groggy I'm now going to try them vaginally a I understànd this may be better / I hope you feel better soon and find something to suit you xx

[Millykin]

Briony
I'm on Femoston 1/10 with hardly any bleed and I'm like you was going to up my dose as GP suggested but fear of nausea and headaches, took a bleed there and felt like my hair skin and nails just look horrible overnight

Karenja
Sounds as though you are feeling bit better lately?

X

[Donna1]

Hello Kittyjay
I also suffer from overwhelming anxiety sometimes and you have my heartfelt sympathy. As far as HRT goes though my story might help you. After much trial and error I now have a mirena coil which has been great and also use two evorel patches at once...I know that's high but one simply wasn't enough. When the anxiety is low I cut down to one and a half and go back up when needed. It hasn't been a magic cure and I fight with anxiety from time to time but it's the best solution I've found since 5 years ago when it all started. I had no hormonal or anxiety problems before that. I know that mirena is not for everyone but it has been good for me and acts as a contraceptive too.
Hope that is some help and good luck with your struggles.

Donna

[Kittyjay]

Thanks Donna- I will reconsider the mirena if this doesn't settle down over the next few weeks. I've decided to cut out the utrogestan over this week so I'm just on the oestrogen over Xmas. I need some sanity! Then I'll make a gp appointment to discuss it all. Now the bleed is day 5, Im beginning (hoping) to see light at the end of this awful cycle!
Thanks everyone x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Kittyjay
I've just had another thought regarding the bleeding. I don't know how long you have been on the Utrogestan regime but you are taking it on a continuous basis and one does get bleeding for the first few weeks or even months on any continuous regime before it settles down. 
It could be well worth trying the sequential regime - this sequential regime with Utrogestan is set out under the 'HRT Preparations' section to the left of this screen so it could be worth doing this to gage whether it is the progesterone that is giving the problems. You may need to use 200mg of Utrogestan instead of 100mg though.    Most women who use Utrogestan sequentially use 200mg for the 12 days per month but the new leaflet says 100mg per day so I don't know whether they have revised the necessary dosage or not? The dose may depend on the amount of oestrogen you are using.
Could you afford to pay £25 and do an email consultation with Dr. Currie? I did this once and she is really helpful.  You could ask about the and dosage of the Utrogestan,  Mirena and any other options that might be good for you?
DG x