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[moonbeam121167]

hi  last August started having terrible werid problems, went to A+E a few times tests done but found nothing but a very large fibroid so they said I need a Hysterectomy, I have an inflamed stomach as well, looking back think it was me going through a peri-menopause, had a total hysterectomy on dec 27th 2013 put on Climival 2mg 2 days later, alot of the  symptoms  started to go but still had headaches and nausea so I decided to change  the patches, thinking it would help with my stomach problem , docter put me on Estraderm .25mg first but they were not strong enough so changed to .50mg they were ok but I was changing them every 2 to 3 days so I went back to docters and she said why I changed from the pills to patches, said thought they would be better because of my stomach problem but she said I should never of come off the pills and advice me to go back to the pill, been on them for 3 days but I am having bad nausea and some headaches is this normal and will they go, plz help

[jayneaddo]

Hi poor you

I had the same with Climaval although only 1 mg. I am on patches but only second day. None of the previous symptoms re sickness though. You should stick with patches if you prefer it

JAYNE

[moonbeam121167]

Hi I was ok first time around on Climival and only changed because I google search it and people say patches were better for stomach probs, but docter says it wasnt the case, I didnt like how the patches were, I felt I was on a high then when it was due to change I would go on a low , and docter thought I shouldnt go higher and thats when she said in her opinion pills were  best, so I took her advice, she said give it a good couple of months for it to settle but I am headaches and nausea but not sure if it is the hrt or just hormones, only been 5 months since op and I need to give my body a chance, but when you have a family and a son with ADHD its hard, sorry to moan   and I know there is a lot worse peeps out there than me but this last 8 months have been hell and I need to get better .........................

[honeybun]

I am on patches which my GP said would be better for me because of having a sensitive stomach.
It is generally accepted that if you can't tolerate pills then patches are the way to go.

Mine are Evoril and apart from feeling a tiny bit squeamish for a couple of days after starting I have been fine.

Patches are a lot more expensive than pills so this could be a reason for your GP wanting you on pills.


Honeyb
X

[moonbeam121167]

Hi thanks for you quick response, never thought of it like that, crafty doctor, I will give the pills a chance, cant keep swapping and changing got to give my body a chance, it has had a battering as it is with the op, just hope the symptoms will go away after a while 

[Hurdity]

Hi moonbeam

 

Sorry to hear you are having problems with HRT

I agree with honeybun - if you have stomach problems and headaches you can minimise these with patches. Also for many women it's the progesterone that causes the problems and you don't have to have this.

Form reading on here I know there are other women who have had a hysterectomy that take a while to settle on the right HRT - this is because your body has been put into hormnal shock so this is only a few months ago (I presume you meant  2012?), and it can take a while longer to settle down and stabilise.

Also as you had a total hysterectomy this is more drastic and sometimes women are also given extra testosterone which becomes deficient after a total hyster.

Have you seen the information on this site about hysterectomy and HRT? On the left - orange menu.

Do you mind my asking how old you are - re oestrogen dose really. if you are younger than 50 it's best to try to have as high dose as is permitted to protect your bones.

Re changing the patches - I definitely wouldn't change them every couple of days. From what I remember it takes about 12 hours for oestradiol levels in your body to reach a peak from when you first put the patch on, and of course as soon as you take the other one off the levels (from that one) start to decline. This is why the recommendation is twice a week- but every 3 days is fine.

How dare the doc tell you what is right for your body? The patches eventually will give you a more consistent dose once you find what this is. Don;t despair and ask to go back on the patches in your situation. Also ask about tesoterone.

Are you under a proper gynae for post-operative treatment ie re hormones - or just the GP?

If she won't play ask to be referred. No need to be miserable and feeling ill but it might take a bit of time. Also if you are increasing oestrogen dose best to increase it gradiually - sudden increase can make you heachachey and maybe a bit nauseous for a few days.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[moonbeam121167]

Hi Hurdity, I am 45yrs old and I am on 2mg Climival and also take menopace with  calcium, I thought due to having a total Hysterectomy  I wont need extra testosterone , I am not seeing  a gyn only a young GP and both her and another gp both said the pills are better, so confused, should I go and see a better doctor, maybe one who is older,  thanks for your reply  x

[Hurdity]

Hi moonbeam

Short answer - yes - go and see someone else if they don't play ball!

Long answer:

I don't know what they mean when they say pills are better - as that statement is meaningless on its own.

Patches are definitely recommended if you have stomach problems. Here is what it says on this site under HRT/Route (Route means pills or transdermal):

Indications for non-tablet route.

    Individual preference.
    Poor symptom control with tablet HRT.
    Side effects such as nausea with tablet.
    Bowel disorder which may affect absorption of tablet therapy.
    History of migraine (when steadier hormone levels which may be achieved with a patch may be beneficial).
    Lactose sensitivity (all tablet preparations of HRT contain lactose).
    History of gallstones.
    Current use of medications such as anti-epileptic medication which may interfere with the break-down of tablet HRT.
    Variable blood pressure.
    High triglyceride levels.
    Risk factors, family history or past history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus, after full discussion and specialist advice when necessary.

If they are saying they are more effective - this is wrong too because diefferent preparations affect individual women differently.

If you the dose is not high enough then maybe you need to increase it.

I would definitely go back and say you want to go on pactehs again - if that is what you would prefer. If they say no, then ask to be referred to a specialist - eg a menoclinic - if there is no-one else in the practice who knows about HRT.

This link weill take you to the meno-clinic finder:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php

Re tesosterone - it;s the other way round. if you've only had your womb removed ( sub-total) then the ovaries continue to produce tesosterone. If you've had a total and no ovaries then testo production will have declined drastically ( some is still produced in the adrenal glands).

Here's some info on this site about hysterectomy and HRT:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/aftermeno.php

and about testosterone:

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

[moonbeam121167]

Hi thanks for your response, I will have to go and see a more senior Dr  and see is he can help x