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[moonbeam121167]

Hi everyone again, I am off to the GP on Monday about changing my HRT, people has been saying the patches are better if you have issues with your stomach as I do, was on Estraderm MX50mg but they were not strong enough and GP (young one) said they dont do it any stronger and also said Oral hrt will not have any effect on my stomach but you ladies say otherwise, not sure which is best to try any help, sorry I seem a broken record but I need help and advice 

[honeybun]

I have had stomach problems for nearly 20 years although it is well controlled now. I would not even consider HRT pills and asked my GP for patches.
I have used up to now Evoril Sequi and Conti.
I am now starting a new regime using Evoril patches and a separate progesterone pessary.

If you take pills then your liver has to deal with them,with patches there is no digestive process involved.
I did feel a little sick when I first started and it lasted about three days and nothing since.
I stick on my patch and then forget about it.

To be honest your GP is talking rubbish.

Honeyb
X

[moonbeam121167]

Hi  thanks for your help, will ask if I can try a different patch, as I am on Climival 2mg what dose patch do you think I should use, as I said before tried Estraderm MX 50mg and it wasnt strong enough by the 2 day it was running out  and they dont do a stronger one any help or advice on a different one, I have had a Total Hysterectomy  if that helps 

[honeybun]

You could try the gel form. It's easier to twiddle with the dose. It's rubbed in every day.

I have never used it but I am sure someone who has can advise.

Honeyb
X

[Hurdity]

Hi moonbeam - I agree with honeybun - your GP is talking rubbish re the strength of Estraderm. if you look on the menu on the left under HRT preparations and then look at oestrogens it gives all the patches and pills and the different strengths:

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

You will see that Estraderm goes up to 100 mcg (I presume you meant 50 mcg rather than 50 mg?) so you could have twice the dose if you wanted. Also as hineybun says you can go even stronger with the gel by giving extra pumps - but I am sure you would feel the benefit from 100 mcg patch.

I haven't used Estraderm but I use Estradot - (have done for 6 years ish) which are very small and stick well

If I had stomach problems I wouldn't dream of taking oral HRT. As it is I use patches because it avoids the liver and the estradiol goes straight into the system without having to be metabolised first.

Go for the patches. Eat a very good healthy balanced diet with foods prepared from fresh ingredients and you can't go wrong - if you have no underlying medical problem. Forget all these extra pills unless you have been shwon to be deficient. Concentrate on dealing with the meno symptoms (provided nothing else is amiss) and then if necessary tweak it later with the odd vit tab or something eg iron tonic - but give your stomach a rest!!!

Hurdity x

[moonbeam121167]

Hi Hurdity, I will go for the patches it seem like you all say the same, I am seeing a different GP on Monday and hopefully she will be better, also going to ask her about Vaginal Atrophy x

[moonbeam121167]

Hi everyone again, this morning I felt awful again, had a small adrenaline surge, it seems as if my hrt pill are not working as well, feel real sick,  bad headache, could it be cause I have stomach problems, inflamed stomach, and I have been having toilet problems this last week , going about 4 times in morning and was wondering if the pills were absorbing properly, I have been told by after women on here to go on the patches, I am tired of feeling horrible just want to curl up and die, I have not confidence in the Gp, going on Monday and I have written everything down, I wish I can take one magical pill to make thing right , so sorry to go on 

[Taz2]

Hi moonbeam - if you have an inflamed stomach then you should go back to your GP to get this sorted out. I know you said in another post that the medication didn't work but the problem wont go away on it's own so surely you could ask for something else to help?

Wasn't it the magnesium which was upsetting your bowels?

Taz

[Rowan]

Also moonbeam did you have a full Hysterectomy?

[moonbeam121167]

Hi yes a total one on the 27th Dec 2012, had an endoscopy then in Feb, and all I was told that my stomach was inflamed, nothing in saying do this and do that to help just left to get on with it, I am on Climival 2mg, tried the Estraderm mx 50 patch but it only lasted 2 days then went on a big dive, GP said they are the strongest they go to and I should go back on the pill as they will not have any effect on my stomach but all the ladies on here say otherwise and to ask about a different brand , I am so scared cause the adrenaline surges and other stuff was so horrible I cant bear that again but the way I have been feeling this last couple of days I must do something, I have had a anti sickness pill to help but I think I need something like Omerazole again, is this all done to the menopause cause it all started around peri and still going on after my op, god this sucks xxx

[Rowan]

Moombeam it might be a good idea to have a look through this site, there is a forum and its UK based

http://www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk/

Having a total hysterectomy is a shock to the body and it take a long time for your body  to recover, hormone balance is vital, even a partial hyst keeping the ovaries can cause problems, but you have been flung into full surgical menopause. It can throw up all sorts of problems. Of cause there are some women who will say they  breezed through hysterectomy, but the truth is that many many women find they have swapped one set of problems for another especially after a total.

The after care for hysterectomy is not very good.

I am sure the ladies on the sites will be of help.

Another site is www.hystersisters.com which has an enormous amount of information and excellent forums.

[Taz2]

Moonbeam - I thought that the doc prescribed omeprazole for your inflamed stomach. This is the standard treatment. Did you go back to him after you had finished the pills to let him know that the problem was still there?

Taz x

[honeybun]

There are many types of PPIs so if one does not work the chances are you will find one that will.
I am very surprised that you did not get a course of treatment for your stomach.
They normally prescribe and also do a follow up.
Did you go back when the pills were not working for you?


Honeyb
X

[moonbeam121167]

Hi no I tried Omperazole but they never seemed to help so I stopped them, was hoping was once settled on the HRT it would ease up, as I think it only started once I was peri, the GP never did say I was peri they only detected a very large fibroid and i need a Hysterectomy but looking back on the other symptoms I am convinced I was starting down the menopausal route which in turn somehow affected my stomach, although the GP have never said that but reading other ladies comments on here I am to believe it to be true , I was also told by other ladies that the oral HRT isnt helping my stomach issues and I should try the patches again , did try Estraderm MX 50 but they were not strong enough and would start to wear off at about the 2 day and GP said that they dont do a higher dose and also said that the oral ones will not have any effect on your stomach so I went back on the pills , I think cause I have been taking Magnesium for headaches they may have not help with my stomach problem, cause I also have been going to the toliet at leats 5 times a day,so I have an GP appointment on Monday for Vaginal dryness so I am going to ask her about a change of HRT and some other PPi, thanks for your reply 

[kerrieann]

I have been on ppi for around 20 years, on and off, you have to take them on an empty stomach in the morning, and they do take a week or so to take a full effect and then you have to take them for 6 to 8 weeks for your stomach to heal.
My gp tells me that omeprazole is one of the strongest but there are several in that group.