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[ANGEL66]

Hi Everyone, I'm Naomi.  Just been trying to find my way around your forum.  I've read a few of the posts on here already.  There's some very interesting information there.

About 10 years ago, I had a massive ovarian cyst removed in a 6 hour op.  The cyst was 18cm across and attached to my right ovary. It was so large, it had caused the ovary to twist back on itself.  I was in a life or death situation and ended up losing the ovary as well.  It took me quite a while to get over it and I've never really felt right since.

I'm 47 now and believe I'm in perimenopause.  I had a health check a couple of years ago as I was having heavy painful cycles every couple of weeks.  I had a hysteroscopy and the lining of my womb was scraped.  I was better for a time but had a massive unexpected bleed at the back end of last year, ended up staining the chair, my clothes and everything.  Very embarrassing as I was at work at the time.  Since December last year I have had no cycles at all, only a bit of light spotting now and then and now just on my first cycle in months but very light and painless.

I struggle to sleep sometimes, can be a bit forgetful and I get hot flushes.  Also I've just begun a new relationship with a lovely man and a bit concerned as I'm very dry and even find smears painful.  I'm not really sure what to do or where to go on this and also I have a male gp.  I think at my age I would probably need to continue with some kind of contraception but I believe I would probably need hrt as well.  The only thing I ever used in the past was Dianette I was prescribed this to help acne and skin problems too.  Despite all the bad press, I always felt good on it, much better than I do now.   I read on the net about a new hrt type pill called Qlaira.  Does anyone on here use this or know anything about it please??  Apparently it contains biodentical oestrogen so side effects are supposed to be minimal.  There seems to be so much hrt information around, it's a bit of a minefield, especially if you want contraception as well.  I'm not sure if there's a test you can get done to check if you are still fertile/in menopause??  Maybe someone on here might know that.  I'd be really grateful for any help or advice anyone can give me.  Thanks a lot  NAOMI :-)

[Dyan]

Hi Angel66,
 
You will get lots of support on here.
I am 52 and been on hrt now for 8 years.
I have the mirena coil for progesterone (and it also acts as birth control too) and use sandrena gel daily for estrogen.
Can't help you with the Qlaira but hopefully someone will come along soon who can advise you.
Dyan x

[ANGEL66]

Hi Dyan 

Many thanks for the kind welcome and advice.  At least that's a start.  My specialist mentioned Mirena coil when I had hysteroscopy done but I didn't fancy that.  I believe they're really difficult to put in and can cause problems if you've never had kids. Also one of my friends had a lot of problems with it and ended up having it removed which put me off a bit.  It feels strange now to be honest cos I've been on my own for a while and haven't had to worry about either hrt or contraception and now I really need to sort out both!  Not sure where to start.  Only ever taken Dianette which I was always happy with and that was years ago!   Never heard of Sandrena - is that the same as Oestrogel Dyan?  Nice to meet you and thanks again!

NAOMI :-)  X 

p.s. love the little sign.  I'm not that techi! 

[Dyan]

Hi Angel66,
You're welcome
I'm not sure, but I think sandrena is similar to oestrogel.
Some of the ladies on here use it so perhaps someone will be along to put you right on that.
I heard that its more difficult to have the mirena if you haven't had children.
It's been good for me as I couldn't take progesterone by tablet because it gave me terrible headaches.

Dyan X

[ANGEL66]

Hi Dyan 

Hope you are ok and you've had a good day! 

Just wanted to let you know I went to see my GP tonight and spoke to him about hrt and contraception. He looks everything up on the computer and had never heard of Qlaira or Ovestin. I told him that I read about Qlaira on a menopause forum and it was a contraceptive pill containing hrt type oestrogen. A lady doctor was recommending it for women like me with irregular bleeding. Anyway he gave in and I got the prescription! Yay! Chemist didn't have it though - has to be ordered in specially for me! I'm collecting tomoz and just hoping everything goes well! NAOMI xx

[Taz2]

Qlaira is mentioned on here http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/contra2.php  so it's interesting to find someone who has been prescribed it! Mind you - the regime looks a bit complicated!  http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/21700/SPC/Qlaira


Taz x 

[ANGEL66]

Hi Taz 

It was actually on here where I first heard about Qlaira.  Looks like Dr Heather Currie is recommending it as being good for women like me. I did put a couple of posts on here to see if any feedback from people who used it but didn't get any replies 

It does seem a little different to the other pills as you don't take a break on Qlaira.  From what I understand you start it on 1st day of bleeding and then take continuously and just carry on and start the next pack and get a bleed on the "dummy" pills I think.  There is a little booklet in the pack so will need to read up before I start.  Hopefully at least its a step in the right direction as I'm not myself at the moment so fingers crossed everything will go ok on this.  If not will have to try something else!   NAOMI  x