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[moonbeam121167]

Hi having been on HRT for 14 months now my mood swings are as bad as ever, my libido is at a all time low, I have put on alot of weight around my middle, I have constant brain fog, I have no get up and go, having read up on the net I was wondering what you peeps think about Testosterone, I have had a total hysterectomy on Estradot 50 but I feel something isnt quite right , I saw that Patsy Kensit on This Morning and she uses it and she feels great so why cant I, has anyone got any views on this, I have a appointment on the 14th March with the HRT clinic and I want to arm myself with some knowledge on this subject   

[Sarah2]

Maybe you need to increase the dose of oestrogen?
I use Oestrogel and it's fabulous because it is so easy to adjust the dose. The daily dose is 2 pumps but I was advised to start with 1 and see how I got on. I still had night sweats and flushes by the end of the day so upped it to between 1.5- 2 pumps. You can though use 3 or even 4 pumps daily. The beauty of this is that you don't need to keep seeing your dr- you just do what feels right and give each dose a whirl for a few days or weeks to see how you feel.

The other thing is- HRT is not a miracle that sorts out everything. Are you doing any exercise or anything to lift your mood? There's lots of evidence that exercise is as good as drugs for many mood- anxiety- depression related symptoms.

I don't know what to say about the libido. This is so subjective and some research showed that it's not actually hormonal at all- it's more to do with being bored or with the same partner for decades. Have you noticed a big change in libido since your op?

[moonbeam121167]

Yes since my op my libido has not far off gone but before it was pretty high, I always had a flat tummy and a curvy waist but now its gone, my moods are like constant PMS .

[Sarah2]

All women find their shape changes post meno - the 'apple' shape takes over But HRT can help some women to keep a more youthful shape. I think we all have to accept that some weight gain in middle age is the consequence of a change in metabolism and what we could eat when we were younger no longer applies. I know that I have to eat less and keep up the moving around otherwise the pounds just pile on far more easily.

It may be that you are going to have to adjust your diet and exercise to compensate now for being surgically post meno without any gradual reduction in hormones. HRT helps but it evidently doesn't take us back to pre meno hormone levels.

Could you  talk to the drs about increasing the oestrogen and maybe adding in a small amount of testosterone.

[Hurdity]

Hi moonbeam

I have commented on this topic on one of your threads in the past where I suggested you might want to think about testosterone - and I think others have suggested it too.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,21924.msg330869.html#msg330869

In that topic I gave links to information on this site about it.

Whilst testosterone levels in women decline gradually with age, they fall dramatically after a total hyster.

You would probably need to be referred to a meno clinic where they do these tests and I would have thought since you have had a total hysterectomy you would be eligible for a referral if your own doc is not keen. Unfortunately even some meno clinics do not offer this as part of their diagnosis and treatment so depending on where you live you might want to look at the "Find a Specialist" page (black tabs at the top  of this page under the header).

It is also made more difficult since the only testosterone formulations for women have been withdrawn from the market so women are prescribed doses using smaller doses of the gel prescribed for men.

I also agree with lifestyle changes re weight that Sarah has suggested - diet and exercise need to have more attention paid to them once you are post-meno!

Hurdity x

[moonbeam121167]

I have my first appointment with the Meno clinic on the 14th March, have been told he is awell nice consultant, so hopefully he will listen to me not like the GP's.  I have looked up on the Find a Specialist and according to that the nearest one to me is Colchester and I live in Norwich,  the consultant I will be seeing is in the N&N hospital so I dont know what he is like or whether it is a proper clinic, my daughter is a secretary for the gynecology and she is the one who told me there was a menopausal clinic run in the hospital not my GP .  I am going to ask him as well about DHEA , I feel basically ok but my head is still foggy, the middle age spread and moodiness  and very very low sex drive is something that bothers me big time xx

[Ju Ju]

Watch out for my post after the 12th March, when I have an appointment at a private clinic, where they have access to testosterone implant supplies. Do you know if you have low testosterone? Have you had a blood test? You are likely to find that gynaecologists and doctors have little knowledge about DHEA in this country, certainly in my limited experience. Oh and a good guide that suggests whether you have low T is whether you have erotic dreams or not. If not then low T levels is likely.

[honeybun]

Implants are not available on the NHS though which is where moonbeam is going.

I think we have spoken about the lack of treatment for a low libido before on the forum. It's really not fair that the correct treatment is not widely available.

Be interesting to hear how you both get on. NHS treatment compared to Private.


Honeyb
x

[moonbeam121167]

Ju Ju   no to  your question about erotic dreams, so you think me asking about testosterone at the clinic is going to be a waste of time as they dont do it, I  cant afford going private, although I have not got the foggiest how much it would cost, I feel quite disconcerted why cant it be straight forward 

[honeybun]

I think you can get gel but it's the stuff they give to men. Women use less. It does have side effects though.

It's the implants that are not available on the NHS. They are specifically tailored to women unlike the gel.

You have not really given your new HRT much of a chance though.


Honeyb
x

[moonbeam121167]

Hi it has been 14 months since my op, I am been on my new regime (Estradot 50) for nearly 3 months, but on the whole 14 months on HRT,  dont you think it is not been long enough, my mum did say her sister took 2 yrs before her body settle down but when I go to my GP is says try AD it my help but I dont want  to go down that route again. I read a few articles on this subject and they both say Testosterone can be beneficial 

[honeybun]

It's always worth asking although unfortunately not commonly prescribed.

There is one HRT that does/can improve libido but the name escapes me at the moment.


Honeyb
x

[moonbeam121167]

 Tibolone , is it only for women who have not had a hysterectomy or can women who have had  one use it !!

[Hurdity]

You could always ask.

The main point about Tibolone - for women who still have a womb, is that it doesn't need to be taken with a progestogen, but can't see why it can't be tried if you do not have a womb.

I did see a paper which said there was a suggestion of thickening of the womb lining with long term use of this, (although as i said it does not need a progestogen) so at least that wouldn't happen!

If it wasn't for the above and my dislike of oral meds I would have been tempted because my libido is also almost zero  .

Hurdity  x

[moonbeam121167]

God what us women got to put up with, why things cant be simples !!