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[Dandelion]

Hi

I have been on Femoston 2/10 for nearly three months.
It is only partially helping though, and I am left with negative psych symptoms and flushing which have been quite distressing. I was on Femoston 1/10 for three months, which reduced symtomb by about 20% and the 2/10 has reduced them by 50%

I have been taking magnesium citrate for a couple of weeks, which helped reduce symptoms even more, but I was still flushing too often for a comfy life.

The citrate is far better than the magnesium oxide for diarrhoea, provided you take it on an empty stomach and don't eat for an hour or so after, but I don't think the citrate was fully absorbing for me, personally, as I still got very hot smelly farts sometimes. (sorry to sound vulgar)
This suggested to me, that a lot of the magnesium was just going to my large bowel.

I am now taking magnesium malate, which absorbs much better and no smelly hot farts.
I also started taking a B complex vitamin this last few days.
Last night, I was able to sit in a crowded hot pub last night with my jumper, hoodie and coat on, and no flushes. I had taken a brisk walk of 10mins to get to the pub.

Vitamins and minerals are not designed to replace diet, and I do try to eat foods rich in vitamins, but I still had enough flushes to ruin some tops with sweat and feel hot in my upper body all the time.
Now, I feel normal, not a flush in sight, the only thing was, I had to turn on the heating as I could not get warm.
Not complaining, I am just glad to feel flush free again.

My mood is a lot calmer as well. I feel like I am on valium without all the horrible side effects.
Why not just change my HRT? because my doctor is not willing to give me the hrt I would have liked and says if this hrt doesnt work, I will just have to go through meno naturally.

Also, too much oestrogen can cause fibroids and other problems.
I am on the maximum dose already.
Vit B helps with oestrogen production and use, and I feel it is better than adding more oestrogen externally.
Why am I stilll getting flushes etc if I am on the max dose? I found out on here that HRT does not get rid of all symptoms for some women.

I am only 47years old and only in peri menopause, so I am a bit unsure if I should be taking even more oestrogen than max dose femoston at this stage.

[Taz2]

Maybe your HRT is beginning to work Dandelion. It can take up to three months and sometimes even longer for the levels to build up enough. Fingers crossed that you have turned the corner!

Taz x

[Dandelion]

Maybe your HRT is beginning to work Dandelion. It can take up to three months and sometimes even longer for the levels to build up enough. Fingers crossed that you have turned the corner!

Taz x

Hi Taz and thanks.
I hope so.
It's so nice not to feel overheated, or as if flushes are just 'under the surface'. The anxiety is still here, but I understand that can take longer to go.
I also learnt that one of the b vitamins, i forget which, can help with keeping the vaginal area nice.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Dandelian
I'm so pleased to hear things seem to be settling down for you.
Through the peri stage it can be very difficult as your own hormones can kick in and out now and again which can throw your body off balance. I suspect that the oestrogen level from the HRT has built up a bit now so will hopefully give you more stability. I never took as high a dose as you are on now and, if I was you, I'd be reluctant to use anything stronger. 
B vitamins are very important so even with a good diet it's worth taking those.
You have set yourself on a good path - keep going.  DG x

[Dandelion]

Hi Dandelian
I'm so pleased to hear things seem to be settling down for you.
Through the peri stage it can be very difficult as your own hormones can kick in and out now and again which can throw your body off balance. I suspect that the oestrogen level from the HRT has built up a bit now so will hopefully give you more stability. I never took as high a dose as you are on now and, if I was you, I'd be reluctant to use anything stronger. 
B vitamins are very important so even with a good diet it's worth taking those.
You have set yourself on a good path - keep going.  DG x

Hi DG

Thanks and hopefully I am on the mend. Starting the magnesium was the thing that kicked off the improvements.

[ellie66]

Dandelion following your posts I think HRT just takes a bit longer to work with you. Femston is a VERY, VERY close second to Oestrogel and Utrageston I have as you know taken both so if you are having issues with your GP I would stick on the Femston.

Dancinggirl is right I am the same age as you and peri and yes we will have up and downs. It will seem at times the HRT is not working when in fact it is. It is just our own hormones kicking in and out giving us symptoms rather than an issue with the HRT. 

EDIT: Dandelion I would only ever take Femston or Oestrogel and Utragestan as they both very, very similar and suit me. I have been HRT longer than you I needed a change but I still think Femston is fabulous too and rave it 

[Dandelion]

Dandelion following your posts I think HRT just takes a bit longer to work with you. Femston is a VERY, VERY close second to Oestrogel and Utrageston I have as you know taken both so if you are having issues with your GP I would stick on the Femston.

Dancinggirl is right I am the same age as you and peri and yes we will have up and downs. It will seem at times the HRT is not working when in fact it is. It is just our own hormones kicking in and out giving us symptoms rather than an issue with the HRT. 

EDIT: Dandelion I would only ever take Femston or Oestrogel and Utragestan as they both very, very similar and suit me. I have been HRT longer than you I needed a change but I still think Femston is fabulous too and rave it 

Hi Ellie and thanks

Did Femoston take away your bad moods, anxiety, flushes and sweats?
It alone is  not enough to take away my flushes moods and sweats. Without my magnesium I get a few flushes and sweats in a day and I wake up sweaty.
Without hrt full stop, it would be a whole lot worse. I felt like I was losing my mind at some points.

Hope you dont mind me saying but you seem to be on a strong dose for someone who is peri. Do you have naturally low oestrogen or something?

I am also surprised that I need such a high dose given that I am only peri.

I'm going to keep taking the magnesium because its helping so much.
Same with the vitamin B

My doctor is only being funny about giving me bio identical prog and gel because her knowledge is out dated.
She is a good doctor in other ways but she seems a bit arrogant in that she won't update herself, now that I have told her that bio identical or micronised prog is nhs prescribed.

[ellie66]

Yes due hormonal problems when I younger I suspect I do have low oestrogen. I did not really have anxiety, bad moods. My peri symptoms are hot flushes, vaginal dryness, sore breasts, missing periods etc as though I had constant PMS.

May be you should emphasis the physical symptoms with your GP? Or you could see someone privately?

Its good she has at least got you on Femston. It really is excellent HRT.

[Dandelion]

Yes due hormonal problems when I younger I suspect I do have low oestrogen. I did not really have anxiety, bad moods. My peri symptoms are hot flushes, vaginal dryness, sore breasts, missing periods etc as though I had constant PMS.

May be you should emphasis the physical symptoms with your GP? Or you could see someone privately?

Its good she has at least got you on Femston. It really is excellent HRT.

Hi

I cannot afford private consultations and my GP knows all about the flushes and heat that I get, but I think she thinks I am just being greedy.
She says I will have to just go through the menopause naturally without any hrt, but I don't want to do this.
She says I will only go through it when I come off hrt.
I told her I didnt want to come off hrt but she insisted I will have to eventually.
The other alternative is patches with norethisterone.
As I have suffered mental health problems in the past, and as I know that norethisterone can have a negative effect on the psych of some woman, I feel a bit too scared to take the risks with norethisterone in case my mental health deteriorates.
It really deteriorated when I was withdrawing from tranquilisers, and I fear the same may happen if I try norethisterone.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Dandelion.
ellie66 is a good source of help for you as she has tried both Femiston and the Oestrogel/Utrogestan route. The fact you are getting some relief from symptoms without adverse side effects in great.  I really wouldn't try the patches as the progesterone in them might be a problem for you.  At this stage I don't think you would gain anything from changing your HRT especially as it puts you into conflict with your GP.  I also wouldn't worry about eventually coming off HRT  - you may have some withdrawal symptoms but they won't necessarily be too bad or last very long - everyone is different.  I came off HRT 4 months ago and I have to say my flushes etc haven't been that bad, in fact I'd say I'm now generally feeling better off HRT  - my only problem is VA which I am treating with local oestrogen.
The new guidelines regarding HRT will come out in the next year or so and GPs will hopefully have a more updated approach - if they don't, you can print off the guidelines and give them to your GP when you get to 55-60 when she is likely to want you to come off HRT.
I think your mood is bad because you are so stressed about the HRT and your goal to take away all your symptoms. Anxiety can be a very distructive force and focusing on positive things is the key - not easy I know(I suffer dreadfully from anxiety). I know that when I am anxious my flushes start to emerge - they are a nervous response.
Have you tried yoga? - it is really great for the body, fitness and relieving stress - it can be very gentle and therapeutic.  Even if you can't afford to go to classes or feel you can't attend classes you can get very good DVDs online(you might find a DVD in a charity shop) with yoga classes you do at home.  The meditation is very calming. This would be an easy way to improve your whole regime in the fight over the menopause.
 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginners-Yoga-Beyond-Elements-Foundation/dp/B007JVWXI0/ref=sr_1_4's=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1396082708&sr=1-4&keywords=yoga
hope this is helpful.  DG x

[ellie66]

Dandelion- I was not thinking of you attending regularly just a one off appointment so the Consultant could write and tell your GP what to prescribe! 

At least you are on Femston for now which is a very, very close second to Oestrogel and Utrogestan.

[honeybun]

And I also feel it's important to point out that utrogestan does not suit everyone. I tried it vaginally and ended up with a very painful bladder.

It's very much the case of what suits one does not suit all. I do really well on Evoril conti and the bladder problems are no more.

Just because your GP will not prescribe this type of HRT does not mean what you are using is lesser in any way. I think from what you have said you are on the maximum dose. Any more may take you into unsafe levels. Perhaps your GP suspects you may be tempted to keep on upping the amount of gel in the pursuit of being completely symptom free. I think you are safer on the HRT that you are on as no HRT will ever get rid of every single meno symptom.

Honeyb
x

[Dandelion]

Hi Ladies

Well, another day gone without any flushes.
I hear what you are all saying about not going onto oestrogel and utrogestan.
If things keep the way they are going at the moment, I will be happy.
The magnesium malate is even better than the magnesium citrate for getting rid of flushes in my view.
Apparently the vit b helps with oestrogen so maybe that is also making more oestrogen available.

[ellie66]

Vitamin B6 is good, odd you say that I restarted it last night.

[ellie66]

Dandelion- You have got me back into supplements now. Yes B6 seems an excellent one to take. I have just been doing some reading about it. You are right it does effect oestrogen. It increases dopamine which lowers prolactin which increases oestrogen.  There are research papers on it