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[Happysol]

Hello ladies
Am new here but have been looking for while I was finally diagnosed with early menopause in January of this year after having no periods for over a year.  Confusion with diagnosis was because my symptoms started when my baby was 9months old (night sweats) and I was 43.  Finally started HRT Premique 0.625/5mg which I think is 'medium' from the info on this website. Has stopped night sweats and flushes has helped with mood (but not 100%) and my sleep is now normal - to experience mood swings for the first time ever was frightening and thought losing my mind!  So all in all good.  But I still have vaginal dryness, just had thrush and my libido is flat (and its not due to tiredness as I first presumed), about 2 months into taking the HRT my breasts have swollen and can get tender.  I'm due to go back to GP for a review and I would like to know whether my symptoms are as good as they are going to get no matter what brand or type HRT.  Should I be thinking about another brand or should I continue for another 3 months to give it time.  The HRT has been great but I would say about 70%.  Sorry if I sound ungrateful as I know many women may not get the symptoms improvements that I've had. Also. Should I be having any blood tests or bone scans?  Thanks x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and Welcome Happysol
I became menopausal after having my second baby and I was in my mid 30s. They have clearly diagnosed you as post menopausal as you have been given a continuous HRT which may well be appropriate - but of cause they have given you the cheapest on the market and it's not the most natural form of HRT.
At 43 it is vital you use HRT to protect your heart and bones so you will need to be using HRT until at least 50 and possibly beyond. It's therefore very important you find the right HRT for you. You may need to kiss a few HRT frogs until you find your prince!!! They usually say you should stick with a particular HRT for 3 months before trying something else and as you are already feeling better I would give this the full 3 months
Do read up all the info under the headings to the left of this screen - unfortunately GPs are not always clued up about he different HRT options so you may need to print stuff off and show it to the doc. Dip into some of the threads for more info as well.
After trying various HRTs I ended up using Oestrogel with separate progesterone pills but I used this in a sequential form -  I used the oestrogel every day and took the progesterone for 10 days each month to produce a withdrawal bleed.  Some women prefer to still have a withdrawal bleed as progesterone taken continuously can give more negative side effects - it will depend on whether you prefer to have some form of cycle?!!
Sore breasts are quite common, particularly on conti HRT, so again, going onto the sequi HRT can be a better option.
If you want to stick to pills then Femoston (either conti or sequi) is very popular as the progesterone is kinder and causes fewer side effects.
For the vaginal dryness you need to use some local oestrogen like Vagifem  - many women have to use both full HRT and local oestrogen to help prevent UTIs and vaginal infections.
Hopefully others will be along soon with advice and help.
Keep posting.  DG x 

[Cassie]

I too went through early meno, seeing as you are going to be on HRT for so much longer, I would strongly advise one of the more friendlier, bio identical types such as the gel combined with Utrogestan for the progesterone side, which you use cyclically in order to get a bleed. The Premique will relieve symptoms, but is one of the older HRTs and is manufactured from the urine of pregnant mares, really, there are safer and more user friendly ones which you can try...all the best, I am sure that you will love the gel if you give it a go as you are able to adjust the dosage according to your symptoms, you do need HRT, being so young, very important!

[Nina]

Hi!

Everyone is different aren't they, certainly one size doesn't fit all.  I first started on prempak too when I was 41. I felt brilliant and would have stayed on it if it wasn't for all the scare stories on here ha ha.

Anyway then went on to femseven patches but didn't like them at all - bastards kept falling off, and were a constant visual reminder off my status which I was none too pleased about either!  Also you have to keep them out of the sun, and as the best place to use them without falling off was my shin <sexy> I dreaded summer and holidays etc.

So then I tried elleste duet 1mg which was okay but still left me stressy, irrational and panicky.  The doctor upped it to 2mg and I now feel lovely again!!!

With regards to vaginal dryness I too suffered with this. My doctor kept saying that once my hrt was sorted it would get better; and you know what? It has.  I mean let's face it though I'm never going to be able to have a <tmi alert> quickie without lube but I feel it's got as better as it's going to get. It doesn't hurt anymore. I'm all woman again

I was prescribed replens but eww cottage cheese knickers is not attractive so then she gave me sylk which is better. Overall though we like coconut oil which has the added benefit of moisturiser too. Win win!!!

[Happysol]

Thanks ladies, it's good to know that I'm not alone.  Finding the right HRT I can see is going to be important - I have 2 children under 6 whose energy is formidable and I need to be as healthy as I can for their sake as much as mine and my hubbies
I went back to my GP and she prescribed Sylk for me and said she would consider adding in oestrogen if it did not improve in another 3-6months (have noted the Vagifem - thanks, but they could have thought of a better name??!!).  Nina - how long did it take before things felt less dry…..? She also prescribed another 6 months of Premique but I'll do some investigating on here about other types.  I had not realised that you could actually have a 'bleed' once you've stopped having periods, so I've a lot to learn! 
Maybe I will be kissing HRT frogs before I find my Prince

Once again thanks so much for the advice and support
x

[Butterfly22]

I started too after the birth of my daughter but was 25. I'm forty now and was on nouvelle for tens years but was discountined so last few years by trying to find a suitable one.
Only last couple of months I'm on the gel and ustrogen as seems kindest way to your body.
Also very versatile and easy to tweak to your needs.
Fingers crossed this works and hopefully you could try this as seems to be good reviews.
Good luck and sure if you need more help you can get it on here as been more useful then anything this site xx