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[edwina hughes]

Hi Lady's I am new to the site and new to HRT .
 I stopped my periods in November and started with the meno symptoms in may .manly vulva burning peeing none stop backache  and hot flushes that bring on really bad anxiety .
Saw my GP who put me on Ellest duo 2mgs felt great until the bleeding started anxiety through the roof heart thumping blood running down my legs into my shoes lol .couldn't get an appointment and waited 4 days for a call back .I was a nurse for 32 yr s so I understand how busy GP are but really!!!!. GP changed my hrt to tridestra 3m pack so no bleeds for 3m also use vagifem  10 mg pessary s which stopped the dryness and peeing and burning . .I am now on day 33 and the hot flushes are back and the anxiety is creeping in again feel so miserable with it ,I have had IBS all my adult life and when  I worry it gets bad I am wondering if I am absorbing the hrt ?
Does Tridestra  come in patches.? if not what would be similar ? my GP gave me diazapam for occasional use for anxiety I have had to use them one or twice so I don't wear a whole  in the carpet with my pacing up and down they are 5 mgs but I only take half a tablet .any advice would be great.Thank you xx
I recently gave up nursing after difficult 18m with a manager who bullied me, took 20 weeks of CBT to get over it so I understand I will be prone to anxiety but I have nothing to be worried about.
 I also take thyroxine as I have an under-active thyroid .
Just spoke to my GP who informs me there is no patch that would give me 3m bleeds so its monthly or stick to what I am on 

[Hurdity]

Hi edwina hughes

I answered on your other post - but I see you've given lots of information on this one!

The first thing is I have read that oral HRT interacts somehow with thyroid metabolism so that some women need to adjust their thyroid meds when on oral HRT. I made some notes on this somewhere but can't lay my hands on them - in this case perhaps patch HRT would be better for you.

Also, although there is no patch licensed for 3 monthly use, there are a few of us who opt to have a longer cycle - but I think it's safer to do this if you are post-menopausal when hormonal levels will not be fluctuating, and therefore less danger of the womb lining thickening. Also really should only be done under medical supervision.

For example I am 61 and about 6 or 7 years post-meno (not quite sure as I went onto HRT at just before 54 when my previous period was 5 months earlier). I use Estradot patches and for the progestogen part I use micronised progesterone ( Utrogestan 200 mg) vaginally for 12 days every 6-8 weeks. There are various ways to do this to lengthen the cycle but most who do so are under specialist gynaes - privately or through NHS menopause clinics. In my case I am lucky to have a knowledgeable and sympathetic specialist meno GP who is happy for me to remain on a two monthly cycle and remain on HRT.

The other thing is if you had heavy bleeding after one month on Elleste, then the bleeding after 10 weeks of unopposed oestrogen (ie before you start the progestogen phase) on Tridestra is likely to be much much heavier (unless that heavy bleed was due to your own hormonal fluctuations?). Personally I would find a monthly HRT that gave you minimal bleed but also reduced your symptoms to a manageable level, before lengthening your cycle.

For example my bleeds (after 2 months) are still far far less than my periods were - so I know it's OK to keep on woith this regime.

Do you see what I mean?

I hope this is helpful and do keep asking and posting

Hurdity x

[Suzyq]

You could have mirena with estrogen only patches which should not give you any bleeds! I am still peri but am on conti regime with estradot and daily ultrogestan - it works fab for me - I love it!

[honeybun]

Or you could use a conti patch which means no bleeds at all. It does take awhile to settle on a conti patch as breakthrough bleeds are common but if you can tolerate continuous progesterone then they are great.

If you look at the menu on the left it details out your choices.


Honeyb
x

[edwina hughes]

Hi everyone ,can I have a conti patch if I haven't been without periods for a year ? another bad morning woke up with heart thumping and flushes anxiety, don't wont to take diazpam  every day as it subsides as the day goes on. loose poo every-time I go to the loo or eat so not convinced hrt or my thyroxine is being absorbed . I have private medical insurance think I am going to see if my GP will refer me to a specialist .thanks for being there, so much easier realising I am not on my own .    


suzyq did your GP refer you to gyne or did you go privately.

 

[Hurdity]

Hi edwina hughes

It is not usual to precsribe a conti patch unless you are post-menopausal ie without periods for a year - the reason being that you are more likely to get unpredictable bleeds as your own cycle kicks in and out.

However the mirena coil also provides continuous progestogen (just like conti patches) which in effect is the same thing - but because it delivers the progestogen directly to the womb lining periods/bleeding eventually stop altogether.

Yes the absorption of oral meds are highly dependent on the behaviour of your own internal digestion etc and other things.

Hurdity x

[Suzyq]

I went private as I live in canada and it seems to be what you do (insurance pays for it!) I have had only 1 breakthrough bleed in 4 months and have been much more stable with continuous progesterone. I also cut back on my estrogen as this was giving me quite bad anxiety. If you are still having flushes though, it would seem you are not getting enough estrogen. Try to keep a diary so that you can see if there is a pattern!

Hope you feel better soon xxx

[CLKD]

 

[warwick01]

Suzi Q

As my anxiety is high when I'm taking the Oestrogel only Im looking to add a daily dose of utrogestron. what is your daily dose? and do you feel better?

W

[edwina hughes]

Hi warwick, my daily dose is 2mgs estriadiol valerate I  have this for 70 days with tridestra then i have medroxyprogesterone acetate 20mgs for 14 days then 7 placebo tablets  ,still having hot flushes but eating a biscuit or banana has stopped me being sick but feeling jittery today not full blown anxiety just upset and tearful . it normally gets better as the day goes on .how are you ?

[Suzyq]

I use 100mg ultrogestan (vaginally) every day. It took me 3-4 weeks to get used to this but then I felt good - much calmer. I just don't do well with estrogen only and the fluctuations in progesterone were making me feel awful most of the time. Now I sleep well and generally feel well.

[edwina hughes]

suzyq so glad you are feeling better.
 not sure what I am going to do.
 this is the second hrt I have tried both for over a month each.
 bleeding was terrible on ellest duo 2mgs but felt upbeat with it but had joint pain and breast tenderness.
GP changed me to tridestra  because the bleeding was so heavy pouring down my legs !!felt really OK on Tridestra  until week 5.not sure if its my own hormones mixed up with anxiety or just the settling in  phase ,still, got to try and be positive I am still better with HRT than without it xx