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[merlinthecat]

Hello everyone.  I'm 53 and have been menopausal for just over 3 years. 

My periods stopped suddenly when I was 30, no reason, not an early menopause, just "one of those things".  I had my children early so I wasn't bothered, in fact I was quite pleased!

Then 3 years ago the menopause hit me like a speeding train.  Hot flushes, awful night sweats, headaches, mood swings and lack of sleep.  I was determined not to take HRT, I'd heard all sorts of scare stories about breast cancer and I'm not a great medication taker anyway.  After a year of complete Hell, I got chatting to a lady at swimming who had spent a lot of money on a private gynaecologist.  She recommended I look into HRT patches, as they had been recommended for her too.

I went to see my GP and he agreed as he knew how much I was struggling.  I've had 2 years on Estrodot patches and things greatly improved.  I still get hot and cold sometimes, and still bake most nights, but it's acceptable and was getting better.

Then my Mirena coil needed replacing last month as it had been in for over 5 years, and another GP suggested removing it and having a combined patch instead.  I've had Evorel Conti for a month and last week went for a check up blood test.  The GP rang on Friday to say my oestrogen level has dropped to 42!  She said it makes me very prone to osteoporosis, and I'm already osteopenic and take calcichew and have regular bone scans.  Her recommendation is to take progesterone pills and go back to an oestrogen only patch.   

I'm seing my own GP on Thursday to discuss things, but hope that someone here might have some words of advice first?  Thank you in advance

[CLKD]

   have a browse of the menus, left of screen.  I don't take HRT but am sure someone will be along soon!

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM merlincat
If your periods stopped when you were 30 why weren't you put on HRT then?  How odd!!! My periods became erratic and stoppe din my mid 30s and I was told to start HRt to protest my heart and bones.  Did your GP not get tests done back then to check your hormone levels to see if you were oestrogen deficient!!!! If you are already having trouble with bone density this may be as a result of the oestrogen deficiency so, yes, HRT is probably very important for you now to help reduce any further bone loss.  If you were happy on the Mirena then I would have another fitted and still use patches for the oestrogen.  The combined HRT Patches containing both oestrogen and progesterone can bring more side effects. The Mirena offers more local absorption of the progesterone so is often better tolerated. It sounds as though your weren't absorbing the oestrogen from the Evorel conti patches - sometimes they don't stick so well and this can effect absorption.
Do read up all the info under the headings to the left of this screen. Hope that helps.
DG x

[merlinthecat]

Thank you for your replies!

I lived in a different part of the country when I was 30 and had a struggle to even get blood tests done to see if I was menopausal then.  I had a biopsy done under general anaesthetic 5 years ago to check what was going on in my womb.  That consultant didn't suggest HRT either, how odd. I'll definitely read the info here and be better prepared for Thursday

[CLKD]

5 years is a long while in medicine 

Take a list of symptoms etc. to your appt.!

[Hurdity]

Hi merlinthecat

  from me too

Hurdity x