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[woo]

Hi all
I am 52 and perimenopausal  and I am looking for a little advice please.

My periods were on and off for a year then 6 months with nothing so my consultant put me on the Evorel Conti patch in April 2014. Apart from a little spotting now and again all has been going well until a couple of months ago….

I started spotting every couple of weeks, cold sores every couple of weeks (which can be linked to menstrual cycle sometimes) then last week I had severe itching down below for several days, (I treated is as thrush but not sure it was) very painful breasts, and a couple of days ago a full blown period started, just like they used to be, heavy and very painful. (I also have Endometriosis)

I am due to see the gynea next week to have an internal scan to check the thickness of the womb lining but this was arranged weeks ago before these problems so it probably won't be thick now. He also mentioned possibly doing a Hysteroscopy at some point.

I am not sure what to do about the HRT, do I stop it, if so how? I have heard that you have to cut down gradually.   Do I try something different, if so what?  I also have Osteoporosis but don't like the sound of the Biophosphanates .

If I do stop how long does it take to get back to normal?

All I know is I feel awful and need to do something, any advice would be great, thanks.

woo 

[Hurdity]

Hi woo

 

Sorry to hear about your problems and discomfort.

Have you considered getting a Mirena coil? This delivers progestogen directly to the uterus lining and very little elsewhere - but maybe you need to take the progestogen systemically so that it acts on any residual deposits due to your endometriosis? I don't know about the different types of HRT and this condition.

If you weren't at menopause when you started HRT ( and you may not have been since it wasn't 12 months since your last period) then additional periods are quite likely. Because you are on Evorel conti the continuous progestogen probably prevents the lighter ones ie no bleed but the ones that would have been heavier break through the (no-bleed) HRT

Regarding the itching - if you don't have an infection then this could well be due to reduced oestrogen causing vaginal atrophy - do go along as soon as you can to your doc to have Vagifem prescribed for this as it is a long term condition of post-menopause and won't go away on its own.

I would carry on with your HRT and have the scan as planned - even though you're having a period. it will be good for the doc to see what's going on.

I also think you need specialist advice regarding changing HRT because of your endometriosis.

Sorry I can't help any more but hope you manage to get sorted soon - do keep posting and let us know how you get on.

Hurdity x

[Kathleen]

Hello woo.

I don't really have anything practical to add to Hurdity's post but I wanted to welcome you to the forum, you are in good company here.

Take care and keep posting.

K.

[woo]

Hi Hurdity & Kathleen

Thanks for the welcome and for you advice. 

I had the mirena fitted a few years ago but had it removed after 3 weeks as it caused too much pain.

It's very interesting what you said about the HRT preventing the lighter periods but not the heavier ones, it has definitely been building for a while. The reason I went on the HRT was because I was having lots of hot flushes,  lack of concentration, moods swings etc  etc  all of which it helped with.

Thankfully the itching has stopped after using canesten and the vagisil cream, if it was thrush it was very different to how previous thrush episodes have been, never known an itch like it!

I have been seeing my gynaecologist for over 14 years and he is brilliant, he has guided me through all the Endo stuff and into menopause so I trust him completely, he recommended this site to me a while ago but I have only recently started looking.

One other thing I meant to ask is, are skin rashes associated with HRT or menopause?

Thanks
woo