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[libra62]

Hi everyone

I'm 52 years old and its been a rollercoaster ups and downs I really need some advice as I have an appointment for docs next Wednesday and I feel my doc a male isn't so clued up about menopause so i need to go in there forarmed and probably will have to tell him what to prescribe hopefully he does have enough in meno though.
Basically my periods have been up and and irregular for the last 2 years. I didn't have a period since august last year and thought oh great I've finally hit meno period free but then whamm last week it came with avengence light for 4 days then really heavy and I'm still bleeding as we speak but took some nettles and iron to stem it which has been quite affective.its been almost 11 days now with bleeding .during all this I've been horribly tearful especially in the first 5 days moody and cryi g over anything and headaches for few days period pain also. The weird thing is I don't hardly get hot flushes,only sometimes during the month. I'm really not sure which type of hormone I need I know I Deco need these periods to be light and less painful or better still have no period at all .can anyone please advice me on what tonadk doc for.I don't think I need oestrogen I never did get on with oestrogen in the past when I tried combined contraception I was good on micronor the mini pill.
Thanks for any help in advance

X

[CLKD]

  ……. have a browse of the menus, top of screen and make notes. Some GPs will listen, others go their own way  …… there is medication to stop heavy bleeding too which you may require.

Some GPs try to give ladies anti-depressant medication when these symptoms are in fact, hormonal.  Some do help with hot flushes if necessary.

Hormone blood tests are reliably unreliable  . You need to make sure you have a good diet, keep hydrated, exercise when possible to protect your bones. 

Let us know how you get on!

[libra62]

Hi thanks for your advice. I really wont take antidepressants. Don't think they are necessary for meno tbh. I'm thinking maybe a mini contraceptive progestrone only .would that help reduce the bleeding perhaps and regulate my cycle? I can't take oestrogens it gives me headache an raises bp.unless there are any other meds that would help I've tried Tranexacid but they upset my tummy and can't be taken long term.

[Hurdity]

Hi libra62

 

If you didn't have a period since last August it may be that they are well on their way out by now and this current one is one of the last gasps so to speak.

This being the case it wouldn't be advisable to have progesterone all the time (without adding oestrogen) because it can over-thin the uterus - especially the synthetic types. Personally I would not take the mini-pill at this stage without extra oestrogen. What type of oestrogen did you try?

Have you thought about having a Mirena coil - which delivers progesterone directly to the uterus - and controls bleeding, but at the same time having some extra oestrogen, and acting as a contraceptive? If you have blood pressure problems then transdermal HRT is recommended - which wouldn't upset your digestion like tablet HRT. Here is what it says about high blood pressure and HRT on this site:

Hypertension   
    Blood pressure should be measured and, if high, should be controlled prior to starting HRT. Blood pressure measurement should be repeated 3 months after starting HRT and is then usually checked at annual review. There is a very small risk of conjugated equine estrogens causing a rise in blood pressure which resolves on cessation of treatment. In the presence of controlled hypertension, HRT is unlikely to worsen control; some recommend using transdermal (patch or gel) HRT.
    Sage should be used with caution if hypertensive and St.John's Wort should be used with caution if taking antihypertensive therapy.

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossH

At this stage in your life it's important to look at your whole lifestyle and diet and make changes to enable you to keep as healthy as you can as you enter this phase of your life, as CLKD says, and especially to stop smoking, reduce alcohol, increase exercise and maintain weight within the healthy BMI range - along with a healthy diet.  There is a lot of information on this site: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diet.php
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/weightgain.php

Hope this helps 

Hurdity x

[libra62]

Hi hurdity
Is it usual to not have a period for 8 months then have a bad heavy one that drags on for days I've been so emotional worse than before and really fired up and grumpy with everyone  I embarresed my poor daughter today in tesco ranting at the staff as I was queing and only 1 person on checkout, lol she was mortified . I don't want mirena as i m such a wimp i can't be doing with having gadgets inserted as had bad experience in the past with a coil that refused to come out when doc had to remove it after 5 years. I'm going docs next week please can you advise what I should be asking for as in type of hormones progest and\or oestrogen. I think I prefer patch or gel as less side affects .I would really love to do away with periods all together as haste the heavy bleeding it makes me so anxious I have panic attacks. All this whole meno phase is making me do obsessive about my health I worry about everything .

Sorry to rant on I really appreciate your advice.also I'm all in favour with the Biodentical hormones I'm in UK can you suggest any low dose patch or gels i can ask doc for tbh I don't feel he  is that clued up on hrt I'll wait and see what he says .
Xx

[libra62]

Hi I forgot to mention the oestrogen I had was years ago when I was on combined contraceptives it gave me bad migraines think it was called ovrenette. Also when I visit docs and he takes bp its high when I'm in there as I'm so anxious I'm worried he will refuse to give me hrt

[CLKD]

Buy a home BP kit from Boots.  Use it before breakfast at the same time each day.  Note the readings, you probably have 'white coat syndrome' 

[libra62]

Hi there
Yes good idea I'll do this and yes I think its white coat too I have told doc this before.
X

[CLKD]

Taking your list of readings to the Surgery may confirm what we know already 

[Hurdity]

Hi libra62

There is no "normal" when it comes to periods, length and frequency in the time leading up to menopause! However if you are worried that it is a particuarly heavy period after so long without one, then do mention this to your doc. A good sign that there is nothing to worry about is whether you had pms symptoms leading up the the bleed? From your description it sounds like this is the case - re moods, headaches, being weepy etc.

Ah - well the CCP uses high doses of synthetic oestrogens and HRT used much lower doses and the oestrogen is mostly bio-identical (estradiol) provided you avoid the types beginning "Pre" which contain equine oestrogens and made from horse urine.

Usually you would be offered an HRT to induce a bleed until you;ve been 12 months without a period, but at your agem and because you went without one for 8 months, the doc may try you on a continuous combined ( no bleed) type, to try. Sometimes with this type there is irregular spotting or bleeding initially but it should settle after a few months.

The patches are listed here ( the no-bleed types) - scroll down:

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

There are two patches - Evorel conti (changed twice weekly) and Femseven conti (changed weekly). They contain the same oestrogen but different progestogen. Some women have problems keeping the Femseven stuck on all week. Other than that a tablet HRT that is well tolerated is Femoston. The conti version is listed under Low Dose on the same page.

Read as much as you can about it before you go and write down ( or print off) the ones you are interested in trying.

Hope this helps and good luck with the doc. 

Hurdity x

[libra62]

Thank you so much for great advice hudity very much appreciated. I shall make a list with all symptoms and meds you suggest and hopefully doc will be most helpful. its really strange as I wascfeeling quite OK and happy when I was period free but getting the period after nothing for 8 months seems to have me like a ton of bricks ,emotionally ,physically and mentally . so many symptoms and I kept crying over anything basically ive been a wreck with moods and rageing anger. .
Meno is the bane of my life right now.
X

[libra62]

Hi again hudity
I've just had a read of the differant preparations on the link you sent me thank you.
I've noted down a few can I ask you is the low dose everol continue combined with the 2 hormones needed? Not sure whether to try patch or tabs as I rather have somethi g with less side affe ts can you please advise .not sure what dosages also ultra low or low.

Xx

[Hurdity]

Hope you managed to sort something out at your doctor's visit libra62 - do let us know how you got on?

Hurdity x

[libra62]

Hi hurdity

Yes went docs this morning he was actually very lovely and helpful.He prescribed me everol continue as with age and the fact I went 8 months with no bleeds,he said not to sorry that I had sudden bleed . I'm having to wait until tommorw for my patches as chemists pharmacy didn't have them in stock ,they are on order ,so I'll collect tomorrow.
Must say am bit nervous of taking hrt as scared of any bad effects. Howeever I was fine on micronor which was pregestron only pill I. Past and I understand that everol conti has same but less in it so hopeing I'll be fine . I will update with progress on here fingers crossed it suits me .

Xx

[libra62]

Please excuse spelling on previous message its my iPad keyboard running riot again lol. I meant to say doc gave me everol conti patches
X