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[lisalashes]

 
Hi,
It's some time since I last posted but I'm looking for some advice from you wise ladies out there please? I am really struggling at the moment, I had my oophorectomy just over 12 months ago and have tried a few different hrt tablets and the progesterone in them have given me very similar if not the same symptoms to the severe pmt that I had the operation for in the first place!
Therefore I have ended up not taking anything at all which has resulted in frequent hot flashes and zero libido.
I am in a real quandary, my mum has recently been diagnosed with endometrial cancer so I am now concerned that by not taking any HRT that I am putting myself at increased risk.
Please can anyone help, I am so desperate?! 😣

Lisa x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi lisalashes
Do tell us which HRt preparations you have tried.  HAve you read up all the info on this site including the section on the different types of progesterone? Have you tried Utrogeston with separate oestrogen in gel or patch form?  This is bio identical and is often tolerated better because it's more natural. 
In a combined pill form Femoston is another good one to try - have you tried this?.
Have you been offered a Mirena?  This might be a good option for you as, after the first few weeks, far less progesterone is absorbed around the body. 
As to your risk of endometrial, I would get some advice about this for reassurance.  My mother had Vulva cancer and that really scares me - I'm hoping that local oestrogen will keep things healthy around my vulva area and hopefully prevent this happening to me. DG x

[Taz2]

Hi lisalashes. It must be very upsetting to have had your op only to find that you are still suffering symptoms if you use HRT. It would have been better for your consultant to have also recommended hysterectomy at the same time I would have thought as then you would not have needed the progesterone. Sometimes I wonder whether they actually look at the whole picture?

As DancingGirl says there are different types of HRT for you to try so don't give up yet! Sorry to hear about your mum's diagnosis and I hope that she recovers well. I'd just like to say that I don't believe you are putting yourself at increased risk by not taking HRT. If the womb lining builds up this can lead to endometrial cancer but because you have had your ovaries removed there shouldn't be any build up of your womb lining. You only need to protect the endometrium if you are using HRT as this will stimulate it to grow by mimicking what the ovaries would be doing. I think that's right!

Taz x

[lisalashes]

Thanks so much Taz and DG for your advice!
I've got a doctors appointment this afternoon but I have lost faith in them to be honest.

I have tried the Mirena coil, femiston conti, livial and another hrt tablet that I can't remember the name of and each one of them made me feel like a banshee!

I'm scared to try anything else containing progesterone/progestin for fear of the side affects...I really wish I had been given a full hysterectomy,my gp knew that I was unable to tolerate progesterone so I really don't understand?

Lisa x

[Taz2]

Was it your GP who told you that if you had your ovaries removed then your symptoms would stop and was your consultant helpful in explaining things? Also did you have treatment to shut your ovaries down before they were removed? This should be offered to you as it puts your body into the same state it would be in once your ovaries had gone and you could then see if it would be useful for you. I hope the doc listens to you this afternoon.

Taz x

[Taz2]

I've also found this info taken from the Oxford Journal - the whole article is a bit wordy but this part seems to relate to you

" It is arguable that bilateral oophorectomy would be a simpler surgical method of treating severe PMS, leaving the uterus available if ovum donation is to be considered, but all patients were resolute in their view that they wanted no further pregnancies or periods and the necessary cyclical progestogen for endometrial protection would reproduce many of the cyclical symptoms of PMS.

Whilst we acknowledge that a hysterectomy may not be a necessity for the resolution of PMS symptoms, it facilitates estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) post-operatively. This is particularly important in this group of women as many are progestogen intolerant and, as we are rendering them menopausal at an early age, it is imperative that they are on a well-tolerated and effective form of ERT. Removing the uterus avoids the need for progestogens with their associated adverse effects, and avoids possible bleeding complications. Some have proposed that substances such as natural progesterone may not give rise to some of the adverse effects of synthetic progestogens, but unfortunately natural progesterone has not been shown to be convincingly protective against the effects of oestrogens on the endometrium (Vashisht et al., 2003).

Taz x 

[lisalashes]

Hi Taz

Yes, it was suggested by my gp that my ovaries be removed to stop the extreme pms I was suffering each month.
Before my operation I was given zoladex injections to "switch off" my ovaries, I was fine with this hence my oophorectomy.

If I'd known I would have to take hrt containing progesterone until I'm 50 (I'm now 44) I may have thought twice about having the op.

I don't want to feel sorry for myself but I do feel cheated!

Lisa x

[Taz2]

It does seem odd that you weren't also offered a hysterectomy. Have you tried without any HRT at all? I realise at your age that HRT is advised but if it really upsets your whole life then maybe you have to weigh up what's best for you? I'm not sure if you had a time after your op without HRT or whether you went straight onto it.

Taz x

[lisalashes]

I haven't been on any hrt for the last six months or so but have been experiencing horrible hot flushes and low libido, so feel that I need to be taking something, but am so confused and don't know what to ask my gp for? 

Lisa x

[Dancinggirl]

lisalashes - If I were you I'd try some Oestrogel(2 pumps per day) with Utrogestan for 10-12 days each month to see if that suits you.  Many women who are very progesterone intolerant find they are OK on Utrogestan. If this is no good then you may just have to concentrate on diet, exercise and supplements to protect your heart and bones or try to persuade them to do a full hysterectomy. I think you have been let down about this - if they had done the full hyster you would have been ok on the oestrogen alone.
Keep us posted.  Dg x

[lisalashes]

Hi again!

Saw my Gp yesterday afternoon had a good chat about how I was feeling etc and he has prescribed me Evorel Conti patches to try.

I am a little apprehensive and haven't put my first patch on yet but I suppose I should at least give them a go!

Lisa x

[lisalashes]

Oh well fast forward three weeks on evorel conti patches and I've turned into a horrible emotional banshee again.....I give up!!!! 

[Dancinggirl]

I think any conti HRt will have this effect for you as you will be having progesterone continuously which is probably what gave the problems in the first place. AS I suggested before, Utrogestan may be your last option but I would only take this for 12 days each month and then have a withdrawal bleed. I'd even ask if you can use a half dose of 100mg fro 12 days to see how you feel. You may need to see a specialist gynae privately (someone who specialises in the menopause) to get this regime as many GPs don't know about Utogestan (micronised progesterone).
As others have said, I don't understand why they didn't do a full hysterectomy, as removing your ovaries was really pointless if you then needed progesterone!!!  Very odd - I would definitely be asked to be referred back to the specialist to query this and ask their advice about the best way forward.
Keep us posted.  DG x

[peegeetip]

Hi Lisa

sorry but after 3 weeks is just not going to give you the results you want.

A lot of people say 3 months before we are getting back into the zone.

For me it was 6 months before things settled.

Given that my body was probably all over the place for years, having to wait 6 months for stability was an easy price to pay

Hope you get some relief soon.

You have two immediate options at the moment:
1) go back to sequi option like femoston medium strength.
2) goto an option with utrogestan

Giving up this early in the process seems to be a regular post within the forum.
Sometimes it just a case of gritting our teeth and giving it a fight till we feel better.

All the best for now

 

[Hurdity]

Hi lisalashes

I definitely agree that it would be better to be on cyclical HRT especially at first so that you can find out which progestogen you can tolerate best - and yes to give it a bit more time too.

Hurdity x