Hurdity, Thanks for your thoughts/advice on this - Agree that six weeks Utro use is too often. I can well imagine that having the heavy bleeds is not ideal, I really couldn't get on with those and I had awful pain too when on higher dose patch - that is why I ended up going right down to 12.5 - and I had more migraines on the higher dose.
Yes, well remembered - a good while ago, I did have endo thickening to 10mm when I re-started on a 12.5 patch (plus Vagifem) after a break of HRT, trying to come off - and had to take two courses of progesterone and have scans. The clinic were surprised and said it was a strange occurrence with such a low level of estrogen - and that I am a tough case to treat as I'm (ridiculously) super sensitive to any hormonal change. Also I suspect other undiagnosed endocrine issues.
I hardly have any withdrawal bleed with 6 weekly Utro use - this I like! - I did wonder if the Utro 100s weren't strong enough and not shedding the lining totally, but scans showed it at 4mm - so all okay - hoping that this will be case after the longer gap.
Not sure if I will increase the estrogen as my biochemistry is so unpredictable - and then more estrogen would mean more progesterone and more often usage - and I prefer Utro 100 to 200. (They still make me feel horrible though!)
It's baffling how each use of Utro can be different, depending on what, I ask myself? - that's good that you've felt well this time - hmm... wonder if it's due to the added testosterone - interesting... have you felt any other benefits of using test?
A while back, I did try testosterone for quite a few months, maybe I didn't persevere for long enough, it just made me more ratty and not much else - to use it now I would be worried about it increasing circulating test and hair loss.
Clinic said estrogen acts like a protective cap and once meno hits, the cap is off and if you inherit susceptibility to Female Pattern Hair Loss, then the ratio of estro to test changes - test converts to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which damages and miniaturises the hair follicles - however (sadly) adding in extra estro doesn't redress imbalance and stop the hair loss. DHT is the enemy of hair. On every blood test my test is very low - still enough to wreck my hair however!
In spite of all this, I'm now thinking about your suggestion - that maybe I would be better on 25 patch in the future (and Utro 100 if the clinic would allow) ... will I ever settle, I ask myself ...
The 'dad stress' must be contributing, he's just getting worse, more difficult to deal, no solutions - guess I just have to learn to cope with it.
Thanks to All for your thoughts/comments.
Night_Owl
x
ps - I always make so many mistakes when I post and have to go back and correct d'oh!!! mushy brain.