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[Hurdity]

Hi Vivasunflower (I have a thing about writing names in full !)

You asked about the Pill. The one that contains bio-identical oestrogen (that Briony is using) is called Qlaira. It is one of only two brands that contain estradiol so more "natural" than all the others.  Here is the leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/21700 They all have synthetic progestogens but maybe these will affect you less than the Mirena if you feel this is a problem?

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

Oh I posted before seeing you reply after I started mine!

The thing about your symptoms is that the mini pill will only give you contraception and will not give you oestrogen which is what is declining (as well as fluctuating) during peri-menopause.

I think it's a good idea to see where your body is but probably at least 4 weeks to see if you are still having periods (not sure how long the resdiual effects of Mirena lasts?) or at least wait a bit longer until another period if one doesn't turn up in 4 weeks.

Have you always suffered from migraines and are they the aura type? If they are hormonal then surely taking HRT/the Pill is OK?

Anyway do keep posting and let us know how you get on - when you have time between looking after your little boy!

Hurdity x

[Vivasunflower]

Hi Hurdity, and thank you 

The thing about your symptoms is that the mini pill will only give you contraception and will not give you oestrogen which is what is declining (as well as fluctuating) during peri-menopause.]

So yes this is the thing Hun, it all depends on what happens with re-testing my hormone levels. If they show up normal again then GP will obviously say my oestregen is fine and there is no need for any re-enforcement of any kind.

Have you always suffered from migraines and are they the aura type? If they are hormonal then surely taking HRT/the Pill is OK?

I have always believed them to be hormonal, I get blurred vision and sensitivity to light, so not sure really?

I think it's a good idea to see where your body is but probably at least 4 weeks to see if you are still having periods (not sure how long the resdiual effects of Mirena lasts?) or at least wait a bit longer until another period if one doesn't turn up in 4 weeks.

I think at least a month is probably for the best as my symptoms are so erratic anyway, so when I start to come out of this black mood I'm in now, I won't know whether it is down to having the Mirena removed or it was when it would have lifted anyway YK? So I could do with seeing myself through a full cycle really.

I will keep posting for sure.

 

x.

[GypsyRoseLee]

So glad you are feeling more positive. I remember my mood improved a lot within a day or two of having the Mirena taken out. I felt calmer and more contented.

I am not the expert Hurdity is, but if you are hoping to control your moods and get them stable again I would think you need a combined dose of oestrogen and progesterone every day?

I thought hormonal migraines were caused by drops in hormone levels, so taking the same dose of hormones through out the month should stop the drops/rises?

[Vivasunflower]

Thank you. I agree Hun, but if the next batch of bloods say that my hormone levels are okay again, what do I do? I'm not going to get any help from my GP, I will have to trust what they say. Just hoping to pick up drastically soon without the Mirena. My lower back aches badly this morning but my mood is better.

x.

[Hurdity]

Hi again Vivasunflower

The point about blood tests is that when you are in peri-menopause they vary so much so may not necessarily show anything on one test. Also other hormones (that are not measured) start to change before there are changes in periods, and some women are more sensitive to these changes.

Re the migraines - I only started to get these when I was late reproductive stage ie before changes in periods but pms became awful. I didn't know they were migraines - but in retrospect they were. Mine just like you - sensitivity to light (but not blurred vision) and sound, nausea, thick head, exhaustion, sugar cravings, persistent headache that would wake me in the night. Lasts 3 days.  I didn't even mention them when I went about HRT. If they are hormonal then this is no contra-indication for HRT but transdermal methods (patch or gel) are preferred. Here is what it says on this site about migraines:

Migraine is often triggered by hormonal fluctuations and therefore may occur around the time of a period. Such migraine may improve at the time of the menopause. Some women find that migraine may be triggered by the daily hormone fluctuations which can occur with oral (tablet) HRT so the transdermal (patch or gel) route is usually preferred with a history of migraine.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossM

As GypsyRoseLee says a more consistent dose of oestrogen should help prevent your mood dips - but if you start HRT you would still be given a form of HRT that gives a cyclical bleed and intermittent progestogen ( ie approx 2 weeks out of 4). There are women who can tolerate progestogens who have been given the POP as well as HRT to even out the progesterone fluctuations in a similar way to continuous combined HRT - but personally I wouldn't want to be on progesterone all the time.

 I am not especially expert but several of us on here who are well post-meno and in late 50's or 60's have been on HRT a long time so have read quite a bit about it all! Happy to pass on anything which might be helpful!

Hurdity x

[Vivasunflower]

Bless you for that detail Hurdity, I appreciate it very much. I am however still confused, because I was told yesterday that LSH and LH are always present in your blood once you enter peri meno, although I appreciate that other hormonal changes can take place before this and affect you. If I am the same once the Mirena is out of my system, I very much doubt I am going to get any help from my GP without those hormonal changes showing up in my blood  . It's possible it could be a long road of badgering and begging, but I guess I will see what the lady GP says tomorrow, I have never seen her before.

Thank you! 

[Vivasunflower]

Hi Ladies,

Just a little update. Today I am starting to feel better, but bleeding heavily. Whether or not this is because it's that time or it's mirena withdrawal I don't know. Whether or not I am feeling the cloud lift because the mirena is gone or it would have happened anyway is another mystery right now, so with that in mind I decided to cancel my GP appt today and I have re-booked for next Friday, so I have a better idea of what I need and what to say, as it's too soon to say whether the mirena was to blame for my symptoms in part or on the whole.

I am happy with my decision to have it removed though  .x.

[Hurdity]

Thanks for the update Vivasunflower and hope you continue to feel better. Do let us know what happens during the week and after your doc visit...

Hurdity x

[Vivasunflower]

Hello Ladies,

Well I feel like a bit of a fraud joining you, yet again. I saw the GP and gave her all the details. She said it does sound hormonal and that it is a lot of symptoms, but she suspects it's PMS. I asked her what my exact result from the hormone testing and my reading was only 7 and 30 is borderline, so I was no where near, so she said it isn't worth testing again at this point. I have never suffered badly from PMS so I guess this is my hormones preparing to launch into peri-meno and the changes that can lead up to that. I have started to take a synthetic eostregen pill as DH and I needed a plan moving forward. However I read that a natural eostregen pill can be helpful with this? I can't take the combined pill due to my migraines.The GP also said that she would recommend fluexotine if things don't improve with my mood. I am noting down what happens over the next month, and then I will go back and we will review.

My worst problem right now is with aching hips back and legs, especially at night, and the insomnia is hard to take. I am in the better part of the month for my mood, but I am irritable as hell sometimes.

I know this is now not your 'job' to advise strictly speaking, but I am hoping for some advise, as I figure maybe some of you launched into peri meno this way?

Still at a loss as to how to manage this  .

TIA

Vicki.x.

[CLKD]

A decrease in oestrogen can cause laxity of muscle groups = various aches and pains    : but not in all the joints at the same time, fortunately.  Did your GP prescribe the synthetic?

If your GP thinks it is pre menstrual syndrome what did she suggest?  …. I was told by NAPS to eat every 3 hours, even through the night: that's ever 3 hours, 24/7, 52/12.  The idea is not to increase what you eat but to spread good quality food throughout 24 hours.  Slow release foods, i.e. bananas, oats, porridge, granola can be useful to keep blood sugar levels more even.

Snacking on dried fruits and nuts helped me a lot. 

[Vivasunflower]

CLKD thank you! Eating through the night!? waking up to do so, that a bit bonkers isn't it? ha ha. I have only ever done that when pregnant  I have read that eating small, well and regularly helps. I have just started to cut caffeine too. My salt intake I will need to work on.

The pill I'm on was given by my local clinic where I had my Mirena removed. The GP said it was fine and one of the most tolerated options  . The only other thing she recommended was AD's if things don't improve.

Vicki.x.

[CLKD]

The idea is to nibble a biscuit if you walk across the landing and back    ……… [my puppy soon learned that there were biscuits to be had when she had been into the garden - at 3.00 a.m.  ]

[Vivasunflower]

Ha ha, I bet she did x.

[lyn]

Hi Vivasunflower,
I have just found an effective natural aid for my anxiety as I cannot tolerate AD's of any sort. It is called Nature's Own EQ Control but, as it is available here in Australia and I'm not sure you can get in in the UK, I will list the ingredients for you so you can find an equivalent if you are interested?
withania somnifera 1000mg
matricaria chamomilla 700mg
magnesium chelate 100mg
 pyridoxine (vit. B6) 25mg
I feel slightly sleepy on it, but it really does help with the anxiety! Like a miracle!
Best wishes and good luck.