Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[HappenstanceMarmite]

Anyone else see Autopsy want to say starring about the tragic sudden death of Joan Rivers? Despite the sadness surrounding what could possibly have been an avoidable death, a positive piece of information was inadvertently revealed. In the Pathologist's list of substances found in the body was an HRT drug. Sorry I forgot to write it down, but it began with "Prem".

Thing is, this marvellous woman was EIGHTY ONE YEARS OLD!!!

81 and still on HRT ☺️  they'll have to wrench my meds from my clawed dead hand

[andius]

LOL!!!  Very popular drug in US.  I have tried a lot of different types of HRT and all have a drawback of some kind for me, some more tolerable than others.

So far I have steered clear of this drug even though my 30ish Gyn has tried to push it on me multiple times. Remember that she was 15ish when that study came out, but the medical training here is still teaching and advocating its use.  So there must be some reason it is still in use....maybe it works well and has less side effects since it is not a "human" estrogen? Many of my older family members are on it or have been on it.  No one seems to understand why I mess around with the patches, progesterone, etc. because they all love it.

It will be the last thing I try if I can't get settled on anything else.

[andius]

 My major issues with menopause are mainly bladder related and vaginal atrophy, but also insomnia. Since I have a uterus, I have to take progesterone to protect the uterine lining if I take systemic estrogen to treat this. Local estrogen does not work for me to solve the problem.

 I am allergic to the cream forms of local vaginal estrogen (its the fillers that are a problem for me). Vagifem is not enough to treat the problem. Estring is uncomfortable and seems to cause thrush. Estriol is not strong enough either.  Without any systemic HRT I have constant vulvar and urethral irritation and cannot sleep. Therefore, I must take systemic HRT to sleep well and  overcome the estrogen deficient changes in my genito-urinary tract, and thus also have to take progesterone.

Progesterone makes me have a burning bladder and urethra. When I need to go to the bathroom, all I feel is more burning rather than the usual urge feeling, it is like a constant UTI. It also makes me feel like I have a lot of bugs biting me when I get hot and sweat (I live in a hot, humid climate) or take a hot shower.  I have tried it in many forms with the same issue, so this spring I changed to synthetic progesterone.

The synthetic progesterone called norethisterone makes my hair fall out. It also makes my sinuses run constantly and makes me gag. The bug biting issue does not occur and the bladder irritation is barely noticeable except when I don't drink enough fluids. I recently lowered the combination patch to see if that would help and it did, but now the low estrogen changes are coming back. Every type I have tried also makes me gain at least 5 lbs but I can live with that. I have tried several times going without and within 4 mo it is just a miserable life with raw feelings constantly down below. Nothing helps but systemic estrogen.

[TheDuchess]

andius

The type of HRT that starts with Pre (Premarin) is old fashioned and less safe. It's made from mares' urine (hence the name,)
It is thought to have more side effects. It's prescribed more in the US. It's very cheap and some GPs reach for it because it's the only one they have heard of and don't know what else to offer.
Nearly all HRT now is body-identical and is made with oestrogen that is the same as we'd have naturally (molecular structure.)

If you react badly to synthetic progestogens you could try micronised progesterone - trade name Utrogestan- and even talk to your dr about having long cycle HRT which would reduce how often you took  progesterone. If you are using a combined patch are you adding in norethisterone too- or did you mean the patch contains norethisterone?

[bramble]

andius

The type of HRT that starts with Pre (Premarin) is old fashioned and less safe.

Not sure I would agree with the second half of that statement. It is still around presumably because it still works. Drug companies are quick to replace something that is not popular. In my case, it was the best of all HRTs that I tried - dealt with the symptoms and caused little if any side effects.
Bramble

[TheDuchess]

Or maybe it's still around because it's cheap to produce and sell ? Surely it is logical to replace our own oestrogen with some that is the same rather than what a horse has?
Might be worth reading this- just the RESULTS AND CONCLUSION which summarises the results of CEE and synthetic progestogens versus body-identical.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19179815

[bramble]

Just because it is cheap does not mean it is less efficient.

Bramble

[TheDuchess]

Okay, well ignore that and read the link and that will show you why I'd not touch it.

[Briony]

What side effects have you had from your hrt's? I know many of you are on it but there don't seem to be many who haven't had to try several and still aren't completely happy and free if problems.just wondering what sort if side effects people are living with that makes it worthwhile.

Hi Teresa

Not sure how old you are or your symptoms, but in answer to your question:

I tried patches with separate Utrogestan, chosen because it was bio identical. Had dull head ache first few weeks but then slowly began to feel better than I had done in a while. My only issue was that when I stopped the 12 days of Utrogestan, I had a dip.

Switched to a low dose bio identical contraceptive. Had severe itching for 48 hours at the start, but that soon went. Felt much better after a few months and noticed my hair was no longer dropping out. I was thrilled! Taking it  didnt make me 100% 'old me' - for example, I still get nausea and sudden fatigue/the chills sometimes - but nothing like I did previously. I think starting it  took the fear/anxiety away as well.  The only longer term side effect is spotting, especially mid month.

What I have tried isnt perfect, but it's a massive improvement on what I had tried previously (the alternative, more natural route). Must add to that, though, that our hormones are unique and what works and doesnt work for me may well be totally different for you.

[andius]

response to THE DUCHESS:

The combination patch I am taking has norethisterone in it.....not adding anything, but would love to add more estrogen!!!!   Unfortunately, the only other dose available comes with same estrogen and higher norethisterone, for breakthrough bleeding, which I have never had in 6 years on any type of HRT.

When I mentioned progesterone in post above, I am meaning natural micronized progesterone as in utro (UK) or promethium (US) or compounded oral products of natural micronized progesterone. The only synthetic progesterone I have tried is norethisterone in the combipatch but also tried a couple of years ago in the oral combo pills (it was either .5mg or 1mg in the oral ones I tried).  When taking these orally, it made my muscles heart all over, bloating, hair fell out and I gained more weight than on the patch types. I also felt somewhat depressed.  I could never tolerate BCP's in my earlier years.

andius

[honeybun]

Duchess,
you seem to think that other types of HRT are so superior....but.. we are no more similar to yam or soya, then we are to horses, and bio identical is a misnomer, they are not human estrogens at all but chemically similar and synthesized in the lab.


It's certainly something to consider...,don't you think.


Honeybun
X

[Peterspots]

 🏇🍈🍨

[TheDuchess]

It's not what I think that is of any consequence, but what this paper - which I linked to previously- has to say on it.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19179815

Body-identical ( rather than mis-named bio) means exactly what you say HB- the same as our own, made in a lab, whereas mares' urine is not the same as humans.

I've considered it rather a lot , as has my consultant who prescribes it as a preference.

[honeybun]

And perhaps got it a bit wrong.

It's synthesised in a lab......not exactly natural.

If urine was collected from pregnant or fertile women and then synthesized in the lab then they might be able to make that claim.


Honeybun
X

[TheDuchess]

Sorry- who exactly has got what wrong?

The scientists who researched and wrote the paper?

Or consultants who are far more qualified than you or me?

I'm not sure I understand your point.