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[momlet]

Hello all, 

I have found this forum totally invaluable over the last few months but have only just joined.  I am 50 but realise I have been peri since my early 40's and have been given everything under the sun except HRT.  I have suffered a lot with hormones, having severe PMT at different stages, 2 years of PND after childbirth and have usually been given various ADs as treatment.  If only I'd known about the magic potion estradiol.

My younger female doctor is anti HRT.  Her initial response was don't take it as it will only delay symptoms, plus she is very nervous about the risks.  I had been suffering anxiety, mood swings, headaches, insomnia, brain fog (so bad I thought I had pre senile dementia), palpitations, but no hot flushes as yet.  It got so bad I begged for HRT and had to have a procedure under anaesthetic to check womb.  First time round I was given Prempak.  Absolutely awful stuff.  Second time Climagest 1mg. Much much better but heart raced and BP went up.  Had one month on Evorel 25 which was too low, plus didn't get on with patch.  Now on 1mg Sandrena and cyclical Utrogestan.  I use 100mg vaginally for 7-10 days because of PMT and sore boobs.  All this has been possible because I gathered the information I needed from here and used it to inform my GP.  She has now accepted I needed the treatment and has said in good faith "you're the expert here" and prescribed what I have asked her to.  People power!

My only issue now is I can't seem to get a happy medium between symptoms returning on 0.5mg Sandrena and awful headaches, and then it feeling too strong in one 1mg dose. I'm thinking of asking for Oestrogel as I understand you can adjust the dose to suit.  The Climagest dose got rid of my symptoms but the racing heart was too scary.  I hope to find a similar dose with Oestrogel, and know 2 pumps is supposed to be equal to a 37.5mg patch. Does anyone know what 1mg Climagest is converted to Oestrogel?   Also, do doctors tend to prescribe one 64 dose pump at a time, or will they give you a longer supply?

Anyway, glad to be here and thanks to all you well informed women I have finally found relief.
Onwards & upwards 

Steph

[Taz2]

Hi momlet - So good to know that the forum has been so helpful in getting your GP to listen to you.  I'm afraid I don't have much knowledge about Oestrogel as I'm on patch HRT but someone else will be along soon I'm sure to give you some answers!

Taz x 

[momlet]

Hi Taz, look forward to hearing some wise words. Thanks for the welcome!
Steph x

[Dancinggirl]

Definitely try Oestrogel - much easier to adjust dose.  I find I'm best on one pump per day.  I got headaches when using Utrogestan cyclically so now use it continuously and don't get headaches - I find Utro very calming.
DG x

[Hurdity]

Hi momlet

 

Hurdity x

[momlet]

Thank you Dancing Girl i like the idea of being able to adjust dose on oestrogel.  Can you use Utro continuously if still peri? I am still having periods. 

Thank you for the welcome Hurdity, very happy to be on here.

Steph x

[Dancinggirl]

If you weren't taking HRT would you still be having a monthly bleed? One must remember that if you are on HRt the monthly bleed isn't actually a period but a withdrawal bleed to keep the womb lining from building up. If you have been truly peri meno since your early 40s and are now 50 then you may already be post meno. Usually they like you to come off all hormones for 4 weeks and then have a blood test to tell whether you are post meno. It could be worth having a blood test to look at your hormone levels whilst on HRT - this might indicate whether you need a higher or lower dose of oestrogen.  I know you have been using Sandrena but I'm not sure what the dosage in one sachet would be but I'm guessing it might the equivalent of 50mg patch or 2 pumps of Oestrogel???
I understand that some women do the conti version with Utro in the peri stage but I don't think it is usually advised as you might get some problematic bleeding.  If you are seeing a specialist gynae then you could broach the subject with them to get their advice.  Many women prefer to stick with the sequi regime anyway.
If I were you I would try the Oestrogel - just one pump per day - and stick with Utro for the 7-10 days per month and see how you feel over a 2-3 month period to really gage what, if any, side effects you are getting.  Perhaps have a blood test after 3 months and if your levels of oestrogen are consistent with the Oestrogel dosage you are using  (between 250-350) then this might indicate that you not producing any oestrogen yourself so you are into early post meno - you could then try the conti Utro if you wished.
I know this is a bit rambling but I hope it helps.  DG x

[momlet]

Thanks DG, that's extremely helpful advice!  I will try what you suggested and get a blood test but I don't know who can read it for me.  My GP has said hormones 'Are out of my area of expertise' - at one point pre HRT she gave me continuous 400g Cyclogest pessaries - which made me feel awful. Sore boobs, bloated, weepy.  This was after she'd kept giving me different AD's to try. I think she thought I was v depressed when I'm usually a very positive person without mad hormone changes. So I really need a good gynaecologist but can't afford to see one privately. 

I say I suspect I've been peri for about 7 years because of the classic symptoms. As soon as I took oestrogen 4 months ago I knew that's what had been missing!  It was like a light suddenly coming on.  Before HRT my menstrual cycle was getting shorter and shorter until I was on a heavy period every fifteen days.  Apparently some come to the end of their cycles in this way as opposed to tailing off.  The womb check showed the lining was normal, no fibroids, so allowed to start HRT.  This was the point when my doctor tried the cyclogest!  And when that didn't work is when I started reading up on here and getting the tools to go back to the GP.

On HRT I don't get spotting and the Utrogestan has given me two good withdrawal bleeds that lasted 5-7 days.  So will probably stick with this until things change.

I'm a million times better than I was and it has saved my family. I feel I've got a battle on my hands staying on HRT with my less than enlightened GP but I'll do whatever it takes to keep getting the help.

Thanks again for taking the time. Your reply makes a lot of sense.

Steph X (momlet) 

[Dancinggirl]

momlet - if you get a blood test done in a couple of months you could pay to do an email consultation to Dr. Currie (£25 charge) and she would be able to advice.  If your GP is open to advice from Dr. Currie, who is a specialist in this field, then this could be your best course of action to be able to continue with HRT.  As you are still peri meno, I would stick withe sequi version and as you feel your own hormones dropping gin the background you may need to slightly increase your oestrogen - the peri stage can be tricky as you will still get some fluctuations.  BE patient and don't analyse things too much - just enjoy the good days.  DG x

[momlet]

Yes, that sounds like a good plan. I think my GP is happy to learn from the experts. At least she is willing to hear me out.  Yes, there are so many good days as opposed to bad.  I'm sure it will get easier once I stick to a regime. I'm afraid the impatience was there before all this!! HRT can't cure everything!! S x