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[Briony]

I agree re the confusing bit. I think most people on here would, in fact!

I'm trying to persevere with the high patches as I know I have to feel worse to feel better. Emotionally I have felt well on them, but physically, a lot of the weird symptoms I had ages ago - pains, tingling etc. have come back in month two. I am wondering if the 'feeling worse in order to feel better' phase Studd mentions has just come late to me?

I suspect that on three pumps you are not suppressing ovulation which means that when your own estrogen is high, your'e going to be incredibly high. It's near enough the highest dose you can take without suppressing ovulation. The weird thing is, moving to 4-5 pumps - which sounds so much higher - would probably even out to be less as you would not have the ovulation-induced highs, if that makes sense?

Good luck.

[Niamh]

So much better night on 2 pumps apart from my toddler waking with a cold typical! Staying with 2 but emailing Dr Currie and then I'll email Prof Studd too. Thanks for your support. Does Dr currie email you with an email address ive paid but don't know what to do now?
Thanks x

[Briony]

I think that's a sensible choice. With two, you should be OK most the time, as even if your estrogen rises, the additional gel shouldnt put you too high. Ironically, if you go up at all, you'd probably be better on 2-3 daily, like that document says, as this will prevent you ovulating at all. (Obviously I am not saying do this - just speaking hypothetically, assuming I have understood the NAPS literature correctly!). With 3, I guess you will still ovulate so your highs will be very high!

After I'd paid, I had an email a day later to which I had to reply, if that makes sense? Dr Currie replied about 4 days later.

Will be interesting to see how you get on x

[GypsyRoseLee]

Agree with Briony. Another thing to consider is that if you prefer to stay on 2 pumps over all, you could do this for, say, 3 weeks each month? Then increase to 3-4 pumps when your own oestrogen is at its lowest?

I actually think it makes more sense to reverse HRT dosage if you still have a menstrual cycle. So much more oestrogen during 2nd half of your cycle to stop the rising progesterone causing the PMS symptoms. Followed by less oestrogen on days 3-14 when your own oestrogen is rising.

I'm pretty sure the only reason I felt so well again on week 2 of Femoston was because my own cycle was working normally, oestrogen rising, increased libido, then definitely ovulating.

I think my taking Femoston was neither here nor there. Then just 2 days after ovulating I had to start the combined section of Femoston and my feelings of wellbeing and optimism disappeared within 12 hours.

I've had a couple of 'alright' days since then. But generally I've been feeling very grey, no optimism, anxious. Basically I just want to huddle on the sofa watching mindlessly unthreatening TV. I don't feel like I'm dying with dread, but neither do I feel like I'm living either.

[Chi chi]

So it says 2/3 pumps twice daily, so in fact that's 4/6 pumps per day?

[Niamh]

Wow that's a massive dose Prof S definitely didn't prescribe that!! I don't know why he's given me 3 pumps if that doesn't suppress my cycle then sigh so I guess I do what I feel best for now and I'll see what Dr Currie thinks!

Ladies you've all been so helpful

The trouble with using the ostrogen differently at different times of the month just won't work for me ive always had a very irregular long cycle so I never know where I am and don't now!! Ive had no other bleeds except post my utro phase which is why I thought my cycle was suppressed!

GLR think my mood is similar to you now suddenly feel flat not totally awful but slightly knotted anxious stressed feeling and just not loving life as I was just a few days ago
X

[Briony]

It is a high dose for hrt, but if you're wanting to suppress ovulation, then you're really mimicking a BCP rather than 'topping up' what's missing, so it's hard to compare the two, if that makes sense?

That said, I too think 5-6 pumps sounds like a very high dose. I'd to go by the NAPS recommendations, if anything, as they based on research from a wider range of specialists. Nick Panay is/was the Chairman of the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome, as well as being a well regarded gynaecologist in his own right.

The end of the page is a useful summary:

http://www.guidelines.co.uk/naps/pms

Ditto page 11: http://www.pms.org.uk/assets/files/guidelinesfinal60210.pdf

[Niamh]

Mmmmm interesting I was thinking of switching to seeing Nick Panay instead of Prof S...do you know what he's like or anyone who's seen him?x

[Briony]

Have only ever heard good things about him, but have no personal experience. Have you tried a forum search of his name?

[GypsyRoseLee]

Niamh, yes I feel exactly as you describe 'slightly knotted, anxious' which is very accurate. And I can't take any pleasure in anything at all, just feel flat and a bit hopeless inside. I can still function (well, exist) perfectly well, but I don't have that nice sense of wellbeing and optimism that I associate with more oestrogen.

[Maryjane]

I have seen Dr Annie Evans she is lovely. I no ladies who have seen Proff Studd,Panay and Evans and all prefer Evans.

[Niamh]

Thanks I'd like to see Annie but Bristol is other side of the country sadly x

[Chi chi]

Not sure where you are but she's also based in Devon/Cornwall area

[Niamh]

Surrey I contacted get office about a phone consultation but she only does follow up by phone might be able to do Bristol but it's a bit tricky. I'm emailing Dr Currie and then I'll see x

[GypsyRoseLee]

I'm.sure I read somewhere that Annie Evans had a problematic menopause? So she's hopefully more sympathetic than Panay or Studd.

Personally, I know before this rollercoaster began for me I was rather dismissive of people with anxiety or depression. I honestly believed that if they really wanted to get better then they could 'think' themselves better. I can never, ever think like that again.

I am endlessly sympathetic to anyone suffering these peri symptoms now.