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[Keepgoing]

Hi just joined and would like some help if possible. I am 45 been getting loads of symptoms for 3 years fsh levels ok but doc said not really reliable in peri so went on hrt.  First one prempak c took all symptoms away but put on a stone in 9 weeks and the bloating was so bad I looked pregnant  to painful to continue  Next one femseven was on the fourth week and took it off as it was seriously depressing me and I live with depression as it is so don't want that. If it was just night sweats I could handle it but my moods all over the place and an uncontrollable itch all over my body driving me nuts. Can a anyone advice on maybe which one to ask doc for next as I can't live like this.. Thanks x

[Worrywart]

Hi keepgoing
Sorry to hear you feel so awful. Lots of ladies on here are more knowledgeable than me, but it sounds like the progesterone is probably causing you difficulty. You could ask to have estrogen as a patch or gel, and try a different progesterone- Utrogestan is a friendly one. I'm assuming you are on cyclical HRT not continuous? Were you ok on the Femseven on the estrogen only part? I use Evorel patches and was on Utrogestan alongside until my hysterectomy.

I hope that helps a bit - others will have more advice for you. Xx

[Mary G]

Keepgoing, welcome to MM!

Sorry you are having a difficult time but I'm not surprised.  I think you are on the wrong type of HRT which would explain your symptoms.  Firstly, prempak c is a synthetic oral HRT preparation and the dose is way too low for someone of your age.  Also, oral HRT is not as effective as the transdermal variety so I'm not surprised you had problems with it.

Femseven is wrong too.  It is transdermal but it contains a synthetic progestin which causes all sorts of problems for those who are either sensitive or intolerant to it and it will undermine all the good work the oestrogen does and it lowers your mood, particularly when taken for long periods of time.

I would definitely recommend you change to using transdermal, bio identical oestrogen gel or patch (I prefer the gel because it is more flexible, you can adjust the dose and I think it works better) and then to use a separate bio identical progesterone like Utrogestan, preferably vaginally, for a few days every month.  This will give you a cycle again meaning periods but I think you will find it is much better at symptom control and should help lift your depression.

I've been there myself and tried lots of different HRT preparations and the best one I have found is the one I am currently using which is 2 pumps of Oestrogel every day, a tiny bead of testosterone every day and 100mg of Utrogestan (vaginally) for 7 days each month.  I am severely intolerant to synthetic progesterone and also Utrogestan if taken in large quantities and this is the best regime I have found so far!

Hope that helps. 

[Keepgoing]

Thanks worrywort I didn't really feel any benefit on femseven but was much worse when the progestin was added so I just took it off. I have docs on the 4th Mary G and I will speak to gp about the products you have mentioned.  If i could I would do without but the symptoms are just to much hair like straw, aches and pains, night and day sweats I don't really flush, all over itch and no motivation to do anything as I'm so tired which makes me just go from day to day like a zombie. I hope I get the right preparation soon as I'm just not me and not really happy right now.  Feel as if I'm always moaning lol but I will keep trying thanks for your help xx

[Keepgoing]

Yes worry wort I'm on cyclical as I have never missed a period just all over the place. I personally would rather have a period no matter what I'm on I think it's healthier when you still have your womb. I honestly never thought you could or would feel so bad going into menopause but I should have known my anxiety and depression I have had since I first started my periods it's all hormonal  I'm coming back as a man lol xx

[Keepgoing]

Mary G what does the testosterone do and does it give you excess hair on your face...I don't want a tash lol  x

[Hurdity]

Hi Keepgoing

 

When you say your periods were all over the place - do you mean you had some cycles longer than 4 weeks and perhaps some shorter? I agree with Mary G and worrywart that it could well be the synthetic progestogen that is causing you problems. I use a similar combo to Mary G but I use oestrogen patches and Utrogestan. While you are only just entering peri though it is important to take the right amount of progesterone rather than reduce the number of days but you might find you are OK on it. Also I gather for some women while they are still ovulating their own progesterone can provided sufficient for a bleed even while taking some extra oestrogen (this is according to some gynaes).

You might also think of trying Femoston which is a tablet HRT but the progestogen is very similar to our own progesterone and it is very well tolerated. Some women get on very well with a Mirena coil which delivers progestogen directly to the uterus and hardly any into the system - although it is the same one as in Femseven so maybe not the best choice for you - perhpas you might be OK as it is in small doses? Then you can add a patch or gel as you wish for oestrogen.

I also use testosterone - it is mainly prescribed for low libido which can occur at any time but more so as you get further post-menopause - although for some women the decline in their own testosterone levels starts earlier. It also affects energy levels and muscle tone. I have found it especially helpful for muscle tone and energy - I found I had a lot of muscle aches and pains and exhaustion following exercise ( I got to exercise classes) and I don't get this since taking testosterone. At low levels it shouldn't cause any male side effects because it is within normal physiological levels.

Hurdity  x

[Mary G]

Keepgoing, Professor Studd thought I needed testosterone as well and I only take a very tiny amount, less than he suggested.  I doesn't cause any adverse side effects and no extra facial hair! 

[Keepgoing]

Thanks hurdity and Mary g. My periods were always regular as clockwork but the past year they were coming about every 3 weeks and much heavier so not like me. I am definitely going to ask doc for the gel or patch of oestrogen and the ustrogestan and testosterone but I don't know if they will give me the testosterone as I read they stopped it in uk, don't know if you all live in the uk or not lol. I think this would help me as I have no energy and am falling asleep all the time and I never do that it usually takes me forever to fall asleep. Will let you know if I'm successful in getting these products. Thanks for all the info as its not something you get a lot of help with and all of you have really helped in the minefield that is hrt...take care everyone xx

[Worrywart]

I think you can have testosterone prescribed Kg, but you have to be referred to a gynae for it in the UK. I'd discuss it with your GP? X

[Hurdity]

I'm not sure whether you would need extra testosterone at this point keepgoing. If your libido is non-existent then maybe but this can also be depressed with tablet HRT too.

Also as your periods are close together and heavier then it sounds more like the "late reproductive phase" as it is called - and this is characterised by increased fluctuations of homones but sometimes very high and sometimes very low oestrogen and worse pms. Unfortunately some women do start to experience flushes at this point from the fluctuations and a low dose oestrogen might prevent your levels falling so low at the end of your cycle.

On this point have you had blood tests at all to rule out other causes for flushes and tiredness/energy levels as other metabolic things sometimes start to go awry at this stage eg thyroid function, and some vitamin/mineral deficiencies cause tiredness. I presume you are taking extra iron as you are having a lot of bleeding?

At this point you may well benefit from the bio-identical oestrogen CCP Qlaira which regulates the cycle and provides estradiol ( unlike most other CCPs which contain synthetic oestrogens) which some gynaes recommend - here is what it says on this site:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/contra2.php

HRT type estrogen containing pill

A new combined pill, Qlaira is now available which contains natural estradiol valerate as the estrogen component, rather than the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol. Ethinylestradiol is the usual component of the combined pill whereas estradiol valerate is an HRT type estrogen. This is a useful option for women in the perimenopause when it should control menopausal symptoms while providing contraception and good control of bleeding.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[Keepgoing]

Hi hurdity my doc checked all my bloods for everything so nothing else is wrong just peri. I am not bleeding very heavy just heavier flow for me. Doc thought about the contraceptive pill but cause I'm a smoker she ruled that out and thought hrt was the best route. Have a phone consult with her on the 4th so will see what the outcome of that is, I'm going to ask for the gel and the utrogestan and maybe testosterone as my libido is fine just the extreme tiredness interfering in that department x

[Keepgoing]

Got my phone consult today and doc is giving me eastrogel and utrogestan just need to wait till period appears then start it. Hoping this will work for me or doc will request appt at menopause clinic...fingers crossed x

[Keepgoing]

Update
Period arrived yesterday so that's me started my 2 pumps of estrogel so fingers crossed this is gonna be the one that works for me...200mg utrogestan on day 15 so hoping this agrees with me as think the synthetic ones have been my problem...thanks for all your help ladies xx

[robotwars]

good luck, let us know how you get on? Hope it works for you...