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[Milamam]

Hi Mis71Mum,
If your bloods were taken on day 3-5 of cycle then this level of Estrogen the is not that high. In my view it is rather on the low side. You have been 14 or so days without external hormones, so this to me will indicate that you probably need external estrogen to feel better.

I cannot comment on the progesterone level, I have to check up the reference ranges. Did they give you reference ranges?

Milamam

[Milamam]

Hi again,
Just checked some websites and if bloods were taken in the folicular phase, reference ranges for prog are 0.5 - 2.3 nmol/l. So if this is your measurement unit, then prog levels seem normal.

[MIS71MUM]

Hi Ladies
I am off to see my counsellor shortly and I will speak to him about my anxiety and hormones.  Also I have got an appointment with my GP tomorrow too to discuss the results properly.

I don't have a normal cycle at the moment, just had two periods 28 days apart in Jan and Feb, then nothing since.  I took the oestrogel for the days mentioned, but then had to Utrogestan alone for 7 days without oestrogel to induce a bleed in readiness for my operation.

Is there a normal reading for your age group...as I am 44?
Or are they just in general?

[dangermouse]

Reference ranges are:
FSH
Follicular 3.5-12.5
Ovulatory 4.7-21.5
Luteal 1.7-7.7
Post menopause 26.0-135.0

Oestradiol
Follicular 46-607
Ovulatory 315-1828
Luteal 161-774
Post menopause <200

Progesterone
Follicular 0.6-4.7
Luteal 5.3-86.0
Mid-luteal Peak >30.0
Post menopause 0.3-2.5

Hope that helps!

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on!

[MIS71MUM]

I went to see my counsellor....had quite a good day up until then, was telling about him about my weekend and having a panick about my impending operation....felt a surge of something, then felt hot, panicky, etc.  Then all my thoughts about never getting well, i'll always be like this, these are old thoughts btw, came flooding back.  So are these hot flushes which I am confusing with panick attacks.  Thing is, since the 7th April 2016, I have had about 5 funny turns, 4 of them have been at the same time.  By hot sweats always come in the morning too.

Now feeling quite despondent and down as it reminds me of how I felt before and fearing I am having a relapse,

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear about this Mis71Mum - I can't quite remember all your story .... you're having an op soon aren't you? Hopefully afterwards you will be able to restart HRT if you are able to and then you should feel much much better!

re the ref ranges - in UK they are usually pmol/l . They seem to vary between labs as mentioned here:
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=570818627

For example that post-menopausal reading from dangermouse's ref range would be very high - some women with that may not get symptoms! Mine was not much above that on 50 mcg patch - so I would agree that 129 is pretty low! There isn't a standard reading for a particular age and if you are peri-menopausal of course it will vary anyway depending on when in your cycle it was taken - if you are having one. Docs normally go on symptoms and aim for at least the minimum dose to reduce/eliminate hot flushes and sweats, and hopefully also lift mood at the same time.

Progesterone level is not important - except if you are fertile and trying to conceive. That low level shows you are not ovulating at the moment or not recently in this cycle - but not to say you won't.

Hang in there ..... 

Hurdity x

[MIS71MUM]

Thanks all for the replies.

I'm wondering what to do for the best. If I did take Oestrogel at 1 pump, then I'm thinking that my own hormones may increase and again, I'm going to be all over the place. So am not sure whether to increase AD's first so I am calm enough to go for the operation, then take it from there.

[CLKD]

Discuss your ADs with the Surgeon because you may need to stop them anyway before anaesthetic.  That's where you should start, ask the question. 

Do you keep a mood/food diary to gain an idea of how you feel? Ones own hormones can continue playing games, Oestrogel I think eases out symptoms?  but it can take 3-4 months B4 one feels benefit.

Do you have another date for surgery or can you wait for a while?

[MIS71MUM]

Good morning
I am back from my GP's and feel a bit p!!!!!!! off, if that!'s okay to say.  She was quite happy to increase AD's but when I spoke about the peri menopause, the doors came down.  She told me that my test results were irrelevant, to her maybe, but not to me.  I asked about HRT and she said that it would only control physical symptoms but have no effect on mood.  To be honest, I just felt that she didn't get me at all.

Have the results and the message on them says “Low luteal phase progesterone concentration check day of cycle ovulation unlikely if collected 7 days before menstruation” . Although had taken 7 days of utrogestan.

The result from my oestradiol 126 suggests i am post menopause as range is 122-1153.

My operation is likely to be in 4 weeks time so doesn‘t give much time for a new regime to settle. 

I suppose my biggest fear is that I won't fully get better until I take the HRT.....

Confused as usual 

[Hurdity]

Oh dear....
How can a doc say that hormones don't affect mood!!!
Do you know when you last had a natural period without HRT and have you had several at all recently? the ones you mentioned in Jan and Feb were without HRT? Sorry I'm a bit confused.
I thought you were coming off HRT before your operation (sorry can't remember what this is for) -  because you had to, so you are bound to feel a bit low because of the lack of oestrogen, but if you can cope until after your op you should be able to re-start - and see a different doc who will discuss menopause!
If it's not necessary to come off HRT before your op then I would re-start asap?

Hurdity x

[MIS71MUM]

Hi
My last natural periods were Jan/Feb and they were without HRT. The first was extremely light, the second was very heavy.

My operation is a resection of fibroids, ablation and hysteroscopy. Started HRT for 2 weeks then stopped due to op....because I have sticky blood syndrome and surgery increased risks of clots.  When I re-started it, I wasn't expecting the suggestion of the op. So then had to Utrogestan alone to bring on a bleed.

Anyway I restarted the gel today....I decided that I have come so far on 20 mg of Duloxetine but it's not without the side effects. Flatness being one of them. So I think I have less to loose by starting HRT and more to gain.
The hot flushes, irritability, indigestion and frequent weeing are present as well as the mood issues.
I think I can increase my AD's at any time, but after going to 30mg, the next increase would be 60mg, so don't want to go there at all.

[MIS71MUM]

Had to come home from work today - spent the entire morning crying at my desk.
Not sure whether to increase my AD's as well as start the gel.

Don't want to end up being off sick again as I am actually really enjoying work. But its the constant state of analysis that gets me down.

Any ideas?

[CLKD]

Change your GP or speak with a local Pharmacist?

Also ring your Consultant who is doing your Surgery and discuss?

 

[Hurdity]

Sounds like you need to have your op asap so that you can get back on HRT and get the right dose to enable you to feel better so that you can cope. I get what you're saying that you need to be off it due to the clot risk - and I presume the specialist has said this? Do you have a date?

I am sorry I can't help with the ADs as I've never taken any.

Do look after yourself.

Hurdity x