Print

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

[Mary G]

Annie0710, that is a good level of oestrogen and you are obviously absorbing it well so that can't be your problem so it's good to have eliminated that. 

Perhaps you felt good on the Ellesse because you still had some of your own oestrogen?

I imagine you have been checked for other problems so I think you have pretty much narrowed it down to the testosterone.  As you say, it is best to wait for the outcome of the testosterone result and go on from there. 

Good luck and please let us know how you get on. 

[Annie0710]

Thanks Mary

Yes I think after the ovaries not working properly and then going  on elleste I did still ovulate every few months, as I'd get sore boobs every so often, I think that stopped coming up 2 years ago and bloods show levels consistent with post menopause

The only other thing could be thyroid, as the symptoms so resemble menopause and given that I developed this double vision dec2014, developed this nocturnal eye drying 5 months after then within weeks developed hair loss they all could be thyroid but I'll have to pay private for those tests as my last thyroid was 2.2 and in range, I got chatting to a lady who had Graves who's tsh was similar to mine but she tested positive on antibodies so has treatment, Nhs won't test for antibodies with that tsh level, as my optician says, 'something' has caused it and the docs/specialists need to find out what but they're confident it's not life threatening so aren't interested

Onwards and upwards

Annie x

[Mary G]

Annie, do you mean having T3, T4 open thyroid etc. checked?  I always have the full set of thyroid tests as well TSH as of course.  Perhaps you could push for it?

[Annie0710]

Annie, do you mean having T3, T4 open thyroid etc. checked?  I always have the full set of thyroid tests as well TSH as of course.  Perhaps you could push for it?

Yes Mary plus antibodies, they only do tsh and ft4, but a lady I was talking to said hers were fine but tested positive on antibodies

I don't know much at all about thyroid panel but I've heard a lot that t4 converts to t3 so that at least should be included, I'll ask again

Annie x

[Annie0710]

Sorry, me again
I've just been reading up on Estrogel and a common side effect is hair loss 😮

I don't know what to do now 😢

Annie x

[Freckles]

Annie0710

I can understand your anxieties but the possible side effects of Oestrogel, including possible  hair loss at just that- general possible side effects  and it depends on your other hormones results and how they interact. It doesn't mean those side effects will happen to you
It's about getting the right HRT for you, at the right dosage and the right method of application.
Guess you you have a couple of choices

Sorry, me again
I've just been reading up on Estrogel and a common side effect is hair loss 😮

I don't know what to do now 😢

Annie x

I'd suggest you can do nothing and continue to suffer with the on going anxiety and the hair loss, and 'one size fits all' attitude of the  NHS
Or see Studd and at least try his regime for 3  months.  You have nothing to lose apart from the consultation fee.  At least you'd be clearer where the hormone imbalance lies?

[CLKD]

That's see Professor Studd then   

[Annie0710]

Annie0710

I can understand your anxieties but the possible side effects of Oestrogel, including possible  hair loss at just that- general possible side effects  and it depends on your other hormones results and how they interact. It doesn't mean those side effects will happen to you
It's about getting the right HRT for you, at the right dosage and the right method of application.
Guess you you have a couple of choices

Sorry, me again
I've just been reading up on Estrogel and a common side effect is hair loss 😮

I don't know what to do now 😢

Annie x

I'd suggest you can do nothing and continue to suffer with the on going anxiety and the hair loss, and 'one size fits all' attitude of the  NHS
Or see Studd and at least try his regime for 3  months.  You have nothing to lose apart from the consultation fee.  At least you'd be clearer where the hormone imbalance lies?

Freckles, I panicked when it listed hair loss as a 'common side effect' on Oestrogel , I was about to buy some online from a consultation I had a uk website until I can get these results in 2 weeks to give to prof studd, I can't contact him at the moment with no up to date results and no T results at all

I've been thinking about nothing else at work today, I'll definitely be contacting him the minute I get my hands on these results, I feel wretched, just how I felt 4 years ago when peri hit me, not sure if it's a bug or meno but I can't carry on like this

I've been sleeping well since stopping the utrogestan mid June but I've noticed a steady decline in everything about me since then

Because of how I felt on the 100mg Estradot  these past few weeks I took it off yesterday and my goodness I had an awful sleep, probably coincidental but I was hot one minute cold the next, sweating then not

So, my plan of action is get my bloods done 14th July, get results then contact Prof Studd straight away and go from there, just hoping I don't go further downhill

As a side note, I browse another forum for women who have had a hysterectomy then gone into menopause and there's a few who have been prescribed progesterone by gynaecologists,  not for any medical reason but because it was worked out that completed their regime in getting them back on an even keel

Annie x

[Freckles]

Well that's a positive plan of action!
It's shame the NHS lets down so many women by giving them either ineffectual HRT or worse, no HRT at all, so that we have to shell out our hard earnt money to get proper help privately.
It shouldn't be like that. It's frustrating when GP's don't listen or give poor treatment.
If you are getting your tests done in 2 weeks maybe ask when you can expect the results back, and in the interim book a consultation with Studd in advance of getting the results back?
Obviously take the printout of test results with you from the GP with you.
At least that way, you know it's organised ahead.
You can get blood tests done at Studd's clinic  and the results are very quick, either hormone tests or the "all singing, all dancing" very comprehensive test of  hormones, vitamins, cholesterol, thyroid, anything else you can think of, etc, etc, - £250 to £300.  But I've had my basic hormones tests done on the NHS as I can't afford the extra cost.
I truly feel better than I have done for years on his regime and my head hair is noticeably better after 3 months, skins and nails so much better but more importantly, my anxiety and low mood have gone and I no longer feel "unreal" or "depersonalised". I feel I have finally got my life back

I fully acknowledge every woman is different and some HRT tablets/preparations work  for some and not others.  I can only say I felt like total crap for years on Femoston - it didn't work for me and my GP wasn't interested in other HRT options to prescribe, only AD's.

I know I sound evangelical but Studd's regime really has changed my life.
Keep us all updated- you have everything to gain and nothing to lose (except the fee!)
Freckles x

[Annie0710]

Thanks Freckles, so much and I mean that :-)

Depersonalised, that's how I feel, I'm existing not living , I've given so much up for feeling so low and no esteem, I lost the energy and confidence to socialise, I gave up my career because my brain went to mush, but many of us here can tell a sorry story so I won't harp on, we're here because we've suffered

Does Prof Studd alter the regime from woman to woman ? Tweak I should say ?

I can't afford the tests from him unfortunately but I can definitely afford his consultation

Annie x

[Freckles]

Hi Annie
I would say from what I've read on MM from other women who have gone to see Studd he does prescribe according to individual needs- it's not 'one size fits all' approach
Obviously women vary a lot in their physical and mental health history, so have different HRT needs.  Puddlesmum posted on here recently and after speaking with him, she said he definitely gave an individual prescription for her specific needs.
Plus you have to return to see him after the first assessment for a 3 month check up (with hormone tests) to see if anything needs tweaking or not.  I'm off to see him for the 3 month check up this week. Then I think it's yearly, which I can put up with, cost wise.
I say to you -  feel the anxiety but do it anyway!
He does know his stuff,  was very nice and helpful to me and as I said he has changed my life.
You'll need to fill out a medical questionnaire before the consultation, so whether it's via telephone or in person, if you can scan any previous test results  and the current ones  and send/give to him that would help.
Good luck and let us all know how it goes!  x
I didn't want to spend the last third of my life shuffling around like an escapee from the Eternal Twilight Home for Permanently Troubled and it was clear my GP didn't give a damn.

[Annie0710]

I say to you -  feel the anxiety but do it anyway!

What do you mean Freckles by 'feel the anxiety'?

I have hormone test results spanning over the last 4 years, plus an extra bonus is I realised my Nhs T test is next Thursday not the Thursday after so I've gained a week 😀

I spoke with my fiancé earlier and he's in agreement with me to get me better

Annie x

[Hurdity]

Hi Annie0710

I have come late to this thread but you asked specifically about testosterone.

I did not have mine tested because I went to see Dr Annie Evans and she doesn't see the need for tests - instead going on symptoms. She also said the tests is not very sensitive because it is designed to differentiate between male T levels which are of course much higher. Ours are at the lower end of the scale.

My symptoms were very low libido, excessive tiredness and specifically exhaustion and muscle pains after exercise (I go to exercise classes). My GP was going to refer me for fibromyalgia - because they just don't recognise T deficiency at all. However having visited Dr Evans I started T last May (2015) and my response has improved enormously, but especially the muscle pain exhaustion thing has gone. I am still tired and sleep more deeply than I used to - not sure why this is - but I don't have that fatigue and pain I used to get.

You really do not need to pay to see Prof Studd!

It is amazing that your T levels are being tested and the NICE Guidelines do make provision for women to be prescribe T for low libido. In your case as you've had a hysterectomy you do not need progestogens so it should be fairly straightforward.

Your oestrogen levels are very high so it doesn't sound like you need to change your dose or method of delivery - so if you are happy with the patches then keep on with them. Maybe they are too high? However trying T gel may well be what you need.

re the thyroid - my TSH level was 2.97 and it is interesting that those who are on medication with a thyroid problem are supposed to aim for their TSH level to be much lower than this, yet the threshold for treatment is 4.5 or above! As with all things women will differ at the absolute level at which they feel well or not. Dr Evans suggested she would also try me with a low dose thyroid hormone if the T did not work, but as it has I have not pursued this.

Can you ask to be referred to an endocrinologist? - I know a tiny bit about the T3 T4 thing + antibodies through a friend of mine who had to go privately and ended up taking Armour thyroid in order to feel well, as she didn't convert T4 to T3. It is an under-researched and much neglected area I feel. Countrybumpkin is an expert on this.

Please do stick with what you are doing at the moment because all you will get from Prof Studd is a prescription for estrogel and testosterone - and looks like you may well be OK for this? Also there are other gynaes ( depending on where you live) who can prescribe similarly including NHS menopause clinics - although not all prescribe T.

I can dig out the bit of the NICE Guidelines if you like - where it suggests docs can prescribe it off licence.

Sounds like your practice is quite progressive.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[Annie0710]

Thank you Hurdity for taking the time to reply

This is a new nurse, maybe the surgery realised they were out of their depth with lots of menopausal women? They created her post as Women's Health and she has come from the local Gynae dept at our hospital, she cares, and I think that is what struck me straightaway, no other professional has cared.  And she said she'd fight my corner for a trial of T, after the appt I went straight to reception and told them how lovely she is, they said they've been inundated with this response from women

regarding Estradot:  I went from 75mg to 100 a few weeks ago, anxiety and light headedness has been awful so I've cut it to approx 75 again, I may try half to see how 50 does for me, but I also have to be mindful of course that this might not be down to oestrogen at all, maybe I felt better on utrogestan because it lowered my oestrogen ? It all is above what I can take in most of the time, but I'm willing to try things

Testosterone: reading up the symptoms, I have the complete list so if Nhs can't help me I will have to look elsewhere, at to know I've tried

Thyroid: yes I hear this all this time from thyroid sufferers, that they feel their best at 1, I looked back on my thyroid results and remember a time I felt better than the rest over the last 4 years and at that time my tsh was 1.something.    2.2 is the latest and highest and I know it's not ridiculously high but like you say, we are all individual and feel better at our own level.  I've ordered thyroid panel plus 2x antibodies from BlueHorizon today so at least that's another avenue I can explore/cross off my list depending what the results are

I've just picked my granddaughter from school and park right near but it's like my legs can't carry me, it's worrying, twice since January I've had 2 unexplained falls, no fainting just legs went and fell, only injuries were where I hit the floor, no twisted ankle etc where I could've tripped

I don't have depression but I do have low moments or phases, it's never day in day out continuously but I guess the hair loss doesn't help nor do these symptoms, it's hard to feel cheery and optimistic all the time when you feel so poorly

Annie X

[Kathleen]

Hello Annie0710.

I just wanted to chime in and say I completely sympathise with your situation.

I am 59 and haven't had a period for six years. I have spent a lot of that time trying to 'fix' myself because something, somewhere often felt out of whack. There have been times when I have felt 'normal' and it's always been such a relief when it happens, like coming up for air. Unfortunately though the low moods etc return.

Like you I am now considering seeing a Gynae privately so that I can have an in depth discussion with an expert and hopefully move forward.

It's exhausting and worrying to feel so unwell and having to be pro active all the time is very draining.

Interestingly the journalist Mariella Frostrup  wrote that one of the things she experienced with her menopause was despondency!  We are not alone.

Wishing you well.

K.