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[Tempest]

Hi again, ladies.

I won't tell you everything that has happened over the last week, but it hasn't been good. I will tell you though that I had an appointment with my new Psychiatrist on Monday, and he was so concerned by my physical state that he actually called an ambulance! Yes, my PSYCHIATRIST sent me to A & E! He wanted me checked over urgently as he said that I had physically gone down hill dramatically and have now lost a lot of weight despite eating as normal in the few weeks since I saw him last, and he was very concerned.

The outcome of this was that I got an ECG, basic bloods, and A & E sent me home. Nothing they can do, as it appears 'whatever I have is a chronic problem and they will write to my GP'. ECG was fine, they are suggesting a referral to endocrinology. They were concerned that I may have Addison's, but can't test for this in A & E so have jotted this in a letter for my GP to refer me. BP was consistently low, but they didn't think it was indicative of  adrenal crisis, which would of course indicated an emergency admission. I was there over 12 hours, with Hubby and MIL turning up later (I was very glad of their support)!

Still feel awful, really run down and very weak.

On the Tuesday, I got a call from GP. She hadn't received anything from the hospital yet, but says she will respond once she receives the letter. She had heard from the Menopause Consultant, and his opinion was that I was absorbing the Estrogel erratically and he was 'very concerned to get my estrogen levels up by any means as I obviously have very severe symptoms'. To do this, he wanted to use Premarin. When the GP told me, I cried as I didn't want to use this. However, I'm feeling so sick now that I'll try anything that may help so I've agreed to it (for now).

The GP wants me on a 'tiny' dose to start 'in case we run into problems again' so I'm on 0.3mg. I started it on Tuesday, and so far no change in symptoms except I feel nastily jittery. I know it's early days.

If anyone has any encouraging words, I'd appreciate them please! And yes, I feel just as all of you probably do about the Premarin, but what can I do? I'm desperate right now.

Sending you all hugs for being so kind and supportive.

Tempest xxxx

[CLKD]

  

[Tempest]

Aww! Thank you, CLKD! I've missed you this last week.

[MIS71MUM]

Hi Tempest
Sorry but I don't know what Premarin is. You really really are going through it at the moment.
Lets just hope now you are in the hospital system, you'll find an answer to all this and be in a position to put this all behind you.
I had the jitters yesterday too despite being on a 50mg patch for 3 months.
Take care xxx

[Justjules]

Tempest, big hugs from me too. What a nightmare you're having. I hope now that this gets you sorted. Keep your chin up (chins in my case  ) take care of yourself while you wait and we know at least that you will be getting wonderful support from your lovely hubby. 

[Taz2]

Hi Tempest - just sending you some good thoughts and hope that the Premarin works for you. The dose of 0.3mg is the usual starting dose so it should begin to work fairly soon and then it can be increased as necessary up to 1.25mg.

Taz x 

[Tempest]

Thank you, justjules!!!

Hi, Mis71Mum! Premarin is the great grandmother of HRT. Its what everyone's Grandmother and Mum were on years ago, and is now something of a 'dirty word' as it's oral and made from pregnant mare's urine (conjugated equine estrogen - there are animal right's concerns about it and I'm kinda loathe to mention that as it usually sets off a huge debate). Hence the name Pre Mar In. It carries a slightly higher DVT risk, and risk of raising triglycerides. It was also what my Mum and Nana used (Nana had radical hysterectomy aged 40, died happy and peacefully aged 89 and was on it all those years).

I have been doing my research, and the one good thing I can see is that it also contains androgens and progesterone to a degree as they cannot isolate and remove these from the formula (albeit that they are equine in origin). I managed to get the full breakdown of components via the Surmeno website.

I think it's either a 'love it or hate it'  HRT. For now I'm willing to give it a go. If it works out I will have to be extra vigilant at keeping my general health excellent.

What the HELL is it with these jitters, Mis71Mum? Don't you just hate it?!? It's one of my big dreads. Mine usually set in and can last even over to the next day! Are you doing ok on the 50 patch otherwise though? xxx

[Tempest]

Hi, Taz2! Thank you so much for your well wishes! I'm hoping if it works out that I can get away with as small of a dose as possible. I did a small 'survey' internet wide and a lot of surgical menopause ladies seem to have done very well on 6.25mg dose for years (until their doctors freak and demand they get off it of course)!

[MIS71MUM]

Wow - Tempest, thanks for the explanation of Premarin. I knew one type of HRT contained horse urine but didn't realise it was that one. But at least you know your mum and nan took and had success with it.
I have to say the oestrogen only side of the patch is good but the progesterone side is not so good, pmt when I first start taking it, then sleepiness, mood swings, and then when I stop the progesterone, downright depression and tears for 5 days. I'm still having hot sweats all the time too - mood okay on the oestrogen though. So still not there yet. Also take AD to keep things on an even keel until I get sorted.

I have no idea what the jitters are, I can only imagine it's the oestrogen getting into my system. Or maybe it's not enough! Today I held a pen in my mouth whilst I did something, and it was shaking like crazy and I realised that inside I was trembling. My jitters tend to come from my stomach and radiate out.

Take care and wishing you well 😀

[Tempest]

Oh, Mis71Mum! That damned progesterone kicks almost everyone so it seems!!!!! I should be grateful that I don't have that to contend with too. I really hope you get some relief from. The sweats soon - it would at least make it worth it, wouldn't it?

I'm like a mini pneumatic drill sometimes, it's crazy! It has to be low estrogen or it working its little way into our systems as it certainly couldn't be high in my case! Lol! I'm scared to even think what my level must be right now. Another curious thing about Premarin is that you can't measure your levels whilst youre on it, apparently. The dynamics are different than with bio's as it doesn't register as estradiol because basically, it isn't!

It reminds me how much we have now moved on with HRT. As I said, Nana did well on it. Mum had cervical cancer and had a radical hysterectomy at 42 too. She also smoked. And broke her leg and had DVT. And then had phlebitis. And they STILL kept her on the Premarin until she passed away aged 54. Her cancer was very aggressive and she achieved small periods of remission during this time but I remember there were none of the guidelines about health then that we have today, and that was in the 1980's. We've come a long way. I also can remember that despite her cancer, her consultant ENCOURAGED her to carry on smoking as he said she needed it to help her nerves to get through her cancer treatment!

[Dana]

Please don't be too concerned about the Premarin. It may be an "old fashioned" hrt now, but it is still available for a reason. For a lot of women it's what works best. My pharmacist told me once that it is still a very popular hrt, and here in Australia it is actually more expensive than estradiol, so these women are choosing to use it for a reason.

I used it myself for a while and I liked it. I've now switched to patches, but if for some reason I can't use them I wouldn't have any hesitation in going back to it.

I think sometimes we get a bit "alarmist" about things like premarin and progestins because of the past studies, which have been discredited anyway mind you, but if these things were really as bad as they are sometimes said to be, women would be dropping dead like flies, and they aren't. Basically, at the end of the day, you always use what works for you.

I hope things improve for you quickly.

[Hurdity]

Hi Tempest - so sorry to hear you are still having a difficult time. In your position I would try anything even though you yourself have issues with Premarin. It is important for you to find something that enables you to function. How appalling that you were without oestrogen for so long that it is now proving so difficult to find a type to suit you without terrible reactions.

Just another suggestion - have you thought about an implant, and also did you ever try patch oestrogen starting with a very low dose?

I wish you the very best Tempest and hope you manage to become stable (oestrogen wise - and therefore pyschologically) very soon.

Hurdity x

[Tempest]

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words, Dana! It's very much appreciated.

Hi, Hurdity! I had quite a discussion with the Menopause Consultant about implants and he said it can be tricky, especially in my case as he wants to try to find a source of estrogen first to see what level I feel best on. He said he wouldn't want to 'overload me with an implant at this stage and then I feel awful and have to endure waiting until it wore off'. I think he has a point. It's still on the table though for the future if I need to go down that road.

He's been pretty good this week actually. He got straight on to my GP as soon as he returned from his holidays after I spoke to his colleague last week. He didn't want to use patches right now as he says I've been through enough 'ups and downs' just lately and wanted something that would make me feel as stable as possible in the shortest amount of time. I've researched the Premarin and seemingly it stays in your system for some time so I shouldn't get 'highs and lows'. I'm hoping and praying this is correct as mentally I'm pretty much torn to shreds! He also said this was what was happening with the gel for me.

It's day 6 today and I'm still very nervous about it all. What didn't help I think over the last year is that both my GP and the Consultant who did the surgery treat HRT as if it's akin to cyanide! I kid you not. Some of the conversations I've had with them have really scared the living daylights out of me! We need specialists who are confident about prescribing HRT and who can have informed and intelligent conversations with women, not scaremongers who make us feel no better than crack addicts looking for a fix or silly dizzy women who are just trying to hang on to our youth. It's abysmal, it really is!!!

[Annemaria]

Hi Tempest,
I've been on Premarin .6 and progesterone for almost 8 yrs. and have had not the slightest issue with it. I'm 58 now and have weened myself off completely over a month ago. So far I feel great. I hope it works well for you too.

[Tempest]

Thank you Annemaria for such encouraging words! I'm so glad you're feeling great too. xxxxx