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[Milamam]

Hello everyone -

Just to say that I haven't posted much on the forum for a while but follow and read a lot . It has been such a lifeline for me in the past 3 years, I cannot begin to describe! Thank you all wonderful women who contribute on a daily basis to my peace of mind!

My current woes in short: I was diagnosed perimenopausal after horrendous span of axiety, depression, dizziness, and agoraphobia three years ago, and was put on Femoston 2/10 since then. Things dramatically improved in about 4 months. With a few blips , I have had regular menstrual bleeding (every 28-35 days) and regular (6 monthly) checks, so all in order. In November 2016 I decided to stop Femoston just to see how I felt, and where I am in the meno stages. Thus far, two months down the road, things have been fine, just night sweats and hot flushes during the day have slighly increased but manageable. These I can handle!  The other reason that I stopped Femoston for was that back in November I began to feel chest tightness, difficulty breathing and slighly raised blood pressure. I initially thought I will stop the pills, and bam, the next day the chest tightness was gone. Blood pressure normalized as well within weeks - thank God! and hope it will stay like this.

Today I went for the regular gynae check - Day 18 of menstrual cycle. For a first time ever, I had a thickened lining , 13mm, which he said is higher than normal. He said this might be due to stopping HRT thus disbalancing things, and perhaps I have more /higher estrogen production than progesteron to balance things out . Just to note that since stopping HRT, I still had regular bleeds, not light but not overly heavy, lasting 3 days - as before. So I thought all was normal.

Now, the gynae prescribed 5mg Lynestrenol to be taken twice daily from day 16-26 of cycle, starting now, and a follow up examination (vaginal scan) within 2-3 days after my next bleed.

To be honest, I don't want to try yet another progestin ! I have been on Femoston which contains dydrogesterone, and I have also taken dydro on a few occasions before to add up to the Femoston dose due to frequent bleeding a year ago.  I live in Bulgaria and dydrogesterone is available in a separate pill form of 10mg/tablet. I know that dydro is a very gentle progestin. Hense my questions:

- Is endrometrial thickening of 13mm normal or close to normal for day 18 of cycle (note that perhaps my cycles are not exactly 28 days,  rather 30-32 days in the past two months without HRT).
- Do I have to really take this progestin to resolve the problem?
- Is there a way to wait and see whether my body will adjust to the change - i.e. stopping HRT - and begin clearing the lining better by itself, i.e. not needing additional hormones?
- Is this thickened lining a result of being on HRT for 3 years and then stopping?

Sorry for the rumble if that may sound like that but I would appreciate your most knowledgeable thoughts on this! Note that I have booked an appointment with another gynae (all private here) for tomorrow, just to get a second opinion. Also, when I asked my current doctor whether I can begin taking dydrogesterone instead of this new for me progestin, he said absolutely no! So way beyond confused, muffled , and scared, least to say!

Thank you!

Milamam X

[CLKD]

13mm is thicker than expected.  Don't know if anyone knows if this is within normal limits at this part of the menstrual cycle.  Have you told the gynaecologist that you saw that you plan on seeing another person privately?  How embarrassed will you be if it's the same Consultant?  Also, ethically 

[Milamam]

No, CLKD but this is a common practice here since we all go private mostly for specialists. The market is huge and it is no problem  to go see a number of specialists before you decide on a course of action ( if you need to!). I want to hear another opinion re the medication as I have read just now that it is rather strong progestin. I also want to hear whether this is such a great problem warranting medication or we can just wait.

Also been reading (Mr. Google, I know) that the lining is normal to be 10-16mm at ovulation/luteal phase. So not sure if my doc has been overcautious.

Milamam x

[CLKD]

Better to get it sorted, probably with 1 Doctor?  That way you won't be further confused by any results/ suggestions  .  Me, I can't keep much more than 1 idea in my head at once 

[Milamam]

Update:

Saw the other specialist today. Described the situation and just asked for opinion/advice. She was wonderful -took her time and was so patient!

In short, she explained that without HRT women of my age and in peri have frequent excess of estogens which thicken the womb lining as progrsterone is not so abudent as before. This is what we all know, right. However, she said since I am still having regular periods - more or less - that I do produce some progesterone regardless of whether I ovulate or not. So not to worry about lack of prog. at this point as my bleeds have come up on time since I stopped the Femoston.

Thickening of 13mm is not little but not so much high. I am to test for pregesterine at day 21 of cycle - just to see how things are this month. I am not to take anything for now and see when period will arrive. I am to go for a scan the day or so after my bleed is finished to check how well the lining has cleared.


Much relieved today. Will wait and see. Will post updates here. Oh, and she only charged me for a consultation, which was much less than I have prepared!

Milamam x