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[Amandax]

Hello all. Im happy to have found a forum where i can talk and hopefully learn a bit. I   was diagnosed with early menopause  (ovarian failure as they called it) at 38. This was found as I was trying unsuccessfully to conceive. I had also been having bad smears and biopsies for the previous 5 years. Eventually last year I was told I need a hysterectomy to avoid the risk of cancer. I'm now 40 and have been on 100 patches which were upped from 50 a month or so after starting on them.
I find it all quite confusing as I am on these highest patches available but I still feel angry, argumentative and bitter about my situation.
I guess you never think it's going to happen to you, that I would be the infertile  menopausal woman at 40!! I am so angry that this choice has been taken away from me.
My hubby has been great but he thinks I have changed as a person. I don't understand if I am on what the gp tells me is the highest patch available why I should still have hormonal feelings. I did keep my ovaries but as I have been told "they don't work".
My gp was ok at my hysterectomy time, now she says my patch is the highest available and do I want anti depressants. I'm not depressed so no.
Should I be feeling this way due to hormones or should the patch be making me feel like my old self?
I also have feelings of anxiety and am not so sure of myself anymore.
I joined a hysterectomy forum before and found it a great help so I'm hoping that this will be a good help to.
Im sorry for moaning about myself throughout this post. I hope given time I will get through this and be able to help others here. Unfortunately at the moment I am too confused to offer advice to anyone else I think.
Thank you for any advice  anyone can give.
Amanda

[CLKD]

Have replied to your other thread ;-)

[Mary G]

Amandax, sorry to hear about your problems and not surprised you feel angry to be in this situation at such a young age, it must have come as a terrible shock. 

First question, do you know how much oestrogen the 100mcg patch is delivering?  Have you had blood tests to check that it is working properly?  At your age, you probably need a high level of oestrogen to feel good, probably into the 700/800 pmol. 

I didn't get on with patches at all and even the 100mcg didn't deliver anything like enough oestrogen - this was confirmed with blood tests and explained why I felt so half baked.  It didn't stick properly, left a nasty, itchy rash and I didn't like wearing a patch but that is a personal thing I suppose.

Why not try Oestrogel?  It is very easy to use and you simply rub it on your skin.  I found it worked immediately and I absorbed it very easily too.  It is far more flexible than patches too because you can quickly and easily adjust the to suit your needs.  To be honest, I feel completely back to how I was pre-menopause which is quite an achievement at the age of 56.  Obviously there is no guarantee you will be the same as me but is has to be worth a try. 

HRT is a whole lot easier when you have had a hysterectomy because you don't usually need the dreaded progesterone which, in my opinion, is the Achilles heel of HRT.  However, you might need testosterone, have you discussed this with your specialist?

I hope that helps.

[TheWorstWitch]

I'm too new myself to be of any practical help but can offer a "Welcome" and a virtual hug - which it sounds like you need.
One thing I will say is - don't make the mistake of getting angry with yourself for being angry. You're mourning not only a part of yourself that has been taken away, but also the person you presumed you would be one day. I think a bit of rage is a pretty logical reaction to all that. Let yourself be angry - cry if you need to, beat hell out of a cushion or pillow if that will help. (might want to make it a non-feather filled one though as otherwise you might end up having lots of cleaning up to get cross about too!)

[CLKD]

Similar to what I posted TheWW in the other thread - one needs to grieve in order to come to terms with a change in hopes.

[cubagirl]

 

Goodness I'd have been angry too. I had hysterectomy mid 30's but for totally different reason to you. I'd had my 2 children by then, to be unable to have had at least one would have upset me too.

Might be worth trying oestrogel instead though. Worked fine for me until 2/3 years ago, when I was changed to patches. Also maybe ask for referral to a menopause clinic, they are more knowledgeable on such things than GPs as a rule.

[Hurdity]

Hi Amandax

  from me too and sorry to hear about your problems with fertility and subsequent hysterectomy. I can totally understand why you feel as you do.

I can only echo what the others have said - in your position and at your young age I would ask for a couple of blood tests ( one on its own won't tell you a lot) to check  on your oestrogen levels - and then take it from there depending on the results. What hormonal feelings are you getting? If your libido is low and you are tired, feeling unmotivated or low in mood, and with muscle aches then you might also need testosterone.

I agree that a referral would be helpful - and especially as you are still so young so getting the prescription right is important.

Hurdity x

[Amandax]

Thank you all for your replies. I am surprised and happy that I had a such a response. I was feeling like I was the only 1 going through this horrible body experience!
To answer the questions, I had assumed that my 100 patches were giving me 100 whatever of estrogen? 700 sounds a lot.
I haven't ever heard of estrogen gel so that is maybe worth asking about.

I have been discharged from my gynaeologist now but he did say to me to give it a few months and if I don't feel better then I could go to a menopause clinic.

I have asked my gynae and my gp about blood tests. The gp said that they can't test my estrogen levels because the levels are not my own - coming from the patch??  And my gynae said that he wouldn't test  my levels because he wants to see how I feel rather than what my blood says? I would prefer to go with science though and by what my blood says.

Mary - I hate wearing the patch too. I feel it's a constant reminder of my situation and also I keep checking that it has stuck properly. I did say this but the option I was given was tablets which they said were not as safe for absorption reasons?
Maybe the gel is a good option. Do you rub this in every day?? How do you know how much and does it just absorb amd then it's ok until the next day?

Thank you all again for your kind replies. It is helpful to have women who have experienced this to talk too.

I will keep you updated.
Amanda

[Mary G]

Amanda, I totally agree re the patch, I hated having it there as a constant reminder too and it often didn't stick properly which is why it didn't work.  I was worried about having to wear a patch for years on end so it was a huge relief to come across Oestrogel and the fact it worked so much better was a added bonus.  I am shocked that you have not been offered Oestrogel, it has been widely available for many years. 

It would be helpful to have blood tests to find out how much oestrogen you are getting into your system at the moment via the patch.  The fact that your oestrogen is coming from an outside source is irrelevant, you need to know how much you are getting into your system and if you had some indication, it would at least give you an idea as to how well you have been absorbing it - or not.

Because you are young, it is important to get a good dose of oestrogen into your system to protect your bones, heart and also to feel good.  When I was using 3 pumps of gel everyday, my blood readings were always in the 800s (pmol) and now I have reduced to 2 pumps everyday, it is in the 700s.  You need to use the gel everyday and I split my dose by using 1 pump in the morning and one in the evening - I have to keep my levels very even to prevent migraines.  I also split the location by using one pump on my upper, outer arms and one pump on my upper inner thighs which has really helped with my (very mind) VA.  It is very easy to use, you simply rub it on your skin and wait for it to dry which takes a couple of minutes.

My guess is that they would start you on 2 or 3 pumps of gel everyday.

Some specialists recommend oestrogen implants for younger women like yourself who have had a hysterectomy but before taking this route, you would need to know how much oestrogen you need to feel good.  The gel would be a good way to find out because it is very flexible, easily absorbed and you can easily adjust the dose up or down.  Again, you would need to have blood readings to establish the dose of the implant. 

If you don't get any joy from your existing specialists, I suggest you find someone else.  I'm a patient of Professor Studd and you might want to check out his website. 

I think you would do well on the gel but please do come back with more questions if you need to. 

[hoping4best]

Amanda, I am in the US. But I can relate. I had an ovary removed at 38 and the remaining one almost immediately failed. I was through meno before 40. I am 42 now and still dealing with feelings about all the changes, as well as the changes themselves. It's not easy, and when your peers haven't gone through it, if can feel lonely.

Unfortunately, I didn't absorb estrogel and had to go back on the patch. But I was also offered birth control pills as an alternative. I decided not to go that route, but might that be an option for you?

The Daisy Network has been a great resource for me, though this forum is much more active and has helped me understand my situation better. Hang in there. I'm sorry you're going through this, too.

H4B

[Amandax]

Thank you Mary and h4b.

I think you are right and I should ask about the gel. It's worth a try for sure. I was hoping it would pass and I would even out but as I hear the change can last 1 year to 10 years so I should get what's right for me now.
Thank you for your advice and good wishes.
Amanda

[CLKD]

My Gynae won't do blood tests because he prefers to prescribe on symptoms.  Has it been suggested to keep a mood/food/symtpom diary ?  In the meantime, browse round 

[Mary G]

Good luck Amanda, I hope it works out for you.  Please let us know how you get on.

[CLKD]

 

[Hurdity]

As Mary G says - of course the blood tests won't be your own hormones ( as gynae has said) but at your young age and with early menopause and without a uterus it is important for you to get sufficient to protect your health so that being the case you should press for blood tests ( perhaps on more than one occasion) on this basis to see how much is getting into your system.

By the way the 100 that you refer to is the daily delivery dose of estradiol from that particular patch - ie 100 mcg per day. The 700 that Mary G refers to is the level of estradiol in the bloodstream after absorption as measured in pmol/l. You may feel well at far less than this - I certainly do, as do many women but equally others need a higher level. At your young age a higher level per see would be preferable rather than just the minimum to avoid flushes (which could be eg 200 pmol/l).

I wouldn't necessarily be in a hurry to change until you have had the results of these (blood tests) - unless of course you don't like using the patch - but as said different women have different results on both of these methods of oestrogen delivery. I've always been fine with patches and others prefer and absorb gel better.

Do let us know the outcome

Hurdity x