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[yriches65]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum  but not new to menopause and problems with HRT

A brief history....

Had a full hysterectomy 12 years ago at the age of 39, both ovaries removed as well.... was put on HRT at the time being estrogen patch cannot remember which one or dosage...wasn't too bad to start with then over the 3 year got worse with funny turns... saw the GP's and Endo's blood samples came back normal... GP's clueless....so ditched the HRT and went cold turkey....was ok until last year at the age of 51...

Had a battle with a UTI with getting the GP's to confirm, but finally they did... but after causing myself to suffer with anxiety, depression, insomnia and struggling to cope.

Saw a private GP who ran 24hr cortisol tests where they came back with high cortisol and low DHEA , so was diagnosed with early stages of Adrenal Fatigue  and prescribed DHEA.

The done some sex hormone saliva tests.... found estrogen was low, testosterone was none existent, and progesterone was in the floor....was prescribed 2.5mg Bi-Est, 100 mg Progesterone trouch and 5 mg of testosterone.(bio-identical)... i thought this would be answer

After 5 weeks of taking the prescription was feeling worse ref anxiety, depression, sweats, flushes , wretching etc... all their response was to take some tranqs whilst the hormones go into my system.

Sought a second opinion from a hormone specialist.... did range of saliva tests and found all levels were off the scale...
Was immediately put on a detox from the hormones for 6 weeks..
After the detox was prescribed Estriol cream and progesterone cream... over the 5 months tried all levels of dosage but couldn't get it right, suffered with depression, anxiety, flushes etc....but also new symptoms ..tics, pressure on head , acne , jaw ache, dizzy head, tingling feer... list is endless.

Didn't feel like i was getting anywhere.... saw Carol Vorderman on Lorraine....so sought another opinion

Now with a 3rd GP, have been put on the Prof Studd regime of Estrogel and Testosterone gel (testim).... no progesterone due to the hysterectomy told i don't need it

Currently on 2 pumps of Estrogel per day...have been on this for 1 month
On 5 mg of Testim (testosterone gel) for 2 weeks...

As soon as started the Estrogel had problems 'downstairs' with Thrush, BV and cystitus like symptoms .... tried thrush cream, actigel etc... but nothing has helped it yet.

Taking the 2 pumps of Estrogel in the morning and testosterone at night..

Have been struggling with the depression, anxiety, flushes, sweats etc... so much so that thought going mad, cannot see a way out except for ending it all.
Suffering with rage moments where i cannot see clearly..

Only rest bite get is when taking 1/2 sleeping tablet.... only sleep at night on a full sleeping tablet.

My symptoms get worse from mid afternoon onwards until take the sleeping tablets.... sleep okish overall....

When i wake in the morning my mood is not too bad , until i get to later in the day....appy Estrogel at 9.30 ... start getting worse around 2 ish

All goes downhill if get stressed..... due to all this going on for a year i have had to back my job in, struggle driving.... have no life left...

Has anyone experienced getting worse on Studd regime ?
Anyone using Estrogel and also Progesterone that have has an hysterectomy ?

Should i increase/decrease Estrogel ? Add progesterone ?

I am totally lost and confused and don't know which way to go.... get told still early days and give it more time...

Which is easier said than done if suffering with really bad depression and suicidal thoughts...

Can anyone help or recommend where to go to get this solved..... just want life back before i lose it all

Thanks

Y x





 

[CLKD]

I am sure that ladies who have been to see Professor Studd will be along.

Has anyone suggested that some of your symptoms may be due to vaginal atrophy?  Have a browse for the various topics and if it fits your symptoms, speak to your Practice Nurse about treatment.

UTIs often mimic VA symptoms.  A fresh urine sample should be sent to a Lab. and if bugs are grown, then the correct anti-biotic can be prescribed.  My bladder sometimes feels irritated  so I up the number of nights that I use Ovestin as prescribed by my GP.

Where do saliva tests come into all this  - blood tests are reliably un-reliable as hormone levels alter all the while 24/7 .......

[yriches65]

HI CLKD,

Thanks for the reply

I haven't been diagnosed as having VA , but had vaginal dryness... and over the last 4 yrs intercourse was getting more and more painful , so that is no longer on the agenda.

The symptoms only came on when started the Estrogel... never had the issues this bad when was on Estroil etc..

The saliva tests were recommended by the two previous private GP's stating shows the available hormones for use.... but as you say they fluctuate from minute to minute..

The new GP has only done the blooded for testosterone and thyroid function.... testosterone was 0

Y x

[Dancinggirl]

yriches65
Stick with this Studd regime - it is very early days and it takes time for the body to welcome and adjust to the hormones.
I'm afraid the previous doctors you saw were giving you totally inappropriate treatment. 
You need to try some relaxation techniques and stop analysing everything. Try to get on with some fun activities to stop you thinking about how you are feeling all the time.
Hormone treatment can't solve everything. Get some exercise, brisk walking is great or join a yoga class.
Be patient - you may start to feel better in the next 4-6 weeks. DG x

[yriches65]

Thanks Dancinggirl...

Do you know whether i need an Progesterone ?

Very hard not to analyse...as being going for a year... and struggle with driving as currently makes me more anxious, so feel like a prisoner in the house..

I go walking the dogs , sometime struggle with the energy...

Get out and about with the DH , but sometimes struggle with my mind.. which is then a downward spiral.. the only thing that puts it straight is 1/2 sleeping tab...sometimes dig in and go without... and eventually passes

Y x

[Mbrown001]

If you have no womb then you don't need a progesterone. That's really good as the progesterone is the "difficult" one to get right.

So.....it's a case of finding the correct amount of oestrogen that you need to make you feel better.

A gel would be best for tweaking to get to the point that you have symptom control and feel good.

I hope you find a regime that suits you really soon.

[cubagirl]

You definitely don't need progesterone.

As Mrs B says maybe oestrogel would help.

[Julation]

I had hysterectomy too and I was told estrogel is not a good option for us.  It provokes high plasma peaks and we need to avoid that.  I did terrible on estrogel.

My actual recipe is: .25 estradot patch (I am long time migraineur so can't increase but you could go higher than this) as the patch delivers stable level of estradiol.  I also have 100 mg of progesterone at night to calm my "all over the place" body.  I also have Ativan if things go wrong.  I have started magnesium for migraines, trying to increase to 500-600mg a day.  So far so good.

I was a pure wreck when I started.  I just cant write all the problems I had, would be too long.  I was 2/10.  After 7 weeks of this regimen. I am now a 6/10.  Not perfect but better.  I might try to increase to .37 but I found HRT giving me bad ear ringing, headaches, water retention and head pressure as well.  I just need to accept that things will be different now.

I strongly recommend that you fight for your quality of life.  Dont give up. There is something out there right for you.  You just need to find it.

[Annie0710]

Progesterone won't harm you, some hysterectomised ladies feel better on a low dose of it.  What was the reason for your hysterectomy? If you had endometriosis then adding some prog could be beneficial

I had a hysterectomy at 32 saving ovaries but the blood supply was compromised leaving them hardly functioning, was given oral oestrogen and I felt back to normal for 13 years, so strange how our bodies suddenly reject a working regime , I've never felt the same since my 'crash' either but better than I did, I'm trying oestrogel (2.5 pumps now as night sweats came back and Tostran gel)

If you like to try progesterone there's a tablet called livial/Tibolone that mimics and gives benefits of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  It's hit and miss with ladies but always worth a try

Failing all that and let's be honest you've tried quite a lot like me have you considered low dose antidepressant ? I've resisted but starting to think maybe worth a try x

[Mary G]

yriches65, I would stick with Professor Studd's regime for now because it is flexible and you can easily adjust your Oestrogel dose.  Firstly, I would split the gel dose by 12 hours and use one pump in the morning and one pump in the evening.  You may find that it helps to have a more even dose of oestrogen.  Another option would be to increase to 3 pumps of gel everyday. 

If that doesn't work, why not try taking a couple of 100mg Utrogestan capsules vaginally every week, say one 100mg capsule on Monday and another on Thursday?  You would not need a high dose of progesterone but you might find that a low dose has a calming effect.  Even one capsule a week might help. 

Another option would be an oestrogen implant but you would need to establish how much oestrogen you need in order to feel good. 

Professor Studd's regime will not work for everyone, no regime ever does, but it succeeds far more than it fails.  I would trying tweaking the gel dose  first and then go back to him if you don't get any improvement. 

Edit:  I forgot to mention that I also take 1 x 25mg DHEA tablet everyday and have found it really helps.  I now produce a small amount of my own hormones again and it has helps with progesterone intolerance and migraines.

[CLKD]

Also get treatment for the vaginal dryness which is a separate issue to all the rest menopause symptoms.  It may otherwise cause the vaginal lips to fuse or get itchy or the bladder to feel irritated ......... your Practice Nurse/GP can give advice on which preparation would be good to try, I have found Ovestin into the vagina on a regular basis, plus the occasional application of KY Jelly on the outer/inner lips helps a lot.

Hopefully the advice thus far has been of use ? 

[paisley]

Hi really sorry you are feeling like this but really know where you are coming from. I had full hyster 7 years ago & could not find a HRT regime to suit me. Progesterone made me crazier. Everyone is different & so HRT really should be tailor made for you. I am sure you will find what works for you but don't give up as there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel

[yriches65]

Hi Julation,

thanks for the reply...

What progesterone are you on ?

Thanks

Y x

[yriches65]

Hi Annie0710

Thanks for the reply..

The reason for the hysterectomy was due to endo and also tumour found on left ovarie which was beign 

Don't really want to go down the AD route... feel bad enough taking 3.75 mg Zopiclone to help me now and again when really struggling

Y x

[yriches65]

Hi Mary G,

Thanks for the reply... at the moment the GP won't prescribe the Utrogestan, as they say i don't need it due to having no uterus...

Just want to get right so will try anything to get there

Y x