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[Jintyhilton]

sorry Karen - only just read you message re your medical history :-(    You really are having a tough time - stay positive x

[Karen max]

I think my body just don't like HRT as over the last 5yrs I've have been on 3 different types 1st was when I was pri meno and also did not agree with me , I really would give the gel estrone a go if I thought it would help as I said I've used wellsprings and that didn't help at all... is there a site you can buy the gel from ??

Many thanks....
                        kaz xx

[Jintyhilton]

Kaz, I have read on here that some GPs will prescribe it. Bioidentical is very different from synthetic. Maybe you will have a good forward thinking GP !  x

[Karen max]

I will say to my GP about it when I get appointment but I guess it will depend if it costs more than they seem to op for the cheapest .... what a awful thing this menopause is and I'm really amazed at how long it last thought being post meno for almost 4yrs I would be starting to feel even a little better 

Thanks again

                    Kaz xx

[Hurdity]

Hi Karen max

 

Sorry to hear about all your problems.

Were you prescribed the anti-depressants and propanolol for menopausal symptoms ie after your periods went wonky and you started to get symptoms, and in the absence of any previous history of depression? If so your doc was quite wrong and should have given you HRT and kept trying different preparations until you found one to suit you as ADs are not the first line of treatment - even for menopausal low mood.

In the meantime yes you can get estrogel or sandrena on NHS as well as oestrogen patches. Personally I prefer these ( patches) - Estradot are good because they are very small - and changed twice weekly. Gel is applied once a day - matter of preference really. You would need a progestogen and ideally even though postmenopausal it's better to start it cyclically so that you can get used to oestrogen only and how you feel on this regime. The usual one is Utrogestan (micronised progesterone). You will need to be firm with your doctor if you want to try these products - they are all available on NHS.

You do not need to mention "BHRT" but if your doc tries to refuse to prescribe what you ask for, you would need to say you want to use hormones that are identical to those your body makes ie they are "bio-identical". BHRT is the term that is generally used for private compounding pharmacies - which prescribe"Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy" but is not generally recommended as such.

I hope this does not sound confusing?

Sadly if you are still experiencing symptoms after 4 years since menopause, you may be one who continues to get flushes for many years - some women do - in which case the sooner the better to start HRT. The good news also is that after your op you only have to take oestrogen as it is often the progesterone which causes the problems but having ovaries out too is a bit more drastic and sometimes takes a little longer to find the right dose.

It might be worth trying to find something sooner than later if the waiting list is long - so that you can experiment and at least find some relief in the meantime?

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

MY JOURNEY - 52 and have finally found 'balance' having been in a bad place since January 2017 after GP gave me combined synthetic HRT for flushing, headaches & restless legs. This stopped the flushing but led to more symptoms; rapid weight gain, hair loss, insomnia, memory loss and feelings of anxiety and dark depression. Lasted 4 months and had to ditch them. GP & Bupa Consultant that I saw said I needed to take anti-depressants with the HRT !! I refused and started researching bio identical HRT.  I got a full set of blood tests using Blue Horizon and it showed that I was low in progesterone & oestrogen.  Its taken me a couple of months to get the right products (having had a bad experience with an online company 'Menopause Woman' who use an American doctor to push hormones with no back up or interaction) but a visit to John Studd Menopause Clinic has changed my life, I feel nothing short of amazing and I have no symptoms whatsoever. I really never thought it was possible to feel this good again. Every woman should be made aware of BHRT and given this option of treatment.

Hi JintyHilton

 

Glad to hear you are feeling good on your HRT regime Maybe post your story on a new thread so that more members can welcome you to the forum?

Hurdity x

[Jintyhilton]

Thanks hurdity - I'm still trying to get the hang of this ! My first ever forum lol 

[Karen max]

Hi hurdity,
            No I have been on anti depression tabs form I took post nantal depression after the birth of my daughter so I have suffered depression for some time but the anixty just came along last year which is why I was started on the propanol.. My GP isn't great when it comes to HRT even going back to when I was pre meno he just kept telling me 'deffo not menopause " as your still having period .... as I said I was clueless regarding anything to do with menopause so I went along with him ,until this anixty hit me like a hammer over the head last yr even then it was myself who asked to be put on to some type of HRT he reply was "you can try it if you want " ... out health service has just gone from bad to worse here and as I say I'm in Ireland and meno clinics few so if my GP can't help me out only other thing I can do is go down the private route which I'm sure will cost a small foutune x

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear you suffered from PND. It is now thought that this has a hormonal cause and can be treated successfully with oestrogen - Jintyhilton gave you some links to Studd's website - where this is explored - but specifically here ( and on the tabs on rhs of webpage) http://www.studd.co.uk/postnataldepression.php . Oh dear re your GP!

Hurdity x

[Karen max]

Thank you Hurdity there is some great reading in the links . I phoned docs today but can't get appointment until mid September so I will just have to carry on feeling so awful until then... reading about the oestrogen sound exactly what ud need , do you know if you can buy this gel from a site ? And if so would I have to use another hornmoan along with it that can be got in gel form?... just at the minute my head is all over the place I'm reading things and they seem to be going in one ear and out the other ... if that makes sense 


Many thanks ..... Kaz xx

[Otes73]

Not everyone doesn't get on with progesterone, I love it! I have to take it daily due to endometriosis but for me it makes a huge difference. I also use oestrogel and testogel. It gives me a good nights sleep, no anxiety and gets rid of fluid retention. I was wondering if the stopping and started of progesterone is what's difficult? The first 2 weeks I was on it was tough but then I felt great!
X

[Karen max]

Hi Otes73
              I really don't know what I need as I said I had a look through all the info and still can't get my head round it, guess I'm just looking a magic pill that will take this awful anixty away.... I really thought the longer menopause you were the easier it became but seems to be working the other way for me ,yrs of pre meno then periods stopped then after 3 it has hit me again like a hammer ...

                                     Kaz xx

[Hurdity]

Karen - you should not have to wait until September for an appointment about this! Ask for an earlier one if you can - OK it's not urgent on the day, but it is more than routine ie not OK for a few weeks wait! How rotten for you if you really can't get one after pushing for one....Not sure how it works in Ireland ( are you in Eire?)

It's not a good idea to try to self medicate by buying stuff online even if you could get hold of it and yes if you use gel you need a progestogen to protect your womb as I pointed out in my last post.  You must only do this under medical supervision.

Hurdity x

[Karen max]

Yes I'm in Southern Ireland waiting list to see GP is always long unless it's really emergency then they tell you to go to nearest A&E and to go privately costs a small fortune as I waited so long when I took prolapse I went privately.. i will keep phoning each morning to get if I can get cancellation with my docs if not I've no choice only to wait to midd September. I don't even need to see him face to face a simple 10minute conversation over the fone would sort this out as I saw him 8wks ago so he knows exactly what is going on regarding menopause and he was able to tell me over the fone last wk to stop the indivani HRT last wk when I asked him if he could swap them to a different HRT his reply was .."no just let that one clear out of your system " yet I know of  people who has their HRT changed to a different one the next day... it all just really confuses and really makes me angry 😡


                                              Kaz xx

[Yammy1]

Hi Karen Max, I live in Ireland too and although it didn't suit me I was put on a gel called divigel, so maybe you can mention name to doc if you ever get to see him. my gp has a walk in service every morning for an hour, maybe shop around , you don't have to stay with same doc. I have to go now getting bloods done in hospital but hopefully you will get sorted sooner rather than later.