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[Optimist]

Hi all hope you're well.
I went to the menopause clinic yesterday and discussed my hrt journey so far. I was referred due to side effects on everol from progesterone and the fact I've been putting on an extra half oestrogen patch which has made me feel much better.
I've been on the patches since Nov/Dec first femseven then everol sequi.
After a history and discussion the specialist suggested I go onto femoston conti tablets. She's knows I only had a bleed s couple of months ago but feels this one will benefit me.
Got to say I'm a little nervous switching from patches back to pills. Elleste duet didn't agree with me (progesterone) and another, can't remember which, sent me into depression (again progesterone).
I did ask my gp for femoston after trialling elleste but they told me it wasn't available to prescribe!! Incorrect obviously.
Has anyone else experienced any of these changes and is the femoston working?
I'm still peri as far as I'm aware as had a bleed February then June so going into conti I'm hoping no more bleeds...ever! My body copes so much better without a bleed and the pmt mood swings!
Have a good day all 💐🌻🌸 xx

[dahliagirl]

I looked on my local CCG formulary (elsethread) and Femeston was not mentioned at all.

Instead the only first line suggestions were Elleste, cycloprogynova, and prempac C and the second line were evorel sequi and femseven sequi patches    I am assuming, that as the first line ones are so old and the last one is not even available now, that this part has not been updated for quite a while in spite of the document saying 2015.

I am assuming that as I have been prescribed Femeston, the doctors are not taking much notice of it.

There must be a lot of old paper work around, being recycled. 

[Optimist]

The list the meno specialist was a very lovely ng 2 sided list so gp's need updating maybe!
So far today I've started a light bleed !! and I have an intense back ache that actually is making me out of breath and having to walk very carefully! I'm supposed to go running tonight!! It states one of the side effects as backache! I'm really sensitive to medication and it's obviously making its way into my system but I sincerely hope any side effects disappear very quickly-has anyone else had this experience?? X

[Hurdity]

I must say it's very strange to be given conti HRT when you are still peri-menopausal but if the doctor (gynae?) thinks you would be better with a stable dose - despite the bleeds then presumably that's OK> If your cycle is still strong  (is it?) then you will presumably bleed through it? At what point in the Evorel sequi cycle have you changed to Femoston? If at the end then that would be causing the bleed because of the change in prog.

The only downside of Femoston conti is that it comes no higher than 1 mg doses whereas the 2 mg dose is available in the cyclical preparation. Hopefully you will absorb it well?

I'm not clear what you mean about Femoston dahliagirl?  The local formularies only list a few of the available HRT types. All the ones that are currently available and licensed are listed on this website. Maybe I've misunderstood you? Here is the product info for Femoston for example - updated Nov 2016: http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/15925

Let us know how you get on Optimist and hope your backache gets better

Hurdity x

[dahliagirl]

I moved pretty seamlessly from elleste 1/10 to femoston 1/10 except I did not get the awful joint aches on the progestogen phase.  However, I also started vit D around the same time as I was very low.

Have you been getting your 20 minutes a day in the sun?  It seems like you do in the summer, but then the weather has been a bit rubbish lately - warm and muggy and dull.  I usually take a supplement but have stopped over the summer and I am going back on it.  I am actually quite hurty.

[dahliagirl]

Hi Hurdity

The formulary says this:
The aims of this formulary are:
1. To encourage consistent prescribing throughout primary care.
2. To promote evidence based, rational, cost-effective drug usage across primary care by recommending first/second line choices within therapeutic groups.
The decision to include a drug has been made principally on the best evidence available at the time and where there is no evidence that any one within a class is superior; the decision is made by using patient acceptability, cost, current practice and local opinion.
Wherever possible the formulary should be adhered to but it is recognised there will be occasions where this is not possible. Links to treatment guidelines are included throughout this document to help further support clinicians.

I presume it is the list that the GPs within that care commissioning group are supposed to prescribe from, if possible.  None of the GPs I have seen seem to follow it apart from using elleste as the first line but I wonder if some who do not prescribe hrt a lot follow theirs more closely - if they are as up to date as mine ccg formulary, that might explain why some GPs think Femoston is not available (and why some prescribe cyclo-progynova as a first choice when my mother in law was taking that in the 1980s  )

[Optimist]

I moved pretty seamlessly from elleste 1/10 to femoston 1/10 except I did not get the awful joint aches on the progestogen phase.  However, I also started vit D around the same time as I was very low.

Have you been getting your 20 minutes a day in the sun?  It seems like you do in the summer, but then the weather has been a bit rubbish lately - warm and muggy and dull.  I usually take a supplement but have stopped over the summer and I am going back on it.  I am actually quite hurty.

Hi intake a vitamin D spray and I've just come back from a lovely sunshine holiday where I didn't have an iota of backpain! I have suffered before with back pain but that cleared up with the Hrt!! Hopefully it'll just be a glitch and if it is side effects I need to try to let it settle but that'll be difficult if I can't get around! Have had a hot bath and tablets tonight.

Hurdity I was on day 5 of oestrogen only but menopause specialist said to start taking it immediately!

Will keep you posted! She basically said it was double the dose of oestrogen I was getting from th Everol sequi 50 patch. I've got a follow up in 4 months time to check progress.

I will get this right one day! Thing is I was feeling great with extra half oestrogen Patch, but she said it was unopposed oestrogen as progesterone not strong enough for that even though I'd not bled when just using one patch.

Thanks ladies x

[Optimist]

Hi ladies just to update,
I'm day 10 of the femoston and I'm hoping not to jinx it by saying I feel bloody marvellous!! Best in ages (apart from some remaining niggling backache, which is improving!). The bleed/spotting has finished, my mood is stable and happy, other half thinks he's in nirvana as my libido is back!! Never thought I'd say that.....😊. Sleep not bad, only waking once if anything and I think that's more to do with recent weather.
Long may it last.
Re the conti as opposed to sequi, Hurdity; meno specialist said as my bleeding was so scant and months in between that the daily progesterone would keep my womb lining thin. She was adamant I was going onto conti as I'd said to her the day my periods stop will be the happiest day of my life!!
I so want to carry on feeling like this!
Hope all are well. Have a good weekend xx 💐 Xx

[Optimist]

Hi all... further update and not good! Knew I'd spoken too soon!
Horrible low mood and complete flat feeling...it's never ending, also tears last couple of mornings feeling a bit brain fogged too which is not helping at work. Have had some flashes or anger and a lot of irritation too which I hadn't been getting on everol sequi at all. The initial libido return has died a deep death and can't have bf near me as feel emotionally dead! Backache still but not as bad, bloating and some very very light spotting. Have rang the meno clinic and discussed with consultants secretary as told to and hoping I'll get an earlier appointment as I cannot carry on like this for another 3 months! I'll end up stopping it all together.
I'm just obviously sensitive to any progesterone and not sure this will ever get any better. Am totally fed up now and really don't know what to do anymore. Should I ask for femoston sequi so I only feel crap for 2 weeks every month? I'm still peri as far as I'm aware.
Felt good on the everol sequi and extra half patch oestrogen so obviously needing the additional oestrogen but they're not lee me carry that on as "unnapposed" oestrogen but I would have thought as long as my womb lining remained thin would be okay?
Any ideas much appreciated and so sorry to moan xx