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[Alibali67]

I'm new to this site, and am reading so much about everyone's experiences. I think my peri began just over a year ago? Was mostly mental issues, poor concentration, forgetting words, stammering, feeling anxious and embarrassed. I had a few nightsweats, but I was coping with them. I tried evorel conti patches for 4 months at the end of last year. I think it did help with my issues above. My cycle however didn't cope well and I felt my body was being 'forced' into an unnatural cycle and having a bleed when i wasn't supposed to. Eventually my cycle was all over the place and I stopped it, my stomach bloating was so uncomfortable, and I blamed hrt. I am now needing help, I feel low, crying at silly things, my stomach bloat comes and goes at all times of the month and is so uncomfortable with lower back pain, even just after a period. Nights sweats increasing and mood /libido is disappearing.  I think perhaps I should try hrt again but am unsure? And been reading about testosterone gel along with hrt? Anyone have experience of this?
I'd love to say more but I don't want to bore everyone who have heard it all before. Thanks for reading.

[NorthArm]

I feel a bit the same, as if my body is fighting the hormones. And my low mood / anxiety is coming back again. I'm off to see a gynaecologist in a couple of weeks to see what can be done. I swear I'm at the point where I'm going to stop everything, give it three months, then start again!

I do know that sometimes you might have to try a couple of types of hrt until you find the right one, have you been back to your gp?

[Taz2]

Hi Cosmic.

It can take a few tries to get the right HRT so don't despair. When you started HRT can you remember how long it had been since your last period?You say that the Evorel upset your cycle but conti HRT is only for women who have had at least a year without a period. Others on here have been given the wrong type which is why I ask.

Also, as NorthArm says it is important to have a full blood count done just to rule out any other problems.

Taz x 

[peri]

Hi guys, for what it's worth I think peri menopause is the hardest time because hormones can fluctuate so much, and that's what causes the problems.

Also, often it's the progesterone part of hrt that causes the issues (side effects, low mood, etc) so rather than use continuous it may be preferable to have a cycle.  I use evorel 50 patches which are very good, and utrogestan (progesterone).  I can only speak from personal experience but I'm the most settled I've been since the meno started and I've tried every hrt going.

I also use testim (testosterone gel), a tiny pearl size amount every day.  I was lucky enough to get this on the nhs, and this for me has been the cherry on the cake.  I have seen a return of libido as well as energy and mental clarity.

Like Taz says it can take a few attempts to get it right with hrt but don't give up, it is doable.  Wishing you well and any questions just ask x

[vintagefiend]

ooh! peri that's a promising post! (sorry to hijack cosmic, but hopefully all input helpful!)
PERI could i ask you if your periods have stopped. I'm struggling to find anything i can cope with! I havent had a period for 40 days now- which v unusual, so think i'm winding down and not experiencing major fluctuations- mood low tho.
did your gp prescribe the testim? i'm wondering how easy to get testim prescribed.
cosmic- sorry i'm not much help but i totally understand how you feel- it will get better, this is a great forum and maybe testim could help both of us! just need to get hold of it...

[Hurdity]

Hi Cosmic67

 

I agree it could be the progestogen part of the HRT and with what the others have said re cyclical HRT..

I use testosterone too - haven't yet got it on NHS but haven't tried yet as I got a huge box of it which lasted 18 months and then another without having to make another appointment! There are several threads on Testosterone but I started one in Private Lives called "testosterone here we go" which describes my experience and some of others ( goes meandering off a bit at time). https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,27959.0.html . You could also search for other threads on T.

Also please don't think you will bore everyone - all our stories are different - so your is yours alone. We can help due to our own experiences and also from the knowledge we have gained along the way.

Hurdity x

[peri]

Hi Vintagefiend

I think my periods have stopped (I've just turned 53), although I don't know for sure cos I'm on an hrt cycle, but my feeling is they have.  I remember just before starting hrt going 3 months between periods and my pmt was off the scale so I do sympathise.

After educating myself on this site I went to my GP and asked for testosterone. She couldn't prescribe it but referred me to a specialist (all on the nhs) who could.  Now I've got the prescription I can have it forever.  If you do a search on this website you'll see lots of discussions on this subject.  Some ladies have got it on the nhs and others have had to go private to source it.  Either way it's definitely worth persevering (I feel) x

[vintagefiend]

great! thanks PERI - really helpful- i will make sure i get it!!

[MIS71MUM]

Again sorry to hijack thread, but Peri, I'm sure you had the Mirena at the same time as me, then had it removed! Hopefully I'm right.

Do you really feel better with the Testosterone? Wow! Mental clarity is something I have waved goodbye to for the last 4 years!

In my surgery, 1 GP is fab and said that in menopause, your mood can get very low, but won't give me T as it will masculinise me! And a young female GP who says that oestrogen depletion and menopause does not cause depression! If there's that much difference in one surgery, no wonder we all get different messages.
I'd love the chance to get T but will need to go private.
Cosmic67 - I definitely agree with what you say about your body fighting the hormones. It almost felt with me it was unnatural- like I was bleeding when I shouldn't be and it was all contrived rather than natural.
I could be wrong but if you are peri, then I would have thought you would need evorel sequi and not evorel conti.

[Alibali67]

Thanks so much for everyone's replies! My mistake, yes it was everol sequi I was using, not conti! brain fog lol. Peri, thanks for your input re testosterone, am I correct in thinking it will only be prescribed once established on hrt?
I have now decided to have the mirena coil fitted for the progestogen part and try oestrogen tablets only. Perhaps this will avoid my cycle issues? And then approach my gp regarding testosterone. I'm hoping hrt alone might give my libido a kick up the a-se! I need to try something....a colleague at work today asked if I was ok, as I was looking anxious and not myself
I managed to stammer that I was fine but I was embarrassed it is so obvious. I try at work to joke about mental issues, but it's getting not funny any more. Off to gp early next week....

[Mazza27]

Hi cosmic,

Can I ask how old your are?

So many woman on here get hrt and some don't (me included)
Across the country is so many differing advice and views from gps and specialists it's so frustrating.
No wonder we don't know what to do for the best

I have changed jobs due to my issues didn't want the stress of it while I am going through this.

Hope all settles down for you

Mazza

[Jintyhilton]

Hi Cosmic

i really sympathise and feel for you, like lots of ladies on here i have been there with the struggle to 'be yourself' at work. The trouble is we are not the same as we once were, our brains are struggling as well as other parts of us because we dont have the hormones we need to function properly . Dont give up, be  kind to yourself and share how you are feeling. Once i got over the shock of being in menopause - who moi? ;-) i told my friends i was struggling and openly cried about it on the odd occasion! You are normal and just keep trying to get something that works for you. AD's do help some people but they dont give us the missing hormones that are important for our bones etc   Blood tests too are a good starting point too and lots of research. keep going xxx

[peri]

Hi Cosmic67

Yes, you are correct T is only given once hrt is established.  Also rather than tablets for oestrogen have you considered patches or gel?  They're safer as they don't go through the liver + they're also better for libido than pills x

[Alibali67]

Hi Mazza27, I'm 50. My GP and also a lovely consultant at my local hospital's menopause clinic (who will do the coil insertion) have been super understanding and supportive. I'm lucky!

Peri, yes I tried patches when I was taking the evorel sequi but because I didn't have a good experience I thought I would try tablets. But perhaps if I don't have the progesogen part in patch form maybe just oestrogen be ok in patch form with coil? My libido was good in first couple weeks of starting sequi but then faded again....
I guess I thought that I would experience a miraculous turnaround as soon as I started on hrt, and now realising that's definately not the case!

Again, thanks for all your replies.xxx