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[Mav196]

Hi ladies
From my previous posts you will know that I have been struck down with new onset daily headaches, migraines and dizziness, brain fog, PMS, lightheaded etc for the past year. I have visited an alarming number of specialists (ENT, neuro, gynae, endo etc). I have trailed and failed Inderal, Amitriptyline and Gabapentin. Thanks to you wonderful ladies in July of this year you helped me to realise that I have hormonal migraine and thanks to Dr. Currie's recommendation of a wonderful meno specialist here in Ireland - I am finally getting some help. I had an appt with a Dr. Deirdre Lundy this morning - a fantastic amazing woman - 100% knows her stuff, OMG so different to any other doc/specialist I have seen in the last year. She couldn't believe the bad advice I have been given and the unnecessary medications I have been on - she told me that blood tests are notoriously unreliable and that ALL of my symptoms are menopause - I am actually not suffering from an as yet undiagnosed mystery illness !! I am in fact not going off the rails nor am I losing my mind !

She explained that my symptoms are so disabling EVERY DAY (unable to work or drive) because my hormones are fluctuating WILDLY every day (in peri/meno if you were to graph the hormones you would see a sharp zigzag pattern rather than the typical gentle curves you see in typical reproductive years). She explained that the normal hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian relationship that controls the production and release of your hormones is seriously all over the place and for some women it results in completely disabling symptoms.

If I wasn't a smoker (hanging my head in shame as I type this) she would have put me on the contraceptive pill which would suppress my cycle and allow the synthetic hormones to take over. As this wasn't an option she has started me on 1mg Estradiol gel (Divigel) each day with oral Utrogestan 200mg days 14-28.  I truly hope this will give me some relief and let me function again.
I will keep you posted.
Mav

[peri]

Good news Mav196 and really pleased you've found someone who really knows her stuff, thank you for passing that on.  Hopefully this regime will suit you and your symptoms will start to settle down. Let us know how you get on x

[Salad]

Thank goodness you finally saw someone who could give you answers 

And thank you for posting as it's so reassuring to read that the zig zagging of hormones causes disabling symptoms, as this is exactly how I have felt at times - nice to know I'm not alone 

Hope your HRT helps soon
 

[Hurdity]

Hi Mav196

Your enthusiasm shines through in your post! So pleased to hear that you have visited a specialist who understands what you are going through and able to prescribe a suitable combo.

All the best with it and let us know how you get on.   There may be a settling in period as your body adjusts but hopefully you will feel better and better

Hurdity x

[Mav196]

Ladies thanks so much for your posts.....I am enthusiastic and am trying to be positive that this will work for me - I am day 11 in my cycle and started the Estrogen gel today and am due to start the Utrogestan on day 14. That's the part I am apprehensive about because from what I have read the progesterone is typically the more problematic BUT I am going to give it a fair shot - if there are side effects I will do my utmost to power through in the hope that my system can adjust.  It will be difficult for me to know if side effects like headache and dizziness are in fact side effects cos I have those anyway but I will just have to wait and see how it goes. Dr. Lundy told me to potentially expect breast tenderness and possible increased headache initially from the Estrogen, and perhaps tiredness from Utrogestan. I have a review appt with her in 6 weeks time or sooner if needed.
Keeping the chin up!!
Mav

[CLKD]

 

[Mav196]

Thanks CLKD.....I feel like a great weight has lifted from my shoulders.....being listened to and taken seriously by the doc today has helped so much....she understands the impact of this past year on me, on my husband, on my young son. She also told me that she has been on HRT since she was 42 and that she wouldn't be able to function without it so she totally gets how debilitating it can be when you have been misdiagnosed and left to suffer along without treatment.
So onwards and upwards for me now hopefully....I truly hope that my luck is changing and that this regime will just work without any tweaking or adjustments. And that I don't  hair loss from the progesterone this time !!!
Hugs
Mav

[CLKD]

If that is the least of your problems and if the treatment really does help then have a look at Trevor Sorbie (I think) as he has emptathy with people who suffer hair loss.  He provides wigs etc. 

Being listened too makes a HUGE difference 

[Peroxideblader]

So pleased for you..this could be the lovely new healthy start you want. I'll be waiting for your updates as that's the regime I'm due to start on but mines for totally different perimenopause reasons but life changing like yours and not for the better. I was ill on just the oestrogen stage so I might not make it to day 15 to start utrogestan but like you I'm going to give it my best shot..good luck

[Lanzalover]

Wishing you both every success. Do keep up us updated,

Lanzalover x

[CLKD]

OK you smoke.  So what!  One step at a time ........... and if it's your only vice 

[Mav196]

Thanks ladies....terrible day today with headache and strained eyes/woolly headed feeling but I am day 12 of my cycle and would normally have awful days between day 10-14 so I will put it down to that and power on.

I put the gel on my left thigh yesterday morning but due to my brain fog today I can't remember if I put it on my right or left thigh this morning. So now I don't know where to put it tomorrow morning as I was told you are supposed to alternate each day.....what will I do?

Mav

[CLKD]

Put it on a different part of the thigh and have a calendar with a tick - I have to do that every time I have a bowel movement.

[Lanzalover]

Hi Mav196

Sorry to hear you having a bad day just hang on in there and hopefully things will get better.

With regard to the gel I use two pumps of gel each day and find it is absorbed better on my arms rather than inner thigh and so use my arms most days and can honestly say I haven't noticed any difference in the effect so please don't worry. Also I assume women who use four pumps a day must be using the same site each day.

Lanzalover x

[Mav196]

Thanks I will try perhaps the back of my thigh tomorrow. Are any of you on Utrogestan 200mg oral? I am wondering what to expect when I start that on Friday? I suffered eyebrow and eyelash hair loss in the last few weeks as a result of trialing the mini pill Cerazette and when I was last on that pill in 2015 the same happened to me so I am very apprehensive about the progesterone part of this HRT regime.
Mav