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[Marti10]

Hello everyone, I am glad to have been added to the forum and to maybe get some insight.  I am 52 and went through menopause three years ago, no periods for three years, symptoms however became totally debilitating and I eventually caved in and started Evorel Conti which gave me awful migraines so I had to stop.  I started then 18 mths ago on a continuous compounded Estrogen and Progesterone, Biest 1.5mg and Prog 25mg, I couldn't believe the difference to my life that these creams made, I was no longer hauling myself around feeling like I had the worst flu.  Everything was fine until 6 mths after I had started and the bleeding started, every month for 10 days, it went on for a few months and to cut a long story short I was sent for a scan which was fine apart from a polyp so I had a D&C and the polyp was removed and my uterus lining was normal thankfully so they said I could start the HRT again, however two months in and the bleeding started again, went back to Consultant and he was not helpful and told me to just stop taking the HRT and learn to live with the symptoms, I was crushed but I continued on as I get the hrt from a Functional medicine Doc who thinks I need a change of regime with the creams and is happy for me to continue in light of the fact that my scan and biopsies etc were normal back in April.  I started a bleed again on 13th of Sept and its still going a month later, this is the longest one yet and Im worried sick about having to give up and go back to feeling so unwell.  The Functional Doc has upped the prog to 40mg and says I might want to try a cyclical regime instead if this does not work in order to get a regular bleed.  I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience with non stop bleeding after so long and were able to stay on the HRT. I just cant go back to how I felt, it was awful, so many horrible symptoms which have all been helped so much.  Thanks for allowing me to rant on .  Feeling despondant   

[Hurdity]

Hi Marti10

 

I'm guessing form your post that you are not in UK? Here (as well as in US) your unorthodox compounded regime is not approved for HRT nor endometrial protection and you would be better advised to take one of the regulated products. These are also "bio-identical" as in - the same molecular structure as the hormones produced in our bodies ie estradiol and progesterone. Here in UK we get these from NHS and in places like US you can ask for these through your regular doctor/gynae or whoever you see normally.

With these unregulated compounded creams you cannot know how much of which hormone is getting to your system and also the amount of progesterone required to prevent endometrial build-up.These can also be taken cyclically as I take them and have done pretty much continuously for 10 years - whereby I get a withdrawal bleed every 6-8 weeks.

Depending where you live you should be able to access a list of regular products available - you should look for estradiol patches or gel, and micronised progesterone. Here it's called utrogestan but in US it is Prometrium.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[Marti10]

Hi Hurdity,
Thank you for your reply , I am actually in Ireland and same applies regarding the creams , there is just the one Functional Medicine Doctor who prescribes them at a very high cost but I was so desperate I'd have handed over my house to get relief !
Anyway I couldn't tolerate the evotel conti patches so presumed most other approved preparations would be the same , maybe that's incorrect after reading your post .
I know I can't continue on with constant bleeding so will have to make a decision but the improvements in my health are so hard to give up now 

Thank you

[Taz2]

Just wanted to welcome you Marti10

Taz x 

[Marti10]

Thanks Taz

[Taz2]

I had continuous bleeding on a conti regime - various types of HRT - so returned to sequential so I could have a few days of bleeding a month. It worked well. I'm not sure on the role of the different types of HRT in migraine though. I found that FemSeven patches were far kinder than Evorel - the Norethisterone in Evorel didn't suit me at all - but I'm not sure whether you can get those in Ireland?

Taz x

[Marti10]

Thanks Taz, I suspected the progesterone element of the evorel was what was causing the migraines for me . I will have to investigate what's available in Ireland and pluck up the courage to visit the GP although she was not a fan of the seq regime for post menopausal which the Functional med doctor had no problem with . It's all so conflicting, it nearly gives me a headache just trying to get a straight answer 

[Taz2]

Have you considered emailing Dr Currie for advice? You could then print out her reply and take it with you to the doctors. It costs £25 but may be worth it.

Taz x

[Marti10]

No I didn't realise that was an option at all , I'm a total rookie . I'll see if I can do that , thanks for that .x

[Taz2]

There is a link on the home page under Contact.

Taz x

[Marti10]

Thanks so much Taz x

[Taz2]

You're welcome. Let us know how you get on!

Taz x 

[Marti10]

Will do!

[Marti10]

Just a quick update , I emailed Dr Currie so waiting on a reply , in the meantime I went back to GP today , she said she really didn't know what would be best so would have to do some research and get back to me which is fair enough , at least she is trying , she did however tell me that Urtrogestan is not available in Ireland . I'm no further on apart from stopping the progesterone for the past four days which has stopped the bleeding so at least i know that's the cause . Obviously I can't not take the prog so I hope there is an answer . Thanks for listening 

[Hurdity]

Thanks for the update Marti10 but it does not follow that progesterone was causing the bleeding if it stops when you stop the progesterone! What progesterone does is to change the structure of the lining that has built up during the oestrogen and then when you stop the progesterone it causes it to shed. If it has thickened anyway sometimes it sheds while the progestogen is being taken - but as you say you can't not take it because it is needed to protect the womb lining. The cream you were taking is such a low dose and not sure even how much of the oestrogen was being absorbed - it is impossible to know with compounded creams as there is no standard concentration, formulation or dosage.

I do think a cyclical regime on a standard form of HRT may well be the answer if utrogestan is not available in Ireland.

Keep us updated anyway

Hurdity x