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[Edinbetty]

I registered for this site In the summer but could not commit to getting involved as I felt too low and not able to partake as everyone on the site seems so' able' I am 55 but feel 85 as I feel so tired, fatigued and low with my hot flushes. I went to the memo clinic and was given Evorel sequi which I took for six months. I felt very depressed for a long while before this and had some slight improvement and my hot flushes abated. I returned to the clinic and I know this is stupid but met with a different Dr who has put me on evorel 50 and utrogestan100, I'm not sure why but she felt it was a better option and more 'natural ' I didn't take the HRT and stopped treatment due to a silly error in leaving my HRT at home when I had to go away for a month. Anyway , it's been 3 moths with no HRT and now I need to go back on it as I feel I am going mad. I'm uncommunicative , exhausted and feeling incredibly low to be honest . Thats ok though as I don't have a husband and live alone but I am starting to be more reclusive and I avoid social situations because I feel I have nothing to say to people. I feel it's to do with me losing confidence as I have not worked in 5 years but also due to terrible mood swings , hot flushes  and all the other  things that come with the menopause . I've stopped taking an interest in my clothes or appearance ,my skin is awful and become paper thin and  I just don't have the compulsion or energy to make an effort, I'm invisbale anyway!    I feel stupid posting this message but I just don't know where to start. I stopped having my period about a year ago but unsure , do I just start taking evorel 50 and then the utrogestan vaginally? The doctor did not really explain and believe it or not I find it hard to read and understand what is the best course of action. Is it safe for me just to start HRT after a long break with out any checks from the GP who I saw 3 months ago.
Sorry to sound so stupid , part of me thinks now that I have come off the HRT what's the point on going back on it, I may as well just soldier on. I just want to feel 55 not 95!  lose the hot flushes and feel like life could be better. Maybe I should be taking anti depressants but I thought maybe I should start with HRT first.  Sorry to moan I know there are many of you out there with so much more to deal with . X

[Bluebell]

Edinbetty - you have made the first step towards feeling better by posting how you're feeling.
I'm not informed enough to give you advice but there's lots of ladies who are very knowledgeable on Menopause Matters and I'm sure they will point you in the right direction. Hang on in there and I hope you feel better soon.

Carol. X

[Hurdity]

Hi Edinbetty

 

You made it!!!

Firstly please do not worry about others' apparent ability on here - we all had to start from somewhere! I knew almost nothing about menopause when I joined! Also some of us are a bit longer in the tooth ie in our 60's and more so have been doing it for some time - but hopefully we can pass on some of our experience, suggestions as well as support to others. In fact everyone supports each other however old or young we are and wherever we are in menopause. So great that you have taken the plunge at last - and apologies on behalf of all of us if you felt in any way put off before now!!!

Secondly so sorry to hear how you feel but this is absolutely normal (for menopause) as are the questions you are asking.

HRT is most definitely the recommended treatment for the menopausal symptoms you are experiencing and the best place to start. I was about your age when I started HRT and almost the same stage. I was just under 54 and in late  peri-menopause and was given Evorel sequi. I tried it for 3 months and like you it worked on flushes and sweats pretty quickly. Don't worry about having stopped - unless there is a medical reason why not it is perfectly alright just to start again now.

Your doc has given you a good combo. At this stage ( after changing from Evorel sequi) I went onto 50 mcg patches with separate progesterone ( utrogestan wasn't available then). Because I wasn't post-menopausal I still took it cyclically which suited me fine. You might want to think about doing this too ie cyclically  (discuss with your doc) so that you can see how you feel on the progesterone phase. This is because progesterone can be a depressive and makes you tired ( it makes me tired when I'm on that part). If you choose to take it like this then the licensed dose is 200 mg for 12 days. I was prescribed it for 11 days per 28 (with a different progesterone) when I was in my 50's. Taking it vaginally minimises side effects - and some research suggests that lower than licensed doses can be used - but will need to discuss with doc?

There is a thread ( in this section ) called oestrogel and utrogestan support thread or something similar with thousands of posts and lots of pages - which will tell you a lot about utrogestan regimes.

There is no need to soldier on - you are still young. The first thing is to start to feel better physically (and your skin will improve!), and then you can take steps to feel better about yourself - hair, clothes, diet, and the rest so you do not feel  invisible and you feel like going out again. You have years ahead of you hopefully so make a start now to get yourself on track. We are here to support you on your way.

This is a bit of a ramble as it's getting late - I started to write earlier but then went off to watch a drama on TV but wanted to reply as I said I would on your other thread!!

If you've got to the end - hope it's helpful but do ask anything else if you need to!!

Here's to a new you 

Hurdity x

[Edinbetty]

Thank you Carol. I just wasn't sure about the utrogesan but I'll try and face reading about it tomorrow . X

[Edinbetty]

Thank you so Much H, I will search for that information now , so I can take utrogesan 100 capsules vaginally is that correct or am I really losing the plot ?
Yes, the Last post was excellent last night, it's a first rate series and I think the best thing the BBC has made for along while . X
I wrote a longer post earlier but it seemed to have  disappeard into the ether  and I am not sure if it will reapear , so if I am repeating myself , sorry , I am still working out how to post?
Many thanks to you and Carol for replying , I am heard so thank you for listening and being there .

[Edinbetty]

Sorry, being silly again but I am not sure how I find a thread?
I put oestrogel and utrogestan into the search bar but only your message to me came up, what the heck am I doing wrong ?

[Hurdity]

Hi again Edinbetty - yes that was what I watched - is excellent!

Yes you can take utrogestan vaginally ( off licence in UK). Here is the Utrogestan/Estrogel support thread: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23372.0.html

To do a search you need to go to the Home page of the forum otherwise you're only searching in the section you are in or even that particular thread. I found that out by trial and error and getting the same result as you! You seem to be managing OK to post but it ls very frustrating to lose them - if I'm writing a long one then sometimes I write it in word and then copy and paste when I want to post - to avoid losing it when pressing the wrong button!

Supporting, advising, caring, sharing, chatting - that's what we're all her for  . Ask away if you need any more help

Hurdity x

[Edinbetty]

Dear Hurdity
I am new to HRT so have read bits and pieces in the forum as you suggested.  I've been on the Evorel 50 patch for 15 days , stopped that and have been useing the utrogesan capsule 100 V for the past 5 days with little side effects so far apart from bloating and low mood. However I have just discovered I was supposed to take utrogesan every day (orally) for three months and I haven't! I know it sounds a bit wimpish but I am a bit worried and don't know what to do? Shall I continue as I am for another 5 days? Do I then restart the Evorel patch with utrogesan at the same time? My nurse says do what ever I feel comfortable with but I honestly don't know as I did not have any bloods taken when they placed me on HRT so I have no idea whether I am post menopausal or not. All I know that I stopped my periods about 8-12 months ago.
Many thanks and I would appreciate your thoughts ?
Edinbetty.
I live in Edinburgh and was referred to the menopause clinic but have only been seen twice with no bloods taken. They did a pelvic scan and said it looked normal and that was it. I feel a bit more clued up now having read other messages in the forum but I do feel a bit intimidated when I go to the clinic and end up not asking what I need to know and come out non the wiser?

[Kathleen]

Hello Edinbetty and welcome to the forum.

I can see that Hurdity is helping you and I'm sure she'll answer your question when she has time to visit MM.

I thought I'd add that I now write a list of questions I have for the medics and read from it during  meetings. I explain that I don't sleep well and this makes me forgetful and they accept that. I even make two copies and offer them one. I started doing this when I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis years ago and I now have a file of information that is very helpful and my consultant has complimented me on it lol. 

I hope you find the regime that suits you and that you feel better soon. This time in our lives can be very challenging and we are here for you.

Take care.

K.

[Edinbetty]

Thank you Kathleen, yes I wished I had done that and I will try that next time. In fact I have asked for another phone consultation with the nurse on Friday. I am dreadfully forgetful and I feel half the person I used to be, everyone I speak to seems so 'able' and  I know that's not true but it's the WayI feel. I get tongue tied and I get sidetracked. Anyway, I will make an effort to try to keep more data, it's a good idea. I have read through various messages but I still don't understand. Do I continue with the Evorel 50 all the time while taking the utrogesan for 12 days or do I stop the Evorel and then take the utrogesan . I have done the latter and I am on day 6 of utrogesan only now 100 taking it V at night before sleep.  The doctor did not discuss methods of taking utrogesan with me and it's only by reading the forum answers that I decided to go this route. On the box it says take everyday for three months? I have not had bloods checked for meno as I was getting bloods taken for other symptoms but have had no feedback. I am 55 and last period about 8-12 months ago but I have been feeling dreadful for at least 7 years and the hot flushes and other symptoms became unbearable that I did not want to go on. I have become very withdrawn and I have not worked for over 8 years so self esteem at a all time low, I walked into a job centre yesterday and burst into tears as I did not know what to do, there is no privacy in those places and I felt so stupid for not understanding everything is on line these days. I don't know how to get a job, how pathetic is that? I've recently separated from my husband after 30 years married and feel I have nothing left to offer.

[Edinbetty]

Hello not sure if anyone is seeing my posts and can help answer my query? Am I posting in the right place I am a relative newbie ?
Many thanks.
EB

[peri]

Edinbetty, yes you continue with the evorel 50 all the time.  These patches provide oestrogen which is the feel good hormone.  As you've been off them for a while your oestrogen reserves may be low which explains your symptoms, hopefully now you're back on them you'll start to feel better and more like your old self.  I certainly feel difference when mine run out and feel better within a couple of hours of putting a new one on x

[Edinbetty]

Hi Peri
So I keep on with the Evorel 50 patches all the time for 28 days but on the 15th day take the utrogesan for 12 days ? This is my first month and I am on day 6 of utrogesten but I had stopped taking the Evorel , so I need to put a patch on tonight at the sMe time as I take the utrogesan .
Thanks Peri

[Hurdity]

Hi Edinbetty

I see your question has been answered very well by peri already .... so to re-iterate - the answer is yes - oestrogen is taken all the time. If you decide to take Utrogestan cyclically then if you read my first reply to you on this thread below I have explained it all there. You should start with the licensed dose to see how your womb lining  behaves and what your bleed is like and then with your doc hopefully reduce the dose (off licence) if you are using it vaginally and your bleed is very light.

Incidentally you are posting absolutely correctly in the right place - we are all very busy and just come on here when we have the time as Kathleen says, and post replies when we can, in our own time! Most members get answered eventually by someone, especially if you "bump" your post as you did. I only manage to look at a few of the posts when I miss a day or two - just the latest ones in a couple of the sections....

Hope it all works out and you feel better soon

Hurdity x

[Edinbetty]

Thank you so much H, I went back to the very beginning and read through the thread from2014, all makes sense now. All working ok so far but no bleed this time, maybe it's just early days. I'll stay in touch.
Thank you ladies
Edinbetty X