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[TNM45689]

Hi
I have now been on Estradot 50mg patches and 100mg of Utrogestan for 2 months. Within a week I have severe bloating and this is not subsiding - it is very uncomfortable (equating from no stomach to 5 months pregant) and I can barely bend over.

I called the Menopause Clinic who, in a very quick 5 minute conversation, decided to switch my progesterone to norethisterone just like that. Having read up on norethisterone - this too can have some horrible side effects. Would it not be worth tweaking my current plan before moving onto something else? (I actually feel OK apart from the bloating!)

I have since gone back to them (but no reply yet!) regarding the following - but I wondered if anyone else has switched to the below and their symptons changed?

- Oestrogen surge can also cause bloating - would it be worthwhile cutting my dose in half and gradually building this up?
- Utrogestan - has it been found that taking this vaginally cuts down some of the side effects - please advise if this is an option?
- Utrogestan - again do the side effects vary if taken on a sequential rather an a continuous cycle?

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks

[TNM45689]

I am not sure why no-one has replied (maybe no-one has experienced the below). I feel very alone and maybe the bloating (it really is not blaoting - it is excessive) seems trivial to some - but it is unbearably uncomfortable and it does not even feel like body. I have tried to speak to the clinic - I have decided to try things myself - I have stopped the oestrogen first and then the progesterone (I am worried about the progesertone side as my mum died early of womb cancer). I am still not sleeping at all and whilst I have felt alot calmer this is all getting me down.

Feel alone even on a site where everyone is helping everyone else.

[Dotty]

Hi perhaps go onto a sequential regime to see if it helps . With this you will have oestrogen on its own for 2 weeks before adding the progesterone.

[Rosie63]

Hi, I'm not able to offer much help with this I'm afraid, only to advise on what I've tried.  I've tried several different hrt and although some have dealt with my meno symptoms, they have all caused me stomach problems, apart from the one I was on to start with for many years which have been discontinued, sadly.  I've tried taking Oestrogel only and then adding in the Utrogestan, because I wanted to see if it was the progesterone causing the problem but I was the same on both.  I understand how miserable you must be feeling because it can be so painful and uncomfortable. I've sometimes felt that the stomach discomfort is nearly as bad as the meno symptoms !!  I hate having a big swollen stomach   

To try to help I take a good probiotic, Buscopan, sip cooled boiled water and when I get constipated, which is quite often, I take a spoonful of coconut oil which does seem to help.  I've also tried Colpamin capsules and Colofac.

I'm currently trying Femoston 1/5mg and although I still get some discomfort, it's not quite so bad.  I'm hoping that things will improve given time.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

Rosie x

[TNM45689]

Thank you Rosie and Dotty - very kind of you to take the time to respond....

Tx

[Dotty]

We're always here to listen and try to help. X

[suziq99]

I'm on the third lot of tablets because of the severe bloating, started off on conti & now on sequential, it has been a whole lot better with the seq but has just started to come back after a few months. I'm really so fed up with it, think it's back to the gyne & see what she says.
Tempted to take nothing & see if the flushes come back or not.
Sorry no help to you but your definitely not alone.

[TNM45689]

Thanks Susiq99 - it seems so trivial but when literally you cannot bend down it is v difficult. I hope you get some help at Doctors. I am considering sequential too but will try a few other things first.

I contacted Dr Currie and she mentioned that I was on quite a high dose of oestrogen to start with (Estradot 50mg) and to reduce this dose as it may be the oestrogen not progesterone causing problems.

However how do I cut down on the dose - they are so tiny to cut in half?

Txxx

[MummyClanger]

Hi I've experienced severe bloating as well  I know exactly what you mean as my stomach is hard to the touch. I too have trouble at times bending as stomach is so hard. I have a Mirena coil so I'm on oestrogen only patches Evorelle 50mcg and this has helped me a lot. I've gradually had to increase this from 25mcg due to bloating seeming to be a side effect. Because the bloating is there almost constantly I was sent for a scan and blood test for ovarian cancer which thankfully were negative. They did find 2 benign cysts on each ovary and I've had further scan and they had reduced in size. Due another 4 month scan in August.  If I reduce the patches the other symptoms come back anxiety tearful ness irritability and feeling over heated most of time. I spoke to my doctor who said he thought if I was reacting to one type of patch I would probably react to the other. I've had Irritable bowel syndrome for many years and found this has played up during peri menopause. I'm 51. I am on a gluten and dairy free diet which has helped with IBS ( been on it 2 years now) I also take a prebiotic supplement. I am fairly slim so it makes me look pregnant. It's extremely uncomfortable too. Just to confuse matters when I upped my patch at one point the bloating got better but has now come back so just don't know what the answer is. I don't drink caffeine or alcohol. I do find that refined carbs like white rice make it worse so try to avoid them. Really hope you get it sorted

[jillydoll]

I had severe  bloating and the only thing that helped
me was actimal drinks and windeze tablets..
God, it was awful, I know what your going through.
Keep your diet bland for a few days, drink loads water too.
(Someone told me to drink fizzy pop, the fizz makes you pass the wind)
Don't know if that's true, I didn't try it...

[TNM45689]

Thanks Jillydoll - there is no wind just a a a very extended stomach - I have been on my HRT regime for nearly 3 months now and this is not subsiding at all. The Menopause Clinic will not see me until Sept and I am trying to get a doctors appointment but this is proving difficult too (and tbh he he really not very knowledgeable hence why I went to a menopause clinic).

I am actually at the point that I am ready to give up HRT- my insomnia etc is no better. I am also starting to worry what these drugs are doing to my body - I think it is crazy that there are no follow up blood tests to check what is happening to your different hormone levels. its all guesswork. I am also concerned that I am not going to have a scan to check my lining (and given my family history of womb cancer) it is terrifying me.

Tx

[SueLW]

It really sounds like you need to switch to a different HRT method now.  You have given it 3 months and it's not suiting you.  So try a different one.  Using what you have you could go onto a sequential regime and have a bleed.  That will give you 2 weeks of oestrogen only and means you will be able to find out which of the hormones is giving you the problem.  There is a lot of talk on here about how to do this.  Just search for Utrogestan sequential and see what comes up.

If the GP won't give you a scan when you want one it's really easy to get a private one at Ultrasound Direct, who operate out of the bigger Mother Care stores.  I had one last week.  The nicest, most thorough scan I've ever had.  Well worth the expense. 

[TNM45689]

Thanks Sue - I think so but cannot get an appointment with doctor to start this change - I will have to try and get an emergency appointment. Thanks so much for information on scan -but we really should not have to do this - all these meds can have serious consequences.....

Sorry mummyclanger I did not see your original message - gosh I feel for you and mine is exactly the same - I cannot bend over at all.....I am also slim and petite and only 46 but am looking at least 5/6 months pregnant.

I am just so worried about starting a whole new regime....I wondered if I should reduce my estrogen first down to 25mg to see if this makes a change before playing with the progesterone or going onto to a sequi.

Thanks
xxx

[MummyClanger]

Hi I'm not sure about reducing oestrogen on its own when you're taking progesterone. But I guess it's same as having Mirena in place.  I reduced mine very slowly by cutting patches in half then in quarters ! It also takes a few days at least to see any difference. I've been able to leave a message for my doctor to ring me in the past instead of waiting for an appointment. Good luck let me know how you get on xx oops sorry just saw you are on patches not tablets

[TNM45689]

Thanks MummyClanger I have finally got a doctors appointment on Monday so will chat things through before doing anything more and will let you now.
xxx