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[TNM45689]

Hello

I am 46 and have no had any periods since April 2017. I was put on Estradot 50/Utrogestan 100 daily to help with mood, insomnia, no libido etc) by the Menopause Clinic at Chelsea and Westminster.

However 3 months in my excessive bloating is causing me so much stress (whilst my mood has improved a little nothing else has changed). I cannot go back to clinic until Sept - they just said switch prog to norethisterone but I think that will be even worse.

Struggling to get a GP apointment so want to see if I can come off the HRT....or even work out which part is causing problems.

Can I just stop the Estradot? Will I have any complications from just stopping? I cannot reduce as you cannot just cut these small patches? Then the progesterone?

Any advice much appreciated.

Tx

[Dancinggirl]

Switch to a sequential regime before trying anythings else.  The oestrogen is the ‘feel good' stuff so don't stop the patches. Stop the Utrogestan for 16 days and then use either 2 capsules orally or one capsule vaginally each day for 12 days together with the patch.  You then go back to 16 days of just the patch. This is a sequential 28 day cycle adn should result in a bleed after finishing the Utrogestan phase. You can then see if the Utrogestan is causing the problems and, if it is, then I would try Provera.  DG x

[TNM45689]

Thanks Dancinggirl - I am happy to try this but feel uncomfortable with just going on it without some medical guidance.

I did read that too much oestrogen can cause the bloatedness so wanted to rule that out first?

Tx

[CLKD]

Where did you read that about oestrogen 

[Tinkerbell]

I use quite a how dose of estrogen and don't get troubled with bloating, it's progesterone that is the culprit for that.
I use a Mirena for the progesterone component of my HRT,could maybe a option for you.

[TNM45689]

I have tried to research (Dr Currie also states bloating can be caused by too much) and it states more estrogen means more water retention. I might be wrong and it might be the progesterone (more likely to be) but was just trying to rule things out before I stop altogether. The though of the mirena coil fills me with dread so not an option for me I am afraid...



 

[Roseneath]

I'm so confused by this. I was told by my GP  that estrogen can be too high during meno which is why some HRT makes symptoms like anxiety worse rather than better by blocking cortisone production and impacting on the thyroid.   But they won't test my levels as they say the tests are unreliable due to fluctuations.  So where does that leave me. (Down the AD route as it happens but I haven't gone there yet. trying free NHS CBT first when they finally give me the code for the online course...)

[TNM45689]

I will ask for bloods on Monday and if they refuse then I will go privately - I also want a scan to see how I am responding to the prog (my mum died of womb cancer so would have thought this was quite important) - what if it is not being absorbed, what if it is not enough for my needs - I am worrying about all of this?

[TNM45689]

Thanks so much Jeanie xxx

[dangermouse]

They usually do blood tests to check FSH as if this is higher then it's a strong indicator of menopause. I think HRT can also make it higher. Bloods for oestrogen and progesterone can change from one extreme to the other every hour so it's true that they aren't great measures unless they do hourly blood tests over a few days (apparently you can ask for this according to Trust me I'm a Doctor but I can't imagine many GPs will fund that!).

My GP and endocrinologist said oestrogen can be higher than normal in perimenopause due to the gradual drop off in progesterone (which opposes it) and last ditch surges to trigger ovulation within a dwindling egg supply. It's certainly my experience and seems to be the main culprit for nausea, migraine and feeling generally overwhelmed. Some experts also believe that oestrogen can surge for up to 3 years post menopause in some unlucky women!

[Emerald2017]

My FSH was about 35 and my estradiol about 26 before hrt. While taking hrt my FSH is 2 and my estradiol about 294pmol. So I think that hrt helps with stabilizing the hormones and not the opposite. Hope it helps.

[Milamam]

I agree - HRT lowers the FSH, as it is related to the estrogen supply to the body. The more estrogen you have/absorb, the lower the FSH. So bloods are not indicative for menopause if you are already taking HRT as the FSH will be low.

Without HRT, mine was 25 in November. With HRT, it was 5.6, like during furtile years.

Hope this helps!

Milamam xxx

[TNM45689]

I went to the doctors today to talk about my current regime, tweaking etc and he actually said he couldnt help me his specialism was diabetes not menopause and told me to talk to the lady dctor (who is on holiday for a couple of weeks). Surely this is not good enough, in this day and age and when every women wil go through this surely a GP should be armed with at least some level of information on this.

He agreed to blood tests and another women doctor will call me with results on Wed.

Frustrated....
xx

[dangermouse]

Yes, sorry, the FSH would be lower on HRT, knew it affected it but couldn't remember what way!

Can you not ask another doctor for the oestrogel so you can try different doses if you have lowest dose patch?

The other way is to have high dose oestrogen to override your own cycle, like how the pill works which may calm the volatility.

[Lanzalover]

Good afternoon TNM45689

That's really annoying for you.

You could try ringing the Chelsea and Westminster for some advice as they were the ones thatinitially prescribe this regime.

Do hope you manage to get some hep soon.

Lanzalover x

I've just re read your first post and assume you have already spoken to them if you don't get any joy on Wednesday I would do as DG suggested and see if that helps.

Lanzalover x