Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dana]

Hello MMers

It's a long time since I've posted, but I do check in from time to time. I just wanted to get some wise opinions about something that I'm considering.

A bit of background on me. I have been post meno for around 9 years. I'm now 60 and have been on various forms of HRT for all of those years. I was on Estradot 50 patches for a number of years, and I was using Provera for 12 days every two months. That was a good routine for me, but I was getting really tired of having periods. So about a year ago I switched to continuous patches. I'm on Estalis 50, but I'm in Australia so I don't know if that is one that your guys have. It is kind of a "sister" patch to Estradot. 

Anyway, I've been really happy on them. Apart from the expected spotting that you can get for the first couple of months I've had no bleeds, so I thought I had finally found my permanent HRT solution, because it's something I feel I will probably be on for the rest of my life.

However that all changed about a month ago. I won't go into all the boring details (severe insomnia, depression, anxiety, heart palpitations), but I'm thinking the progestin component has now caught up with me. I've always had a suspicion over the years that I have a progesterone sensitivity, but because I chose to be on a cycle for so long I never really knew for sure. Taking the Provera for 12 days every other month never caused me any problems, but now because I've been getting the progestin (norethisterone) in the patch everyday maybe it has built up.

I've gone back to the Estradot patches for the time being, and that has started to settle things, but I'm now presented with the prospect of going back to a cycle which, at my age, doesn't thrill me at all. At the moment I'm feeling really depressed and anxious, which is probably a combination of the progestin side effects and just being so disappointed that things haven't worked out as I thought they had.

So - the option I'm now starting to consider is a hysterectomy. That's something that I've always shied away from in the past because I thought it was a bit too radical, and I also thought that the conti patches were my solution. I'm not even sure if a gyno would perform a hysterectomy on someone with a healthy uterus (which I'm assuming mine is), or whether maybe my “advanced” age, and the fact that I've been post meno for so long, might work in my favour. 

I'm in the very early stages of this thought process. I haven't even spoken with my GP yet. The last time I did mention it to her she suggested a mirena, but there is no way I'm going down that route. If I have a sensitivity to progesterone, I'm not having something stuck in there that can't be taken out easily. I would rather go back to having a cycle.

So basically I'm just looking for feed back from other ladies who may have had this problem and how they handled it. If they chose the hysterectomy route how did it all go and has it worked out well for you.

[Lanzalover]

Good morning Dana

Sorry to hear you are having problems. Like you I'm 60 well nearly 61 and use gel plus Provera (you'll probably rember me as I asked you loads of questions about Provera at the time and you were so helpful) on a long cycle it and it has worked really well for me so many thanks. It takes a bit of planning re holidays events etc and  I'm ok having a withdrawal bleed at the moment but obviously don't want to have to do this forever.

I was thinking when the time comes I would try Provera 2.5 continuously have you tried taking Provera continuously ?

I don't have any advice to offer re hysterectomy but it's a very radical option but I'm sure someone will be along to help.

Good luck and once again thanks for all the help you gave me just sorry I don't havean  answer for you.

Lanzalover x

[Dana]

Hi Lanzalover

Yes I do remember you. Nice to "see" you again. It's good to hear everything has been going well for you. 😀

I have considered the continuous Provera option. I did fleetingly try it once before, but got impatient with the initial spotting and irregular bleeds and went back to a cycle.

I have to make an appointment with my GP when they open tomorrow because I'm totally out of Provera, not having to have needed it for the last year. Plus I only have a month's supply of Estradot from my old supply. She's very popular though so you usually can't get an appointment with her for about 3 weeks. I hope I don't run out of parches.

Maybe I will try the conti Provera for a while, but I'm thinking that if I have a reaction to continuous transdermal progestin after a while, I might also have a reaction to oral continuous progestin too. It's all so annoying.

[Eviepf]

Hi Dana

I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago, aged 55. In my case it was because of fibroids and dreadful monthly bleeding which had been going on for years. My operation left my cervix and ovaries and in terms of recuperation afterwards it was a piece of cake - out of hospital the next day (even though the op had been surgical, not keyhole) working from home after 4 weeks and back to work fully after 6 weeks.

There have been some downsides: first, changes to orgasm! No-one tells you that the sensations you had previously will be severely diminished in the absence of your uterus - I only read afterwards that this is a standard after-effect. I was younger then and it was more of a big deal than it would be now - VA has pretty much put paid to any thoughts of sex for me - but I still don't think it would have put me off (I just wanted the awful bleeding to stop).

The second downside for me is that I now have a rectocele. This might not have been caused by the hysterectomy (I had had two v.large babies!) but in my case I think it was, as it only appeared afterwards. It's only small and doesn't cause me any issues but, again, something that I didn't know was a possibility beforehand.

As you say, I don't know whether doctors would consider the operation for someone with a healthy uterus but, if you did decide you wanted to go down that route, all you could do is ask. On balance I was very glad I'd had mine done. I think all I'm saying is to do your research beforehand as there are consequences which you might not have considered (but might in any case be outweighed by benefits).

Hopefully, you can get your problems sorted 'hormonally' in any case, without resorting to the knife!. x

[Taz2]

Hi Dana. Good to hear from you.

I agree with eviep as regards the orgasm point. I had my hysterectomy at the age of 60 due to prolapse so didn't really have any choice but did research the effect on orgasm. I found it upsetting that women were given information by consultants about the effects of a hysterectomy but they were failing to mention the changes to orgasm. Hysterectomy does also leave you more likely to suffer prolapses too, as in Stellajanes experience, especially vaginal vault prolapse.

The vaginal hysterectomy went  well and my recovery was good although I had to have 12 weeks off work due to two infections.

Think carefully about it and research as much as possible.

Taz x

[jaypo]

Like Evie I had one due to fibroids,was in and out in two days,got it done vaginally but they left my ovaries,for me it was the best thing I ever did

[Dana]

Thanks ladies. TBH the orgasm side of things would be the least of my concerns. I've been single for a long time and I don't have any plans at all on that changing. It's certainly something I can live without these days. 😂

[jaypo]

No issues re orgasm for me,exactly the same as it was prior to op 😊

[Taz2]

Fair point jaypo. I guess only women who experience the deep uterine contractions would notice a difference. It's just rarely discussed before the op.

Let us know what you decide.

Taz x

[Dana]

I can't get to see my GP until 20th March because she's going on holidays on Friday. I hope I have enough Estradot patches to last me, but I know I can borrow some from a friend if not.

At this point I'm leaning towards trying the Provera on a conti basis,  but I'm not confident with how that will go on a long term basis.

I think I would still like to get a referral to a gyno just for a chat. Maybe if I can extend out the hyster option until I'm 65 or 70 I might have a better chance.

I asked for some recommendations on my local community facebook page and I've received some really good recommendations which I've short listed to two because of their location.

[Lanzalover]

Hi Dana

If you don't mind could you keep us updated on how you are getting on with conti Provera  as I would be really interested.

At the moment using it on a long cycle works ok for me. I have already tried every available conti patch
we have in the UK but just couldn't cope with any them. I also tried Utrogestan and that was a disaster.
Provera has been my saviour but I am loath to rock the boat at the moment while I still have to work but like you I'm not confident that taking it long term will work for me.

Good idea to have a chat with a Gyne and discuss your options.

Best of luck with things
Lanzalover x

[groundhog]

Hi Dana,
I had a hysterectomy with devastating consequences.  I know the circumstances are different and I'd had lots of surgery prior for other things but it's still a major op that shouldn't be undertaken lightly.  If there are complications they can be serious.

I would only ever have surgery again as a very last resort x

[Dana]

I'm sorry to hear about that groundhog. 💜

[Dana]

Hi Dana

If you don't mind could you keep us updated on how you are getting on with conti Provera  as I would be really interested.

At the moment using it on a long cycle works ok for me. I have already tried every available conti patch
we have in the UK but just couldn't cope with any them. I also tried Utrogestan and that was a disaster.
Provera has been my saviour but I am loath to rock the boat at the moment while I still have to work but like you I'm not confident that taking it long term will work for me.

Good idea to have a chat with a Gyne and discuss your options.

Best of luck with things
Lanzalover x

I don't really have any info on the conti Provera yet, but I'll update anyway.

I had a really bad night last night. I woke at about 2am with constant hot flushes. I haven't had anything like that for years with HRT. So I'm really confused about what's going on.

The Estradot patches don't seem to be settling anything, but the ones I'm using are ones I've had in the cupboard for over 12 months and actually expire this month. I wouldn't have thought that they would be ineffective yet, but you never know.

So I managed to get squeezed in to see my GP today. She's also a bit mystified because she said that if it was just the progestin she would have thought it would have been a problem before now, and not nearly 12 months after starting the conti patches. Her suspicion is that it could be patches generally and that for some reason my body has stopped absorbing them. (Yes I've always been a very "special" girl.....  )

I'm still going to see her again on 20th March so in the meantime she's given me a few prescription options to see if things settle.

1. New script for Estradot (in case the ones I have are defective).

2. If Estradot doesn't settle things I have a script for the estrogen gel which I've never used before.

3. A script for 100mg Prometrium to take everyday and to start in a few weeks time (as long as either option 1 or 2 are working). I have used Prometrium vaginally before and I wasn't overly keen, but I was using it on a cycle and this would be orally on a conti basis. So gotta keep an open mind.

4. A script for Duavive which I've also never used before, and I'm not keen on the equine side of things.

We'll see what is happening by 20th March and if there are still problems she will give me a referral to a gyno.

She did say she definitely didn't want me having to go back to having periods and she said I should probably try a mirena before resorting to a hyster just yet. I have never had a mirena, and I've heard so many bad stories, but as she said there are far more positive stories then negative - you just don't hear the positives. So once again I need to keep an open mind. I maybe would agree to it on the priviso that I could have it removed immediately by a GP if I wasn't happy.

[Dana]

I had a better night last night on the fresh Estradot patch so hopefully that issue is solved. Now just have to sort out the progesterone side of things. Sigh....