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[Mindfulmoomins]

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I posted. Things have been pretty good. 4 pumps of Estrogel and utrogestan 7 days a month (100 mg vaginally) plus antidepressants and testogel.

I got my life back after an awful time with peri (starting at age 42). I am someone who had PMT, PND and felt horrible and anxious almost the moment I conceived and better almost the second I gave birth (until 3 months later when I developed PND for 3 months).

When peri struck I managed it for as long as possible with lifestyle adjustments, vitamins, an antidepressant I had been on for 10 yrs plus,  meditation and exercise until my mood plummeted and I had to have 4 months off work due to anxiety a year and a half ago. I truly though I would never feel like me again. It was so traumatic and I still sometimes cry about it. It felt like a descent into an emotional hole like I had never known. It took a long time but with counselling, HRT, friends, family, my husband's support, a new antidepressant and the lovely and knowledgeable women here I resurfaced. I have been back at work, sleeping easily, mostly symptom free and hugely grateful.

I am having a blip today however and feel low, anxious and unsure (I am 5 days into the utrogestan). It's been months since I've felt like this.

I think what has compounded it is that I had an appointment at the meno clinic today and they are worried about me taking 4 pumps of Estrogel and only 7 days of 100 mg utrogestan. Although I have a moderate bleed every month they are worried about my womb lining thickening.

I have tried taking utrogestan for 8/9/10 days and it's horrible. I am so fatigued, low and irritable on it after 5 days. I had an argument with my Manager and cried uncontrollably at work (luckily they are lovely - NHS) the last time I went over 7 days.

So, my options are:

Estrogel 3 pumps (they want me to reduce it as my level is 780) and 7 days of 200 mg utrogestan (instead of the current 100 mg) for 7 days.

An Estrogel pill with dydrogesterone in.

Estrogel 3 pumps for 3 months then two weeks of large amounts of a progesterone.

None of these feel very appealing (perhaps because it's not a great day) and I am not that keen to go down to 3 pumps of Estrogel. Basically I am not that keen to mess around with stuff having found some balance but I also don't want to put myself at risk by continuing with high levels of oestrogen and low levels of progesterone.

I am sorry for the long post. If anyone has any thoughts I'd be very grateful as I feel very uncertain what the best way forward it. I know no one can tell me what to do but just hearing other people's experiences has been so helpful here.


Thank you xxx

Ps the meno clinic said they didn't want to do a scan as they'd have to act on it if they found a thickening which would mean the mirena or something similar...

[CLKD]

 

[jillydoll]

Hi Mindfulmoomins.
Have you tried Provera Progesterone instead of  Utrogestan?
You may be able to tolerate that better... I haven't tried it, but I didn't get on well with the Utrogestan, so I went back on Femoston Conti, which works well for me. Most of the time.
Don't know what else to suggest, I'm sure someone will come along and post whose more knowledgeable than me.....take care xxxx

[Mindfulmoomins]

Thank you so much for the replies so far.

Jillydoll- no I haven't tried that. I'll look it up. Thank you.

Stellajane - i'm Not sure I understand the explanation either! It seems a weird way to do things and disrupting a regime for no reason makes no sense to me after all the disruption I've already been through. Thank you for articulating my concerns better than I could. Tapering down - that's such a good idea, thank you. I hadn't thought of that but of course it makes sense. They put me on 200 mg utrogestan originally but because I was struggling so much on it they said to reduce it while I built my oestrogen levels up. They are now ‘up' and have been for a while but utrogestan remains my nemesis!

CLKD - thank you ☺️

[Mindfulmoomins]

Thank you StellaJane, I do use it vaginally so hopefully a fair amount is getting where it's supposed to. Do you use 100 mg? X

[Hopeful1]

Mindfulmoomins can I ask the name of the antidepressants you are using? Did it take a while to work?

[NorthArm]

Hi Mindfulmoomins

I agree with Stellajane, that's a strange reason for not giving you a scan. And a Mirena wouldn't be your only option either. They could start with a d&c, for example, then think about options.

Are you able to get a scan done privately? If you are, wait until you've had your bleed, as that would tell you if the lining has thickened or not.

And when you were using the 200mg Utrogestan before, was that for seven days, or were you using it for longer?

It's terrible that they've put you into a spin like this, I hope you get it sorted soon xx

[Mindfulmoomins]

Thanks once again for your replies and suggestions. You help me so much.

Hopeful1. Fluoxetine (taking for many years and Mirtazapine introduced when I could no longer cope over a year ago). Yes they take about 6 weeks to work fully but my sleep usually improves on them quite early on. I believe they have really saved my life but are only one tool out of many that help (mindfulness, exercise, a spiritual practise and community and friends and family).

Northarm - you are so right. It is a really strange reason for not giving me a scan isn't it? I may look into getting one privately. I took Utrogestan 200 mg for about 10 days I think and struggles massively.

Stellajane - thank you. I sometimes can't wait to be post meno! I know life is never easy but I imagine some of the hormone difficulties settle then.