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[Bookworm]

Hi everyone, just found the site & trying to absorb a lot of information. I could do with some advice before next week, please...

I'm 52, been on Elleste Duet for 18 months. The recent supply shortage meant I had to go back to my GP. She's lovely (very young!) but has been urging me to try the Mirena coil the whole time.

Funnily enough the last 6 months I've felt like the benefits from Elleste were slipping (old 'pmt' symptoms all resurfacing, periods are very heavy now) so I said yes. This meant I then had to see the GP who handles the coil insertion.

This 2nd GP was...less friendly. She obviously had a check list of things to inform me about. When I asked a couple of questions she said, 'You don't seem very committed to the coil. I'm not going to carry on and run through everything if you're not going to go ahead.'

(Sample question I'd asked, because there's only one set clinic day a month for insertion: 'Will it matter where I am in my cycle?' I don't think I was being negative!)

She gave me a prescription for Vagifem (to help her with coil insertion. She didn't examine me, or ask about VA, other than me saying I have a jittery bladder) of which I've now had the loading 2 weeks, alongside my Elleste Duet.
The last two weeks have been the progesterone phase of the tablets and all the usual side effects of bloating, awful mood, anxiety, sore breasts, are there. The oestrogen only weeks are the only time I feel 'normal'...

And for the first time my period hasn't happened on time!

Coil appointment is next week. (I could be mid - end bleed.) She said she'll give me patches too then.

So, help!!

A) I'm worrying that continuous progesterone from the Mirena will give me the symptoms I hate 24/7. I know, it's probably going to be "wait and see". And the thought of no more bleeds is very tempting.

B) Should I insist on more Vagifem, as well as patches?

Any thoughts? I'm switching from yes, to no, to I don't know...WHICH IS ONE OF THE STUPID SYMPTOMS!! 

[julieh]

Can't help I'm afraid, but understand your concerns.  My symptoms have come back after a year on everel sequi and GP has suggested I can either try oral HRT instead (I'm not keen), or patch plus mirena coil....I have similar reservations about it, it does seem like a radical step. Anyone out there who can reassure us?

[Bookworm]

Hi julieh

Yeah, it's the complete unknown that was presented to me about Mirena: You might have bleeding for six weeks (or more) or you might never bleed again. I feel like I'm tossing a coin to choose here...

[Perinowpost]

Bookworm type Mirena into the search boxes and read about others experiences. I'm afraid I'm not the best advocate for the Mirena as I had to have mine removed after 6 months due to just the symptoms you describe x

[Bookworm]

Thanks, Perinowpost, I tried to read most posts. Like everything it seems as if it's either 'great' or 'awful' depending on the person and you can't know unless you try.
Can I ask what you switched to, if anything, when you had it removed? I'm stuck with it being my GPs default setting, and I don't know what to ask to try instead - and of course that's complicated by the supply shortages!

[Perinowpost]

Hi Bookworm

GP's tend to like it ‘cos it's cheap and if it works that's all well and good. The problem seems to be if you're at at all progesterone intolerant. I switched to Utrogestan but have also had issues with that so can only take it for 7 days, but once again others love it.

I am just about to post about something else I'm about to trial, but it'll be a long post so was going to do it tonight when I'd got a minute.

I had Mirena in for 6 months and had it removed 2 years ago now. Don't want to put you off but I wouldn't have another one x

[Tinkerbell]

I am one of the Mirena lovers! I seem to get no side effects, i did spot daily for 4.5 months though, i had mine when i was one year post meno, not sure if that makes any difference. I use it with Estrogel and will definitely get another one next year.
It's one of those things that you are unfortunately just going to have to try as experiences are so mixed.

[Bookworm]

I think I knew when I posted that it would still come down to my choice! 

Tinkerbell, thanks, your experience with the spotting seems to be pretty common. Which makes me cross seeing as the GP brushed it off with 'you might have a bit of a bleed'. Sigh.

Genuinely don't know if I want to swap a heavy, but clockwork, five days a month for undetermined, unpredictable spotting. (I say 'clockwork' ...except for this week. This month has been emotionally stressful, apart from this decision. Timing is everything!)
Heavy periods, plus a (insignificant) fibroid, put me on eight months of iron tablets last year, which is another reason they keep insisting I try the Mirena.
Double sigh.

[Bookworm]

Hmm.
Anybody any theories on why I wouldn't have been offered a higher dose of Elleste/other brand to try first? (Not supply related, even before that it seemed not to occur to GP, when I asked for more oestrogen, she said 'Mirena') (I can believe Perinowpost's cost idea. Although they made me order one from the chemist.)
I'm only on the 1mg Elleste Duet.
Am sorely tempted to request a trial of higher tablets.

[Perinowpost]

It's £88 and lasts 5 years, so works out much cheaper than alternatives in the long run x

[Roadrunner]

Hello

I think for fibroids and heavy bleeding the Mirena is very effective, and that's why GPs love it. A large proportion of my friends plus both my sisters in law use or have used it for reduction of heavy bleeding.  It has helped to shrink one friend's fibroid, another can now leave the house (she was flooding before Mirena). They are all very very happy and any initial side effects settled quickly. For them the benefits definitely outweigh any problems.

RR xx

[Bookworm]

Thank you Roadrunner.

You're all kind to answer. I'll probably be back and forth in my mind until the actual appointment, but it has helped to get it all out!

[Cazikins]

I had several of them over the years & they suited me very well. No bleeds apart from a bit of spotting for a few days after insertion.
Personally I would give then a thumbs up.
Cazi x

[Orangefoot]

My mum and a friend of mine both had enormous relief from super heavy bleeds with the Mirena.

I felt awful with it (before realising I was probably peri menopausal then) and had it removed.

I can't live well with utrogestan so I now have a Jaydess IUD that has much less progesterone than the Mirena I've had it since February and I've had no ill effects - nothing like with the Mirena or being without HRT.

The specialist who suggested it said I could increase my estrogen if I got and symptoms so when I had a premenstrual migraine and some joint aches again she upped my patch to 75mcg and all has been well again.

This is ‘sub-optimal' progesterone so I have a scan booked for January to check the thickness of my uterine lining.

[Elmsey]

Hmm.
Anybody any theories on why I wouldn't have been offered a higher dose of Elleste/other brand to try first? (Not supply related, even before that it seemed not to occur to GP, when I asked for more oestrogen, she said 'Mirena') (I can believe Perinowpost's cost idea. Although they made me order one from the chemist.)
I'm only on the 1mg Elleste Duet.
Am sorely tempted to request a trial of higher tablets.

If it helps, I swapped from Elleste Duet to Femosten because of the symptoms you described.  I tolerate the progesterone in Femeston much better than in Elleste.