I started on the Evorel Conti at the end of 2016 being 54 and post meno 3yrs. Was dealing with other issues so don't give my hrt any further attention until March of this year.
From old blood tests my specialist moved me onto gel and continuous 100 Utrogestan (inserted) in March due to not apparently absorbing properly. She started me on 4 pumps but I felt so very ill with it that she thinks I had an estrogen overload so cut back to starting at 2. Experienced what I believe were side effects from the Utrogestan ie. loose stools, cramping, bloating, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, nausea, additional anxiety to what I already suffer with.
Tested in June to see what my levels were which were around 172 and which she wanted me on around 300 to be at the "therapeutic" level. She increased me to 3 pumps in July.
Couple of weeks after increasing to 3 pumps I noticed more side effects, some weight gain, some bloating around the tummy and a little cramping on my legs which can feel tight in the evenings and actually look thicker and feel quite solid, also my flat chest sprouted and I could actually fit into a bra again and were also sore and firm.
At the end of July I started to spot, only a very light pink with slight cramping but I put this down to missing the odd Utrogestan which she told me not to. Still feeling no benefits two days after we had that hottest day of the year I went down very dramatically, debilitating anxiety, palps, brain fog, fatigue, dizzy, depressed to the point of suicidal. My specialist said that because of my history of anxiety I was just fueling everything by my overthinking which might partly be true but I know how my body feels and I don't think this progesterone is doing me any good.
The spotting stopped and I was back on track with taking the Utrogestan every day again, but still feeling rubbish for most of the time and have been barely able to function let alone get any exercise; just sitting around the house, alone, and just trying to get through each day without topping myself. My anxiety has worsened and it also hasn't help my agoraphobia issues.
Bleeding stopped but out of the blue started again on the 13th of this month but it wasn't the pale pink showing but red this time, only enough to wear to small panty liners. I am getting all the pmt symptoms and cramping and the bleeding has gradually worsened the last two days to the point of passing some small clots and stringy bits, it's almost like the periods I used to experience, but I have been bleeding now for 8 days and there doesn't seem to be any signs of it stopping; the last two days I seem to be passing more and the cramping is every day. I seem to pass more in the mornings and throughout the day and it eases off at night along with some of my mental anxiety and other symptoms. I just can't help but feel that it's the Utrogestan doing it. Each time I get the cramping I know I am going to get a sudden flow or clot. By evening, especially late evening I generally feel so much better mentally and physically and I try to go out for short walks to at least get some exercise.
I discussed the now bleed with my specialist a few days ago and she said it was important to stop the bleed and recommended I either up to 200mg vaginally or better still take 100mg orally which I refused because of my gut issues and it works better vaginally with minimal side effects anyway I am informed. She then mentioned I may experience more side effects which I just cannot cope with.
I noticed a couple of weeks after upping my dose to 3 pumps that I started to deteriorate experiencing more side effects which i was surprised at because I have been on it since the beginning of March (in effect nearly 6 months). .
I don't have the strength mentally or physically to go on with this anymore. I think I am just one of the unlucky ladies that does not tolerate progesterone and to be honest I cannot take anymore of this living hell because I felt so depressed and suicidal at one point, I cannot deal with any more side effects nor do I feel strong enough to try other methods
Yesterday and today the bleeding has been a little worse with some clotting and whereas I was managing with say two small panty liners a day, I feel the need to wear a larger pad. Any bleeding/cramping alike I have seems to be more prominent in the mornings and afternoon and eases off in the evenings along with some of my symptoms.
I think I am just one of the unlucky ladies as regards not being able to tolerate the progesterone. Would you agree and might the bleeding be consistent with changing my dose again a few days ago?
I am now scared of progesterone withdrawal. She said if I wanted to come of it to cut down by one pump a week and then completely stop everything which I find far too quick and would surely send my system into shock. I suggested I want to wean off the hrt (the way she suggested), but in order to minimise any withdrawal from the progesterone I would like to move back on to the Evorel Conti patch so at least I am still getting a little of each, as I wasn't absorbing the full dose from the patch anyway) and then wean off that slowly.
I am so tempted not to take a Utrogestan tonight to see what happens in the morning. I feel sure it's causing me the most issues.
I am in such a state right now, I can't think straight and have no idea whether whatever I have written makes any sense. I need your help and advice please ladies
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Topic: Don't know what to do, I am Terrified! (Read 2503 times)