(Re-posting part of a thread that was somewhere else, at Hurdity's suggestion)
Hello and thanks to all you veteran and new posters on the MM forum. This resource has been invaluable to me over the last two months as I came to the decision to ask for HRT, learned more about what my GP had prescribed, how best to take it and what to expect in terms of transitional side effects, and dosage.
Anyway, here is what I posted elsewhere:
I am 52, no children (by choice), PCOS, last natural period was in November 2019. Up until that point periods had been regular but increasingly painful, sometimes agony. Started on oestrogel and utrogestan in late December. Was on 2 pumps for the first month, and have gone up to 3. I take 1 x utrogestan vaginally (thanks to everything I read here on MM!) for 12 days and experience no bothersome effects; although by the 12th day I'm pleased to be taking a break. I've had some reactions to the HRT - such as increased headaches, thirst and very oily skin - but they have passed and I was prepared for some kind of reaction.
In terms of pre-HRT symptoms etc: incredibly low mood, anxiety and social anxiety, not leaving the house (often for days), brain fog and inability to concentrate that was getting in the way of work, exhaustion and oversleeping, migraines, chronic joint pain that was affecting my mobility, zero libido, irrational rage, loss of interest in people/things to the point of morbid thinking (but no ideation). I noticed a significant difference within 24 hours of starting the HRT, I was pain free and alert, which made me realise that some of those symptoms have been around and progressively worsening for 5-7 years. I had thought it was 'just' me getting older, a history of depression and going through lots of highly stressful and concurrent life changes. My quality of life these last few years (and my partner's), my self esteem and my ability to cope, would have been so different. I know this is common, and it's tragic.
I first saw my GP about the joint pains and brain fog nearly a year ago, although I didn't then associate them with menopause and thought there was something else wrong with me. All I knew about menopause a year ago was hot flushes and no periods - neither of which were affecting me!. She offered me HRT or antidepressants to which I said no to both and spent the next few months trying to get relief through 'natural' remedies and supplements. By December it was intolerable and I felt desperate. I felt my job was at risk because I wasn't performing consistently or well (in my view). I went back to the GP, having read Dr Newson's Haynes Manual and website and much more aware that I was peri-menopausal and what that meant.
My GP prescribed oestrogel and utrogestan. It was the first thing she offered me, in December, and I had gone in expecting to argue the case! I told her at my last appointment I wanted to go up to 3 pumps and that I was using the utrogestan vaginally and she was totally OK with that. My plan is to give the 3 pumps, 1 x utrogestan a few months and then review with my GP. Again, elsewhere here I have read that for women whose emotional/psychological symptoms are more persistent and problematic than physical ones Prof Studd suggests 4 pumps. I'm also interested, perhaps, in how testosterone might help. As a lifelong PCOS sufferer my hormones have always been out of balance with higher testosterone production; and my cognitive capacity and stamina is a long way short of where it used to be, and where I need it to be for work. There's also been no shift in my libido, so far... I seem to have an enlightened GP but whether she would prescribe testosterone I don't know. I do know that the local menopause clinic, where one can self refer, do prescribe it if they think it will be of benefit.
I'm in Scotland and I know from other threads that I'm quite fortunate to be on the HRT medication I've got.
I read another post somewhere about the halfway house between symptom relief and firing on all cylinders. I definitely have symptom relief but I can't say I'm thriving yet but it's only been six weeks!
I'd be interested to hear from others who have pondered these questions ...
Anyway, thanks again to all of you!
