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[CrispyChick]

Hi

I have a lovely GP. I have had an NHS meno clinic phone appointment (it was an hour long, which was great).

All told me to try the pill... And keep trying them. I've practically tried them all. They all seemed to make me feel ill.

Next step was HRT. I only got to day 15 as the estradiol alone made me feel vile, like I was poisoned... Even half the dose.

So I'm wondering where next. I've just spotted there is a gynaecologist with specialism in meno and registered with BMS at our private hosp - or actually in the next health board across, perhaps my gp can refer to another health board??? Although Im desperate, so I'll pay!

But I'm wondering if this will help?! BMS only deal with standard HRT, if I cant take extra estrogen, maybe I'm more complex, or not at that stage. Age 44. Would I be better seeing someone who deals in bioidentical???

I feel like I am off balance rather than requiring strong regular dose estradiol and off the peg high dose prog. Does this make sense???

2 days off HRT and back to feeling yucky... But no longer poisoned!

Thanks all. X 

[Scampidoodle]

I’ve found The Menopause Consultancy very good. They’re based in Surrey I think but I’m not. I had a virtual consultancy in November. Might be worth a look at their website? They’re a women’s health clinic too.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks. I'm in scotland. I guess I'm wondering if BMS makes a difference, as my local NHS meno clinic is not listed.

[Sage 🍃]

Oh sweetie, at this age your hormones are all over the place, the pill would be more effective but if you say you have tried them all maybe ask for implants? I believe this is offered on the NHS when all other options have failed? On the other hand, that may not be a good idea if they make you feel ill too! I don't think bioidenticals will make any difference, the gels and Utrogestan are bioidientical, the only difference is the available doses. If you think extra hormones are poisoning you, and that oestrogen is the culprit, you could try just progesterone and see how you feel? You could take it vaginally for 12 days and then decide if you take it on a sequential or continuous basis. Sorry if you have already tried that! 

[Scampidoodle]

That’s interesting sage, this was suggested to me too. Does this work for anyone? I’m in a similar position Crispy Chick x

[Sage 🍃]

I don't know anyone on this regimen, but someone has posted a link somewhere (sorry, can't find it now, but will keep looking) to a Canadian centre for women's health that advocates this regimen for women in perimenopause and they have published studies about it.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks ladies.

Oh. No I haven't tried progesterone only as when I did 2 days of it with the low dose estradiol I was away with the fairies. Lol.

Also I was on cerazette, prog only mini pill for years fine. I went back on it when all this started, but my mood was really off on it now...

I just feel so unbalanced. That's a very helpful comment about bioidentical Sage. Thank you. It puts it in perspective.

I guess I've always wondered whether I've got some sort of imbalance rather than meno... So perhaps I should pay to see the specialist as, although she specialises in meno, also period problems avd is a gyny.... I might be able to get nhs referral to her if I push.

My next treatment step will prob be contraceptive patch... But I'm scared 😬

Scampidoodle, what did your clinic suggest you should do???

 

[Sage 🍃]

The website is called Cemcor, I don't know if a link is allowed, just google it. 

Oh yes, there's the contraceptive patch! Is it norethisterone?

[Sage 🍃]

CrispyChick, how did you take progesterone, oral or vaginal route?

[Scampidoodle]

The clinic I went to diagnosed histamine intolerance so I’m being treated for that now as I had an unsuccessful attempt with oestrogel where, as you mentioned, I felt like I was being poisoned!

I think that’s stabilised now so I need to go back to them as I have issues from the day before my period starts to day 6ish (it used to be when oestrogen was high pre having the histamine sorted) the main symptom I have is a deep depression and anxiety before I feel very well again about day 8-10.

Weirdly I feel better when I have progesterone in the week and a half before my period so they did suggest I try utrogestan 100mg daily. But I haven’t done so yet. But after a horrific few days I need to try something. X

[CrispyChick]

Thank you Sage. I'll go and look at that.

I've only taken progesterone orally. It was in femoston 1/10 last week. Well, at half a tablet dose.

Prior to that I was on cerazette last year. Again oral.

I think I'll find it hard to get utrogestan on prescription to use alone. I've been promised I could have it for hrt... But it was a fight. They don't prescribe routinely in Scotland.

Contraceptive patch is not norethisterone, but I cant recall what it is... Yet a different one I think. I'm scared because I believe it is higher dose than pill format. I tried the ring. Which claims lower doses and my mood went very low.

Interesting Scampi doodle. How did they discover the histamine issue? Blood tests???

[Scampidoodle]

It was through symptoms really and medical history. So much stuff I’d never really known was linked. Eventually came to light after trying oestrogel and it causing me to have many menopausal symptoms I’d never had before like hair falling out, hot flushes, skin reactivity, anxiety and jittery feelings and heart palpitations. Apparently oestrogen increases your histamine levels!

Feel much better than I did as the histamine being treated but still cyclical depression symptoms during period. I feel good for week and a half prior to my period arriving!

[CrispyChick]

Thanks for the heads up Sage - I've looked into the Canadian way.

I've looked into the 'canadian' way. I'm not sure it will be right for me... My periods are sooo light, that I assumed my estrogen was low. Plus the recent mood changes I experienced on the mini pill, cerazette, suggested I had become more prog dominant on it 🤷‍♀️

But... Nothing else works. Lol. So I am open to it. I think it highly unlikely my gp will let me try this (esp as I pointed out above, utrogestan rarely approved for prescription up here!!) so I'm still thinking I need to see a specialist.

So, does anyone think BMS accreditation will give me a better 'expert' As I've previously spoken to meno clinic, been told to try pill then hrt... Signed off straight back to gp. Problem not solved.😬

I dont want to pay £170 to be told I've got pms... I'm 3 years in this hell that has stolen my life every single day 

[CrispyChick]

Just reading an article which I think helps make sense of this peri mess.

So basically, your estrogen fluctuates wildly. Some days too high, some days too low. It might no longer be high enough to cause the surge in LH and ovulation - if this doesn't happen then prog won't be produced. Hence prog deficiency. Then as you move towards meno estrogen drops and drops to a low and you also be one estrogen deficient.

This still doesn't t help me, but helps me realise that I am fluctuating sooo much that that's prob why hrt poisoned me 🤷‍♀️

[Gilla999]

Just to chime in, I read the article (or similar articles) about the fluctuations too - that's when I realised HRT probably wasn't the right route for me and I'm decided to try Zoely.

If you've tried every contraceptive pill there is, maybe it is time to try something another contraception method - anything else (anything!!) with enough hormones that will override your own natural hormones that are fluctuating (mine too). Rather than HRT which I think is more about topping up dwindling levels. I'm not sure what there is and how different they will be - patch, implant, etc - but  definitely worth trying them all! I do think with all of them we have to be patient though - I'm still having my original symptoms and new ones (my boobs have gone up four - yes four - bra sizes and are SUPER swollen and painful) but I know it takes time for your own hormones to be suppressed and everything to settle down xx