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[VictoryV]

Hi,
I think I’d rather sit on a hedgehog than be on this bus but I am so grateful that you lovely passengers are with me. Thank you all for sharing so much; I would not be alive had I not found you. Underneath all the symptoms I was terrified but I was that messed up psychologically that I didn’t recognise the fear.
I don’t understand exactly what I was frightened of yet, maybe I never will, today I know that I will cope.
Reading your help and experiences gave me the strength to talk about not sleeping, sweating constantly, feeling insane, aching, being incompetent at work, crying etc. I am waiting for the GP to call.

I want to say thank you for giving me my voice/confidence back.

Thank you ladies.

Victoria.

[Taz2]

Hi Victoria. It's great to know this wonderful site has helped you and I'm sure that your experiences will help others if and when you feel ready to share.

Taz x 

[CLKD]

Hi!  Knowledge is power.  Helps ease any fears that we have in peri-menopause.  As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out, as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains.

Keeping reading round. Make notes 

 

[VictoryV]

Thanks Taz & CLKD. I’m 45 and until two weeks ago I thought I’d gone mad! I didn’t realise I was peri and knew nothing about the menopause. I thought maybe I’d over isolated in lockdown. I hid away from everybody whilst I tried to work out what was going on.
I lost a close friend to Covid in January and thought maybe grief had caused anxiety, weight loss, insomnia, night sweats, hot flushes, utter doom and gloom/hopeless outlook, brain fog, confusion, back ache, despair etc. I couldn’t do my job and my career was going down the pan rapidly.
I reached a point I’d never experienced before: I didn’t want to continue but I didn’t know what to do about that either.
For 4 months-ish I thought I’d had a breakdown.

The penny dropped when I read posts from ladies here. As soon as I ‘woke up’ the fear /negative feelings stopped. I feel incredibly stupid typing this but it’s the truth. Surely not having a period for 5 months would be a clear enough indication but it wasn’t for me!

I spoke to my GP today and have a prescription for Progesterone and Oestrogen. My GP asked if I’d heard about this site and said how wonderful it is!

I hope this helps someone else to reach out and speak and get help.

Thanks. V

[CLKD]

Keep us up to date with how you get on!

Well done to your GP - hang onto that one ;-)

[jillydoll]

I feel insane most days. Your not alone.  And Im post meno! 😏

Good luck with the hrt.

Let us know how your getting on.

Xx

[VictoryV]

Thanks ladies, I’ve got a bit of news but am very confused. I’m glad I’m not alone feeling insane, thanks Jillydoll!
Well my prescription arrived yesterday and I’m to use two pumps of Oestrogel and one pill of Utrogestan 100 daily at night and a small pea of Testogel.
I applied the cream and had a day off being insane, I felt great, I smiled, friends commented on me looking back to normal.
I took the  Utrogestan at 10pm and got a blinding headache which resulted in not falling asleep until 05.30🤬
I didn’t use the Testogel because I thought I’d read not to take it until I’d had 3 months of HRT treatment.

I also thought I’d take Utrogestan for half the month as I’m peri but I might be wrong so does anybody know please?

I know my GP should be able to help but it took 3 weeks to get my first 10 min appointment and she’s off work for2 weeks. I can’’t visit the surgery as it’s a 1200 mile round trip.

Does anybody have any ideas please?
Thanks. V.x

[CLKD]

Put the product names into the search box - make notes ;-)

Sometimes the search box doesn't work  .  Headaches are the pits.

[jillydoll]

Hi.

I’m thinking the headache is a side effect from the utrogestan. Apparently they should settle down when your system gets used to it. Take some painkillers and you’ll feel better.
Saying that, I still get headaches from my hrt and I’ve been on that for years. 🤷🏼‍♀️
I suppose the headaches could be from stress, but I always blame the hrt because it always starts about an hour or so after taking them. Sometimes worse than others.
If they don’t settle down, I’d suggest another regime, unless you can bear them like me.
Good luck. Xx

[VictoryV]

Thanks Jillydoll and CDLK.
Jillydoll - you’re right, the headache started after taking the Utrogestan. Thank you for explaining that.
CDLK - I did the search box most of yesterday and today. It says peri take it for x amount of days then have a period and post ladies take it daily and don’t get a bleed.
Where I haven’t found info is whether it matters if a peri takes the Utrogestan daily as she’d rather not bleed if it’s safe to do that. There must be a reason and I’m guessing it’s because I won’t find out when I am post menopause if I just take one pill a day. But I’ve no idea and  it’s my best guess. Does anybody know the answer please?
Thanks.
Victoria.

[CLKD]

During peri-menopause which can start 10+ years prior to menopause, ones periods may wax and wane. 

Hopefully someone with knowledge will be along. 

[monicap]

Hi Victoria

The NHS website explains how sequential/cyclical HRT works. You take it for the second half of the month, and yes that is normally what your doctor would recommend if you were still having periods.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/types/

So I'm surprised you've been told to take the Utrogestan (micronised progesterone) continuously. That is to say every night.

Some women are pretty sensitive to progesterone and there are ways of minimising our exposure to it while retaining the benefits. You could discuss taking it vaginally with your doctor (or a menopause specialist if they're not well informed). If taken vaginally the dose can also be halved. You can also take if for fewer days if you find a specialist that supports you in this.

Professor John Studd's regime is popular with some:

"Women with hormone responsive mood disorders should have a higher dose of transdermal oestrogens by patch, gel or implant. As these women are often progestogen intolerant, 7 day cycles of progestogen are permissible rather than the orthodox 14 day cycles."

https://www.studd.co.uk/hrt_current_thoughts.php

If you carry on taking it continuously the headaches may settle down. Speculating here! If you take it vaginally i believe you only have to use it every other day.

[Floo36]

I’m still peri but I take utrogestan every night orally but my menopause doctor said I could take it every other night vaginally instaed if I wanted but orally seems to be fine.  It doesn’t stop my cycle and I still bleed. 

[VictoryV]

Thanks CLKD ( sorry I’ve been typing the letters in the wrong order) and Monicap.

I really appreciate the info and links monicap, thanks. I’ve left messages for my GP and probably should not have started the gel or Utrogestan until the dosage was confirmed but I couldn’t cope in the state I was so I read a lot and started. I use 2 pumps a day of gel and 1 Utrogestan 100 tablet every other morning. I forgot that taking it at night is recommended and am unsure whether I should move it to the night.
I’ve not had a headache since so it’s probably not related. Overall I feel almost back to normal which is fantastic but I appreciate that it’s very early days.
I’m trying to avoid stressful situations and I’ve had to pull back from certain clients and friends, the latter is temporary. I’ve asked colleague’s for help after an anxious morning with a nightmare customer.

I’ve realised that I’ve got to take better care of me. We raise our kids and nurture our families and don’t always be mindful enough of ourselves. I see that in myself now after reading so many posts on here.

I’ve got lots more to read and learn. Have a restful weekend ladies and thanks.x