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[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I have been checking my diaries and discovered something very perplexing so I would welcome your opinions please.

It seems that in June last year my Oestradiol was 633.37pmol/L and as I am post meno this was probably due to me using four pumps of Oestrogel daily plus Utrogestan vaginally every night. I was dealing with Dr Boden at Newson Health at the time and she said that my levels were good. Unfortunately I noted that my symptoms of anxiety, tearfulness and mood swings were still present. I  developed very tender breasts and  bleeding so I had to change my regime and lately I have been using two sachets of Sandrena and Cyclogest progesterone every other night and I continue to use Androfeme as well.

I hope to speak to a menopause nurse at my surgery tomorrow which is why I was looking through my diaries for some background information.

Can any of you lovely ladies understand why the  emotional symptoms have never changed, even when my Oestradiol levels were supposedly good? I know many of you have the same symptoms but if it is due to low Oestrogen why hasn't HRT fixed it? Could the problem be that for some of us we need more progesterone and not so much Oestrogen ? Are these issues not really hormonal at all?  I should say that my days follow the same pattern as many of you in that I am anxious in the morning but tend to be better in the late afternoon and evening.

I should add that I also take an AD, Venlafaxine and have done for years.

Sorry to go on ladies but I am at a loss as to what to think. Higher doses of HRT didn't help and neither do my current lower doses. Could it be that I need to go super high for some psychological relief and if so, what about the bleeding?
I mention all this because I know some of you have similar problems and  may want to discuss options on the forum.

Wishing you all well ladies and take care.

K.



 

[Gnatty]

I have mentioned this before on another thread, but since I have upped my testosterone dosage I feel I am stronger emotionally, I feel like I finally have some resilience.  Do you know your free androgen index? Just wondering if there is any room for optimising your dose of testosterone.

[Postmeno3]

Yep, same here. I am only a couple of months into testosterone and note a more robust version of myself creeping in 🤞. With me, it was always the "missing link" which my NHS menopause specialist confirmed as qualities I needed. This is what's got me curious about "standalone" testosterone which is just starting to be investigated and researched. Yes, the free readings are important as if it's not absorbed and circulating, you're not going to reap the benefit. It's good you've done your research, Kathleen and it's clear how hard you are trying to get everything balanced. Wishing you some kind of outcome tomorrow which takes you more positively forward. 🙏

[Kathleen]

Hello again ladies.

Thank you both so much for your comments.

Unfortunately my latest blood work was done in June last year when I was using about 0.75 ml of testosterone (Androfeme) and 4 pumps of Oestrogel. At that time my Free Androfeme Index was 1.56 (0.5 - 6.5). I  am with NH and I was told that I could increase my T  if I also increased my Oestrogel to 5 pumps. As it turned out I started bleeding and subsequently had to change my regime and then lower T.

I hope to speak to my GP's surgery tomorrow and I'll see how knowledgeable they are on testosterone etc.
I do have an NH appointment scheduled for June which I may want to keep as a sort of back up lol.

Thanks again ladies and wishing you both well.

K.


.

[Postmeno3]

Just a thought, Kathleen. Can you ask for a cancellation at NH? Presumably they have such a list? It might make you feel you had that option as further back-up if needed?
My free T started at 1 before treatment and then was 2.4 once on it. My NHS specialist felt that was "sitting nicely mid-range".

[Kathleen]

Hello again Postmeno3.

Thank you for your suggestion.

If things get desperate I can ask for the appointment to be brought forward. It is supposed to be a follow-up with another Dr after my previous Dr left the clinic. I was told that my T level could be higher but having to reduce Oestrogen put paid to that idea at the time.

Contacting NH before June is a good idea though and I appreciate the idea.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Floo36]

Hi Kathleen,

Have you had your Estrogen checked since moving to Sandrena? It sounds like it could be the Estrogen and perhaps you are not absorbing enough.  How were you before moving to Sandrena, I’m guessing it’s 2 x 1mg sachets?

[Uptick]

Hi Kathleen, I agree with Gnatty, tearfulness points to low testosterone levels (not absolute levels, relative levels). You don't need more oestrogen or progesterone. You can increase your testosterone dose in small increments and keep monitoring for side effects until you feel the emotional symptoms are responding.  'Boys don't cry'

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

Floo36 -  I haven't had a blood test since moving to Sandrena and I am using 2 sachets. It is possible this is a problem even though I was absorbing fine on Oestrogel.

Thank you for your comments, much appreciated.

Take care.

K.

[Kathleen]

Hello there Uptick and Gnatty.


You both make a good point because I have reduced my testosterone as I have been gradually lowering my Sandrena gel. I can easily fiddle with the Androfeme cream to see what happens.

Thank you so much ladies.

Take care.

K.

[Postmeno3]

Have a "fiddle"! Why not?! 🤞

[Nas]

Sorry to butt in ladies, but does Oestrogen need to be optimized before testosterone is thrown into the mix? And for how long does the Oestrogen need to be stable?

Kathleen , no words of wisdom I’m afraid, as currently in the depths of hell with hormones myself. I actually think this is my miserable life now, until the grave! 

Wishing you all well xxx

[Gnatty]

Nas it won't be. It really won't.  How do we ever know when oestrogen is optimised? I would say if you are taking a decent amount add in the testosterone. Xx

[Nas]

Thanks Gnatty.
Just what I wanted to hear.
Am chucking everything at this demon, before Im sectioned!

Investigating the coil tomorrow!

Where do you apply your T? x x

[Marchlove]

I agree with the other ladies Kathleen that you can certainly up your T even on the lower dose of estrogen.
T levels in women are very hard to monitor so you go by symptoms which with T is relatively easy as you just watch for feeling a bit narky.

As Postmeno3 says some ladies, especially in the states use T as a stand-alone therapy post menopause. X