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[buffy26]

Hi everyone.

I feel a bit stuck on what to decide to do, hoping to hear from others who might be able to resonate with this. My menopuase journey has been dire.Had every symptom from the checklist and was referred to so many specialists when all along I feel it has been down to negative estrogen levels!

Ive been on, Vagifem(wonderful stuff!) and Evorel Conti 50 combined patches which worked great for about 4 months, then I slumped backwards. My gp added another patch to the prescription of estrogen only 25 making my dosage 75. However; I am still suffering with tinnitus and very poor sleep. My Fitbit shows 4/5 hours light sleep hardly any deep or rem which is so difficult to function. Ive reported this and she now has said maybe we could put you on Utrogestan too. No disrespect to her whatsoever, but I feel this is all guessing and she reads up on it quickly during the consultation which makes me nervous. Ive had endometriosis during my periods although now I am 4 years since a proper period. I have recently been experiencing a few breakthrough bleeds since March. Was referred for scans and hysteroscopy. Apparently all ok. I dont know whether to take the plunge on more progesterone other than the patch. Is this how it goes ladies, a bit of this and a bit of that and a lot of guess work? Would it make sense to try the Utrogestan as well?  Feels scary!

[Flossieteacake]

Hello buffy and welcome to the forum. I agree it does sound like your GP is guessing. I would ask them to refer you to a menopause clinic. I have found they are the best people to advice on HRT. It is great the vaigfem is helping you with the vaginal issues.

[buffy26]

Thank you for the welcome and your reply

Yes it seems that way, although I was advised the wait is very long as there are shortages of specialists in the trust. I am currently researching sleep aids in the meantime! Cherry Powder on the list next! Fingers crossed!

[Flossieteacake]

It is true that the waiting list can be a while. If you have the money then you could email Dr Curry to ask her. It costs £30. She is the person who set up this forum. I will enclose the contact information just in case you wish too.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/contact.php

[CLKD]

Ditch the fitBit?  Anxiety levels can be raised with all these gadgets, none of them ? free to use ? rather than listening to our bodies.

   mayB keeping a mood/food/symptom diary would be of use.  Browse round.

[buffy26]

Thanks for the link. Thats worth considering. I just wish I could have a complete hormone check to remove guesswork. Not sure if that even is worth doing but it feels the logical answer!

Ref FitBit. I know what you mean but the results actually match with how spaced out I feel. For example I slepts on and off over 7 hours but I still feel sleep deprived. Where in the past I would have the same sleep, better quality and feel refreshed. I have found the watch excellent for motivation to move, walk and reach step targets. My health has improved a lot from having this tool

[CLKD]

On and off ........ do you dream?  Mine make me feel knackered 

A complete hormone check - bloods are reliably unreliable.  Symptoms are more certain to say where you are on any particular day. 

[buffy26]

I rarely dream or if I do I dont recall!

Interesting about the bloods. I have a shopping bag full of symptoms! Joy heh!

[FionaA]

For what its worth, low progesterone turned out to be the cause of my sleep problems. I had not slept through the night in about 4 years (even with the sleeping pills the doctor gave me once). I was waking between 4 and 7 times a night and sometimes struggling for hours to get to sleep as well. 

The specialist changed me from oral HRT to Estrogen gel and Prometrium tablets (200mg a night) - I believe that Prometrium in Australia is the same as Utrogestan in the UK? Anyway, from the very first night I have either slept through, or woken once very briefly. YMMV.

[Hopeful]

Hi Fiona A
Do you take 200mg progesterone every night. My sleep is the problem, often when I wake in the night I feel very depressed and take a hour or so to back to sleep, my mood feels much better when I wake in the morning.
Also how much Oestrogen do you take
Thanks
Hopeful

[FionaA]

Hi Hopeful,
I take 2 pumps of Estrogel (0.75mg per pump) a day and 200gm (2 tablets) of the Prometrium from day 15 to day 30 of my cycle.  I'm still having periods.

 I haven't been through a full cycle yet but so far the main thing I've noticed is I can actually sleep again. Not sure what will happen when I go to the 15 days of estrogen only.

[buffy26]

Hi Fiona,

Thank you for sharing, sounds like this could be it then.  I am really tempted to consider progesterone even though I have it in the Evorel Conti, the fact I have little deep sleep and feel so bad I am bumping into things and unable to feel safe to drive is now a desperate situation!

I have decided to invest in a Menopause Doctor privately but in the meantime researching all I can. I feel I am intolerant to progesterone, when I was younger the pill affected me so bad, also the Mirena Coil had to be removed as it made my breasts very painful and awful PMS. When I had my children and breast fed, I developed a lot of issues with fibrous tissue that caused no end of problems which needed to be surgically sorted out. This is why I need to look at the pros and cons. I am going to read up on progesterone used internally as a pessary as an option as well. What a minefield!