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[Molly]

Hi girls,

I am just starting to wonder long term what I will do when it comes to being post menopausal(very soon) and having to take progesterone 100mg everyday for the guts of 15 years.

I find the thoughts so upsetting as I feel I cant live without estrogen but my mind and wellbeing drops so much I feel like life just isn't worth living.

I know having played with progesterone, taking 200mg is completely out of the question as I just cannot leave the house due to the state is puts my body in. 100mg is not as bad but its like I go around with a black heavy cloud over my head trying to put a front on and trying my best to hide how I feel from EVERYONE. I feel I have turned into this moanbag, no I have.

So its got me thinking, get rid of my womb and just take estrogen.

I know this is not a simple opeartion and weeks of healing but long term would it be better for my health?

Has anyone done this? Id love to hear. I think there can be a knock on affect on the hormones due to the womb being removed. Any info on this would be great.

[ange63]

Hello Molly, I've not experienced this  situation, but I do recall some months ago someone who had finally had it agreed to have a hysterectomy due to progesterone intolerance.   She had struggled for years with HRT due to progesterone.  She was well on oestrodiol alone .      It was about her quality of life in the end.   Think she was 58 years at the time.      I have tried to find the thread but sorry not been able to.   Perhaps someone else can recall or perhaps the person can come back to you direct.     (Ive tried HRT 3 times now and have thought about this myself if I find its the progesterone I cannot tolerate.)

[Molly]

thanks a mil ange63 for your reply.

Yes that blasted progesterone, my consultant said its aften known as the devils medicine, great name for it.

I am turning 50 soon and really do not want the rest of my life to be like this. I know i need help in the oestrogel which is helping for sure, but I dread dread the days I have to take the progesterone..I googling and googling trying to find alternatives.

recently my consultant has suggested 10 weeks oestogel and 10 days 200mg progesterone but I CANNOT do these 10 days. impossible. S now Im thinking to hell with it, whip the womb it and be done with it .

i just read another person in the uk getting a prescription for Duavive, met look this up now and see if we can get this in ireland. I am willing to try anything. Oh to be a man .

how are you managing now ang63, are you taking anything at all? x

[ange63]

its real nightmare!!  I stopped last lot of HRT and had bit of a bleed so have had to go for scan - got a cancellation and was done this week .  All appears ok and lining is thin so thats good. See if gynae clinic want to see me for anything.        I am really struggling with the digestive problems at the mo - acidreflux/GERD and IBS type bowel issues.    Its really knocked it out of me and cannot even go for walks any more as it causes abdominal cramps and pain..... Insomnia is back again too and this makes me feel so unwell.    I generally always feel unwell and am so tired and feel weak.....    really does take it out of us all of this..

[CLKD]

Hysterectomy is major surgery and some form of HRT may be required after. 

However: many are progesterone intolerant and opt for surgery.  What made you take HRT initially, has it helped any symptoms?

[Perinowpost]

I wonder with the state of the nhs whether progesterone intolerance will be considered for hysterectomy. Also,  it is major surgery + your womb holds your organs in place. There was someone on here who ended up in a terrible state after hysterectomy.

Another thing is someone else posted about losing the ability to orgasm after hysterectomy as you no longer have the same muscles.

Food for thought x

[Cassie]

What about trying 100mg for only 10 days per month? Some women use it like this, myself included although I use it only every 6 weeks as on a very low dose of oestrogen. You could have a scan now and then to see how you are doing on this protocol?

[CLKD]

Periinowpost - I think that the Member U R thinking about had several surgical problems which are unusual.

Cassie's idea might well work. 

Regardless of the state of the NHS if surgery means less GP visits etc., it is important that a GP refers patients appropriately.  Some GPs won't refer due to it costing the budget.

[Perinowpost]

CLKD couldn’t remember the details just her struggle. I do suspect cost will come into it though, and manifest itself in the GP not taking it seriously x

[Amazing grace]

Hi molly, I had a hysterectomy at 43 for different reasons to you thinking about it, just to say absolutely it's a last resort but if it's something you end up needing don't listen to horror stories, many ladies have an hysterectomy without complications, I have never had problems with orgasm or muscles in that area, in fact everything is much the same as it was before, I retained my ovaries and I think that makes a huge difference in outcome to those who have them removed, I use estrogen only and there has been no knock on effect with hormones, hysterectomy is considered major surgery but is no longer as bad as it used to be I had vaginal hysterectomy, and was home the next day x

[Gnatty]

Nothing wrong with my orgasms!!

[Armadillo]

Hello Molly

I have no answers here but am sort of in the same boat thinking the same thing.

The estrogel for me is life changing and i am so scared to have to give it up.
The progesterone.. mine was cyclogest vaginally really really put me at risk mental health wise.

I am on 16 weeks or oestrogel then 10 days (two a day of cyclogest)... this time i made it to 4 days and stopped.. I dont know where to turn next or what to try and came on looking for info on hysterectomy and found your thread.

So i will sit here , nod and say you are not alone. 

I am 43 and think it might be time to start talking about hysterectomy.. surgery terrifies me.  It has been mentioned as an extreme solution previously but we dismissed it.  All i know is at this moment in time the progesterone for me isnt an option again.. too much of a risk to life from mental health.

holding your hand

[mandss]

I have been on various forms of HRT for the last 4 years and have had heavy painful bleeding with every regime. Tried the mirena coil but again lots of bleeding. I was at my wits end as GP said he could not increase my estrogen because I would then need more progesterone....as so it goes on
Last week I paid out to see a private consultant who told me my womb was now bulky and that my estrogen levels were very low for someone on HRT. He has recommended that I have a hysterectomy as he could not see any other way forward to stop my bleeding. Either that or come off HRT completely. He said this way he could increase my estrogen and I should be able to start enjoying my life again.

[Taz2]

Nothing wrong with my orgasms!!

I think it depends on what type of orgasm you had before. Mine, apparently, included strong uterine orgasms which obviously disappeared post hyster. I still get the other ones but they are not the same. This is quite informative http://www.hormonesmatter.com/sexual-function-hysterectomy/

Taz 

[sheila99]

Are you on a sequi regime you can cope with now? If so perhaps just carry on with this in meno. You are at slightly higher risk but many women including me prefer this to continuous progesterone. The vast majority of hysterectomys are successful but there is always a risk, it's obviously something you have to decide for yourself but perhaps explore other possible options first.