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[Keep On Swimming]

Hello everyone,

First of all, a MASSIVE thank you to the founders and keepers of this Forum. It's been a lifesaver... I really thought I was going completely nuts and then read the posts here and realised, sadly, that I am not alone (and not going nuts!).

I'm from Northern Ireland, am 48, have 3 kids, and I live in France. I'd like to say here that I love my husband, kids, and job, and that I swim 4 times a week (when my thyroid dose is right) and meditate or practice self-hypnosis, eat healthy, and don't smoke. I've never been depressed or anxious. Until recently...

I started to suffer from night sweats when I was 46. Until March of this year, they were bearable. Since March they are often accompanied with rushes of anxiety and palpitations and I waken up (if I manage to sleep after 4:30am) feeling anxious (a serious dread feeling), nauseated, and sad. These symptoms can last for a morning, or the day. The night sweats and symptoms seem to come in phases, I had 2 months of nothing and now it's like a fireworks display.

I have Hashimoto's disease (underactive thyroid) and I've been treated for that since 2012. It took 8.5 very long hellish years to get the dose right (I'm one of the few who are very hard to dose), then I had 18 months of the right dose (bliss!) and now since March, the perimenopause has knocked my dose off and I'm struggling to get back to my levels.

I'm also really struggling with the perimenopause symptoms and have already spoken to my gyne about it here in France but the answer was: you have to stay on the progesterone-only pill until you are 52 and you can't have anything until then.

That's not a good enough answer for me!

I'm going back tomorrow, armed with documents from the UK which say that a women on the progesterone-only pill CAN have HRT. My GP told me to go back to see her and ask for 10 days of estrogen per month because she said I won't get HRT yet. Even if I do come out with the golden ticket (a prescription) I'm going to try to get my thyroid dose levels right first because that's important. There are no menopause clinics or specialists in France even though all women are sent to gynes! Oh the irony...

And here is my question: is anyone out there in my case? I'd love to hear from you!

Best regards to all, I'll keep you posted...

[Keep On Swimming]

Sorry, very important piece of info: I have adenomyosis and that's why my gyne won't let me come off the pill. But I read that at home in the UK, you can go on to HRT without stopping the progesterone-only pill. Does that sound right? I'm very new to all of this so please excuse me for not understanding much!

[Dotty]

Hi yes you can be on hrt as well as the mini pill, but would still need to take progesterone as part of your hrt as there’s not enough in the mini pill. x

[Keep On Swimming]

Hello Dotty and Nicodemus,

Thank you so much for your replies!

My gyne gave me Estréva 0.1% (Estradiol) and said to apply 1 pump of the gel every day.

Is there anything I should know before I start?
Dos or don'ts? I'm a bit nervous...

I explained how my symptoms (night sweats, palpitations, anxiety, very low mood, nausea, headaches) have been getting worse since March and she said that anxiety and low moods have nothing to do with premenopause/menopause. I almost cried. That's not true, right? Loads of us get those symptoms from what I've been reading here.

My thyroid specialist said ok to start the Estradiol and there is no interaction between thyroid treatments and Estradiol. If anyone has any experience with both, please share!

Many thanks once again.

[Flossieteacake]

The gynae is wrong. Low mood, anxiety, depression are all menopause symptoms. In my experience gynae's do not have much knowledge on menopause and a menopause specialist is far more helpful. I understand that may not be an option.

[Keep On Swimming]

Thanks Flossieteacake. She also said that Estradiol will only work on the night sweats, not the low mood and anxiety but surely that's not true?

[Keep On Swimming]

No, there are no menopause specialists or clinics in France!

[Flossieteacake]

If the low mood is caused by low oestrogen then it will help. How odd they think it will not.  What kind of estradiol are you on?

[Keep On Swimming]

It's Estréva 0.1%. Thanks for replying! I also tried to explain the terrifying surges of dread and sadness but she dismissed those too! But my former GP is on HRT and totally understands all of the above symptoms. Unfortunately she has just become a full-time hypnotherapist so she doesn't prescribe meds anymore. She was the one who told me to go back to my gyne and demand oestrogen!

[Flossieteacake]

It's Estréva 0.1%. Thanks for replying! I also tried to explain the terrifying surges of dread and sadness but she dismissed those too! But my former GP is on HRT and totally understands all of the above symptoms. Unfortunately she has just become a full-time hypnotherapist so she doesn't prescribe meds anymore. She was the one who told me to go back to my gyne and demand oestrogen!

How frustrating for you. I did not realise France did not have menopause clinics. I really hope you can get the right treatment for yourself. It should not have to be this difficult!

[Keep On Swimming]

Thanks Flossieteacake!

I just have one more question: where's the best place to apply the gel? Gyne said inner lower arm.

And are there do's and don'ts with this treatment?

Thanks so much, this support is such a lifeline!

[Dotty]

Hi Oestrogel is applied on inner thighs or outer arms and shoulders .

Sandrena is applied on inner thighs I believe.

The gel you have been prescribed should have details of where to apply it. x

[Keep On Swimming]

Hi Dotty,

Thanks for your reply.

I have another stupid question... So I started the gel, on Sunday. I'm praying it brings some relief from the horrible night sweats, insomnia, low mood and morning anxiety (it was almost crippling this morning but I forced myself to go to the early-bird swim session, it was such an effort because I felt so ill, but it helped!).

Sorry, got off track... My question is this: if I put the gel on in the morning (after swimming and showering) can I have another shower/bath in the evening (body aches at the moment) or will this wash the gel off?

Thanks!

[Keep On Swimming]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to scribble down an update after 2 weeks of Estréva 0.1% gel. It's quite positive so maybe my experience may help someone just starting out...

I'm 48 and I live in France. The night sweats started at 46, they weren't too bad and I managed to sleep despite them. Then they cranked up to severely starting to reduce my quality of life in March 2022 (palpitations, insomnia, nausea, waves of dread, anxiety and blues = all at night but the anxiety, blues and nausea followed me into the daytime) and after a struggle to convince the gyne here (“You’re too young to be going through the menopause”) I was put on Estréva (Estradiol) 0.1% gel, 1 pump/day 2 weeks ago. I'm on Optimizette, a progesterone-only pill to control my adenomyosis until the gyne thinks I'm through the menopause.

After 5 days, the night sweats were no way near as severe as before and the anxiety (crippling), nausea and terrible low mood have GONE! I'm crossing my fingers (mentally) as I type this because I don't want to jinx anything but I am heaps better. Thank you Universe!

My thyroid meds dose is still too low though and has been since March, so I’m still quite weak/shaky/dizzy from time to time but I have to be patient because a dose change = 6 weeks before the results are reliable in a blood test.

I just wanted to check though, a few days ago the night sweats/waves of dread + nausea came back a bit. They’re nowhere near as debilitating as before but is this normal? Should I contact the gyne and see if I need my dose upped? How long should I wait?

I keep saying it but thank you all so much for being so honest and sharing your experiences – it’s such a lifeline!

Bonne journée !

[Flossieteacake]

What a wonderful update! I am so pleased you have already seen an improvement in your symptoms. I have never used gel but I am sure somebody will respond to your question soon.