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[Furyan]

Hi Scampidoodle, Crispy Chick  Just a note first, i did cancel my membership of the forum but do look on now and again. And the reason i cancelled was primarily because i didn't feel the forum catered in most part for people like me who decided against NHS prescribed menopause medication and used alternative solutions. For many ladies who mentioned using or wanting more info on OTC or privately prescribed creams, the inevitable message back from more seasoned posters is "progesterone cream is not potent enough to make a difference, it's a scam" or "don't use anything not accredited by the NHS / Menopause Society".

As you know from my own messages from this board, I have had enormous success from using these creams. I use Biovea Progesterone Cream and Life-Flo Biestro cream (mix of Estradiol & Estriol). They stopped my migraines, improved my mood, stopped the dryness and gave back the person i used to be before all this started. And the good thing about creams is that you can taper them to your needs - a little less or more if you feel you need it. A huge amount of this forum is dedicated to ladies with dreadful side effects of prescribed HRT and having to chop and change medication to get the right balance. I tried prescribed HRT briefly and felt absolutely awful and i do believe it was too much progesterone & estrogen for my body even though it was the lowest prescribed patch / tablets. 

Scampidoodle - just to let you know, i do still take the mini pill along with the creams each day. It's a winning combo for me. I'm scared of stopping the mini pill whilst all has been working well and like you with the coil, worried it would make things worse.

Sam

Hi Sam - I believe that the NHS prescribed body-identical hormones are not ‘bad’ in themselves, rather it’s the relative proportions they are commonly prescribe to us that causes the issues! We then spend a life time trying to calibrate the dosing but I find this hard since some things don’t lend themselves well to it. Prime example being utrogestan 100mg, where the capsule can’t be cut. Out of interest, how much of the Biovea progesterone cream are you using, as it says 20mg per day? Asking because I’ve decided to add their estriol cream to a very low dose (NHS prescribed) estradiol patch. Waiting for that to arrive but also looking at progesterone options due to little flexibility using utrogestan. x

[HelloSam666]

Hi Furyan,

I absolutely agree with you in that it's the strength of the products that are causing issues (for me that is & i guess for a lot of women) and if there were were oestrogen and progesterone products available that we could micro dose on, it would be hugely beneficial.

Initially when i started progesterone, i just used 1 pump (20mg) in the evening. Now i use probably just under one pump in the morning (i don't press a full pump) and in the evening i use a full pump along with the Biestro-cream. I don't have any side effects at all and i feel absolutely great on it.

I'm certain that the reason i felt horrendous when trying regular HRT was down to the Utrogestan and that it was way too much for me. I do wonder too if there is any correlation to body size and that one dose does not fit all. I'm 8 stone - should HRT be pro-rata like it is with some other medicines?

Hope that helps Furyan x

[CrispyChick]

I totally agree with you there Sam.

I know, for example, cerazette (mini pill) is only guaranteed up to a certain weight.

Utrogestan comotosed me by day 5. Now, I wish I was also 8 stone, but unfortunately I have grown a little since having kids - but I'm not big. Never have been. So I too wonder if body weight makes a difference.

Be good to hear how vintage is getting on???

[Furyan]

Hi Furyan,

I absolutely agree with you in that it's the strength of the products that are causing issues (for me that is & i guess for a lot of women) and if there were were oestrogen and progesterone products available that we could micro dose on, it would be hugely beneficial.

Initially when i started progesterone, i just used 1 pump (20mg) in the evening. Now i use probably just under one pump in the morning (i don't press a full pump) and in the evening i use a full pump along with the Biestro-cream. I don't have any side effects at all and i feel absolutely great on it.

I'm certain that the reason i felt horrendous when trying regular HRT was down to the Utrogestan and that it was way too much for me. I do wonder too if there is any correlation to body size and that one dose does not fit all. I'm 8 stone - should HRT be pro-rata like it is with some other medicines?

Hope that helps Furyan x

That’s really helpful thanks for sharing your dosing Sam! I’ve halved my already small dose patch ready for the estriol to arrive but suspect that taking utrogestan every 3rd day isn’t helping and may be causing a yo-yo effect with progesterone. Either way, I’m still retaining too much fluid so I might order the Biovea progesterone to see if it eases the retention a little. I’ll also book a consultation with the meno clinic to see if there are other ways I can take utro - I’d like to get as much for ‘free’ as possible as buying our own stuff adds up! 

[HelloSam666]

Crispy Chick - i never knew that about Cerazette, interesting and likely adds some weight to our theory. And yes, i had a week on Utrogestan and it was a nightmare. I still remember it vividly and all i had back was 'give it time' - no way!!

Furyan - yes, it does get expensive and i have wondered whether getting Oestrogel or similar from the GP and using the tiniest of doses. But then they'd want me to use Utrogestan. Re buying progesterone cream, i'd suggest getting it from iHerb rather than Biovea. It gets delivered pretty quickly and is cheaper.

[Furyan]

Crispy Chick - i never knew that about Cerazette, interesting and likely adds some weight to our theory. And yes, i had a week on Utrogestan and it was a nightmare. I still remember it vividly and all i had back was 'give it time' - no way!!

Furyan - yes, it does get expensive and i have wondered whether getting Oestrogel or similar from the GP and using the tiniest of doses. But then they'd want me to use Utrogestan. Re buying progesterone cream, i'd suggest getting it from iHerb rather than Biovea. It gets delivered pretty quickly and is cheaper.

Sam - I just ordered the NOW Progesterone from eBay as a seller is in the UK. I’m tempted to give it a try until I can see the clinic (in June!) to find out how I can play with utrogestan. It’s truly a hormonal minefield really…

[HelloSam666]

yes, of course i should have mentioned - i've bought it from Ebay too, the NOW brand. It's not always available but very convenient when it is. Good luck, i hope it helps a little 

[Furyan]

I found I couldn’t tolerate Dim at all. Probably because I’m post menopause and my estrogen levels are pretty low and I prefer it that way.

I started with about 10mg of progesterone cream and am now taking 25mg. Regular scans of course.

The side effects were nothing like when I was taking Utrogestan but nausea was an issue for quite awhile.

It’s good that your taking the supplements. Zinc and selenium might be a good thing to add to help support your thyroid going forward.
I also can’t tolerate folate so I take follinic acid instead which I’m fine with.

I think trying to introduce some progesterone cream would indeed  be a good step for you going forward.

M x

Hi Marchlove - as recommended by Sam I’ve ordered the NOW progesterone cream and, seeing your post, which progesterone cream are you using? And have you found that the 25mg is enough to keep your lining ok? I assume you’re on estrogen too? Thanks x

[Marchlove]

Hi Furyan

Mine is compounded from a private clinic.

Yes it has kept my lining OK so far, but due another scan soon so shall see then.

Yes, I'm on very low dose estrogen.

M x

[Furyan]

Crispy Chick - i never knew that about Cerazette, interesting and likely adds some weight to our theory. And yes, i had a week on Utrogestan and it was a nightmare. I still remember it vividly and all i had back was 'give it time' - no way!!

Furyan - yes, it does get expensive and i have wondered whether getting Oestrogel or similar from the GP and using the tiniest of doses. But then they'd want me to use Utrogestan. Re buying progesterone cream, i'd suggest getting it from iHerb rather than Biovea. It gets delivered pretty quickly and is cheaper.

Sam - sorry I missed your reply here. Re: expenses, it can add up massively for those of us who have to look broader than what the NHS can offer at the moment so it‘s wise to get as much as possible this way if it works. I want to continue using the Evorel 25 patch as it seems to work well so far. I also get Blissel and Tostran on the NHS, which seem to do their jobs - the thing throwing it all out seems to be mainly utrogestan. In my time, I’ve found it only takes ONE hormone to be even slightly out and it’s a world of pain from there! Update: my NOW Progesterone arrived today so I’ll begin tomorrow evening on a pump n take it from there.

Estrogel might be something to consider for you, as you can adjust it to suit your needs x

[HelloSam666]

Hi Furyan,

i have an appointment on Monday with a female GP who is the go to for menopause at our practice. I'm going to discuss the oestrogel and see what she says. If she does say i have to use Utrogestan no matter how little of the gel i use, then it's a no go.

Whilst i'm there, i'm also going to add for blood tests to see what my hormone levels are - it would be good to know as i've never had one. I'll report back here and let you know how i get on :-)

[Furyan]

Hi Furyan,

i have an appointment on Monday with a female GP who is the go to for menopause at our practice. I'm going to discuss the oestrogel and see what she says. If she does say i have to use Utrogestan no matter how little of the gel i use, then it's a no go.

Whilst i'm there, i'm also going to add for blood tests to see what my hormone levels are - it would be good to know as i've never had one. I'll report back here and let you know how i get on :-)

Hope it goes well at your appointment Sam - see what she says and take it from there. At least you have an open mind! Blood tests are a good idea, see where you’re at, as that and symptoms will give clues where to go. Looking forward to hearing back x

[HelloSam666]

Thank you Furyan and just to say, my appt is actually this wed not today as i wrote. So i'll update then on how i get on :-) x

[HelloSam666]

Just back from seeing the menopause GP.

I showed her the 2 products i use (progesterone cream & Bi-estro cream) and asked if it was possible to substitute the Bi-estro cream with a NHS oestrogen product like Oestrogel but still use progesterone cream.

She said that it would be impossible to measure the smallest dose so that the strength is similar to what i'm taking in the cream. I use one pump of the cream which:  1 mg of natural Estriol USP and 0.25 mg of natural Estradiol USP.

I asked if there were any other suggestions as it does get quite pricey each month and she recommended a private menopause clinic who could tailor my needs and monitor me rather than the NHS. So I feel I've done a full circle as that's where i started on this journey with the lowest dose patch & utrogestan pills and they floored me (i brought that medication in today to show her). I asked what monitoring would I need and she said well, you're blood pressure each year - i do that at home already!

So, to summarise i'm keeping on the routine I currently take as I feel really good but i will need to stop taking the mini pill in a year - as per GP. Hope that doesn't rock the boat. Oh and i did ask about uterus lining issues as i've read about this on here a lot and that people have checks to see what the lining thickness is but she said it will be fine as i've been on the mini pill, no bleeds.

[Furyan]

Just back from seeing the menopause GP.

I showed her the 2 products i use (progesterone cream & Bi-estro cream) and asked if it was possible to substitute the Bi-estro cream with a NHS oestrogen product like Oestrogel but still use progesterone cream.

She said that it would be impossible to measure the smallest dose so that the strength is similar to what i'm taking in the cream. I use one pump of the cream which:  1 mg of natural Estriol USP and 0.25 mg of natural Estradiol USP.

I asked if there were any other suggestions as it does get quite pricey each month and she recommended a private menopause clinic who could tailor my needs and monitor me rather than the NHS. So I feel I've done a full circle as that's where i started on this journey with the lowest dose patch & utrogestan pills and they floored me (i brought that medication in today to show her). I asked what monitoring would I need and she said well, you're blood pressure each year - i do that at home already!

So, to summarise i'm keeping on the routine I currently take as I feel really good but i will need to stop taking the mini pill in a year - as per GP. Hope that doesn't rock the boat. Oh and i did ask about uterus lining issues as i've read about this on here a lot and that people have checks to see what the lining thickness is but she said it will be fine as i've been on the mini pill, no bleeds.

Hi Sam - doesn’t surprise me that she recommended a private menopause clinic. Tbf, it sounds reasonable since the NHS can’t personally tailor some meds for those of us who fall outside the typical ranges. I discovered this years ago with my other health conditions. It seems HRT hormones are no different for me (and indeed some of us here) - we just need finer tweaking to make it right for us, that’s all. Unfortunately though - means we have to pay for it (or elements of it).

Good to have the reassurance about your lining though. Wonder what effect the creams would have on lining if you weren’t taking the pill though? It’s always a consideration x