Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[SarahC]

Hello all,

I'm Sarah and I'm perimenopausal. I'm on HRT tablets and they have worked really well. Recently, some symptoms started to come back.

Really just having a little rant. Just been to the GP about this and feel utterly dismissed. When I described some of the symptoms that had come back stronger she looked really uninterested and essentially just said 'yes, that is perimenopause'. I tried to ask about supplementary treatments e.g. gels etc...but really couldn't have a constructive discussion.

In the end she mentioned some vitamins and an over the counter lubricant.

It feels strangely humiliating. Sounds silly but also felt silly. Came home and had a little cry

Thank goodness for spaces like this. Sorry! Finished now

[Dotty]

Hi SarahC welcome to the forum.

Which hrt tablets are you taking ? x

[sheila99]

Rant away, I would do in your situation. If your symptoms are no longer controlled it's because you're producing less oestrogen yourself so you need a higher dose. If you have VA you will need localised oestrogen as well. Vitamins will only help if you're short of something, they won't cure oestrogen deficiency. What symptoms are you suffering from? Where are you on your meno journey?

[SarahC]

I'm taking Elleste Duet on the lowest dose (1mg)

I'm still having regular periods but they are now only lasting a day and a half. Mostly, i have problems with an itchy scalp and very itchy (almost painful) ears. Sometimes they swell, both inside and out. Olive oil is the only thing that helps because everything else is really painful. But, the oil absorbs instantly. Fatigue is another one and I feel pretty thirsty/dehydrated. Some discomfort in the vaginal area but nothing serious.

None of these are really significant - more like a low-level irritation.

[Dotty]

You can get a higher dose of Elleste Duet….would be worth trying that.

[Ayesha]

Hi Sarah, welcome to the forum.

Also to suggest you do a search on here regarding the symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy. You say you are experiencing some discomfort in the vaginal area so best to educate yourself now if you think it's time to get treatment, that way you will be well informed what treatments are available. GP's are not well informed about Vaginal Atrophy, best to have the upper hand!



 

[SarahC]

Thanks so much both!

[Lynnk]

Hi. It is hard I find to explain to the doctor why you feel you need an increase. I spoke to mine this morning and she was very understanding and agreed to a change. I have had the ear problems myself and totally sympathise, who knew your ears are affected. Upping estrogen helped that and vaginal dryness for me. Hope you get the help. Call them back 🥰

[CLKD]

My ears often feel blocked, I can hardly hear this morning  .  Due to a lack of oestrogen which affects the eustachion tubes.

[sheila99]

Fatigue is one of those things that has many causes (thyroid, vit d etc) so perhaps you could ask for blood tests to rule out the obvious ones. It's easy to assume everything is meno but we're at an age when other things start to go wrong too (I was vit d deficient in summer even though I spend a lot of time outside). How bad is the thirst? That can be an indication of diabetes.