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[Kathleen]

Hell ladies.

I thought I would update you all on my latest regime and experiment before the year is out.

You may recall that earlier in the year I read about the beneficial effects of soy and  I found some research that showed that eating soy products could alleviate meno symptoms. I decided to add cooked soy beans to my diet and I have noticed no difference at all. Initially I did need the bathroom more often which I assume was due to the extra fibre but the wonders promised did not materialise sadly.

In about October I realised that I was running out of the 1mg.Sandrena gel sachets that I had been prescribed by Newson Health.  Some of you may know that my HRT has never really helped with the emotional symptoms that I experience daily so I decided that rather than order more, which is expensive, I would instead use up some Oestrogel bottles that I had and which were  still in date. From the beginning of November I started using two pumps of Oestrogel on my inner thighs instead of the Sandrena sachet.
The progesterone part of my HRT is half of a 200mg Cyclogest pessary used in alternate nights.
The results so far are that I feel no better and no worse. My anxiety episodes are about the same as is my tearfulness. I continue to ride the emotional rollercoaster which thankfully does provide some respite when I have a good day, or a good part of a day.

When I saw an NHS Consultant earlier in the year he suggested that my Cyclogest use may not be sufficient to protect the womb lining and he suggested that I ask my GP for Litigest instead.  I have yet to do this but I think I will ask my GP surgery to prescribe my HRT in future ( they did so before I turned to NH) and I am hoping that that will let me have Oestrogel and I will agree to try Litigest.

My end of year summary then is that soy beans did nothing and I am still as crazy as ever! Infact over Christmas my anxiety was as bad as ever with only a large glass of wine making any improvement.

I am fortunate that I have very few physical meno symptoms but my mood swings continue to worry me.  As soon as possible I will ask my GP to review my HRT and I will no longer be a patient of Newson Health.


I hope that was of interest to some of you.
I think the takeaway is that as a very post meno woman, my HRT is only a little helpful and I still struggle with the psychological problems that began a few years after my last period. As things stand I don't want to increase the Oestrogen and risk the breast pain and bleeding that I have had in the past and instead I am sticking with a lower dose and hoping that my body begins to adapt to lower Oestrogen so I can at least get back to some emotional stability. Fingers very much crossed! Btw I already take an AD called Venlafaxine but that may also need to be changed.

Wishing you all well ladies and thank you for being there for me and many others over the past year.

Take care and a happy 2024 to you all.

K.

[Julia Dizzy]

Thank you for your informative update Kathleen. It would appear we are still very similar in trying to find the best regime to help all our symptoms after such a long time! Sorry you are still struggling and hope the litogest is helpful for you. I sometimes just want to stop it all but worry I will feel even worse.

I am still on 2 pumps Oestrogel (new shaped bottle) and 100mg Utrogestan every night. Have been on Tostran too for a while but not sure it is making any difference really. I had a spell of feeling quite good earlier this year, but then since about March I have felt really rubbish in general. I have also been waking up quite hot recently in the mornings with my nightie a bit damp round the neck and arms.

A few weeks ago I had my yearly CT scan check up for my colorectal cancer surgeon, but have been called back in for an appt next week which can't be good news, as after my last scan 12 months ago I just got a letter saying 'no areas of any concern'.

So I am dreading the worst as you can imagine! Even more worrying is that I have felt quite poorly with a lot of pain under and around my ribs, shoulders, with strange twinges in my sides, tight chest and my body feels exhausted like I have flu or something. It's been awful. I went to my Gp a month ago who thought I may have costochondritis and or Fibromyalgia and wanted me to take amytriptiline. I decided not to just throw pills at it and wait for my scan results. It's weird but I started with this after my flu and Pneumonia jabs, strange coincidence???

Let's hope all who are still struggling in this minefield can sometime find the right balance.

Wishing you well too and lets hope for a better 2024. Be kind to yourself and do what is best for you.

[Kathleen]

Hello Julia Dizzy

Thank you so much for your reply.

I am sorry that you have this worry over your appointment next week. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that it is good news.

I have also been feeling rubbish for most of the year. I was originally on one sachet of Sandrena gel but reduced to a half as suggested by my NHS Consultant ' less is more' he said. After a few months I realised that less oestrogen is more symptoms so I went back to one full sachet. In all honesty this has never done the trick so I figured that two pumps of Oestrogel would be the equivalent and would save me money. I have been using Oestrogel since the beginning of November and I feel about the same, lots of internal shaking anxiety and tearfulness, hot and flushy as well. Why this has to be so difficult for some of us I don't know. I haven't felt mentally or physically stable for about ten years!

I truly hope that 2024 is better for you and please let me know how your appointment goes. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2010 so I have a bit of experience in the gut area lol.

Take care and I will be thinking of you.

K.

[discogirl]

Hi Kathleen

Thanks so much for the update.

Heres hoping you find something to make you feel better whatever that is.

I hope you have a better 2024 xxx

[Kathleen]

Hello discogirl.

Thank you for your kind comments.

I hope you also have a good 2024!

Take care.

K.