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[Twinmummi123]

Hi all!

I am looking for a little advice or just help as to what to do next?

I’m 48, been on HRT (gel and utrogesten tablets) since August 2020.

I started taking 2 tablets for 14 days of my cycle and then two pumps of gel.

After 18 months I started taking progesterone tablets daily and two pumps. In Feb of this year is was getting hot flushes again so I upped the gel to three pumps (added a pump in the evening) which stopped the flushes again.

About 4/5 weeks ago I noticed my breasts were a bit swollen and sore, this has increased over the last few weeks and at times I can’t touch my boobs they are so sore…I’ve been having period pain and today I have been spotting and feel absolutely awful.

The last Dr I saw was about a year and half ago (private but can’t afford that again)…I am waiting for an appt at the NHS meno clinic but that’s not till July 2024  (booked in May this year)

Today, Ive dropped back down to two pumps and am taking the utrogesten alternate days to see if that helps…I literally have no idea what to do and my GP just tells me to go on patches.

I appreciate that medical advice can’t be given but I’m at a really bad stage here and don’t know what to do!

Thanks

[Dotty]

Hi taking the Utrogestan on alternate days is not advised as it is likely to cause breakthrough bleeding.

It’s also possible that you’re not ready for a continuous regime x

[CLKD]

 

mayB put the product names into the search box: individually : to see threads that pop up.  Make notes ;-)

[Twinmummi123]

Thank you Dotty, I’ve been taking the utrogesten daily for almost a year now and it’s been ok…it’s all so confusing! I don’t know whether I should go back to taking it on a cycle or just carry on daily? How do you know? The Dr I saw said once I’d been on it for 18m I could go to taking it daily.

[Twinmummi123]

Thanks CLKD, I have had a look at the threads and am none the wiser. No one seems to be able to help, my GP knows less than me and that’s not a lot! I will just have to keep adjusting it until I find a way again. I’m just trying to avoid the onset of the flushes again as that was the worst symptom for me.

[CLKD]

It's a bit Trial and error.  MayB stick with what you have chosen as a regime 2 see what happens then adjust again.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.  Let us know how you get on.

[Penguin]

Whatever you do,  I think you need to make one change at a time so you have a better chance of knowing what change has impacted what. Not sure what benefit you think there might be to taking utrogestan alternate days, if anything I would have thought that is more likely to cause spotting than daily. 
I empathise with how you are feeling tho, I still feel like I am chasing my tail with hrt and given tests are unreliable there is no clear path to knowing doses aside from trial and error. You do need to give each change time to take effect though and, as I said, only change on thing at a time.

[Twinmummi123]

Thank you so much.

As you can tell I am still pretty clueless when it comes to these medications, despite a lot of reading etc as there seems to be so much information/mis information.

I’ve decided to reduce the gel to two pumps in the morning and keep taking the utrogesten daily and take it from there.

The breast pain is awful so I’ve started EPO to help with that as well as wearing a soft bra to bead.

Thanks again.

[sheila99]

IMO doctors are a bit too quick to tell you to go on a conti regime. I think it's more likely that you're still peri in which case a sequi regime is more appropriate and this is likely to be from your own hormones. As you've had spotting I would see the gp and ask to be referred on the 2 week pathway to check your womb lining hasn't been building up. If it was me I'd go back on sequi but if you want to stay on conti you should take it every day. As you're spotting it's possible your lining has thickened in which case taking less really isn't a good idea. If you're still peri bleeding on a conti regime isn't uncommon but I think it's wise to get checked out. If you're post meno all bleeding should be investigated. Reducing the gel is a good idea.

[Twinmummi123]

Thanks so much Shelia.

I think you are right, the Dr I saw maybe was too quick to put me on a sequential schedule. She advised I could do this after 18 months of cycling, so that’s what I did. But I am bleeding very heavily now.

I spoke to my GP and she has referred me for the scan on the two week pathway.

I will stick to current routine (but dropping the evening pump) until I’ve had the scan and see what’s happening.

I don’t really want to go back to bleeding but if it’s the right thing to do then I will.

My appt with the meno clinic isn’t till next July and I don’t have faith in the private Dr I saw and don’t really want to have to start all over with a new place.

Thanks for all the advice.