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[Gilly23]

Hi all,
I know this has been written about but we are all individual with our own stories. I would really appreciate any help or advice on my journey.
I started two pumps of oestrogen and 100 mg of progesterone 5 months ago. I am 63 and 10 years plus post menopausal. I also started on ovestin cream twice weekly at the same time.
After 8 weeks my vaginal dryness really improved and I felt more interested in sex after years of feeling I was cut off at the waist down. My anxiety levelled and I felt calmer, my temperature was more regulated and I was sleeping solidly. Happy days ! I was very pleased.
In the last month this has changed, I feel moody and anxious, I am really tired and I am putting on weight. I haven’t changed anything re exercise and diet, if anything I am exercising more and eating less.
I am starting to wonder if I should come off the HRT. The consultant said I only needed the vaginal HRT for dryness and sex drive. I am not convinced and I don’t want to give up and go back to the awful dryness and UTI symptoms.
I know everything in life tends to be a compromise but I feel really miserable and worried about what’s going on for me.
Has anyone else experienced this? Should I persevere and see if it settles? Should I go back to the doctor and try something different?
Really feel quite desperate. I would appreciate any thoughts anyone has. Thank you so much.

[Bungo]

Can you ask for bloods to be tested just in case you're absorbing oestrogen alot and levels are too high ? 

[CLKD]

Morning.   Continue with the vaginal atrophy treatment every night if necessary.

It may be that you need a hike in HRT dose.  Who oversees your prescriptions and when did U last have a full blood count, to include VitD levels and thyroid function tests?  The latter can cause weight gain. No need to press on with anything if your body is telling you 'something ain't right'.

Let us know how you get on.

[Gilly23]

Thank you. I have had blood tests recently but not had my oestrogen levels re tested. I saw a consultant privately during a time I was desperate with vaginal atrophy. She didn’t seem over keen on HRT for me . She said she thought it wouldn’t work because I was so far menopausal.
So much mixed information isn’t there. I think I will go up with the vaginal cream anyway, I used to have the pessaries but they stopped working and that led to the awful dryness.
I am going to try another month I think and see if it settles and then see what the doctors say.
Thank you for both of your answers, it means a lot.

[CLKD]

Was the consultant at a dedicated menopause clinic because often women don't develop symptoms until well after periods stop.  As oestrogen levels drop symptoms may well start!

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.

[Gilly23]

No she wasn’t. She’s a gynaecologist but although it said she did menopause, she also does obstetrics too. So I suspect she’s more broad spectrum.
I think the diary is a good idea, I will try it.
Thank you.

[bombsh3ll]

I would love to know how that consultant imagines vaginal estrogen will help with sex drive! That's essentially saying we should just be grateful it doesn't hurt. Desire and pleasure are about far more than the absence of pain, and where hormones are implicated in loss of libido it is usually testosterone.

That, as well as the belief that HRT won't help because you're "too far menopausal" suggest this is a non menopause specialist.

I would fight tooth and nail to continue your systemic treatment whilst you investigate the other issues, even if it needs a little tweaking. If you acquiesce to giving it up at this point you will almost certainly have to go private to get back on it.

[CLKD]

Problem is a lot of medics are 'doing a course' on perimenopause but with little information given to pass on to women. This is also happening in some private menopause clinics due to the need for more appts.. 

An obstetrician and gynaecologist are usually the same speciality.  A Consultant educated in menopause is totally different with hopefully, more knowledge. 

[Gilly23]

Thank you for your support. I am glad you spelled that out re sex drive. I felt very dismissed that she was obsessed that I didn’t want sex because it was uncomfortable. I knew I just didn’t have any sexual feelings however hard I tried .
There are some real positives for me, no more headaches, temperature control as well as sex drive.
The support from you all has helped me view it differently. If I can’t tweak it myself I think I will pay for an appointment at a private menopause clinic. It’s too important to me. My mum always said your health is your wealth and us ladies are not well cared for around menopause.

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on.  It might be worth while getting on a menopause clinic waiting list, U can always cancel once the appt. arrives.

[Gilly23]

Good idea. Thank you.

[Ruby2]

Hi Gilly
I have only just posted a very similar message on this. I have been on HRT (patches) and 100mg Utrogestan for 4 months and also have experience weight gain and mood changes recently. My mood in the morning is very low and doesn’t improve until much later on in the day (food obviously helps). I believe that the utrogestan might be responsible for these changes and the longer you have been post menopausal the more obvious these changes will be. Try tweaking the hrt but I too might stop altogether and just use the VA treatment alone. We know our bodies, do what feels right to you.