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[kittydaydream]

Hi ladies I’ve posted a lot over the past few months trying to figure out how to help myself! I’d been on mirena and 100 patch for two years and thought I’d try Utrogestan instead so had mirena out, three months continuous 100 utro gave me terrible sleep and anxiety! I had mirena re fitted on Tuesday and Im hoping it will ‘re balance’ me! The last few weeks though I’ve had really sore boobs as well as the early waking and anxiety- my question is do I just wait this out or should I reduce oestrogen? I’m just desperate to feel better! I’m peri and recently stopped testogel as my level was too high! Your advice would be appreciated

[Penguin]

Progrsterone can also cause sore boobs so I wouldn't reduce the estrogen just yet, it may just be that the new mirena needs time to settle. I would have thought the early waking is more akin to low estrogen rather than high?

[Hurdity]

Are you peri or post menopause? Could it be your natural cycle kicking in?

Hurdity x

[kittydaydream]

Thanks for replying penguin! Agree with you really I’m just impatient to feel better! I think the mirena removal in April has sent my body mad, perhaps I’ll try adding a bit more oestrogen?

[kittydaydream]

Thank for replying Hurdity! I’m peri! Yes I think you are right about the cycle as I period type ache in lower abdomen but no bleeding! Just hope it all gets resolved soon I’m fed up

[Penguin]

Thanks for replying penguin! Agree with you really I’m just impatient to feel better! I think the mirena removal in April has sent my body mad, perhaps I’ll try adding a bit more oestrogen?

Give your body time to settle, don't change too many things at once, I'd give if at least a few more weeks on the current dose before you do another change or you won't know what's what.

[kittydaydream]

Thanks penguin! You are right I need to be patient and wait an see xx

[Kathleen]

Hello kittydaydream

You have my sympathy! I am hoping that my latest attempt with HRT will balance my mood and resolve some other minor physical symptoms. Being patient is very difficult when you are desperate for improvement.

Btw my Nurse Practitioner says she wants to get my Oestradiol levels up to 200 pmol/ L. Perhaps that is the magic number for post meno and if so I wonder if your GP has a number in mind for you?

Wishing you well and take care.

K.

[kittydaydream]

Thanks Kathleen! My gp is pretty clueless to be honest! I see a gynaecologist but she isn’t a menopause specialist and isn’t that much better! As I understand it there isn’t much point checking levels in peri as everything is so erratic! X

[Kathleen]

Hello again kittydaydream.


I know what you mean about the unreliability of blood tests in peri menopause. Many ladies on this forum mention it as being a frustrating problem. Having said that I believe a medium dose of HRT is expected to provide an Oestradiol level of between 150 pmol/L and 370 pmol/L so it seems that the medics do have a therapeutic level in mind. 

I found that information from a Google search but as I said my NP thinks reaching a level of 200  pmol/L would be helpful. I certainly hope she is right as I am also fed up with it all!

Wishing you well and take care.

K.

[joziel]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I was extremely symptomatic at 330pmol and have needed to add another 125mcg patch to the gel I was on to hopefully get between 450-650pmol. That is more reflective of a truly therapeutic dose for the majority of women during peri.

Women may be able to reduce down, post-menopause.

[Kathleen]

Hello again ladies.


The information I found on Google ( I can't remember where unfortunately) said that an Oestradiol level of 150 pmol/L to 370 pmol/L was expected on a medium dose of HRT meaning a 50 mcg patch I think. The information went on to say that a level of greater than 370 pmol/L was to be avoided.

There was no mention of all the variables that we know of, for example the different stages of the menopause or the different absorption rates. I expect the medics are being guided by these numbers and perhaps this works for most women. As I have said I was intermittently symptomatic on over 600 pmol/L and I am intermittently symptomatic at the moment at 139 pmol/L.

 I started HRT three years after my last period so I never had to worry during the peri stage but it has still been a frustrating journey!

Take care ladies.

K.

[Kathleen]

Hello again ladies.

I just wanted to add that the Google information  I referred to came from typing in  something like 'What Should Oestradiol Levels be on HRT'.  The reply was from an AI Summary (?!) and apparently the levels should not exceed 700 pmol/L and not 370 pmol/L as I said.

I hope this is helpful and take care ladies.

K.

[Penguin]

Thanks Kathleen! My gp is pretty clueless to be honest! I see a gynaecologist but she isn’t a menopause specialist and isn’t that much better! As I understand it there isn’t much point checking levels in peri as everything is so erratic! X

Yes that is what I have found too. And the symptoms of too high estrogen can be very similar to those of low, so it really is trial and error to see what makes you feel better. That said, I gave up on HRT after 15 months after taking it as I couldn't cope with the 12 days on progesterone, and a measly one pump of estrogel sent my peaks of estrogen (common fluctuations when in peri) sky high and I felt dreadful.

[kittydaydream]

Thanks penguin! From my stint on progesterone I can see why you’d get to that point! I felt awful on it and felt just as awful when I didn’t take it just in a different way!