Print

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

[Wendy perimenopause]

Hi,

I am feeling horrible. I had perimenopauze with hot flashes, low libido, very irritated, night sweats, little wounds on labia…
So I went to a gynaecologist who specialises in menopause and perimenopause. She prescribed bioidentical oestrogen and progesterone. I reacted badly to progesterone even when trying to build it every 5 days one tablet bioidentical 100mg progesteron. But I could stop and just taken oestrogen ( I still have bleeding) with regular check ups. All my  symptoms vanished with estrogen. Except my pms got worse and then I started sleeping badly. The gynaecologist said to up my dose and then suddenly I had complete insomnia and itching skin and now I have debilitating anxiety. If I took a progesteron, I slept, but my anxiety was through the roof. Like debilitating. This is totally physical not pshycological. I feel like I am someone different and unstable.
My gynaecologist does not know how to help.
What could be going on?
Thank you in advance for thinking along  🙏🏻. I feel desperate

[CLKD]

Hi    gyanes have often 'read the book' then class themselves as 'speicalists'.  She could of course have referred U to a dedicated menopause Clinic: there are waiting lists in the NHS as well as the private sector.

PMS usually stops once a bleed begins as hormones level out a bit.  Itchy skin is often caused by dropping oestrogen levels: which may cause the body to become dry: inside and out, including the vagina; deep in the ears; eyes, nostrils, skin ....... so appropriate VA treatment is essential to get hold of the condition and ease symptoms.

U can ring your surgery and ask for appropriate treatment  for this. U don't need any exam or blood tests.  'vagifem' is delivered into the vagina by pessary: I use 'estriol' which is inserted via an applicator.  I put a bit of estriol round the outer areas; some find 'sylc' or 'yes' products are good moistoriors for the vulva.

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

[Ms_london76]

Perhaps the type of progesterone.

I take a bio identical version called PROMETRIUM. Versus the synthetic version of progesterone.

I really didn’t know there was a difference until speaking with a naturopath.

[bombsh3ll]

Conversely, some people do better with a synthetic progestin who don't tolerate micronised progesterone.

An IUS is a popular option.

There are also multiple other oral progestins.

Tibolone is another good alternative for progesterone intolerance.

Your specialist really doesn't deserve their credentials if they think there's only one way to manage menopause.

But please see someone, don't just take estrogen alone. This can increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

[Dramy3]

Just to add to what others have said—some women find testosterone is the missing piece for them. It didn’t work for me (actually made things far worse), but that’s rare. A meno GP can help. I use the Newson Clinic.

[Wendy perimenopause]

Thank you so much for you input. So great that there is a community of women here ❤️
I took bioidentical progesteron.
I Think the problems of insomnia and itching might be caused by oestrogen. Because they became worse after upping the dose.
I am from Belgium and went to a menopause specialist. Not so many specialists here

[CLKD]

I went to Bruges for 5 days in 1968. 

Do U have to pay for your medical care?  Do U have a follow up appt.?

[CLKD]

Do read the info at the top: white on pink background ;-)

[joziel]

Wendy, it sounds like histamine intolerance to me. This is often caused by high estrogen and made worse by high estrogen. We don't know why some women get it.

If you go to YouTube and search for Dr Tina Peers you will see presentations from her about it. She also has a website with info.

Really, you need to find the minimal amount of estrogen which helps you and also make sure to take enough progesterone. If you can't take it orally, have you tried inserting it vaginally? The same capsule? Often then it doesn't get absorbed systemically and cause the same side effects but your uterus will still get it... If even that doesn't help, you might benefit from a Mirena coil to keep the lining thin and replace the progesterone.

[Wendy perimenopause]

I went to Bruges for 5 days in 1968. 

Do U have to pay for your medical care?  Do U have a follow up appt.?

Yes. We have to pay for our Medical care. I have a follow up appointment in three months

[Wendy perimenopause]

Wendy, it sounds like histamine intolerance to me. This is often caused by high estrogen and made worse by high estrogen. We don't know why some women get it.

If you go to YouTube and search for Dr Tina Peers you will see presentations from her about it. She also has a website with info.

Really, you need to find the minimal amount of estrogen which helps you and also make sure to take enough progesterone. If you can't take it orally, have you tried inserting it vaginally? The same capsule? Often then it doesn't get absorbed systemically and cause the same side effects but your uterus will still get it... If even that doesn't help, you might benefit from a Mirena coil to keep the lining thin and replace the progesterone.

Thank you so much. I Think this could indeed be the case. I stoppend taking the hormones to try to get back some mental stability. And my plan is to go on an antidepressant till things get better. In Belgium we have no MCAS doctor I am afraid. Will do another post in a while and I Will keep reading here

[Hurdity]

Hi Wendy perimenopause

 

As a matter if interest, how old are you and what were your periods doing before you started taking HRT? Cycle length, frequency of periods, flow etc. This will help determine where you are in menopause and possibly help us advise you better.

Aslo I am amazed that there are few menopause specialists in Belgium when the company Besins which produces the oestrogen gel that many women use for HRT, has one of its major European manufacturing facilities in Belgium!!

In addition -  perhaps you tell us what type and dose of oestrogen you were taking/using? Also how long you have been taking HRT?

What a pity also that you haven't been helped by your gynaecologist which has led you to decide that anti-depressants are the answer - because in the UK, they are not recommended as the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms.

I hope you manage to find the right solution soon and if we can help further do let us know.

Hurdity x

[Wendy perimenopause]

Hi Wendy perimenopause

 

As a matter if interest, how old are you and what were your periods doing before you started taking HRT? Cycle length, frequency of periods, flow etc. This will help determine where you are in menopause and possibly help us advise you better.

Aslo I am amazed that there are few menopause specialists in Belgium when the company Besins which produces the oestrogen gel that many women use for HRT, has one of its major European manufacturing facilities in Belgium!!

In addition -  perhaps you tell us what type and dose of oestrogen you were taking/using? Also how long you have been taking HRT?

What a pity also that you haven't been helped by your gynaecologist which has led you to decide that anti-depressants are the answer - because in the UK, they are not recommended as the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms.

I hope you manage to find the right solution soon and if we can help further do let us know.

Hurdity x

I took one pump of bioidentical oestrogel a day and when my gynaecologist recommended two pumps because of worsening of pms. The insomnia , Anxiety and itching went through the roof.
I had been taking it for 4 months with a worsening of insomnia and itching and then axiety.
I am 47 and in perimenopause

[Ms_london76]

Progesterone can be taken
Vaginally as well at least the one I am using but opt for oral.

My pharmacist said ppl do that cuz they can’t handle it taken orally.

[Hurdity]

Hi wendy

It would still be of  interest to know whereabouts in peri-menopause you are and specifically how frequent your periods were before you started HRT. How many periods had you skipped? How irregular were they etc?

If you are early peri then you may be better off with something like Femoston tablet HRT which has a better tolerated progestogen, or perhaps the contraceptive pill. In UK there are a couple designed for peri-menopause that have bioidentical oestrogen and better tolerated progestogens. They're called QLAIRA  and ZOELY.  Thes etabets suppress the cycle so there is no pms or minimal - apart from a withdrawal bleed which should be light, and some women take them in such a way as to avoid a bleed....

Not sure if similar preparations are available in Belgium?

Hurdity x