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[bombsh3ll]

Here's your pep talk

Three weeks really isn't long enough to evaluate any contraceptive or menopause hormone therapy.

Barring intolerable side effects, that can be directly correlated to the pill ie coming on immediately or within a short time after starting it, I would give it at least 6 weeks and ideally 12.

Otherwise you'll never know, and may end up repeating the trial in the future rather than having the certainty of being able to categorically write off that treatment.

I personally love Zoely but you also have to be aware that you will struggle to get a prescription beyond 50 for this, unless you either see a private specialist or have someone younger to obtain it on your behalf

[CrispyChick]

Thanks bomb. I needed that.

This first month is hard. But, I'm not sure it's any harder than my normal. Other than it defo makes my head spinny. But I'm surviving.

Yes. I'll keep going. I'm hoping as I move I go month two things might stabalise a bit.

It's obviously still questionable whether my main issues are hormonal or not. So that's part of this trial.

Yeah, not sure zoley will be my best bet. My GP knew I'd bought it and suggested I try it if double cerazette doesn't help. But then agreed accessing it might be a prob.

After having supported me over the last 7 years, and having seen me reach rock bottom this past year, she's totally fine with prescribing me a combined pill past 50. Quality of life. But...zoley isn't prescribable up here, as you know.

So. I think it'd either be back to microgynon which was my 'best of a bad bunch' a few years ago or retry the 20mcg desogestral one.

I think adding an E patch first would be my preferred option...

But we'll plod on another month like this first. The only low E symptoms on 2 Cerazette so far are two hot flushes this week. Week 4. But I feel pre periody, so obvs my E has dropped. I actually want it to now stay low.

Thanks for this pep. I needed it. 👍

[CrispyChick]

LClegg - did you ever test your bloods during double cerelle, or more recently on slynd before adding the E patch???

[Lclegg002]

I’ve had 3 x blood readings so far during the start of this…
My first was 3 days after I came off 2 x desogestrel as I’d had mirena fitted. At time I was on 2 pumps of estrogel and it was 92pmol. Presumably my ovaries were still asleep and gel wasn’t doing much as seemed a low read.
Second I had one after 6 months with just mirena (no desogestrel) and on 25 patch and it was 260pmol … this was when I felt like my hormones were going mental.
Third was 82pmol on no estrogen but after being on Slynd for 3 months so everything shut down I guess.
No clue what my reading is now. I might get another test done at some point… just more money as will have to be private.
How are you doing? x

[CrispyChick]

Thanks Lclegg.

That's very helpful. On your latest test, before you added E patch, were you getting the classic low E symptoms? Like flushes?

Are you still feeling a little better on the slynd and 50mcg patch???

I'm still feeling dire. As bad as ever. But then we're not 100% sure my worst symptoms are hormonal. I guess that's what this trial is.

I've completed one full month on cerazette. It's not been easy. I've got my horrific poison and flu. Plus definite side affects - spinny head and nose pressure.

I tested on day 21. My LH and FSH have come down nicely, indicating suppression. I've fejg pre periody all week - but no bleed. More recent trials of one cerazette I bled through. So this is a change.

However, my estrogen measured 24pmol. And hot flushes have started. So I'm a little concerned there.

Trying to keep going as this test is about my poison rather than low E symptoms. I just hope it doesn't trigger such extreme low E symptoms as chem meno did.

Starting my new packs today.

[Lclegg002]

So sorry to hear you’re still feeling so rubbish, it’s truly a horrific time for some of us ladies. 
24pmol is very low… I’m not sure at what point I was in my cycle when I had my recent blood read as I’ve lost track but my low estrogen symptoms were namely severe low mood and I mean severe to the point where I was having constant thoughts about ending my life, fatigue where I could barely get off sofa, constant crying and just felt truly awful and done with life. Anxiety is a constant for me unfortunately but does seem to get worse on higher Estrogen… when lower I’m very indifferent to everything and apathetic.
I’ve actually moved to a 75 patch… felt a bit woozy and spaced out on it last week but been trying to stick with it. My mood is still very meh and my energy isn’t great but I am definitely a LOT better than I was. I’m a bit odd where  hot flushes are concerned… I didn’t really have any when my estrogen was low, I think if anything they’re worse when it’s higher or probably fluctuating… same as night sweats as I didn’t seem to have many of those when low but have had a lot more recently since being on the estrogen . 🤷‍♀️. I’ve been feeling a little off balance and my nose is feeling stuffy a lot of late, I’m also having blocked ears which I’ve never had in my life. I’m sure it’s hormonal (what isn’t).
I would be very tempted to introduce some estrogen with that low read… perhaps now you’ve hit a low level and the fluctuations have levelled out you will tolerate it better and it may just help with some symptoms.
I’ve come to conclusion with HRT that is really isn’t a fix all treatment… I think it’s about finding a dose which has the most bearable side effects. I personally cannot go back to having those dark thoughts again but not sure I’ll ever feel like me again or get my lust for life back.
Annoyingly for past 2 days I’ve felt really periody and started spotting last night so wondering if the 75 is now too high but doctor said spotting can be too high or too low Estrogen and I’ve proven this because I was spotting constantly when i had my low blood read on desogestrel. Been trying to keep a diary of symptoms to see if a pattern emerges but there’s just so much cross over I’ve given up. The one thing I do know and I constant is low mood/dark thoughts for me is definite low Estrogen x

[Lclegg002]

Just to add crispy, you mention flu like symptoms… this was classic low Estrogen for me… I remember telling my Newson doctor that I felt like I had flu as my muscles and joints ached, I had zero energy and just felt so unwell. Also cold a lot, struggling to get warm and having to have a bath to warm me up. Actually I’m cold more than I’m hot weirdly and did wonder if I had a thyroid issue as literally ticked off all the symptoms but it came back normal. 🤷‍♀️

[joziel]

Lclegg, do make sure you've had a full thyroid panel done - not just TSH at the GP's. The NHS doesn't test thyroid properly and it's very possible to have normal TSH and low T3 or T4.

Bleeding is normal randomly any time you change estrogen dose or method, for the first 3 months of the change. It doesn't mean E is too high or too low.

[CrispyChick]

Thank you for replying LClegg.

I'm sorry it's proving so so hard for you to find balance and feel better. But it's good you're seeing some improvement.

Honestly, I've no idea what to think on my situation. I am not normal. I spent years chasing the estrogen dominance brigade because every time I felt so ill my E was always normal or high. It's only in the last year it's made a decline, at times. But I guess it's taking it all out in cm and now reducing it substantially with 2x cerazette that I can say with certainty, i get the same debilitating, poison and flu whichever.

I don't believe my symptoms are linked to hormonal levels. The cm proved that. But I'm still trying to gauge if they are hormones and therefore my body is overreacting in an immune/nervous system way to any fluctuations/changes.

So when I was in cm, on no HRT, my genuine no E symptoms were excruciating joint pain in my knees, groin and wrists and immense intense hot flushes.

I am worried that I've taken my E pretty low. But I'll just keep my eye on that. I'm not ready to add in E. I haven't accessed it yet  plus, as I think my body reacts to changes - I need stability, not yet more change. But this month holds the key.

Right now I feel very ill. Like my immune system is in overdrive. I'm fluey still. I've also got start up affects from cerazette - narky mood swings, anxiety. Spent years on cerazette, so I know them well.

Not sure how this is going to pan out.

1) all eyes on if I get debilitating low E symptoms
2) do my 'reactive' ill feelings calm once I'm stable?

If not. I'm going to retry a conventional combined pill as it did work for me to some extent a few years ago.

Nothing is perfect. I accept that now. But I can't accept feeling so ill that I'd rather be dead. I just can't.

Xx

[CrispyChick]

And I'm feeling pretty miffed today.

I'd identified a private doc specialist in MCAS and ME/CFC. Fully booked. No appointments available ever.

Decided I'd see Nick Paney - he no longer has his books open either.

I'm miffed. The private sector now just mirrors the NHS. It's utter frustration.

[CrispyChick]

Oh. And the ear thing...that's where mine all started 7 years ago. Blocked ears.

Now I get ear pressure pre and post period. Horrible. Or if I add/remove progesterone cream, for example. It all affects my ears.

How old are you LClegg??

[CrispyChick]

L clegg - how are you getting on with the estrogen patch on top of the slynd???