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[0132sarah]

Hi everyone,

I've been using the mirena coil for over 10 years. during that time I started the perimenopause (I am now 43). Had the coil replaced just over 2 weeks ago, had a new one put in the same day and thought how lucky I was instead of having to wait. Little did I know that would come to hit me 10x worse. I have always suffered with a degree of anxiety, but the oestrogel really helped with that.
Over the past 2 weeks, I felt extremely low, very tearful (I have always found it hard to cry).
I should mention 15 years ago I had postnatal depression after giving birth. I started recognising little bursts of how I felt when had postnatal. My anxiety heightened that much, hear palpitations, shortness of breath due to tight chest, trembling, even my legs gave way due to trembling that much! Feeling very irrational, mood swings very unpredictable. Whispering to then exploding and shouting, racing mind (to the point all I wanted to do was scream) hiding under my duvet.

I am extremely sensitive to progesterone. I had an emergency appointment today and had the coil removed. It took everything I had in me to get to the surgery, be around people and talk, it was unbearable.
I have been prescribed the progesterone pill for the meantime, to continue the oestrogel. I am super anxious to take them.

I know there are options out there, different HRT options. I could really do with some advice on these. I feel very much in the dark. I havent felt myself for quite a long time now with fatigue, years if I am honest. I definitely have menopause weight, I have really been trying to battle with. I can only seem to shift 10lbs

Any tips or advice would genuinely be greatly appreciated.

[CLKD]

   I can't offer advice, hopefully some1 will be along this morning.

[joziel]

I'd say firstly that a lot of those symptoms sound like low estrogen. Especially if they have been going on a while, you've gained weight, feel fatigued etc.... Have you had bloods done to see how much you are absorbing? How much Oestrogel are you using?

Guidelines are that you should increase readily up to the max licensed dose, which is 4 pumps of gel, going by symptoms alone. Are you using 4 pumps of gel?

With the progesterone, are you now on utrogestan? When you say 'the progesterone pill', is that what you mean? If you get side effects from taking it orally, have you tried taking it vaginally instead?

[0132sarah]

So I had the mirena coil replaced just over 2 weeks ago, and started having adverse reactions never had before. had it take out yesterday. still waiting for it to calm down, im very trebly shaky, cant think straight, racing mind. I was using 3 pumps of oestrogel.

been prescribed the oral tablet of progesterone but I am anxious to take it at the moment, ive never tried it before. wondering if I should just use the gel for a couple of days and let the rest of the coil get out of my system. I feel horrendous. I cant do people or outside.

ive bloated up like im pregnant, which im guessing is from the mirena. no spotting. really difficult feeling like this. I have a daughter to look after.

[CLKD]

I think that U need to consult your prescribing medic - make a list of your worries to discuss.

[0132sarah]

Thank you, I will be doing so. I'm staying just on the oestrogel for a couple of days to allow the hormones to balance out more before I take the progesterone. I might be a bit tearful but my mind racing is starting to slow.
 I've been researching different options of HRT and writing these down. Learning which hormone helps and affects what each one does exactly helps to understand better.

Thank you for replying, it's an absolute minefield when it comes to learning about HRT. I've been watching YouTube with Dr.Louise Newson and Davina. They were really helpful.

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on!  The Trial and Error can B so tiring!!

[0132sarah]

thank you. I am looking into the patches, with perhaps oestrogel as a top up. I have also been reading into so much about testosterone, which has left me wondering if that is why I have been so fatigued for years. I've gone straight to trivia for blood tests to be done from home to speed this process up. Sadly the reality would be waiting for weeks for an appointment on the via NHS, it's practically broken which is heartbreaking.

In the meantime I have purchased some books ,including Davina's menopause (currently 50% off on Amazon).

Thank you again for replying, it's greatly appreciated.

[joziel]

You might actually find the progesterone helps you. It produces GABA, which is very calming and for the majority of women has a calming effect...

[0132sarah]

Hi, so just got back from the surgery. Wow I didn't imagine I would embarrass the GP and trainee, left them both in hysterics!

So agreed on the evorel patches for oestrogen, max dose and progesterone tablets 2 at night for 2 weeks and then 2 weeks off.
I am so glad I wrote down my symptoms as I am genuinely so scatty right now with brain fog.

I did explain how I haven't had sex in years and how I didn't enjoy the last time I did have sex, and this was with a man I still deeply care for. I expressed how much I miss having orgasms. I got asked if I was in a relationship, nope and how I am very happy to give myself orgasms, especially after a stressful day to help lighten the stress in life. This made them both bright red and laughter filled the room!  😂😂
I know how brutally open and honest I can be, and in was nonstop rambling. I just assumed they would be used to hearing this kind of thing!
Anyways, I'm glad I brightened their days.

As for the joint pain in my wrists and the fatigue, if this doesn't improve within two months, I am to return to discuss the possibility of fibromyalgia. I have already been diagnosed with chronic fatigue years ago. Keeping my fingers crossed and cannot wait to start the new HRT!

Will update you all on my journey 😀

[CLKD]

Joint pains can be due to low oestrogen levels.  Let us know how you get on.

[0132sarah]

Yes they did mention this. Now to work out how to deflate my tummy again. Having periods all over again , I look pregnant!

[0132sarah]

Ok so I am unsure if the progesterone is too much, I am on 200mg a night. I am meant to be taking it for two weeks then two weeks off, alongside the evorell 100 patch.

my stomach has really bloated up, got cramps.

I did start feeling quite a difference in mood, much happier. I have not felt like that for years. I haven't slept this long for ages either. however the downside, I feel very drowsy. I am a bit out of it if that makes any sense. I haven't had a migraine, I have suffered with them very badly since the age of 10. But recognise an aura coming on. no pain, slight sensitive to light. I have been a bit light headed and dizzy today. I feel quite slumpy.

I am being practical, I do not see this working out, 2 weeks of heavy sleep to then 2 weeks of being without. I have adhd, I should mention! I also am the main carer for my daughter who has severe adhd and autism. I have been used broken sleep for so long, when she is up, I am too for safeguarding.

is there a happy medium dose of progesterone I can take daily, I know 100mg isn't enough. I had the trembling and mind racing, im sensitive to noise. I know they 2 week on and off was to help get my periods regular. brain fog is unreal.

I would like to be equipped with information prior to going back to the gp with options. It is frustrating as I was feeling so happy yesterday, it has been so long that I have felt that good.
Anyone else experienced this? I am unsure what doses progesterone is available in apart from 100mg. If there perhaps is a lower dose tablet I could take, maybe 125mg/150mg?
I can see me suffering badly with trembles anxiety etc on the 2 weeks off.
thank you for reading.

[karab]

In the US, you can get progesterone from a compounding pharmacy at doses in between 100 and 200 (for instance 150).  It is probably more expensive and I have seen it written that it is less regulated.

Some people have experimented with pin-pricking the pill and removing some progesterone to lower the dose, but that seems hard to know exactly how much you would be getting long term.  I tried this at one point to take slightly more than 200 mg and see if it helped more for sleep, as the move from 200 to 300 was too much for me.

For me changes in progesterone bring on migraines, bloating and mood changes.  I was put on continuous progesterone for sleep and take it every night, which doesn't always work for people in perimenopause, but that eliminated most of the side effects eventually. 

[0132sarah]

Thanks I am in the UK, I will see if they have that available here.

I slept over 13 hours, really hard to wake up. I'm kinda drowsy which will be for the rest of the day.

I have no choice but to take only 100mg tonight, I need to be up for my daughter just know I'm going to get hit be the horrendous anxiety, trembling and racing mind, sensitive to sounds.

I do like the idea of continuous progesterone, I prefer feeling the same instead of fluctuations. Life is very much full of fluctuations, I'm not keen on more guessing and the feeling of coming and going being added! I admit I have loved having this sleep, it has been a long time since I haven't had broken sleep, yet I am worrying what my daughter is doing at the same time. It isn't safe.
Fingers crossed a GP can arrange an appointment asap. Thank you for your response