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[Dyan]

I’m 64 and post menopausal.
I’ve been off estrogen for 6 wks and have a mirena which is due to come out in September.
My gynaecologist is seeing me on 21st August to discuss a bio identical progesterone when the coil
comes out.
I’ve had no hot flushes or sweats while I’ve been off estrogen but for the last 10 days I have experienced anxiety and am all over the place. One minute I’m feeling good and then I get depressed feelings and the anxiety.
I’m doing stupid things like putting the milk in the cupboard.  ::)My mind is just not on it at the moment.
Is this normal when coming off estrogen? And is anyone just taking a bioidentical progesterone and nothing else?
Thank you 😊

[Mary G]

First question, why have you stopped taking oestrogen?

It sounds like lack of oestrogen has started to kick in but you won't necessarily have hot flushes and night sweats.  They are earlier menopause symptoms which come in the first phase but you will now be in the very post menopause second phase when symptoms can change and a different set of problems arise like accelerated bone mass loss and cognitive issues.

Why is your gynaecologist talking about bio identical progesterone yet removing your Mirena coil?  Are you changing your HRT regime and reintroducing oestrogen later on? Or are they suggesting a progesterone only regime? 

Sorry for all the questions but it doesn't make sense.

[bombsh3ll]

Some people do take micronised progesterone alone, this is not unsafe in any way, however it doesn't provide any of the health benefits of estrogen.

I agree with Mary, if you have recently stopped estrogen and developed new cognitive and mental health symptoms, this is likely due to the loss of estrogen.

[Dyan]

Bombsh311 & Mary G

Thank you for your reply.
My gynaecologist wanted me to have a trial of coming off estrogen, as I’ve never tried before, to see where I’m at.
My mirena needs to come out because it’s been in for 5 years.
I think he wants to go the bio identical route and not the coil to see how I do.
It’s all pretty confusing to me really but until I see him in August I’m just muddling along.
He knows how I am but wants me to be off estrogen for at least 8 wks and them we’ll discuss the next phase.
He specialises in Menopause & HRT so I’m putting my trust in him as I have no one at my GP surgery who deals with it.

[Mary G]

Dyan, if you get on well with the Mirena coil and don't have any unpleasant side effects, it would probably make sense to stick with it because a lot of women have problems with Utrogestan - assuming that's the type of progesterone your gynaecologist has in mind.  A Mirena coil is easier too because you don't have to worry about possible dose adjustment.

By the sound of it you now know where you are at and you need to start taking oestrogen again.  Perhaps you can try the bio identical progesterone but on the understanding you can have another coil if it doesn't work out.  I would push hard for oestrogen too.

I hope that helps.

[sheila99]

Oestrogen is the one that controls our meno symptoms, the progestogen is the cr*p we have to take to protect our womb. I see no point in taking only progesterone. I agree with the above, you should add back oestrogen to control your anxiety and other meno symptoms and I would also advise you stick to the coil as you know you tolerate it well.

[CLKD]

If it ain't broke ........... U know your body, you know the long haul to feel better, a lot more than the Gynae will do: stick with what you know?

[bombsh3ll]

I don't mean to be rude about your doctor but this individual is clearly not a menopause specialist or even a very good clinician at all if he thinks it is ok to just unilaterally and arbitrarily tell someone to go cold turkey off a beneficial treatment for 8 weeks!!

There is no evidence to support this cruel practice, and in fact when women abruptly lose access to hormone therapy, studies have actually shown an increase in cardiovascular events within the first year or so of losing their prescription.

This situation doesn't seem to happen in any other area of medicine and is really concerning.

I wonder how he would feel about abruptly going without his testicles for 8 weeks!

[sheila99]

I wonder how he would feel about abruptly going without his testicles for 8 weeks!

I can lend you the bloodless castrators 🤣

[CLKD]

I'll hold him ............ 

>waves Dyan<

[dangermouse]

Just to add, progesterone only does work well for many women, although Utrogestan can be too strong so creams tend to be more balancing. They are particularly good for those who have problems metabolising oestrogen, which then builds up in the tissues, even post-menopause.

Check what his strategy is as he may have assumed you were having problems with the oestrogen.

[Dyan]

Thank you for all your replies.
I didn’t go cold turkey. I gradually came off the estrogen.
I wasn’t having Problems being on it either I agreed to have a trial to see where I’m at.
I just needed some reasurrance and to see if anyone had done this and are now on a bioidentical progesterone only.

[sheila99]

I'll hold him ............ 

>waves Dyan<

I'll pass you the latex gloves, I'm not touching them 🤐

Dyan it seems to be a strategy in the US rather than UK to add progesterone only in early peri. I haven't heard of anyone being prescribed it in meno without oestrogen though as the meno symptoms are due to oestrogen deficiency. If you do take prog only it would be wise to check your lining periodically as it can get too thin and cause bleeding. If you want to stop oestrogen imo it would be better to stop progesterone too.

[Dyan]

Update:
I was going to see my gynaecologist on 21st August, but this morning I had an email to say he’d got a cancellation today at 3 so I took it. I was desperate.

He said the trial clearly showed that I still needed estrogen as my symptoms showed.
He’s put me back on 2 pumps estrogen gel daily and also 100mg progesterone at night.
If I get on with the tablets then my coil will come out and I’ll continue.

I was so relieved.

Thank you to everyone who sent me replies previously🤗
 

[CLKD]

That was lucky and will save U a lot of worrying time!

Let us know how you get on.