Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ladybt28 on August 11, 2018, 11:29:52 AM
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I am new to the forum and I have a few questions about the types of treatment, what each does, what problems it works best for and I would like information about some ladies experiences but I don't know where to put them on the forum so I have started a thread - sorry if it is the wrong thing to do, please tell me where I should move stuff.
Can any of you help me get some stuff straight in my head?
I want to know (a) if you suffer badly from hormonal depression are you better having patches, gels or tablets to get the right dose?
(b) If your problems are all over the place, does having hrt in gel form make the treatment more flexible or does it make it more patchy?
(c) I know testosterone is important but what does it do and how does it make treatment better?
(d) what side effects or weird feelings have ladies had when they have been on premarin versus bio identicals.
Suppose those will do for starters if you can help ladies and I'm probably going to ask questions about your answers!
I have a womb, am 56 GP says I am post menopausal but I was off my hrt 4.5 months and am now back on. Before for 18 months everything was haywire and there was a lot of chopping and changing. Before that I was on prempak c but now I am on premarin/provera and its not working right.
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Hi
Patches or gel are best as they are transdermal. However, a lot of ladies do very well on tablet form of hrt.
Everyone is different so it's hard to say if gel "makes things more patchy." It is more flexible, but again it suits some ladies and not others.
Testosterone is useful for libido and exhaustion and muscle strength.
Prempak and premarin are old forms of hrt made from the urine of pregnant mares. You would be better on body identical oestrogen in newer hrts. But a lot of ladies do well on premarin.
There is no right or wrong in hrt. It's what suits you. Sorry, I don't think I've been much help x
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Oestrogel is easily absorbed which is why specialists like Dr Louise Newson and Professor John Studd like working with it. It is also very dose flexible meaning you can quickly and easily increase the dose if necessary.
Testosterone helps as long as your oestrogen levels are fairly high.
I can't comment on conjugated oestrogen but a lot of women really like it
The key to success with HRT is getting the dose right. This may sound blindingly obvious but it can be difficult to achieve and a lot of women end up ditching HRT altogether because they don't get adequate symptom relief and/or they fall over on the progesterone component i. e. have dreadful side effects.
From my experience, a very dose flexible regime will give you a far greater chance of success.
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Because I was off the hrt for 4 months I have managed to work out - I think - side effects of the Premarin/provera regime as I have something to measure against.
I am on 1.25 Premarin and 5mg provera continuous. I've been back on 3 weeks - I know that's not a long time yet but because I was on prempak for 7 years and it was discontinued and then on a few others and then off hrt altogether I have things to measure against. There was an underlying health issue in the meantime which resulted in a stay in hospital for sepsis that the doctors couldn't get to the bottom of - I think it clouded what was going on when they gave me the 3 other forms of hrt in the 18 month period after the prempak. GP put me back on Premarin because I had been on prempak 7 years but I think a lot has changed for me in that time.
At the moment the sweats have nearly gone and so had the really bad insomnia I had. My joints hurt and that stopped when I was off hrt altogether. My ears are muffled and my nose is running which are symptoms which stopped when I was off hrt altogether.
The joint thing , the nose and ears were are all things I had when I was on prempak. I have a dull ache in my left calf and I feel like my breathing is ever so slightly restricted. Still have no energy - no sex drive - I couldn't raise a sexy thought if my life depended on it (I don't like being touched at all) - I feel a bit weak and feeble and I am mega depressed (I have always suffered from depression and would stake my life it is hormonal).
Have any ladies had conjuncted horse oestrogen and had any of these side effects?
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I think I have some idea what might be wrong but I need more info to try and work out what would be best to ask for - I defo couldn't take femoston - I felt really ill on that.
I really want to hear peoples experiences.
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HI LadyBT - I think it is really a case of trail & error. I was on Kliofem successfully for 9 years and was very fortunate that I had never suffered anxiety or depression in my life. The Kliofem stopped working and wham I was in the middle of madness. My only symptoms now are bad anxiety on some days and bad depression on other days. I believe it is hormonal but am trying other things as well as HRT to help such as meditation, exercise, breathing bla bla bla. I still don't know what each day will bring when I go to sleep the night before. I think we just have to hope the our GP or Menopause specialist can work with us to find a solution. I have been at this now for 8 months and am beginning to wonder if I should try coming off HRT all together al though i would have to say the beginning without HRT when i was put in Citalopram and given diazepam was worse than now although the anxiety seemed slightly less. There are some very knowledgeable ladies on this forum who really do help during this horrid period. Thinking of you. Mustard x
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Ladybt28, it sounds like you could be falling over on the progesterone part of your HRT. The Provera could be drowning out the positive effects of the oestrogen. I doubt the symptoms you describe are anything to do with the oestrogen component.
You could stop the Provera immediately, this will invoke a bleed and then you could do a good few weeks on oestrogen only and see if you get any improvement. This would at least give you some indication as to why you feel so flat. My money is on the progesterone.
If you do this experiment and feel significantly better then you could switch to a cyclical regime permanently.
I should mention that I had a constant runny nose on the contraceptive pill and Angeliq HRT, it was a type of allergy.
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Thanks Mary G - I thought it was some sort of allergy. It's a good description you used - "flat" - to be honest that's an understatement
Happy to try dropping the Provera - I'll try anything to get this right. I know I asked the pharmacist about it being 5mg and continuous and he told me there wasn't a lower dose.
How many weeks would you go on the oestrogen only - 4 weeks? less or more?
Then when you put back the Provera - how many days do you think?
I'm a bit new to all this since it all went wrong and my gp's rubbish.
What are the side effects of too much progesterone? I'm not headaches just like my whole system is on go slow.
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I would have a good run on oestrogen only to get the feel good factor and a much needed lift. You have taken a lot of progesterone so I think you can afford to do a four week oestrogen only stint - Professor Studd told me to do this because he wanted me to get off to the best possible start.
Regarding the progesterone dose, again, if it was me, I would do 5mg Provera for 7 days each month but the NHS dose is 12 days I think. So it depends on how well you tolerate progesterone. If you opt for the low dose progesterone then it is sensible to have regular uterine scans to make sure everything is OK and you are getting proper womb lining clearance. You could also do a long cycle (6 weeks) if you are post menopause but you would need to take Provera for slightly longer, probably 10 days.
The symptoms of progesterone intolerance are wide ranging but include constant flat mood, depression, headaches, migraines, brain fog, bad dreams, tiredness.
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Hi I was on 2.5mg of provera as a sequential regime 14 days a month,I think you are on too high dose,my private consultant gave it to me, I think maybe cut them in half and try that.
Lisa xx
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Hi Ladybt28
Did you feel OK when you were on the Prempak C? As it's been discontinued I'm not sure what the dose and type of progestogen was in that one but the main difference between these two is that one is cyclical (Prempak C) and the regime you are on now is continuous combined which means you are now taking a progestogen every day whereas before you weren't.
In your position I would go back to taking it cyclically and see how you feel - but I would strongly advise you start with the licensed regime. Many women are OK with progestogens cyclically but not continuously as there is no let up in the pms type side effects. The licensed dose is 14 days per 28 day cycle. You are on the highest dose of Premarin and until you have evidence to the contrary you may well need this for adequate endometrial protection. Please don't experiment without medical supervision especially until you know how your uterus behaves and what sort of bleed you get when taking this dose. Endometrial protection is the primary objective when taking a progestogen and should be the first consideration. Women who are severely progesterone intolerant - like Mary G - are closely supervised by specialist gynaes, in their very much reduced regime (in terms of dose and duration). The licensed dose is found here which is 10 mg for 14 days per 28 day cycle.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php As Lisa1966 says - the continuous combined dose you can see is either 2.5 or 5 mg but for a sequential regime you would need medical supervision.
Dr Currie (gynaecologist and founder/manager of this website) herself made a post on progesterone and the Studd regime of 7 days per month of low dose progesterone:
Just to confirm, while Professor Studd is very experienced and extremely knowledgeable, his regimens are not always in line with current recommendations, particularly around use of progesterone.
As always with providing menopause advice, this should be individualised and flexibility should be applied, as long as there is a clear understanding of national and international recommendations. Some women are intolerant of progestogen and progesterone and so it is appropriate to adjust the regimens, as long as it has been fully explained and discussed.
Best wishes
Heather
You may well be fine but do try the licensed dose first.
In terms of your other questions - I am a patch girl - I love them! Different women absorb different amounts using the different methods - some do better on patches some on gel, and sometimes it is just down to personal preference. Gel has to be applied every day and close skin-skin contact with others must be avoided for at least an hour. Patches have to be changed twice a week but leave marks where applied (although these can be removed with baby oil!). Both can be adjusted for dosage although patches need a bit of snipping which is what I do!
Testosterone - lots of threads on this but have a look at the long-running one in Private Lives - "Testosterone Here We Go" - hopefully that will answer some of your questions.
Also re libido - conjugated equine oestrogens increase a compound in the body called SHBG which binds free testosterone and will therefore be more likely to have a negative effect on libido. Therefore before even thinking about T, I would change to a transdermal oestrogen - patch or gel - and you could use the same progestogen.
Some medications also dampen libido eg some anti-depressants and some others I think?
Hope this helps :). Sorry it's long!
Hurdity x
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Hi Hurdity,
Prempak c was ok - to be honest I didn't know any different - I have always had problems with joints and lethargy and depression and as I explained in my posts with CLKD under effects of depression I have only become aware lately how hormonal related my health problems have been. I just learned to live with them get on with it and not make a fuss.
Prempak c was 1.25 oestrogen (2 strengths available,I had the higher one) + norgestrel. I know it's cyclical but GP reckons my periods stopped altogether during the 18 months after prempak c. Since the 4 month break a meno doctor at the meno clinic put me on the Premarin/provera which is medroyprogesterone continuously.
I have to say I wasn't impressed at the clinic - she was in a hurry - she went through what had happened to me - opened her book (that bothered me a bit because she didn't seem confident - said well "its still trial and error - try premarin - you had that oestrogen before and take this progesterone and take continuously)- whole thing done and dusted max 20 minutes - come back in 3 months!
Can I run what you wrote back passed you so I have it straight?
You agree that I should change my current regime from continuous to cyclically as suggested by Mary G (because 5mg provera continuously is causing the "flatness" and wiping out the benefits of oestrogen was what she said) but that I should take 10mg of provera instead of 5mg (because 5 is not enough for womb protection) for 14 days out of 28 because that is the licensed dose?
I understand I should be supervised because of thickening of the uterus but as I understand it if you use the provera cyclically you will bleed. I'd have thought that the regime they gave me continuously is more dangerous for thickening?
I thought I might have had a problem with progesterone headaches but I think that when my body went competely haywire over 18 months culminating in the sepsis - the headaches I suffered from could have been a red herring and nothing to do with the changes in hrt. I have been on the 5mg for 3 weeks continuously and not had a headache which if I was really progesterone intolerant I probably would have had by now i reckon. I suppose different people react to different types of progesterone? - all I can say is that there are no headaches yet on the medroxyprogesterone.
3 weeks in on the continuous hrt - I'm feeling rubbish and not sure I can until the 3 months is up continuing on 5mg Provera before anything gets tweaked - anyway having read what Mary said I wonder what state I'd be in on 3mths 5mg Provera continuously anyway. I'm not at all convinced either that the women I saw at the meno clinic knows a fraction of what you ladies know on here - she most cetainly didnt fill me with confidence! I'd feel far safer running things past you guys each day as I went along than waiting 2 weeks to get 5 minutes at the doctor (my gps not brilliant either she has only just been on a hrt traininng course!) or waiting the whole 3 months until I have to go back to clinic.
Do you think I should try the licensed dose and see if I feel better - I can report the bleed bit as we go?
Really interested in what you have to say about the horse oestrogen and libido - i dont have a libido any more at all. My only saving grace is that vaginal dryess has not managed to take hold but I cant persuade myself into sex even though I'm upset in my head that I dont want to - just being touched feels weird. My poor husband is being brilliant and could not be more understanding My libido's never been very good although it was rampant when I was pregnant, both times, - with boys interestingly enough! I often wondered if it was because there was testosterone floating about?
My only other medication is blood pressure meds so it has to be the hormones, lack of them or the wrong sort that has wiped it out completely!
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HELP - will one of the experienced ladies come back on here and tell me how to change my continuous Premarin/provera to a cyclical regime. I am currently 18 days from starting as the doctor prescribed 1.25 Premarin+5mg provera daily. I am practically suicidal, can't be bothered with anything, a simple trip to the shops is beyond me and my joints are constantly sore, I cant stop crying and I am dangerously depressed. I think I need to stop the progesterone continuously - could someone put down an "idiots guide" for timing as to which tablets I take on what days from now on please. I don't mind bleeding. I haven't had any spotting or bleeding since I started at all and the dr said their might be but no.
It seems like I don't have any side effects from the medroxyprogesterone its self - no headaches - just from the quantity from what the Mary G has to say. I think I have to give this a try before going back to the GP and changing everything but something has to be done now because I am beyond desperate, I wont be able to get an appointment with my own GP for 2 or more weeks anyway! Any GP yes but my own the wait is ages.
Any other suggestions, or comments or observations - please send them on over I feel like I'm drowning - sounds dramatic but there is no way of controlling how you feel where hormones are concerned.
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Very quickly Ladybt - as I'm not really on here but just saw your question!
You can stop the Provera RIGHT NOW!!!! You will continue with the oestrogen only tablets and will count tomorrow as Day 1. If there has been any womb thickening you may get a withdrawal bleed . Also you may get some pms symptoms as you come off the prog. (possibly headache, tensionm anxiety etc) but this will pass - after a few days you should feel much better! When you get to Day 15 start the Provera again and take it for the next 14 days. This should be at 10 mg - I wonder if you can cope with this for 14 days?
Do try to get an appointment with doc - make that appt tomorrow. If you are not yet post-menopausal then you may get a bleed at other times but hopefully this regime will regulate your bleeds. Maybe you will be better off with a different prog. Take it easy and take it one step at a time - firstly by stopping the prog.(Provera). You must talk to the doc about using a reduced dose/duration of progesterone if taking it continuously is making you feel like this, and get them to either refer you to menopause clinic and/ore agree to give you scans to monitor your uterus if they are letting you do a reduced dose.
Have I or anyone suggested Mirena coil ( haven't time to read all through the posts now)? This means you could take hihg oestrogen dose without bleeding (hopefully - eventually).
Please find someone to talk to about your feelings if you are feeling dangerously depressed - there is always Samaritans. Do you have a partner or close friend you can talk to? Go to the doc for emergency medication if you feel you cannot cope - please do not suffer alone. I know it's Sunday but if you have no-one and need help ring 111.
Take care and hope you feel better soon :bighug:
Hurdity x
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Ladybt, you can stop the progesterone now but continue with the Premarin which you must always take every day. This will invoke a bleed and I would not touch progesterone again for about 4 weeks to give yourself the best chance of a lift.
I think you need a proper review and with someone who knows what they are taking about, not a GP who just prescribes the first thing that comes into their head to get rid of you. Can you afford private treatment? Professor Studd and his two colleagues specialise in this field and would definitely be able to help you.
I read your post on CLKD's thread and she has given you some good advice. I think you are suffering from reproductive depression but you need to get it properly diagnosed and treated. A history of PMS, PND, feeling good when pregnant and ADs not working are an indication. Please read Professor Studd's website where he discusses it in more detail. It needs specific and targeted treatment and usually involves a high dose of oestrogen, a low dose of progesterone, testosterone and often an AD but you need to get the hormones right first and then filter in other medication as required.
GypsyRoseLee on here had a similar problem to yourself but is doing brilliantly now. Why not read her posts and send her a PM, she is very kind and very approachable.
I do hope that helps.
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Thanks Hurdity I will do exactly as you say ref the provera.
Mary G - I don't really have money to go private and it is very difficult because I live in Northern Ireland so I would have to fly to England to see Professor Studd. I know its tacky to talk money but how much is a consultation with him? We have one meno clinic here at the Mater Hospital in Belfast. I got sent there in July but the Dr did not fill me with confidence it was just like seeing my GP. She was the one that prescribed the continuous regime.
I was thinking about borrowing money to go an see a private gynae here because maybe they would give me more than 20 minutes at a time to explain myself but although I can look up a list of about 5 here I have no idea whether any of them are any good and whether any of them specialise in the depression aspect. I love living here but unfortunately Northern Ireland is a bit in the dark ages medically - well we are about 7 years behind the UK with anything to do with living generally!!
Does anyone know how I can find out about the gynea's or will I just have to phone around and ask? - will the receptionists even know - its quite a specialist field of HRT isnt it? Is there anyone on the forum who lives here in Northern Ireland - maybe I could start a thread asking and they might be able to tell me who they see? As I have'nt got much money I would need to get the right person the first time. :-\
I was thinking of emailing Dr Currie tomorrow but it says that she answer's questions - not that she can do a "diagnosis by email" bless her. As I am new to all this could one of you tell me how the process works for Dr Currie and what info I need to put down and in what format, if it is possible to get her to help me or is it just simple practical dosing questions that she can help with?
Sorry to bombard everyone with so much stuff all at once but I am desperate and this cannot continue. I have wasted 40 years of my life just putting up with this and the older I am getting the more I am thinking this is no life at all :'(- I have felt like this for years but it has been right at the edge for over 2 years now - its dangerous - but mental health people are not going to fix it - and now I am on this forum I see its unnecessary to continue this way - I just have to find the right person to help me. I suppose that will be easier to do now I have actually worked out what has been going on all these years.
Info about Dr Currie - and anyone in Northern Ireland seeing a meno specialist anyone?
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Ladybt, you could try ringing some menopause specialists in NI and asking them if they specifically deal with hormonal anxiety and depression. As you rightly point out, it is a highly specialised field and the average GP is not qualified to deal with it. The fact that you have been left untreated for so many years doesn't fill me with confidence to be honest.
Professor Studd does telephone consultations if that helps. The fact that you are based in NI would make it easier to justify a telephone consultation and he works with two other doctors, namely Dr Mike Savvas and Mr Neale Watson both of whom have a good bedside manner. Why not ring their secretary tomorrow to discuss a possible consultation? It costs about £300. They will write to your GP with their recommended prescription meaning you can get your medication on the NHS after the first consultation.
Dr Louise Newson is also very good but very booked up. I don't know if she offers telephone consultations but you could ask.
You may find someone nearer to home which would be easier but do run your case past them first and make sure they can help you before parting with any money.
Re the NHS, what is their protocol for hormonal anxiety and depression and severe progesterone intolerance, does anyone know? For example, what do they do for women like me who can only take a very tiny amount of progesterone and have to have regular scans, is this a service they offer and do they sanction very low doses of progesterone in unusual circumstances?
You could try emailing Dr Currie.
In the meantime, hopefully you will start to feel better now you have stopped taking the Provera but you need to find a regime that works for you.
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Thanks Hurdity I will do exactly as you say ref the provera.
Mary G - I don't really have money to go private and it is very difficult because I live in Northern Ireland so I would have to fly to England to see Professor Studd. I know its tacky to talk money but how much is a consultation with him? We have one meno clinic here at the Mater Hospital in Belfast. I got sent there in July but the Dr did not fill me with confidence it was just like seeing my GP. She was the one that prescribed the continuous regime.
I was thinking about borrowing money to go an see a private gynae here because maybe they would give me more than 20 minutes at a time to explain myself but although I can look up a list of about 5 here I have no idea whether any of them are any good and whether any of them specialise in the depression aspect. I love living here but unfortunately Northern Ireland is a bit in the dark ages medically - well we are about 7 years behind the UK with anything to do with living generally!!
Does anyone know how I can find out about the gynea's or will I just have to phone around and ask? - will the receptionists even know - its quite a specialist field of HRT isnt it? Is there anyone on the forum who lives here in Northern Ireland - maybe I could start a thread asking and they might be able to tell me who they see? As I have'nt got much money I would need to get the right person the first time. :-\
I was thinking of emailing Dr Currie tomorrow but it says that she answer's questions - not that she can do a "diagnosis by email" bless her. As I am new to all this could one of you tell me how the process works for Dr Currie and what info I need to put down and in what format, if it is possible to get her to help me or is it just simple practical dosing questions that she can help with?
Sorry to bombard everyone with so much stuff all at once but I am desperate and this cannot continue. I have wasted 40 years of my life just putting up with this and the older I am getting the more I am thinking this is no life at all :'(- I have felt like this for years but it has been right at the edge for over 2 years now - its dangerous - but mental health people are not going to fix it - and now I am on this forum I see its unnecessary to continue this way - I just have to find the right person to help me. I suppose that will be easier to do now I have actually worked out what has been going on all these years.
Info about Dr Currie - and anyone in Northern Ireland seeing a meno specialist anyone?
Ladybt - you really really do not have to even think about entertaining the cost of a visit to Prof Studd. Despite what Mary G says it is really not necessary and please don't borrow money to do so. It is really frustrating I know. There is a difference between having to have a consultation with the Prof and reading his theories on reproductive depression about which he is very eminent and a pioneer in that field - so do read about this on his website - there are main tabs to left and sub tabs in each section right. You will soon get the picture: http://www.studd.co.uk/reproductivedepression.php
You are on quite a high dose of oestrogen at the moment but for reasons given ( libido) I would gradually look to changing to transdermal body-identical oestrogen gel or patches (not tablets as these can reduce libido). In your position I would get your GP or specialist to help you to gradually switch over ie try half and half to start with and you may need a bit of juggling - and then gradually phase out the Premarin.
OK re N Ireland - I would start a post - maybe even one in this section and one in This and That worded differently - with Northern Ireland in the thread title to attract the attention of other members. I know there are members from there. If you look at this link a couple of specialists are listed https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicsearchresults.php?region=northernireland but some of this info is out of date so you would be better off googling, looking at the websites of specialists and then phoning them up. If you get 20 mins from an NHS menopause clinic then that's great! Oh I see you went to one of them listed... the Mater hospital.
Re Dr Currie - she is wonderful. What you need to do is work out what you want her to help with and what you are going to do with her response - take it to your GP for example and use it as a basis for changing your treatment? Will your GP take Dr Currie's advice over the specialist who has already prescribed that regime or will you go back to the Mater hosp with Dr C's advice? You are permitted one question - but give her as much background as you can about yourself. She generally favours no-bleed regimes but you will see from my quote of her post that she also says treatment should be individualised. No she doesn't do a diagnosis but on the basis of what you say about your hormonal depression and how you feel on the continuous combined regime as well as lack of libido I imagine she may suggest oestrogen patches or gel with Utrogestan - hopefully on a cyclical regime. Be sure to ask her what dose you should take and maybe mention high doses as per Prof Studd ref reproductive depression? It only costs £25!
I hope this helps and if you need any more advice do please ask - we are all trying to help in the best way we can :)
Hurdity x
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You are all being wonderful - I have got more information and been listened to for longer in the last couple of days than I have done in years! :thankyou:
What I need is to have a proper specialist person lend weight to the fact that I am suffering and have suffered for years from hormonal depression since I started my periods at 13. I have told numerous mental health experts about that and the postnatal depression and PMT and asked a million times why anti-depressants didn't work but no one seems to have put 2+2 together. Now with the menopause thing and everything I have read and what's happening to me know it's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together and it all makes perfect sense. I have been back in with the mental health team again in the last 2 years whilst all the upheaval with my hrt was going on, but still no link made. I do know we a bit backward medically here in NI in loads of areas and our doctors seem to take the attitude that they are the all knowing and powerful ones and what they say must be right! They hardly spend any time, don't ask many questions and are prone to dismissive pronouncements. Unfortunately we have had a lot of illess in our family - hearts, kidneys, cancer and a genetic condition so I have encountered a lot of doctors here over the last 20 years and it seems to be their way here generally - not just that I've encountered a couple of bad doctors - they like to tell their patients what's wrong with them not the patient saying I know what the problem is! Plus how does the patient know out of 40 years worth of stuff what is the important bit to fit into 20 minutes?
From being on here I know what the important bits are now so I might do better.
If a proper specialist in that particular field of meno could make a proper diagnosis and write down about the hormonal depression and put together a treatment plan of sorts to start working to, I would go straight back to the meno Clinic at the Mater without waiting for them to call me back in 3 months and get them to look after me. I would feel on stronger ground if I could get some authority to come from a specialist in that field somewhere or a specialist who knows about Studds work. Bear in mind I am coming across as completely loopy at the moment, can't string a sentance together without crying and am like a jibbering idiot about my situation when challenged. :-\
I think I might make some phone calls tomorrow with the consultants here and ask some questions see if they are familier with Dr Studds work.
I will keep you all posted but first things first tomorrow - no provera!
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https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=37505.0
Have a look at this thread....Dr Deidre Lundy. Don't know if she's near to you x
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Re the NHS, what is their protocol for hormonal anxiety and depression and severe progesterone intolerance, does anyone know? For example, what do they do for women like me who can only take a very tiny amount of progesterone and have to have regular scans, is this a service they offer and do they sanction very low doses of progesterone in unusual circumstances?
Mary G - Night_Owl (who has been a member of this forum for some years) is severely progesterone intolerant and is treated on NHS with the minimum dose/longest duration cycle she can get away with to keep her endometrium thin and has regular scans through her menopause clinic - possibly 6 monthly if i remember? I am sure she won't mind my saying. Have a look at her posts and then maybe send her a pm?
Hurdity x
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Well ladies - what a day! Bouyed by your kind words and advice over the weekend I made some phone calls this morning and am pleased to report RESULT! :banana:
Firstly I found a lady consultant Joanne McManus who is a member of the British Menopause Society has a private practice but it turns out and is also the head honcho at the meno clinic at the Mater Belfast. I tried for a private appointment with her but first one was 2nd October. Her sec said to phone the Mater and see if there were any other consultants doing private appointments. Phoned the Mater and turns out the meno clinic for the whole of NI is staffed by Dr McManus another junior specialist Dr and a specialist nurse practitioner called Philomena! Wow - impressive huh - actually no I think not given the number of women in this province.
Receptionist says "have you seen someone here before" I said yes (it was the junior) - she says "they do telephone reviews - I will get someone to call you!" - Philomena phones and we are on for 40 minutes and I went over all the bits that I have learned and explained the jigsaw puzzle that is my previous history to her and told her my problems now and said I wanted someone to prescribe and supervise the Studd regime. She seemed to want to go with Everol conti patches but I sort of ignored her and carried on talking about the stud regime and hormonal depression blah blah I really went for what I thought because well - after all the faffing about it seemed sensible to start with the thing most likely to work. She said she would call me back.
Yeh hey - She just called - I pick up my prescription for oestrogel and utrogesten on Wednesday! morning. :clapping: :banana: :cancan:
Testosterone could follow but once I have balanced the other 2!
I can't thank you all enough :hapij:- now I'm going to be after you all to help me master the right dosage for me as we go along. Thank God I found you all - defo not out of the woods yet but maybe I'm actually on the right road to start with. :bighug:
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This is great news Ladybt! There you are!!! It all happens in Northern ireland - better than in some parts of England eg SW England where there are no menopause clinics!
I'm going away for a few days soon, but the others will be able to advise on dosage - however I would be tempted to phase in the gel and phase out the Premarin - not sure if you are able to halve the dosage or something -just because the equine oestrogens are somewhat different? Be sure to take the Utrogestan on a cycle - 200 mg for 12 days per 28 to start with and see what sort of bleed you get - I presume this is what you have been prescribed? Also it is more effective if used vaginally but if you prefer to take it orally - as licensed then give it a whirl. It might make you sleepy the following morning and perhaps a bit foggy headed but hopefully you will be OK with it? The gel users will help you with that!
Good luck and I am so pleased that you have been given the regime you asked for - at least these hormones are the same as the ones our own body makes!
Let us know how you get on - stay positive and here's to feeling much better very soon :)
Hurdity :foryou: x
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PS I also meant to say that you might find your libido improves once you've been on transdermal bio-identical estradiol gel for a while so do wait a few weeks (months?) before thinking about adding testosterone.
Hurdity x