Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Hollyboll on January 16, 2024, 10:34:18 PM
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Hi
First post so be gentle ... also very fragile so will keep long story/intro for anon ...
After horrible few years of overlooked peri symps, totally inappropriately overdrugged with antideps, sleeping pills, etc etc, I started HRT and felt immediately and increasingly better for first year. Then I didn't, and patches were increased - way above licensed dose, by a pvt GP I now know generally does this (to a lot of criticism) - she said my E2 levels were crazy fluctuating and putting more in would make them more undulating. Things have not improved and last year terrible again.
My oestr levels are still all over the place. Finally finally into NHS meno clinic. They wondered about tachyphyl but say it can't only be that because sometimes they plummet too - they go from so high consultant wonders about tachyphylaxis to so low they repeat the tests, then back up and down and up and down etc etc. They are now talking about E implants. And possibly GnRH injections, although I'm not clear whether they'd do with implants or try implants alone first.
I realise I'm very lucky to have this referral, and possible opportunity - having done lots of googling, I now know E implants are not easy to come by in NHS. But that also means there's not a lot of stories, even on here, of people who have had them. To be clear, these are the 'E' only implants that used to be much more widely used but no longer generally available in UK ... not pvt compounded things.
I still have all my bits; I know they are often used for people who don't. I was initially reluctant to have anything remotely invasive or not easy to stop if needed, but I'm desperate. I've lost the last year again, after a good year on HRT, after 3-4 years of terrible symps that GP and I missed completely - hard to believe with all I know now, but hey ho.
So qn is ... does anyone have experience of E implants (possibly and GnRH?) to stabilise E levels?
This is definitely one of the more experienced mno clinics, but I can't find anything anywhere about this use of implants. I've every reason to trust no medic ever again after the last several years - couldn't make it up - would be entertaining if it wasn't true etc!
I think I'm probably at the stage of doing whatever they tell me they recommend, but I'd love to hear from anyone else who's had similar.
x
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Hi Hollyboll.
Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing your story, you really have had some bad luck with doctors there. I can understand that desperate feeling, a few years in to my HRT while in peri, everything went downhill and I'm still struggling to get the balance right. Like a lot of people I use Estrogel but am curious about the implants. I've looked them up and see that they've been discontinued where I live (Australia), but not sure why, it seems to work for some people, just be wary of side side effects. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can provide more info.
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Thanks. Sorry to hear you too are struggling. 🤗
Yes they’ve basically been discontinued in Uk. Only a couple of specialist clinics use them. As far as I can work out, this was a cost thing because patches and gels work for most people. It does mean that finding info about them is not easy!
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Hi Hollyboll and welcome :welcomemm:
Goodness what carry on for you!
Peri can be hideous, largely because as you say, your hormones are raging up and down.
Do you mean oestrogen implants ? I think lasla who posts on this forum from time to time, has implants; she is possibly under Chelsea and Westminster clinic
( don’t quote me on that).
Maybe do a search on here to see what you can find out?
I’m sure there are ladies on here who have them. Hopefully they will be along shortly to help.
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Thanks Nas!
Yes, sorry - oestrogen implants.
I’m under what I think used to be chelwest team - I gather Nick panay left and it was reduced.
I’ve searched this forum and everywhere forever - there’s very little and even less recent - very keen to hear from lasla or anyone else
X
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Nas you're exactly right, I am under Chelsea and W NHS where they do still use implants (praying they don't discontinue the service).
I had a testosterone one inserted in October and it will be replaced in February, it's been helpful but Holly I haven't had the E implant yet - they wanted to give it to me together with the T one but I wanted T on its own first to establish what effects if any it had independently of oestrogen.
We agreed that I'd have the E one implanted together with repeat T in February.
So obviously I can't report back yet but will be happy to do so later - perhaps in late Feb when I'll have had it in for about 4 weeks.
I believe the implant is a lower dose than what I take with the gel, 50 as opposed to 100 oestrogel but the idea is that 50 properly absorbed units are going to be much more effective than 100 that.arent being absorbed.
I can say that the insertion itself (same for either hormone) is easy and not painful and there's a lot to be said for not having the faff of daily application of gel.
You're right that there's not much feedback on here re implants but there is some, I also looked on other sites.
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Oh amazing lasla - thank you! I'm at QCh, where I think some of the ChelWest team went.
Interesting they started with T for you - we've not discussed T yet, but yes I was thinking I'd rather do one at a time to see effects etc. Tbh I'm not worried about insertion - can't possibly be worse than the shitshow of peri symptoms - or about faff of application - although I use several patches I now change every 2 days so it's more of a faff than it used to be - but not as much as gel (I use testim for T).
Is it clear to you why implants might help even out fluctuations?
x
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Holly I did have to stick to my guns to get the T implant first but I have been on testogel and oestrogel for years with v poor absorption so it's not that I hadn't exhausted the transdermal options.
My best guess re implants helping with fluctuations is that the pellet emits a slow but completely steady flow of the hormone as opposed to a patch or gel where, I would think, there would be troughs and peaks even over a 24 hr period, eg if you apply the gel in the morning, it would probably peak a few hours later and by the next morning have dipped - which is why we have to apply every day or every couple of days with patches
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Thanks Lasla. I had my appt this afternoon and you're right - like you I've done years of transdermal (patches) and they said that by the nature of changing / reapplying anything it is going to rise and fall a bit (even if you changing patches every other day, as they'd told me to try, hour 1 is a new patch, hour 47 isn't).
So today they took more bloods than I think I've ever had taken at once (!) and referring me for an urgent scan, and then I'm back in 2 weeks - probably for oestr implant and possibly suppressor at same time. I'm less keen on the latter, but at this stage I will do what they recommend.
We didn't really get onto it, but my impression is they won't be pushing me to do T implant until we see how E goes, so well done for sticking to your guns. And (unless scan shows something untoward) I got the impression that they will be OK to leave me on utrogestan for now (they had talked about mirena), again because it's best only to mess with one variable at a time. So well done for sticking to your guns!
When are you back at chelwest? I will see Qch again on 31 Jan - we can perhaps compare notes!
Meantime - anyone else who's had oestrogen implants, very keen to hear :)
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Holly I'm back at Chels on 1 Feb and will report back - but probably after I've had it in for a few weeks! All the very best with your appointment and hopefully someone else might appear in the meantime with some implant experience
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How funny Lasla that we are likely to be getting the implants almost round the corner on consecutive days!
Hope yours go well. Let's compare notes afterwards - was it your experience last time it took a few weeks?
Any tips for what to do or prep beforehand?
Wonder if there's anyone else here with experience of oestrogen implants?
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Hi both,
Were you able to get your implants done? I'm waiting for mine and have been told that the government are currently withholding them.
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Hi Sj, yes, I had my E implant on 1 February, I can't yet report back on any change as it's too soon (can't notice any difference so far) but there was no mention at the hospital of there being shortage/witholding etc. In fact they immediately booked me in for my 4 month follow-up. I would think if there were a government policy it would affect all hospitals?
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Hi laszla! Thanks for responding. Could you please keep me posted on how you get on as I'm new to implants. The pharmacist who supplies them to the NHS hospitals and private clinics told me the medications authority (I think) has put a hold on them, but they don't currently know why...
I'm currently at breaking point as HRT isn't working for me, and this was my last hope.
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I understand completely sj, just to say that although it's a bit early for me to gauge effects of E implant, I can say that my T implant definitely helped me: my body would not absorb the gels at all whereas my blood levels finally went up with the implant and a couple of symptoms improved markedly.
So don't lose hope, for some women implants are the thing that finally tip the balance in their favour.
I will definintey update also on E in a couple of weeks or so when it seems like a sensible amount of time has passed and I'll also do a blood test.
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Thank you! That's good to know! I hope the E kicks in soon!
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Hi both
Lasla good to hear and hope it goes well - keep us posted. How long were you told until kicks in?
SJ - sorry to hear you struggling and now withheld.
I didn’t get implant last month, but because they still trying to work out what going in with my mad levels. I was back last week when they were considering again but blood tests had been lost so I’m now booked in again Weds and will report back.
But nobody mentioned shortage last week 😖. Were you told something different / specific/ new from the govt generally discontinued them years ago (on cost basis) so that only specialists (and I think not many) have been able to do for years?
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Hi both
Lasla good to hear and hope it goes well - keep us posted. How long were you told until kicks in?
SJ - sorry to hear you struggling and now withheld.
I didn’t get implant last month, but because they still trying to work out what going in with my mad levels. I was back last week when they were considering again but blood tests had been lost so I’m now booked in again Weds and will report back.
But nobody mentioned shortage last week 😖. Were you told something different / specific/ new from the govt generally discontinued them years ago (on cost basis) so that only specialists (and I think not many) have been able to do for years?
Hi, I wasn't told it was a shortage, just that they have put a hold on giving them out. The pharmacist said he has got them over from the US okay, but he hasn't been given the authority to release them to clinics and hospitals.
He said they are not being told why, despite probing for answers.
I know about issues in the past, that's why I'm worried 😟
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Me too now!
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Hi Laszla - just wondered how you are doing after a few weeks?
I’m back tomorrow to clinic for reconsidering E implant
X
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Hi again. Back to clinic today.
SJ - they said regulator is looking again at implants, so hard to get further stock in ie clinics ok with existing stock but no future guarantees. Said it wasn’t unusual, but I think was saying that not to worry me further (already challenging appt) and they did after all raise it to start with …
My crazy fluctuations still flummoxing everyone. Said implant still not yet safe for me yet.
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Hi again. Back to clinic today.
SJ - they said regulator is looking again at implants, so hard to get further stock in ie clinics ok with existing stock but no future guarantees. Said it wasn’t unusual, but I think was saying that not to worry me further (already challenging appt) and they did after all raise it to start with …
My crazy fluctuations still flummoxing everyone. Said implant still not yet safe for me yet.
Hey,
Thank you for updating me! Did you go to Chelsea and Westminster? I pushed for an appointment with them in a few weeks, I'm praying they have stock left over, but it doesn't look good.
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Hi. Nope I’m not at Chelsea and Westminster - but Laszla is and i think she was told no stock problems there? Glad you got an appt 1 I thought the list was closer to months/years so weeks is good :). Keep us posted x
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Hi,
Oh I see. What is the plan for you going forward?
The list is very long, but I was told after my appointment with them in December, that I should be fitted in by March, so I pushed that point to the admin team and begged! However, they do tend to cancel appointments at the last min, so I am not holding out any hope until I'm in front of them!
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Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.
I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...
Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.
Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.
sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...
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Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.
I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...
Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.
Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.
sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...
Hi,
Are you noticing improvements in your symptoms now with the implant? I've heard that many women's blood levels come up, but they don't feel any different.
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Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.
I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...
Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.
Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.
sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...
Hi,
Are you noticing improvements in your symptoms now with the implant? I've heard that many women's blood levels come up, but they don't feel any different.
It's only been six days since I stopped taking the additional gel which I think possibly made my E2 levels too high so it's possibly too soon to tell.
That said, I don't feel as good as when I just had the Testo implant - that gave me a noticeable physical improvement.
My anxiety does not feel any better - that said I currently have a hideous life situation to compound everything so perhaps it's too much to expect hormones to mitigate that.
There's also the possibility that my raised Testosterone levels is responsible for not feeling good. When I had the first T implant, the blood level went up moderately whereas now it's gone up a lot - if you have 2 implants at the same time it's hard to pinpoint what is doing what...
But for me it's important to try everything just so that I don't live in doubt about options I haven't tried, eg implants
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Hi,
Oh I see. What is the plan for you going forward?
The list is very long, but I was told after my appointment with them in December, that I should be fitted in by March, so I pushed that point to the admin team and begged! However, they do tend to cancel appointments at the last min, so I am not holding out any hope until I'm in front of them!
SJ - this being bumped by Laszla's reminded me I'd not replied to you; very sorry. Have you had your appointment yet?
Good for you - I've learned the hard way and have begged (and cried) to admin teams too - in fact, to get into the clinic I'm now in I was calling the outpatient line about 3x a day for weeks ... and it worked as finally I did get a cancellation, but that was incredibly lucky as it's a tiny clinic with huge lists.
Anyway ... have you had your appointment yet? Please do let us know how you go?
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Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.
I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...
Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.
Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.
sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...
Hi Laszla - sorry to hear things haven't been so great with E as with T, and about general life atm. That's helpful for us to know to ask about the bridging period - I think I was told 2-3 weeks but have never got close enough to implant to focus on this. My own experience is definitely that more E is not always better, although as you say at least now you know and can bring it down gradually - since I've been having a million bloods done, it's become very clear to me that the huge sudden changes are a problem as well as the actual levels. Fwiw on T, 2 things I've been told: (1) The BMS now says total T is more important than FAI, and (2) when I asked about the T implant (thanks to your post) I was told that it doesn't give quite as steady a release as the E implant so you might just be in a spike atm?? (Consultant actually laughed at my suggesting T implant - one thing at at time, as you'd pushed for already, and in his words we've got work cut out on my E2 as priority!). Hope you feel a bit better as it drops off a bit x
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Hi both - was prompted to think of you and wonder how you both getting on for 2 reasons ...
1. Have you seen this: https://thebms.org.uk/2024/04/update-subcutaneous-hormone-implant-therapy/ - looks like it will be OK and definitely fine in the short term :)
2. I had my first E implant about 10 days ago. I was all positive and went into it with great mindset as taken so long to get here. I was advised to taper patches over next 3 weeks. But I am feeling diabolical. Dizzy, light-headed and headachy, to point where I think I'm passing out ... in many years of very challenging peri/meno symptoms I've never had this before.
I know it's early days but struggling badly! So just thought I'd check in with you both.
SJ did you get your C&W appt?
xx
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Hollyboll I'm really sorry to hear that.
It is early days though and however it ends up going I still think that trying the implant is ultimately, if perhaps indirectly, helpful if only because we can only know what it's like if we actually try it.
In hindsight I would have tapered off the gel much more quickly than I did - I continued using it for nearly 4 weeks and decreased in tiny increments, so that when I first tested after a month my serum E was 870 something - sky high and unheard of for me.
I'm wondering if you might be feeling rotten because your estrogen has also shot up quite high quite quickly, just a thought.
I am going to re-test in about a week. My symptoms are anxiety and extreme fatigue but, as being discussed on another thread, the overlap of hormones and MH is very tricky to interpret and treat. I sense at most a tiny improvement but am almost scared to even say that.
Are you going to test your blood levels to see how values are, it might help account for how you're feeling...
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Thanks Laszla appreciate the reply.
Yes good idea - I‘ll try to get an e2 test perhaps Monday.
If it’s very high, I’ll stop the patches. Seems unlikely because this dizziness started almost immediately (36 hours max) and the implant shouldn’t release that quickly / but I do have this weird initial uptake thing so it’s possible.
If it’s very low I’m not sure what to do but one step at a time.
I definitely have no regrets about trying implant. It took a long time and a very good specialist to work out, but I can’t get consistent levels transdermally. Oral feels too risky. So apparently if anything can give me stable levels it’s this.
Are you feeling any better now that your levels are (hopefully) down a bit? Tiny improvements are a win after these years but I know what you mean about being scared to Hope - plus they’re very hard to see when we’re stuck in it. You must also feel disappointed cos T had worked so well.
There was another comment / thread in the last few days of someone saying it took a few E implants before she felt good but it did happen 🤞
Sorry to hear still anxiety and fatigue (and that T not sorting at least the latter). Are you sleeping ? Xx
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Thanks Hollyboll, it does sound as if you your reaction was related to the implant if those symptoms began immediately.
My second T implant more than doubled my serum levels and made them too high - in addition to fast and considerable increase in E levels - so evidently it is hard to attain stable levels with implants as well as with gels/patches for some of us.
My sleep is terrible, I forgot to mention it, and obviously it is unreasonable to expect T or any hormone to compensate for a longstanding lack of sleep. I am trialling everything to address it but have practically run out of options.
The T has at least made a real difference to muscular weekness, I can now lift weights so much more easily, so that is something.
I too read about the poster who needed a few rounds of implants to get a good result so here's hoping.
Let us know how you get on, if your blood tests illuminate things in any way, I'll do likewise. xx
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Thanks Laszla. I’m worried by how bad I feel today so just a short one to say I appreciate the message and apols I can’t reply properly on your stuff now. Will try for blood test tomo (reduced patch again last night) if can get there - struggling to be upright today x
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Hi
I too get implants. For years I got both T and E, however the last two times were E 50mg only, with the occasional use of Androfemme - my last implant being in Feb 2024.
At this moment, anyhow, I felt better at the end of the prior implant than I do now 2 months later. The implant reduced flushes that had returned but I seem to have developed excess joint and muscle pains out of the blue that I did not have prior - although I did have many years ago, at times.
I am also much more fatiqued, flat, etc and have poor sleep. I have not had bloods done, so not sure what my levels are at. i did try oestrogel, a few years back, but I did not like it at all. The only other thing I am considering - although I've read otherwise - is that I take thyroid hormone and wonder does the increased estrogen levels effect it. I've read that transdermal estrogen doesn't effect exogenous thyroid, but WHO knows.
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Sorry to hear you are feeling bad pepipop and sorry too I've no idea about thyroid.
As you are years more experienced than we on implants, do you have any idea of what is supposed to happen with the pattern of E levels? I know it takes a week or so to start working, a few weeks to ramp up ... but after that does it level and then drop towards the end, or go up more before levelling or dropping, or very gradually decline from that first takeup?
I'm also curious about the occasional use of Androfemme - everything I thought I'd heard about T (although that's not a particularly huge amount) was that it's all about consistency and slow cumulation ...
xx
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Hi Hollyboll, when I started the implants I was peri so it was difficult to judge levels etc...however I initially returned around 6mths to get them replaced. i then was diganosed with cancer and the treatment induced menopause, however it seemed that I could leave the implants for 9months and my levels, I believe would remain quite high on return, i.e. around 500pmol.
To be truthful, I always felt very f;lat and drained after implants so
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whoops went off on it's own, the last post!
Anyhow, after chemo etc...I was very shattered anyhow for years so I genuinely find it difficult to equate HRT with the benefits. Oesteoporosis runs in my family and biophosphonates do not work, so chose to remain on HRT rather than get even worse physically. As I mentioned my last implant, of E only, was renewed after 15 mths and my e levels were still around 450pmol. I do seem to retain the benefit of the implant for a long time, however I also seemed to have more energy prior to the latest implant.
I felt taking the T implant, made me very flat but 'I' believe this may have more to do with potentially supressing the adrenal glands, etc... in susceptible people like myself. When I introduced androfemme for the last two months of my last implant my energy levels, mood, sleep etc... was great. Then after the implant it all reversed. So, I really have no clue. I think there are so many interactions that occur in the body with the introduction of exogenous hormones, i.e. that effect the immune system, the adrenals, thyroid etc... it really is very difficult to work out what actually is the MAGIC formula is.
Oestrogel was v strange for me, I did not absorb well and my estrogen level was around 250 pmol. I do believe I had more energy though at the lower level.
I know the above is not very helpful but I find it difficult to work out what the magic formula is and due to oesteoporisis in the family etc I intend to remain on HRT . I had other problems before renewing the implant, i.e. hot flushes etc.. but energy, mood wise I was much better.
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I am in my mid 60's now, so I have been on implants for over 10 years. I stopped the T side of the implants due to the flattening effect on myself, I was permanently shattered for several months after the implants, and felt very flat that eventually subsided after around 4 mths. I do think using the androfemme has helped, although I seem to have gotten rashes, on neck etc that I did not have prior to using it, so have stopped it in the meantime. I am hoping after another month on this current implant my levels will even up, or my body will get used to the higher level again and I will re-introduce the androfemme. When I get another blood test on my current oestrogen levels I shall post this up.
However, my estrogen levels would remain pretty high up to 300 pmol, 2 years after an implant i.e. that was the level before I started estrogel for aroundx 2 years and then the level decreased to around 250 pmol when I started having vaginal atrophy systems, which I'd never had before.
Anyhow, I hope my posts are in someway helpful. Possibly, the fact I take thyroid (overf 35 years) it is harder for me to judge the reactions, as I do feel 'underthyroid' at times although I have not changed my dose and blood tests are not very conclusive.
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Thanks pepipop for your long replies and sharing what sounds like an incredibly tough journey. Sending you big hugs.
Wow, that does sound like you retain levels for a lot longer than many. Sorry to hear you are feeling the last implant has made things worse ... it'd be interesting to know levels. I learned the hard way that higher E is at least as troublesome as lower - but I'm talking over 1000 (and sometimes a lot higher!).
Wrensong is resident expert on all things thyroid here ;) - as you say hard to know but seems they may well all affect eachother
Consultant did (I think) mention that T implants didn't give as lovely stable levels, more susceptible to fluctuations, than E implants ... but as there's no qn of T implant for me atm, since we are totally focused on my crazy E, I'm not absolutely sure.
Do you have any idea for the E implants how the 'build' is supposed to work - though obviously different for everyone? I know they take about a week to start but am totally unclear whether then they increase more, and if so for how long, etc.
xx
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Hi Hollyboll,
yes, my levels go to around 650, then can remain at 300 for a long time thereafter - with no implant renewal. I believe the levels are meant to rise at 3 months to a peak, then taper off after 6 mths. Personally, I will consider a lower E implant next time, as I really wonder if the lower E level suits me better as each new implant, I get, shall be added to the residue of the previous implant.
Here is a description about length of hormone levels after an implant: https://www.studd.co.uk/implants.php it seems to suggest that levels are still at pre-menopausal levels for up to 2 years.
I do wonder if it is something else that effects me each time when my levels increase, as I stated I also have to take thyroid hormone. I note you mentioned you also feel worse if E is too high also. Anyhow, hope all's going well with you. x