Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: desperate on May 30, 2014, 06:38:05 PM
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hI desperatly , searching for advice ,having been on elleste 1 mg for four years due to early menopause,sixmonths ago started to feel very low , so went back to docs and was given elleste 2mg , within three days felt fantastic, unfortunatlley as the month went on , mood declined , by the end of the pack coulld not control the tears and feelings of dread etc . Decided to stick with it as my doc is away for a month , started second pack , picked up again mood improved , sleep better etc thought yeah great . it was not to be as soon as i started second half of pack ,white tablets yet again mood energy etc just dropped to rock bottom .Can anyone explain this to me , and advise weather i should continue with the tabs , cant see my doc untill the twelfth of june thanks
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Hi and welcome desperate
It sounds as though the progesterone part is not suiting you. Why not try something else?
It may be worth your while trying Femoston (it comes in different strengths)as the progesterone in this one is kinder and suits many women very well.
Many women love the bio identical regime = Oestrogel or patch(oestrogen) and Utrogestan(progesterone). The Utrogestan can be taken sequentially or continuously and can be used orally or vaginally(though vaginally is not officially licensed in the UK). Oestrogel is great because you can adjust the amount you use to keep your symptoms at bay.
Do read up all the info under the green heading 'HRT Preparations' to the left of this screen.
Keep us posted. DG x
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Thanks for response ,had a feeling it was something like this,do you think i should continue until i see doctor,about to start a new strip so hoping to feel normal for a while
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I would continue if I were you and then just switch over. Hopefully you can see your gp before you start the progesterone part!
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well i am on day three of orange tablets elleste 2mg , mood and energy levels are great , however period has arrived today , and the pain is horrendous , does anyone know if this is down to the first half of tablets , as mood and depression seemed to be thank you . or maybe these pills just arent right , really dont know . havent had this painful a period in years. help
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I'm on Elleste Duet 1mg (just finished first month).
I've also just finished my first 'hrt period' and it hasn't been too bad! If anything, it makes me think of the periods I used to have when I was younger - periods which lasted about 6 days and where the flow was steady (but not overly heavy)
This HRT period was completely unlike the periods of the last 2 years leading up to meno, which have been shorter (3 - 4 days), but fairly heavy with clots and with sudden 'gushes'.
There's been a little bit of period pain but nothing horrendous.
Sorry to hear you're having problems with the 2mg!
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Hi desperate
I got really bad period pain when I was on sequi HRT. I suffered with bad pain with my periods when I was young when not on 'The Pill'. I came off HRt at 49 partly because of the bad stomach cramps with the withdrawal bleed - I think if you are prone to this type of cramps then HRT will bring them back. Once you are post meno you can have continuous HRT.
Just a thought - you could have a Mirena fitted & then you would just use oestrogen in patch or gel form - eventually you would not have any bleeds at all!!
DG x
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Hi desperate
As I think I mentioned on the other thread - your periods will be heavier on 2 mg than on 1 mg because mnore womb lining will have built up. The bleed is coming at the predicted time too - a few days after stopping the combi pills with the progestogen.
Sorry to hear you are feeling bad - but it does mean that the progestogen is doing its job in stripping the lining, unpleasant though this is. However if it is worse than you've ever experienced then maybe a different type would suit you as Dancinggirl suggests
Hurdity x
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thank for advice am due to see doc next week 12th june , as im feeling fine at the moment not sure what to do persevere with the 2mg elleste or ask to try something else , any advice would be greatly appreciated
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You could try Femoston as this suits many ladies - particularly if you get PMT and low mood with the progesterone part. The progesterone in it is kinder - closer to natural progesterone. The alternative is Oestrogen in patch or gel form with separate progesterone which would be Utrogestan or have a Mirena fitted. The mirena is often used to help with problematic periods anyway and eventually the periods would stop altogether. I had a Mirena for over 4 years post meno and found it the best option because I had problems with progesterone. You can have a Mirena in peri and post meno stages.
Good luck DG x
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thanks for advice everyone , i did see another doctor , while i have been waiting for my regular to return , she was very concerned that my bp was high and actually suggested i came off hrt altogether, this is definately not going to happen the doc im seeing thursday is brilliant at dealing with menopause , think i will see if she herself suggests the femostan , i am also taking anti deppressant perscribed by the other doc x
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feeling really rough today third night of no sleep , constantly sweating , feeling sick ,hoping and praying will get some relief when visiting doc thursday , can any one tell me if femostan will help with blood pressure thanks
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Hi desperate
You haven't told us your age. You mentioned you were taking HRT because you had an early menopause so it would really help us to know a little more(age, lifestyle, what ADs you are taking etc) so we can help.
If you are constantly sweating this could be something non meno related - possibly to do with your blood pressure or possibly thyroid. It is quite common to get thyroid problems around the time of the meno. I understand HRT doesn't necessarily effect blood pressure but if BP is raised I should think this could lead to an increased risk of stroke etc. Finding the cause of the raised BP is important e.g. do you have weight issues?
You are already taking quite a high dose of HRT so you shouldn't be getting such bad flushes at night - I certainly slept well while on HRT!!! However it sounds as though you are really reacting badly to the progesterone in the HRT you are taking. Femoston might work better for you.
If you are taking an anti depressant, then taking one that helps with flushes could be worth a try if you aren't already taking it. A colleague at work who has been really struggling with sweating and flushes(even on HRT) has recently tried one of these and is feeling much better. Have a look under 'Prescribable non HRT'( to the left of this screen) to see if you are taking one of these. DG x
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thanks for reply i am 48 , i take a water tablet each day to combat blood pressure 2.5mg bendraflhazamide , i have been taking 50mg sertinol only for last four weeks, asked for antideppressant as was feeling so wretched and as i said before havent been able to see my regular doctor thanks x
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didnt have a weight issue however have gained a stone since starting elleste 2 mg
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Hi desperate
Here is what it says on this site about high blood pressure and HRT:
Hypertension
Blood pressure should be measured and, if high, should be controlled prior to starting HRT. Blood pressure measurement should be repeated 3 months after starting HRT and is then usually checked at annual review. There is a very small risk of conjugated equine estrogens causing a rise in blood pressure which resolves on cessation of treatment. In the presence of controlled hypertension, HRT is unlikely to worsen control; some recommend using transdermal (patch or gel) HRT.
Sage should be used with caution if hypertensive and St.John's Wort should be used with caution if taking antihypertensive therapy.
It sounds like it should be controlled and the doctor is right to be concerned if your medication is not reducing your BP.
I am sure you've had all this advice but there are many ways in which you can reduce your blood pressure naturally - modifying diet, alcohol, salt, weight, smoking, exercise, caffeine, relaxation therapies. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blood-pressure-%28high%29/Pages/Prevention.aspx
Perhaps also, you might consider a transdermal method of HRT with the Mirena coil as Dancinggirl suggest in her posts below?
Hurdity x
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Hi desperate
I hope your usual GP offers some good advice. I'd print off some of the info from the sections to the left of this screen & compile some written questions to ask the doctor when you see him/her. If you are feeling unwell and emotional it's very easy to forget what you wanted to ask them at the appointment. Good luck. DG x
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thanks for advice i will let you know how i get on tomorrow x