Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: LW44 on July 28, 2015, 04:22:23 PM
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Hi
saw the consultant today.. he said im safe to carry on with the 1mg oestrogen only for 6 months ( cannot tolerate norethistrone) we briefly discussed the option of hystorectomy. or everything out .. ie ovaries aswell... which im not too sure about... thats if i cannot tolerate any form of progestoren.. will be refered by gp and then he will do bloods etc..and take from there..
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Thanks for the update. However, the Consultant should have made a 6-months follow up appt. so that you didn't have to get a referal from the GP because that takes longer ::)
Keep a diary and let us know how you get on!
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Think i need referal as private healthcare?
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Was the appt. private today?
What did the Consultant suggest in order to check the state of your womb, regular scans? Do you feel you were listened to?
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6months is a long time without progesterone. :-\ is he planning on doing a scan to check the uterus lining do you know ?
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it was an "unoffocial " appointment.. till im refered by gp, he plans to do all tests i need once ive been to gp and asked for referal.. blood tests, scans etc.. he mentioned the option of mirena coil or gel for the progest.. but also if i cannot tolerate anything.. either a hysterectomy of womb or preferably ovaries aswell.. because of the fluctuations of hormones.. said i could be peri for upto 7 years because of my age. he was brilliant.. squeezed me in between patients.. also asked background on pregnancies. asked how long i suffered pnd for.. how my children were delivered.. also scoffed in disgust when told him dr suggested anti d's. before hrt..
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Sounds like you're getting support and good advice! Let us know how you get on!
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If you have your ovaries out you will then need an hrt to replace the hormones lost. I find that I still have mood fluctuations even though I am on an oestrogen only HRT. Hysterectomy is often advised by gynaecologists but, in my experience, they don't always understand the other problems this can cause. They are happy that they have, maybe, cured the main problem but remain alarmingly oblivious to what else may happen i.e. future prolapse, bowel problems due to removal of the uterus etc.
Taz x
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hi taz
yes thats what i want to look into properly.. think thats why he said lets do tests etc and give yourself a few months to decide.. have u had your ovaries removed ? is that why on oestrogen only ? im a due a period any day aftet stopping the norethistrone.. plus due anyway according to calender..in so much pain and very low tonight.. which makes me think get the whole lot out...
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There is no progesterone gel as far as I'm aware.
Can you get a quick referral as six months on oestrogen only seems very risky to me.
Let us know how you get on.
Honeyb
X
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That's what I thought. :-\
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Honeyb - yes he was just saying if needs be whilst i decide what to do the longest i can on oestrogen is 6 months
dazned - hi did u have the op ? if yes how have you got on ?
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Be really careful, you are very young to be on an oestrogen only regime. I'm really surprised some sort of progesterone was not suggested to trigger a bleed.
Perhaps your own natural cycle....if it's still there, will do this for you.
Have you considered emailing Dr Currie for some dedicated advice.
Honeyb
X
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i was on the norethistrone tabs for 6 days - im due to finish my first month of elleste duet 1mg.. but could not tolerate them.. so consultant told me to stop immediately and just take the oestrogen tabs until he does tests etc... hence the possibilty of hysterectomy
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hi taz
yes thats what i want to look into properly.. think thats why he said lets do tests etc and give yourself a few months to decide.. have u had your ovaries removed ? is that why on oestrogen only ? im a due a period any day aftet stopping the norethistrone.. plus due anyway according to calender..in so much pain and very low tonight.. which makes me think get the whole lot out...
No I kept my ovaries - you only need progesterone if you have a uterus. I had it due to a prolapse so not much choice but I have since found that pain which I thought was due to hormones because it was a period type pain is more uncomfortable now that the uterus is no longer there and it's thought it was always caused by the bowel which has now dropped into the space left by the uterus and is a bit unhappy with it's new positon. There is mention of adhesions but it's not so bad that I need to go down the investigation route yet. Just wanted to say that I reckon a hysterectomy to relieve heavy bleeding problems is effective but for other things it may cause more problems.
Taz x
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ahh i see..sorry youve had problems with pain.. :-/ my actual periods are ok, pain and bleed wise.. its my hormones which are the problem.. think im in more pain this month because of the norethistrone.. plus feel extremely irritable
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"was told to persevere as side effects reduce after 3 months"
Which prog options have you tried before btw?
Its really important to give things the 3 months ???
I did the same as you and was all set to throw mine in the bin during the first month or two.
However with support I was able to get through and now I'm glad I persevered.
Stick with something and give it time.
In terms of where your at, are you still having semi regular period's?
If so then perhaps your just doubling up on your own progesterone thats still being produced.
It might also be associated with your low dose AD, that can also have an effect on things.
The other option you could try is Tridestra.
This is estrogen mainly for 3 months then prog is given at the end of the 3 months to start a bleed.
This might give you more time to see if prog is actually part of the problem here.
As it may just be your own cycle still cutting in and making you down.
For the sake of giving this a few months or a slightly different option you might avoid a major life changing operation.
Hope things improve soon.
:-*
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hi
thank you for your advice :-) the side effects were really bad after 5 days of taking the prog.. racing heart ... tremors... hot sweats..headache.. dry mouth.. agigtation..so
as soon as consultant saw me told me to immediately stop.. things have gradually improved over the last week :-) seem to be settling down on the oestrogen side if things.. at the drs next week to be referred so can have an official appointment with the consultant here and discuss all options in detail.. will mention what you have recommended :-) also still having semi regular periods... and not tried any other prog yet ...
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No I didn't have hyster ,both my consultant and I decided it was an extreme measure ,and he didn't recommend ablation at all so we decided to go with a long cycle of three months estrogen so I only take progesterone once in that time. Then yearly scan to check the lining.
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Glad that there is improvement!
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Hi LW44
Haven't posted for a long time, but after reading your post had to let you know that you are not alone with your severe intolerance.
I am actually now Post-menopausal, but have suffered with the same severe intolerance to Progesterone - Over quite a period of time I tried numerous Oral Progesterones, but after three days of taking each of them experienced the same symptoms you described and sometimes rashes. My GP then suggested the Mirena Coil as it was supposed to have only a local effect, but I had to have it removed within a week because of the same severe symptoms and rash - it was the worst reaction I had experienced. I therefore had to stop all HRT.
After stopping all HRT, my menopausal symptoms came back with a vengance, I struggled with severe hot flushes (10-15 a day) and was put on Gabapentin, which did reduce the hot flushes dramatically, however, now two years later they have increased again.
I now still experience slight symptoms in reaction to my own Progesterone, especially as my hormones fluctuate and estrogen levels drop - an Endo actually diagnosed me with Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis,
I am now looking for some alternative help for these hot flushes, my GP says her help is exhausted and has therefore referred me to a Consultant and I am now awaiting an appointment).
I have recently been reading about Tibolone, which helps menopausal symptoms the same as normal HRT, but does not appear to contain actual hormones and therefore no Progesterone - am hoping to discuss this with the Consultant. Unfortunately this probably wouldn't be an option for you at the present time, as apparently you do have to be Post-menopausal to take Tibolone.
Hope you find the help and treatment you need from your Your Consultant.
Tinax
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:thankyou:
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Hi Tina
Thank you so much for your reply and knowing im not alone.. not that i wish the side effects on anyone !
im between a rock and a hard place.. consultant mentioned mirena..no thanks.. my exact words lol.. and im terrified of trying any other form of progesterone.. so just taking the 1mg oestrogen in tablet form at the moment.. until i next see consultant to discuss options.. i stopped taking the progesterone 7 days ago. after only taking 5 days of them..im now waiting and praying for a period.. fell very low.. hoping that when it finally arrives my mood will lift.. not sure when to expect a bleed ? if anyone can advise ? xx
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Hormones have a mind of their own …….. if you get a bleed it'll arrive, eventually: if not …….
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:o dont say if not...im too old haha ;)
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If it was 7 days ago when you stopped progesterone you could of expected to have a bleed by now but maybe there's nothing to shed ! It will only happen if there's a build up or maybe 5 days wasn't enough to cause a bleed.
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my last period before starting hrt was two weeks late..prior to that had two regular periods... got a face full of spots as well @
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Oh boy reading this really puts me off trying HRT, I'm scared stiff of side effects and I react badly to most things.
I've never suffered such low mood before and thought HRT might help, I wasn't a massive PND sufferer before. I'm already on ADs, I am in CBT but I cant see how it can help when all my feeling originate with my hormones, which no amount of talking can control. I don't get hot flushes and pain was already a part of my life. Its just the fatigue and mood, but I don't want HRT if they will not definateley be fixed by it.
Sorry that was such a ramble.
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ahh please dont be put off..everyone is different. .. also apart from the progesterone intolerance.. unfortunately i have a tendency to be anxious... stems from losing my first child late in pregnancy and not dealing with grief very well . .. im actually away at the moment with my partner and children.. and starting to relax.. finally started my period and still taking the oestrogen... also one of my friends had complete hystorectomy..started hrt... didnt suit her at all low..anxious..etc.. dr then changed and shes a different person :-) also PLEASE do not read side effects.. i have had cbt and it does help dealing with anx low mood whatever the cause x
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I agree LW44. Each of us has a different medical history and each has different reactions to food, medication, family situations. Without trying then we don't know what the reactions are likely to be.
A work colleague many years ago had a baby die in the womb, within a few days of expected delivery. Very sad.
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definately clkd - my problem was i read how everyone reacted to hrt..read too deeply into side effects...so basically thought myself into low mood... and panicked... actually i panicked before starting the hrt.. when i didnt understand what was wrong with me... i had a very unsupportive husband... didnt allow me to grieve... triggered anxiety as was made to feel something was wrong with me and i was weak.. subsequently. developed pnd after my daughter who was born 15 months later..andcagain after my son.. my sons was more anxiety based..so.. when peri hormones kicked in... my brain automatically flicked to those times and got stuck.. if that makes sense?? feeling very low today... but as i said period just starting...so going to give the orstrogen another month or so... if doesnt improve will look at alternative hrt...as i am convinced this "episode" is hormonal... plus also some part of my mind convincing me i am depressed... i am also going to have some cbt again through work x
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It does make sense. Our reactions are normal but can be intense. They become the instant 'go to' when stress hits.
I now recognise depression for what it is.
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Oh boy reading this really puts me off trying HRT, I'm scared stiff of side effects and I react badly to most things.
I've never suffered such low mood before and thought HRT might help, I wasn't a massive PND sufferer before. I'm already on ADs, I am in CBT but I cant see how it can help when all my feeling originate with my hormones, which no amount of talking can control. I don't get hot flushes and pain was already a part of my life. Its just the fatigue and mood, but I don't want HRT if they will not definitely be fixed by it.
Sorry that was such a ramble.
Hi Sarai
I agree with the others - we all react differently to things, so dont let one person's experience put you off. Do your research and try the things that are least likely to cause side effects - probably Utrogestan taken vaginally and either a patch or gel, judging from the majority of people's experiences on here. Whatever you try, if anything at all, give it a fair try . I expected brilliant results within weeks (if not days!) and then had a major downer when, if anything, things got worse for a bit. (looking back, don't think it was actually side effects of HRT, but rather, my own hormones still being too low and the HRT not having had time to work).
Luckily the lovely ladies on here gave me the confidence to carry on (including a good kick up the bum from PeeGeeTips for which I am very grateful!). In fact, it took three months - if not six - to feel things were looking up. I'd really worried about reacting to the progesterone, but weirdly, I ended up preferring this stage - to the extent I eventually switched to a combined pill! Dont think you'll ever get perfection - I'm beginning to accept that the quest to find 'old me' is futile - but hopefully you will eventually find something which at least makes life more pleasant.
Good luck x