Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Skyflier67 on November 10, 2015, 11:25:00 PM
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Hello ladies
I've been on Elleste duet for 10 days and feeling so much better menopause wise. The only side effect I have is awful constipation! I've never suffered before, otherwise feel well and kicked in with the tablets. Not a lot of info about this online so am I the only one??? Xx
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Glad you are feeling generally better on HRT Skyflier67 - sorry I can't help re the constipation. I'm sure you have your own way of dealing with this - more fibre, lots of water, more exercise..... hopefully this will ease soon. If not perhaps a visit to the doc would be advisable as it may just be coincidence that it happened when you started the HRT?
Hurdity x
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Progestogen relaxes smooth muscle (including intestine). Is it during the second half?
Try more soluble fibre(oats, fruit and veg and pulses) and water, and movicol.
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HI both
Thank you for your replies. It only happens on the progesterone part of the HRT, the oestrogen has the opposite effect ;D I have resorted to occasional laxatives and more fibre!! Now I have water retention lol
However I will take any symptoms over how awful I was feeling before. I'm hoping it will all settle down in a few months once my body is used to actually having hormones again!!!
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Progestogen relaxes smooth muscle and this is what the intestines are. This means that your food goes through more slowly, and as it passes through the colon, where the excess fluid is reabsorbed, it dries out too much, thus slowing down your intestinal transit further.
Fibrous food, like bran, will dry out and make this worse. You need the soluble sort of fibre and plenty fluids.
Eating encourages the contraction of the intestines (peristalsis) which goes down the length of them. To encourage this, eat proper meals, starting with a good breakfast (porridge and prunes is good :( ) and a nice hot drink (especially coffee - although this may have unwanted effects on the bladder for some of us ::) ) will encourage movement. In theory, this is supposed to help you achieve a good daily bowel habit ;D (but I must say I struggle). If you look up 'Squatty Potty' it will give you an idea of seating position and the whys and wherefores of that.
Drinking plenty helps - start off your day with a glass of water.
If you know when it is going to happen, you can pre-empt it. Failing that, movicol is good.
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All types of synthetic progestins give me constipation and as soon as I stop taking it, the constipation goes away. Even Utrogestan does to a lesser extent.
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Pregnancy did it for me. Totally bunged.
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Ive given up taking Marvelon this week after three weeks of the synthetic progesterone making me constipated. I wonder if you'd be better off on a separate progesterone like Utrogestan, as Mary suggests?