Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: GypsyRoseLee on January 22, 2016, 10:47:00 AM
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Finished my first pack of Femoston 1/10 yesterday. Sadly, I only really had 10-12 decent days in it, but as soon as I started the combined tablets my mood really dropped and had the nasty background anxiety. I could cope (just about) but have mainly felt pretty miserable for the last 2 weeks. So overall, no better really than not taking HRT.
Saw my GP last night, as she wanted to see how I'd got on with 1/10. We're both very disappointed that it seems the progesterone really doesn't agree with me.
She has upped me to 2/10 but said I would probably react just the same to the progesterone this month, even though it's twice the amount of oestrogen.
She admits she has little experience of HRT, so wondered if anyone in here felt much better upping to 2/10, especially regarding mood/anxiety?
I see Annie Evans in 6 weeks anyway, so it doesn't matter too much if 2/10 doesn't help me (except I have several more miserable weeks to live through) and I expect (hope) she'll probably advocate oestrogel/Utro anyway.
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I started on this it did nothing for me. Gave me period type pain all the time.. it felt to strong if that makes sense? Hope it works for u.....
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I can a almost guarantee Dr Annie will put you on sandrena gel rubb ed into thigh and utrogestin I am on the utrogestin 7 days a month which is what Prof Studd and Nick Panay do for those progesterone intolerant ones I am 6 weeks and starting to feel good
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How long were you on 2/10 for Tinkerbelji? I didn't have any pain or discomfort on 1/10.
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I think you're probably right maryjane. Can I ask, are you using the gel and Utro for hormonal mood swings/anxiety too?
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Hi GRL,
I would give Femoston 2/10 a chance - you have nothing to lose until you see Dr. Evans. You may as well feel better on the extra dose of estrogen. I feel great on Femiston 2/10, would strongly recommend, but we are all different. I notice that you expect too much too soon from a tablet HRT. It does work but much slowly that patch/gel due to different absorbtion/ metabolism. It took me 3-4 months to say for sure that I feel better than before.
Milamam
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I have started on 2/10. I am on my third attempt. I have given up twice because of palpitations and feeling stressed. (This isn't what I would recommend to anyone else or myself ::) )
Since I read on here something about the palpitations seeming worse with oestrogen and then settling down, I have given it another go. I am doing plenty of relaxation exercises, making sure I eat properly at all mealtimes and not skipping anything. So far so good.
Overall, I feel better on it. :) I found I was getting the palpitations on the lower dose anyway when I took notice. The ones that were really bad and put me off were the result of sleep apnoea. I am now trying not to sleep flat on my back, with my mouth wide open ;)
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Thanks Milamam
I am going to try the 2/10 until I see Annie Evans. I would be thrilled if it worked well for me, as I really like the ease of just taking one tablet per day. But, like you say, it's only a few more weeks until I see Annie Evans which isn't long enough for the 2/10 to show what it can do.
But at least I will have one full cycle of 2/10 so should be able to guage if I react as badly to the progesterone again as I have with 1/10. I'm hoping that the stronger oestrogen will lessen the side effects of the progesterone more?
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I was on it for just short of 3 months its was my fourth attempt at hrt I really hope it works for u. I did have sandrena gel when I had a coil in and I liked it!! Hated the coil thou so back to the drawing board x
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Hi GLR sorry you're still having a tough time, can't help much on this just wanted to give you hope as I think Annie will give you what I have or at least I think you should ask for it. We are so similar in background and although I get dips (which im hoping ease off) I get about 5-7 crap days a month the rest good....as you know this is Prof Studds prescription of 3 ostrogel pumps, utro for 7 days and I have testim (testosterone)...I really think this will work for you too :) hang in there not long x
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Thanks Niamh. How are you feeling at the moment? Did you up to 3 pumps in the end?
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Hi there yes I went back to 3 and I feel great! Sleeping brilliantly, good mood, energy etc :)))) I really recommend I know there will be another dip (im hoping not) but for now im just enjoying feeling human and happy x
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Hi GRL
Just a quick question about your appointment with Dr Annie Evans. Was there a long waiting list to see her? And will you be expecting to have blood tests at your appointment? I briefly looked at her website last night and am thinking of seeing her.
I'm currently on AD's which have got me over a difficult few months but I need to consider reintroducing HRT due to my age...44. I think we are a bit similar in terms of being progesterone intolerant.
In terms of F2/10, it seemed too strong for me too,but F1/10 didn't quite seem enough 🙄
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Phew, that's good news Niamh. How many days have you been on 3 pumps? Do these days correspond to the first half of your cycle as well?
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Hi mis71
I don't know if she'll do a blood test? I wouldn't think so as I'm 45 now anyway, and will have been on Femoston 2/10 for 6 weeks anyway.
Like you, I felt 1/10 wasn't doing much of anything. I had about 10 good days, but then it was back to the low mood and anxiety once I started the combi tabs.
Have just started 2/10 yesterday, and waiting for my withdrawal bleed after finishing the pack of 1/10.
How did 2/10 make you feel?
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Hi no doesn't correspond to my cycle at all and anyway no idea where I'm at really as my cycle was very long and irregular and impossible to track! I truly think Prof Studds prescription is starting to override my natural hormones...been on the 3 pumps for 3/4 days now amazing difference :)
I know Prof Studd does my bloods every time, huge list of things! I think he uses the results for. Number of things not just my ostrogen and testosterone levels...I think its useful...
If it's useful Dr annie had appointments free on 4th March then 30th I think when I called this week...im quite likely to cancel mine on 4th if I continue like this and if I can get Prof Studd to answer more of my questions as then I'm not sure what shell add except I know she's really lovely so I'm just going to wait and see how I feel.
Hope you feel well soon x
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Really pleased for you, as I know you were thinking you should stay on 2 pumps last week.
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Ah thank you no I think higher is better (I'll think you'll find this too) I should really listen to him shouldn't I lol x
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Niamh, it's not so much you're taking a higher dose now, but you're probably suppressing ovulation, so now your levels are steadier, if that makes sense? If you dont ovulate, you're less likely to get fluctuations (ironically, on two pumps your estrogen may have been higher than it would be on four pumps at some points over the month). Fluctuations are, for a lot of us in peri, the cause of our troubles.
I'm so glad that it looks like it's working out well for you. Fingers crossed for you and GRL :)
What you and I are doing is getting the 'controlling' benefit of a contraceptive with the relative safety of bio identical hrt, I guess? Hopefully our experiences - good or otherwise - will help others considering this approach. I think the gel is a good move as I am having problems getting the patch dose right.
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Hi GRL - very hard to explain how the F2/10 made me feel but I'll try. It felt really hard to focus/concentrate on things at home and work. Quite jittery but tired. Just basically all over the place really and very unsettled. I don't remember it having a negative effect on my mood though which was good.
I tried if after being on F1/10 after 3 months but couldn't get along with it. Then tried a few months later, and tried taking F1/10 one day and F2/10 the next day to try and gradually build it up too, but that didn't work either.
Although I remembering it being difficult at the time, it was nothing compared to when the GP stopped the F1/10 & F2/10 abruptly. Now that did affect my mood. It made me very anxious, couldn't stop overthinking, couldn't sleep and had constant hot sweats....I won't do that again in a hurry. Annoyed that a GP advised me that there would no adverse reactions to stopping like that 😡
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Niamh - thanks for the info re Dr Evans and her appointments.....going to give it a couple of weeks to see if my cycle returns to something normal. The blood tests would also be useful too, it would be good to know how far my FSH levels have increased in the last 3 years......I suppose to see how far I've advanced it that time. Not sure if it works like that though.
Also do you need a referral from a GP or do you start off from scratch with her?
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Mis71Mum - you describe perfectly how I feel when my estrogen goes up. I can't concentrate or focus on anything - tired but wired. I also get physical side effects like weird sensations in my legs and back.
Won't your GP test your blood for you? I can imagine a lot could change in three years? Then again, if he is happy to abruptly stop yout treatment like that, he's probably not very helpful in terms of on going support?
I'm pretty sure Dr Evans has appointment/GP referral info on her site. I am sure I've read it somewhere?
Good luck x
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I'm on day 3 of my new pack of 2/10 and I am feeling wired and on edge. Not sure if this is due to the extra oestrogen, or the withdrawal from the progesterone? My withdrawal bleed started today too, which won't help.
I am actually feeling wired but also irritable, and like my libido has suddenly perked up. It's a really weird combination and mood. Don't like it at all.
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Sorry to hear that GRL, was thinking it may have suited you better with you needing higher oestrogen. If I remember correctly, the feeling was almost dopey with a feeling of being having a set of jump leads attached to me....if that makes sense.
I hope it improves for you soon anyway.
Briony - had a quick look at Dr Evans website and am going to give the secretary a call tomorrow. There's a direct train from Sheffield to Bristol. Am also going to request another set of bloods from my GP too, as I think it would be good to know before I embark on another regime of HRT. I need my vit d and iron levels checking too so will get them all done together.
Hoping eventually to withdraw from the Duloxetine as I'm finding that they have a sedating effect which sometimes dampens my mood.