Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: abbyH on October 17, 2016, 10:00:27 AM
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Hi there, apologies if this has been answered
Just trying to get some sort of workable HRT regime sorted out
I have no ovaries (removed in June) and no womb
I am currenlty taking 1 pump Oestrogel only but feel not great.. dry ears nose and sore throat.. More hair loss (now have lost nearly all of it......Ginormous boobs (as in pregnant feeling!) and low mood... also ruff of fat around middle, no where else... :(
I am trying to get my GP to add testosterone, but not getting very far
What other regimes are you all on? I know not having a womb means I dont technically 'need' progesterone, but should I be taking it anyway to balance ? I think I felt better on the regime I was on which was 100mg Uterogestan and oestrogen ...
and should I increase to 2 pumps ? without any tests having been done on me post ovary removal I have no ideas what my levels are can I ask doc to test my sex hormones now? They always refused before as peri..
I have an appointment DR Panay's clinic, but not until March 2017! I dont' think I can go on like this until then!
Thanks again for your help and advice
Abby
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You don't say how old you are but I'm afraid one pump of Oestrogel is probably not enough. 2 pumps per day is a standard dose and some women find they need to go higher to get the full benefit. Perhaps ask your GP to do a blood test to see what your oestrogen levels are - if you are under 50 then you will need enough oestrogen to protect your heart and bones for the longer term. A blood test will show whether you are getting enough oestrogen. I would definitely go up to 2 pumps per day for a few weeks to see if things improve.
Panay may be able to help re Testosterone but upping your oestrogen first would be the best thing to do. DG x
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THanks for that Dancing Girl.. it's the huge boobs that are making me feel down too.. Are they likely to get bigger? or will this just settle down over time?
I'll try going up to two pumps and see how I go
Thanks
Abby
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Oh dear me, no! One pump is DEFINITELY not enough Abby!! I'm also in surgical menopause, and can tell you that 1 definitely did nothing good for me.
As DG said, you need a decent estrogen level - especially if you would like to add Testosterone and as I know your appointment is with Nick Panay in March (at the moment) I would try to raise your levels before then. No wonder you're feeling rotten.
If you need a buddy who's travelling down the same road, then I'm here.
Hugs! :hug:
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Thanks Tempest, I'm just really struggling with weight gain and breast enlargement! I really dont feel good about that.. Is it Oestrogel do you think? would switching to a patch make any difference? OK will up to two pumps for sure! and see how I feel...
Thanks!
xx
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Enlarged and sore breasts are very common when first going onto HRT - my gynae described this as the body ‘waking up'. It dose usually settle as your body adjusts. Weight gain is usually down to the menopause anyway and nothing to do with HRT - we all find we have to eat less and get enough exercise as we progress into meno to keep the weight under control - you have been plunged into meno post op so your body is screaming for oestrogen. Cut out sugar and reduce portions.
Patches won't be any different to the Oestrogel - it's all oestrogen. Dg x
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Thanks DG.. yes I hear you on the weight gain.. I'm running, dancing, yoga-ing and will look at portions/carbs etc...
The boobs are large, but not sore or lumpy (thank god!)
I'm a 32 B kinda girl normally and reckon up to a D at least!
I know people pay for this sort of enlargement, but I prefer mine the old way!
Maybe will settle in a few months?
xx
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Definitely need more oestrogel abbyH. Doesn't matter if gel or patch the effects are the same. Wish I was 32B or even 32D. Mine went from 34D to 36FF.
I suffered with really sore boobs for a while.
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It seems that you are in a similar position to me. I too have no womb or ovaries since my hysterectomy a year ago. I'm 43 now. I tried several HRTs and needed the higher dose of Premarin (1.25mg) to keep the hot flushes and night sweats at bay. That solved that problem but I am also having terrible mood swings and I have now asked my GP if I can go back on Tibolone, which is a synthetic HRT that mimics not only oestrogen but also progestrogen and testosterone. The GP wouldn't give me a prescription immediately, she wanted to go away and check with her colleagues. I am hoping for a call back tomorrow to confirm that I can do this.
I suggest you increase your oestrogen HRT, to the maximum possible if doing less doesn't help. If that still doesn't work then maybe go back to your GP and ask for something else. There are various different types of oestrogen only HRTs available but maybe if no type works you also need some progestrogen and perhaps testosterone
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WHy would you GP need to check ? I dont' get it.. So basically GP's are our gateways to HRT yet seem to know very little about it and feel unsure prescribing what we need...
Meno clinics are not in every county/area.. and women are having to scramble to get appointments
Yet the menopause happens.. To EVERYONE!!!! oh, apart from Daily Mail commenters on HRT articles who all say 'I sailed through no need for nasty hormones, what are all these women moaning about etc etc"
It makes me angry.. and want to do something!!!1
Hope you are ok xx
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Indeed where are these women & how did they manage it? ???
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cubagirl... not women but Trolls!!1
:P
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Indeed, Abby! I've read some of the comments on DM articles and trolling is rife.
By the way, welcome back Cubagirl! :)
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i had a hysterectomy 1 year ago now my gynea give me estrogel gel ..made me feel crap so i stopped it ,i did read that you still need both homones when you have had your ovaries and womb removed as the body does need them to function also to balance out the estrogen. iv made an appointment with doctor tomorrow .feel i am still getting all the menopause symptoms still.ill see what he has to offer me
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Welcome, Daisie! So you've had both ovaries and uterus removed? And you're not on anything at the moment? It's very rare in the UK to be given Progesterone if you have had a hysterectomy - the vast majority of professionals here don't think it's necessary.
How much Estrogel did you use and if you don't mind me asking, what age are you?
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Over on the hysterectomy forum there are women who are prescribed progesterone especially if they had endometriosis x
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Now that is TRUE Annie! I actually did a bit of research myself as I'm desperate to find the best balance, and I thought adding Progesterone as they seem to do routinely in the States might be the way to go. I tried mentioning it to my GP and she dismissed this as somewhat ridiculous as ' you don't need THAT for goodness sake, you don't have a womb'! >:(
I've read loads of posts over at Hystersisters from women who have had hysterectomies and oopherectomies who HAD to add in Progesterone as it was the only way they could achieve any balance, and for many it was the only way they could get their anxiety under control. It just goes to prove that those of us (you included, dear soul) whose ovaries are missing or totally caput have very different needs to women whose ovaries are still producing hormones, albeit a trickle. We need different doses and a more consistent supply of estrogen, very possibly progesterone and YES, that elusive Testosterone!
It's a totally different world over in the States with HRT! The wonderful world of 'balance' instead of just lobbing in one type of HRT and hoping it works. They have Tri-est and Bi-est compounded estrogens, which are a blend of 2 or 3 different types of estrogen, bio progesterone, troches which dissolve in the mouth and thus bypass the liver without the use of fiddly patches or gels and E-string systemic vaginal delivery HRT which gives a constant steady dose that I think only needs replacing every 3 months. I'd gladly pay privately if only we had these options available to us!
I've noticed just lately that we have quite a few more surgical menopause ladies joining us, and I've asked our admin Emma on 2 occasions now if we may have a locked thread for surgical ladies and ladies who have had hysterectomies, but so far nothing. She did say the first time that I messaged her that she would look into it, but sadly a few weeks later when I asked if there was any joy on this she hasn't replied. I guess she's very busy! It would be nice for ladies to have their own wee corner as we have different needs and issues, and it would catch their eye when they join instead of their posts getting lost on the boards in general.
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I agree totally Tempest. I feel I can't add to so many discussions because periods have had no part of my journey
I tackled my meno nurse over progesterone after hysterectomy , she said I must NEVER take it again as I have no womb, I asked her why Drs didn't give me a drug then post hysterectomy to stop me producing my own if it's that dangerous, she couldn't answer but months later offered me Tibolone , I asked her why offer me something that produces progesterone when you said I shouldn't have it? She admitted she was wrong and that some women would benefit from it. I bought 100mg utrogestan online from a reputable company and took it orally continuously for about 5 months and felt OK, no side effects and lovely restful sleep
We women with no uterus/ovaries deserve to be offered everything we once naturally produced x
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You told her! Good on you. ;D
I've dabbled with the idea of Tibolone too (especially as I'm totally fed up with this gel faff and now the rash, and I don't feel at all balanced or well on estrogen only). The only thing that worries me about this are the fairly high number of reports of weird muscle pain some women get with this. I don't want to set myself to fail - AGAIN!!! I think some have also reported bad acne on it too. But, if I start running out if options - this could well be on the table!
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I was very tempted but it was the reports of hair thinning/loss that put me off, but if options were all used up I would've give it a go x
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I have some Uterogestan spare from previous prescription.. Maybe going to start taking that as well at night..
So far.. have just been lobbed oestrogen and NO advice post BSO or hysterectomy.. Just left to get on with it.. Tempest I agree the surgical ladies might need their own corner. Fascinated to read of US treatment protocols differing so vastly to ours. I do believe If I haven't been so vocal in trying to get help, i would just be left with nothing!
so far. Massive hair loss and loss of any kind of condition, hair in v poor condition falling out and thinning noticeable bald spots :(
huge boobs and weight gain
feeling depressed re the above - but not having massive mood swings as PMS no longer a thing...
tired and unable to exercise as much
just all over miserable due to this unexpected misery!
Abby x
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Hi abbyH I've answered on the T thread - I probably should have posed on here instead as this is your thread!
Hurdity x
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I've not had it 'investigated' I've been to the doc's on numerous occasions but no help of any kind just sympathy
I've taken Viviscal with some results and I think when I started taking Thyroid meds it helped a bit
Because my doc refused to diagnose me with any sort of Thyroid disorder saying that the level of my antibodies was too low to matter (er, no, antibodies mean antibodies luv!)
so I've dosed myself with Naturethroid a natural dessicated thyroid for some time. Will up the dose gradually now and see if that helps...
only thing is I do know that oestrogen and thyroid meds should not be taken together or near one another? is that right?
Abby
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Abby there's 2 really good Facebook groups for thyroid patients FTPO thyroid and also Thyroid healing journey. I lurked on there when I was investigating my hairloss/double vision/no energy etc . Many of the members know their stuff
I also paid privately for a full thyroid panel as the NHS wouldn't do it just for my own peace of mind, Blue Horizon online offer these
I went to an NHS dermatologist for my hair problem. She wasn't really interested, said it was a mix of female pattern hair loss and seborrhoric dermititus and as I was leaving she remembered she hadn't pulled a strand out to look at, I didn't feel very confident in the visit x
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Thanks Annie! yes I've lurked in several of those groups since all this started in 2013!!! They are very helpful, I'm going to resume a gluten free diet as that seems to be quite effective, plus upping protein intake .. all of that stuff
I think I will try and get another thyroid panel through Blue Horizons as they offer a pretty comprehensive screening for 70!
The GPs are useless and that's really shocking that the dermatologists were so useless!
Its a struggle to sort this all out.. and I just want to feel myself, that's all!
Abby x
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Welcome, Daisie! So you've had both ovaries and uterus removed? And you're not on anything at the moment? It's very rare in the UK to be given Progesterone if you have had a hysterectomy - the vast majority of professionals here don't think it's necessary.
How much Estrogel did you use and if you don't mind me asking, what age are you?
hi tempest i was on 2 pumps of the estrogel gel made me feel worse so i stopped it ,,no not on any thing only amitriptyline antidepressant as i have been for over 7 years im 61 now ..the progestorone does not just protect the womb it also protects other parts of the body you need it to balance out the estrogen if not taken together you can have a build up of estrogen it does say the progestorone all so protects the breast from too much estrogen .after reading that it did make sense to me ..theres a lot of Gps out there who are not as clued up on hormones as are some others im at doctors today im going to ask him if i can try tibolone that one is for postmenopause woman
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Hi All,
I have my womb and no ovaries and was on oestrogen only for 2 months to get the dose sorted. I then introduced Utrogestan and my mood which was OKish on oestrogen alone (, but still a little flat), certainly improved. So it may be that a bit of prog can help to balance things out.
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hi Rhiner. How much and often do you take the Uterogestan?
Abby x
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Hi Abby,
I take 100mg every other day. My meno specialist approved this, I will have a scan in March to check the lining, but no spotting etc so far. Although appear to have got a rash around my mouth - hope its not the Utro and if so hope its just transient.
Rhiner
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Hi Annie
I'm just wondering if you had any more joy with the bio identical hormones (progesterone ) in particular since you last posted? I am currnhkh battling with my GP following a total hysterectomy in March last year
X
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Hi Hetty - have you opted for progesterone due to feeling bad without it? I am on Evorel 50 patches which are bio-identical and really like not having to use any progesterone at all due to hysterectomy.
Taz x
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Hi Hetty
No I haven't used progesterone but I have been prescribed testosterone gel and I switched to oestrogel and feel a lot better x