Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: maelynn on December 12, 2016, 02:29:59 PM
-
Hi everyone, I'm in my late 40's and from the U.S. so hopefully it's ok to participate here.
I've been in the menopause probably just over one year based on labs (uterus removed 10 years ago) but didn't get treatment for several months and had a vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism as well all at the same time! I'm finally starting to get everything normalized since the spring.
Reading all the posts here has been helpful, enlightening, educational and encouraging to say the least!
My biggest issues at the moment are VA and POP. My bladder is involved as well.
My current regimen is vagifem tablets, estriol cream, oestrogel, rephresh moisturizer and 10mg dhea/pregnenolone combination supplement. This has all helped tremendously although I'm surprised how many different things I need! It's taken many months to get everything fine tuned but it's definitely been worth it.
I suppose at this point my main goal is to halt the progression of the POP, regain some pelvic floor strength and control my symptoms so I'm able to continue work and function normally.
The hirsutism isn't too excessive and I've had it off and on my whole life so I'm pretty used to it. I was excited when it started reducing after I started the oestrogel though and that made me wonder if my estrogen had been low longer than I realized?
I was wondering if anyone knows if women without a uterus need progesterone too? My current doc says no but I've been prescribed it in the past so I'm completely confused. I have to admit I didn't feel good taking it so hopefully I don't need it.
Thanks, maelynn
-
Hi maelynn, of course you can participate, the more the merrier and you are very welcome. You must have had your uterus removed in your late 30s then? So did I, I was 38 when I had mine out and I have never missed it, blimmin' thing caused me nothing but trouble (apart from nurturing my 3 babies very nicely.) I also was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my late 30s and am fairly well stable now with fine tuning. Unfortunately in this country treatment for thyroid disorders can be very hit and miss.
As far as I know from reading on here you don't need a separate progesterone if you don't have a uterus. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of the HRT will confirm that for you.
what's POP please?
Browse round and join in, :welcomemm:.
-
Hi :welcomemm:
Good to have you join us.
You will be glad to know that you don't need to use the dreaded progesterone which the part most of us struggle with ;)
-
Wow! Thanks for the quick replies babyjane, dazned and Hasty!
POP stands for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
I'm so thrilled I don't have to worry about progesterone. :)
-
thanks for that, I did google it but just got lots of entries about Pop ;D
-
:welcomemm: browse round, make notes. Join in. Nothing is taboo on here!
Vagifem 'tablets' ……. I use Ovestin 1mg which is a cream, inserted with an applicator, how often do you need your regime to keep things comfy down there?
Do you have access to a Physiotherapist? Someone who can advise about gentle exercises to ease the Prolapse? Or will it require a surgical 'tuck' in the future?
-
Hi and welcome
I belong to HysterSisters (sure the majority are from US) so that could be helpful to you
As far as I understand progesterone may be needed if there was endometriosis involved as apparently there could be fragments left there
I didn't suffer from it but sure I've read that x
-
vagifem is a vaginal tablet in an applicater that is inserted :)
-
:thankyou: every day is a learning curve ;-)
-
Thanks for the replies CKLD and Annie0710.
I belong to hystersisters too and read there but never post. I think I'm Meli45 on that site. This site seems more user friendly for some reason. My family was originally from England so perhaps deep down I'm homesick!
I'm trying to avoid surgery but I realize at some point it may be necessary. The medical system is in turmoil right now so even basic care is out of reach for many working people including myself! It's ironic that I work in the field and can't really afford basic care anymore.
I'm doing some exercises recommended by a physio (P.T. in U.S. lingo).
So far the POP isn't worsening with exercise and hormones.
-
Yes you're not the first to say HysterSisters isn't easy to navigate round. I go there, start browsing then give up. It's a shame because the concept of the forum is ideal for me
I had my hysterectomy because of total prolapse when I was 32. I sometimes lately get the feeling the bowel and bladder may have prolapsed further but I really don't feel up to any more surgery if I can get away with it
X
-
;DI wanted to clarify a couple of things.
One is that I did have endometriosis prior to my hysterectomy. They actually found the healed scar tissue during my surgery although I was never diagnosed when it was active.
I'm actually using replens not rephresh as I posted initially.
Good day! Ha ha ha, I'm trying to sound British!
-
Haha !
Are your parents British ? Where in uk is your family from ?
Check out about the endometriosis, better to be aware of the possibility some uterus was left , I'm guessing it wouldn't require much progesterone but I do remember reading it
X
-
Anne, my family came over in colonial times so pretty far removed but I still feel like England is my motherland. My maiden name is Eldridge.
IIRC The genealogy said Sussex?
My in-laws do business with Loyds of London and are traveling across the pond soon. OH How I hope to get there one day myself!
-
hi maelynn...i was told that after hysterectomy you still need progestrone if you are taking estrogen to balance both the homones out i cant say how true it is but that was i was told x
-
Hi maelynn
:welcomemm: from me too.
Re the progesterone - it is correct that you do not normally need to take extra progesterone when you have had your uterus removed - as the "balancing" is only necessary to maintain a pregnancy and if not that, to protect the womb from oestrogen stimulation as the others have said. Daisie - I don't know who told you that but do read on below as there may be some circumstances where it is needed. There is information on this website about it:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/aftermeno.php
Here it mentions the situation re endometriosis:
HRT using a combination of estrogen and progestogen (which is recommended when the uterus is still present), is often used after a hysterectomy if widespread endometriosis is found at the time of surgery.
Endometriosis is the presence of deposits of the lining of the uterus (endometrium) out with the uterus, e.g. on the bladder, bowel and other organs in the body. These deposits are sensitive to the hormones produced by the ovaries. After hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries, there have been reports of endometriotic deposits being stimulated following estrogen only HRT. It is thought that estrogen combined with progestogen HRT is less likely to cause stimulation of these deposits, although there is little scientific evidence to support this.
For further information on endometriosis, visit www.endo.org.uk and www.shetrust.org.uk
It also mentions the situation if you've had a sub-total hysterectomy ( ie cervix retained) and the possibility of having a trial of progesterone in case parts of the uterus were left, as I think someone mentioned earlier?
Sub-total hysterectomy
If the main part of the uterus has been removed but the cervix retained, it is currently uncertain whether HRT can be given in the form of estrogen only or estrogen combined with progestogen. The slight concern of using estrogen only, is that there may be some of the cells of the lining of the uterus in the cervical canal which could become thickened from the estrogen. This thickening can be prevented by adding in progestogen. To find out if progestogen is required, it may be suggested to use estrogen combined with cyclical progestogen for 3 months after your operation. If there is monthly bleeding in this time, it means that cells are present which are responding to the hormones so estrogen and progestogen should be used thereafter. (These hormones can however be given together continuously to avoid monthly bleeding). If there is no bleeding in the first 3 months, then estrogen can be given on its own thereafter.
Re your hypothyroidism - I presume you are having treatment for this although you don't mention this in your list of meds? if you are still peri-menopausal then you should have your thyroid levels tested regularly as there is some interaction between levels of thyroid and oestrogen although I don't fully understand this.
Hurdity x
-
Oh yes Hurdity, I'm on thyroid hormone too. I just didn't mention it because it's not specifically for menopause.
-
I'm from the US, too, and as you probably know by now, we don't have good, informative women's-health web sites like those found in the UK. I did find one US menopause site several years ago (out of about less than a handful). While the writer had done her research and there was some useful info, the tone was mostly just "put a good face on it."
A few months ago I decided I needed to again look for some support through a web site or forum. I Googled "menopause," and found this site, which has been a great go-to on those days when I'm less than 100%.
-
Browse round Michelle28 - make notes. Join in!
-
I'm glad we both found this site Michelle! I'm not sure where you are located exactly but in my area it's been hard to get adequate medical care. I've had to basically educate myself and then tell my doctor exactly what I wanted to try or I'd be stuck with the premarin pill. I also have to order my oestrogel online because the only estrogen my insurance will cover is the pill form which doesn't work for me at all. Luckily I've found a couple reputable pharmacies over the last few years when my health insurance changed to catastrophic coverage because of the health care reform. I basically haven't had health insurance to speak of since 2012. Estrogel here would cost me $600 dollars for a month supply but I get it for about $40 online. It's the same with vaginal estrogen too so I was looking at over a thousand dollars a month just to treat my menopausal issues alone! It's crazy ::) ???
Not sure why I went off on that tangent but I guess sometimes you have to vent. I know no system is perfect but I admit I'm a little envious of our UK sister's health care system right now.
-
Hello you two newbies. thanks for the posts. Perhaps we need to remember this next time we are complaining about our NHS :)
-
:rofl: I guess you could say we have an expensive vaginas!
I was surprised when my daughter came back from her European tour and told me how much easier it was to eat gluten free while in the UK (we have celiac). She also went to the doctor for free on someone's health card. A simple doctor's visit here is around $200.