Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: skkb on November 12, 2020, 09:59:48 AM
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I haven’t been on MM for a long time, some years in fact. BUT just want to report that 18 on HRT, reduced dose, increased dose, stopped, restarted.....the sweats/flashes are never ending. Using a gel, which is fine, but no progesterone as DO NOT want periods again. So I guess I’m putting my uterus/ovaries at risk? I’ve had pelvic scans to check these twice over the last 5 years and all ok so far but really feel I’m due another scan, which I pay privately for .....but difficult now die to the pandemic. So I think I’m one of the unlucky ones who will suffer with these retched sweats until I die. I wish there was an alternative 🤷♀️
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Skkb
I wouldn’t feel guilty Re taking hrt if you need it you need it. I plan on taking it forever, due to the benefits for my heart, bones, brain, skin, mood, etc.
Re progesterone glad to hear you’ve had no problems so far, that is good news. However, you should keep up with your pelvic scans really. I’ve just had one (privately) so I know they are still being offered. It was a very safe environment and everything was fine. Whereabouts in the country do you live?x
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The NHS is apparently open for business. Some private hospitals have been taken over by the NHS but are standing idle >:(. It's like the government are on a mission to put C-19 above all else, in order to be seen to be doing ?
Ring your local hospital and find out what the procedures are. Some depts that are non-C-19 involved will be working. Don't feel guilty, if you feel better and get regular scans .............. go for it Girl! :cancan:
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Hi, thanks for the info. I’m in Leicestershire and have enquired at Nuffield.....they do a uterus/ovary scan but need a doctors referral letter, which at the moment is a bit of a pain. I had my previous 2 scans with Ultrasound Direct, which was fine but don’t think they are doing scans at the moment (due to lockdown), interestingly they also do a post menopausal scan which includes checking a marker CA-125 for likely ovarian cancer, Nuffield didn’t say anything about that. Do you think that’s a rest worth having?
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Ring your GP and ask for a referral, is there any need to actually attend the Surgery ? MayB ask about CA-125 question at Ovacome web-site?
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skkb,
enquired at Nuffield.....they do a uterus/ovary scan but need a doctors referral letter, which at the moment is a bit of a pain
Nuffield Health offer private GP consults for access to some of their services without needing an NHS GP referral. I don't know whether that includes pelvic scans. If you look at their website it gives a tel no for enquiries about GP appts & you could ask whether that would enable referral for the TV scan you want. You may already have checked that detail with them, but thought it worth mentioning. They also do gynae HRT consults at my nearest Nuffield hospital (not near you) & I'd be surprised if your local one didn't too. All things to check out before forking out though!
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Thanks both, interesting to know. I actually rang ultrasound direct this afternoon and managed to book the pelvic post menopause scan including the the CA-125 test...appointment next Tuesday. Have to go to Nottingham but that’s ok. Happy to do this annually if needs be and if all is well I’ll continue with estrogen only for......well....probably forever. Thanks again, really never thought that at 70 the sweats/flushes would still be happening
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That's great! Well done. Hope it goes well & gives the reassurance you need.
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Hi skkb! Long time no "see".....
Sorry to hear you still have problems with flushes and sweats whenever you reduce dose or come off hRT. I have to admit I have not tried a dose reduction for 7 years! I did start to get flushes again when I changed to Sandrena gel from years of using patches and although I could have probbably got the dose right with tweaking, didn't think it worth the risk as patches had always worked so well.
Just to add also that I have used ultrasound direct twice for private scans and both times have had the post-menopausal one that you are having. Well worth it for peace of mind if you can afford it and if you are doing a regime that is not recommended medically.
How much gel do you use? I would say if you have only had two scans in 5 years that is possibly not frequent enough although if your oestrogen dose is low and the scans were normal thickness and you haven't had any spotting or bleeding then probably OK? Yes annually would be better - depending on the outcome of this one?
Yes as Wrensong said - hope it goes well and do report back!
Hurdity x
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My neighbour says she was on HRT for years and her symptoms came back as soon as she stopped taking it! This is why I’m just riding it through, to see if my hormones will all eventually level themselves out! X
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Cat71, I've turned 50 in October this year and since 2018 I've been having peri symptoms. Like you, I'm not taking HRT as I'm worried of the side effects and not being able able to stop taking it. I'm only hoping that things will eventually settle down.
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You sound identical to me Karine T. Mine started in 2018 and I’m 50 in June next year! Let’s pray it’s just horrendous in the beginning eh?! They say if you’ve had a good life with periods (which I did ... just light bleeding 2 days a month) that your menopause is terrible. Not sure if that’s a myth or not.
I know how you feel ... there are pros and cons to HRT. I’m going to keep riding it through for now and see what happens, at least until I’ve been period free for a year. My last period was six months ago. They say for ‘most’ women that symptoms start easing off when you’re post menopause. Will have to wait and see if we are in that majority. ❤️
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Hi SKKB, I too am 70 and have been on HRT oestrogen only patch for six years. I came late to the party! I still get hot flushes, horrible headaches and itching in my ears. However.
it does help with other symptoms. I have a theory. I think your body never forgets periods because I seem to have worse symptoms once a month!
I have resigned myself to having hot flushes at night for the rest of my life.
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Wow HotMamma ... I have itching inside my ears too. I never knew it was a menopause symptom. They didn’t suggest it when I had them checked at the hospital. It can go with all of my other symptoms lol. Makes sense seeing as I never had itchy ears until this past few months!
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I also have itchy ears , drives me mad. I always had then premenstrually after I reached about age 40, The dr says its like eczema, probably due to everything drying out. When I get a falre up, quite frequently I use otramise which I get on prescription. A couple of doses and it calms it down until the next time.
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Makes sense ShropshireLass - everything starts drying up doesn’t it?! Why not the ears too lol. I use olive oil drops. X
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Yes, apparently itchy ears is due to dryness. Hence the saying ‘dried up old bag’! Mine have been itching on and off for many years. I use olive oil as well but it’s not that effective. Otramise sounds as though it might help. Thanks for that.