Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: sarahmorwenna on August 22, 2022, 03:41:01 PM
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Hi, please could you give advice if you have any suggestions?
I stopped periods in 2017. Towards the end they got really heavy and a scan showed I have fibroids. So the menopause was sort of a relief, apart from the hot flushes and getting so tired I was shaking with it. I saw a lovely GP who said I had prolapse and gave me ovestin. We discussed HRT but I was worried as my aunt has breast cancer. Ovestin made me feel better, on the days I used it, so I wanted to try HRT . After several failed attempts to get HRT from male doctors, a lady doctor said, yes of course, and prescribed estradot 100 and untrogestan 100. This was BRILLIANT for a month, I slept, stopped shaking, could THINK again, my joints stopped hurting, and I forgot about having hot flushes. Then, I started bleeding a bit. Then I bled a lot, had cramps, and my boobs were sore. I spoke to the doctor who had prescribed the HRT and she apologised for having given too high a dose of Estradot, and said that and the fibroids had caused the bleeding. I am on 50 estradot now, and 100 utrogestan as before. The hot flushes have come back, but not so bad as before, but the bleeding is a little better but still cramps up and floods out a couple of times a day. The doctor said if this happened to take tranexamic acid, which I was on for a year or so before menopause. What I was wondering is, do you know if there would be a better way of taking HRT, or if this will sort itself out? Is it impossible to take HRT with fibroids? This is my third week of heavy bleeding, I am woprried I will get anaemia again. I have been unable to use ovestin for weeks because of the bleeding. I would really like something that would stop the hot flushes but not make me bleed. Any advice very welcome, thanks, Sarah
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Hello Sarahmorwenna. Welcome to the forum. I have a feeling your body is adjusting to less oestrogen. Your GP gave you such a high dose to start with.
Just to say, you can take ovestin daily. I personally have to and find that is more helpful then the twice a week they suggest on the leaflet. Lots of members take it daily too.
I cannot advise on the other question but just wanted to welcome you. :)
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Sarahmorwenna hello....
HRT doesn't always activate fibroids, but it can. And that much estrogen probably was really a bad idea with a fibroid... One thing you can definitely investigate, is the Mirena coil. This stops all bleeding for most women within about 6 months of being put in. You can have it fitted even if you have a fibroid, unless it's a really huge one that might be in the way - an ultrasound scan to check on the fibroid should be able to determine if you can have a Mirena.
Whilst your GP did for sure put you right in on too high a dose of estrogen (I'd have probably collapsed, being estrogen intolerant ;D ;D ) that doesn't mean it wasn't (randomly) the right dose for you. If you find your night sweats have come back now you are on 50, you might need to try 75 next - and see if that is enough for you. You don't really want to be trying to treat the fibroid by restricting the estrogen because that's not really going to work - if it is sensitive, any amount will feed it and meanwhile you get your menopause symptoms back.
However, you also need to deal with the bleeding. Because you have a history of this and a fibroid, I really think 100mg of utrogestan isn't going to be enough. So - do consider the Mirena coil.
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Flossieteacake, thankyou so much for your welcome, I was feeling scared and it really helped!
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Flossieteacake, thankyou so much for your welcome, I was feeling scared and it really helped!
You are so welcome. :)