Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Rumbaba on April 10, 2023, 11:22:48 AM
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Hi all
My last set of blood tests showed my oestrogen and testosterone levels to be high 1233 and 163 respectively. I was really surprised by that, I don't have sore breasts (quite the opposite, they seem deflated) or bleeding or anything.
Anyway, I reduced the dosage last week, and since then my bones have been really aching, and my anxiety has been, at times, through the roof, on Saturday I felt so strange and detached but raging anxiety.
I am worried too because I saw Dr Hilary Jones on the TV last week saying that high doses of hrt can cause endometrial cancer! So, I've booked a private ultrasound on weds to get that checked.
Will these horrible symptoms settle down when my body adjusts to the new dose?
Thanks for any advice,
Rumbaba x
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Forgot to say, I'm 5 years post menopause
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Hello,
What dose were you on? And do you use gel Or spray? There have been a few posters on here with contamination of finger prick samples when they use oestrogen gels etc.
I think if you haven’t been having any odd bleeding or spotting then the chances are your endometrium is not unstable or thickened. It’s as well to have a scan to check this though.
What dose of progesterone do you take (assuming you have a uterus still)?
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Hi
Thanks for replying
I was on 300mg, but have now reduced to 275. Up until this last test, all results showed that I wasn't absorbing much at all. I have frequent tests, as my dose is so high.
The tests are all venous tests, and I am using patches, and testim.
I do still have a womb, and use 100 utrogestan nightly.
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Interesting! Have you changed the positioning of the patches at all? Looks like you have suddenly started absorbing a bit better?
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Well, now you mention it. I've had to change from estradot to evorel, because of shortages, which are much larger. I was using upper outer thigh, but I've been using just above buttocks and outer hip area more, as moving these massive patches around is more tricky.
Rumbaba
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What was the normal range for testosterone?
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Do you take testosterone replacement?
I ask because my oestrogen and testosterone came back high but I think testosterone caused my oestrogen to be high. My breasts got larger and very painful once I increased my testosterone dose.
I've just come off testosterone to see what happens to my test results.
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Hi
Yes, I am taking testim, which I have also reduced following the high results .
The range given is 0.5 to 2.6. I think I posted the wrong figure in my original post, that's my shbg. Testosterone was 8.97 which is way higher than the upper range limit.
My breasts don't feel sore, nor am I covered in hair, or developing a deep voice. It's a mystery to me.
My previous oestrogel result was only 300 and I still had symptoms, and that was when I was on 250mg of oestrogel.
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Hi
100 utrogestan seems very low for the amount of oestrogen you are on as it is only said to be adequate for up to 100 mg oestrogen.
Not sure why your levels have risen but I did have a big jump in level when I went from 75 to 100, so maybe it doesn’t work in a linear way?
Are you using 3 x 100 patches at the same time! That must indeed be hard to find places to put them.
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Hello ladies.
The comments here have reminded me that my Consultant talked about the risks of high oestrogen doses. He said that some clinics were advising very high doses and some health authorities were becoming concerned about this trend. If the subject is being discussed on TV perhaps there has been a change of policy somewhere?
If I were on a high dose I would do some research to find the latest information.
Wishing you all well ladies and take care.
K.
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Hi
Thanks for your replies.
Yes, I agree that the utrogestan seems low compared to the oestrogen, but my consultant said as I wasn't absorbing much, it was not a problem. Obviously that's all changed now. Annoyingly I can get an appointment until September .
Yes, it's hard to find places for those flipping patches. If the symptoms settle down ( getting palps now too), then I'd like to reduce more..
But so hard to know what to do.
Thanks Kathleen, I saw that TV discussion, which is why I've booked an us tomorrow.
Best wishes
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Also
I am thinking of going to a new clinic, to get an outside review of my regime. I live near Oxford , so am thinking of Dr Kate barber at the Oxford menopause clinic.
I would love to hear from anyone who has attended this clinic. Good bad or indifferent?
Many thanks
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I would have thought that it was most likely just a spike in your own Estrogen and not what it is all of the time.
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Floo36, Rumbaba says she is five years post menopause so I doubt that is the case
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Hi Rumbaba I have just come across your post. Have you noticed any changes since stopping your testosterone ? I posted earlier about me doing this and extremely sore boobs !
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Hi April
I haven't stopped testosterone, just reduced the amount, and haven't noticed any changes or soreness in my boobs.
I had my scan today, and my endometrium was thin - 3.3mm. one puzzling thing is that the sonographer wrote in the report that it (the lining) had a bright appearance and put a ? "Significance" after that. Not sure what to do with that, or if I should be worried.
Ovaries smaller and as expected. Left ovary has a 14mm persistent follicle.
If anyone else has had a scan with the bright appearance result, or knows what it means I'd be glad to hear about it
Thanks
Rumbaba
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Scratch that, I AM worried. Freaking out about the bright appearance comment on my report. I just don't know what to do. :'( :'(
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I checked my previous us reports, and ovarian cyst was consistently 8mm in 2020 and 2021. Limit is under 10mm, so now it must be outside limit!