Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Julie08 on August 12, 2023, 03:10:25 PM
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Hello
Following my last post, I made the decision to stop using Google and feeling like my GP couldn’t help and pay to see a consultant.
It cost me £250, so not cheap, and was in Nottingham.
I had a hours appointment and went with my list of questions. The advice was clear and just what I needed. U prescription was reviewed and I left feeling much more informed and like I had a real plan.
I was on far too much oestrogen and should have had progesterone. All now adjusted.
Just wanted to share with anyone who was feeling like I did.
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It's great that you have been listened to and well worth the money. I hope you soon feel better. Do you know why progesterone has been suggested? I too have had a hysterectomy but was relieved to no longer need progesterone as oestrogen only HRT cuts the breast cancer risk. I hadn't thought of the positives of progesterone I must admit.
Taz x :)
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tnx for the update. Let us know how you get on. Sometimes it's worth while paying out to be listened to.
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This is such good news. I am so happy you were able to speak to somebody who understood and was able to help you. :)
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It's great that you have been listened to and well worth the money. I hope you soon feel better. Do you know why progesterone has been suggested? I too have had a hysterectomy but was relieved to no longer need progesterone as oestrogen only HRT cuts the breast cancer risk. I hadn't thought of the positives of progesterone I must admit.
Hi Taz, I don't need Progesterone either because I too had hysterectomy but since adding in utrogestan I feel so much better. Much calmer and no longer feel like I have no resilience to anything potentially going wrong. I know what you mean about reduced risk of BC with oestrogen only but that was because only synthetic progestogens were looked at in the trials. My understanding is body identical progesterone doesn't carry the same risk. I get a lot of my info from the surgical menopause Facebook group - plenty of women only feel well once they add in utrogestan. That's not to say it suits everyone of course. I definitely had two or three weeks feeling worse when I added it but gradually felt better and better and sleep improved too.
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I also went private and feel it was money well spent I get my GP to prescribe my prescription now that she’s signed me off for a year. But I know she’s an email away if I need her to adjust anything.
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It's great that you have been listened to and well worth the money. I hope you soon feel better. Do you know why progesterone has been suggested? I too have had a hysterectomy but was relieved to no longer need progesterone as oestrogen only HRT cuts the breast cancer risk. I hadn't thought of the positives of progesterone I must admit.
Taz x :)
Hi
Because I had endometriosis. She felt that to ensure there was no regrowth I should have had progesterone from my hysterectomy onwards.
Day 5 now of progesterone and one one pump of oestrogen instead of Evorel 100 (1/4) of what I had and feel so much better. Breast pain gone and sleeping much better.
Julie
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Ah thanks for the explanation . I'm sorry. I didn't realise you had endo. Such a painful and much misunderstood condition.
Taz x
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Hi Julie08
:welcomemm:
First of all I am so glad you have had the treatment you need to deal with your condition, but I am also sorry to hear that you had to seek and pay for private care because the GP was unable to understand what was wrong.
It is usually the case that continuous progesterone must be prescribed for those with endometriosis (even though you have had a hysterectomy), as you say (from your private consultant) in case there are endometrial deposits outside the womb which would grow in the presence of oestrogen and cause pain and discomfort that you were experiencing.
Here is what it say on this website:
"There is a small risk of reactivation of endometriosis with HRT use and any recurrence of symptoms should be reported. If a hysterectomy has been performed for endometriosis, the choice of HRT use thereafter should be influenced by the extent of endometriosis at the time of the operation. Since hysterectomy often causes a premature menopause, it is often advised to take HRT until the average age of the menopause; 51 years. HRT after hysterectomy usually consists of estrogen only. However, in the presence of endometriosis, estrogen may cause stimulation of residual deposits and consideration should be given to using continuous combined (estrogen plus daily progestogen) therapy, or tibolone, though little research has been done on the effect of different types and duration of therapy. Medical treatment of endometriosis often involves ovarian suppression which, along with ovarian removal, may increase the risk of osteoporosis. "
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossE
Long may this continue - your feeling better and that you no longer feel the discomfort.
As Taz says - usually once you've had a hysterectomy you no longer need progesterone, and most women feel better because of this but in your case this is different due to endometriosis.
For others reading this in the same position, who might feel that private treatment is the only option but cannot afford it - do refer your GP to the brief information that is quoted above from this website, and if necessary insist or ask for a referral to an NHS specialist, mentioning potential endometrial deposits, and as per the consultant, all women in a similar position should be given progesterone immediately following the hysterectomy.
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity.
Taz x :)