Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: MrsMitch on January 04, 2024, 10:57:19 AM
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Me again dear ladies!!
So while I wait for the results of my biopsy, I'm at my wits end as I was told to stop the hrt after my TVS due to thickening of womb lining. Sitting there last night bathed in sweat, bedroom windows wide open with an icy blast coming through, I thought "this is madness"
My results are due any day and I've been about 3 weeks without hrt. It's the lack of sleep that really gets me down though. Prior to starting hrt I used to wake about every 45 mins all through the night but now I can only drop off for about 20 mins max and I'm knackered. I just can't function during the day like this and I'm back to work next week which means early starts and I do a very strenuous manual job.
So I thought "stuff it" this morning and used my oestrogen at the usual 4 pumps. I will also take Utrogesran tonight and oestrogen pessaries as my VA is so ban I can barely stand clothes on. I said I was finished with hrt after this scare but I didn't expect things to get much worse than it was prior to starting hrt.
Can I catch up with my oestrogen faster by applying higher doses (pure desperation) or would my body not absorb it that way?
I honestly feel so despairing I don't care that I don't yet know the cause of my womb lining being thickened. I can't go on like this.
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I would speak to the Consultant about the waiting for biopsy results and lay it on thick about the impact that the lack of hormones are causing.
I would have started vaginal atrophy treatment immediately as I don't think that there is any reason to stop. It is unlikely that a small amount of oestrogen replacement nightly will trigger anything untoward.
U may have a bad reaction with 4 pumps :o so suddenly! There are anti-depressant medications [sorry can't remember which 1s] that are said to ease hot flushes. Has a full hysterectomy been discussed, although major surgery it would get rid of the worry about thickened womb lining?
MayB make a list of how you were B4 the TVS and the reaction of no HRT since. Let us know how you get on!
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Hi no you can’t catch up on oestrogen by using higher doses.
Were you stable on 4 pumps before stopping it ? Hopefully, if you’ve only been off it for 3 weeks, it shouldn’t take too long to build up your reserves again. x
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I think the anti depressant used for hot flushes is venlafaxine.
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MrsMitch that sounds terrible and I would be doing the same in your situation. I don't understand why they didn't give you a heavy duty synthetic progesterone to clear the lining in the first instance. I would imagine the Utrogestan wasn't cutting it and because you were on a very high dose of Oestrogel, you had some lining build up but it's not unusual. If you were taking Utrogestan orally, you may not have been absorbing the properly.
You only stopped taking HRT recently so you should be able to restore your hormone levels very quickly and you don't need to play catch up and increase the dose.
Your doctor will probably recommend a Mirena coil, have you ever tried it?
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:thankyou:
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Thank you so much ladies, you always encourage me with your knowledgeable answers.
I was offered a mirena coil but refused due to so many issues with endometriosis and once the consultant knew I had a past history of it, combines with VA, it was agreed ot wouldn't be a good idea partly due to the pain I may have and also the fact that I'd have to have a general anaesthetic again if it needed to be removed.
I think I will see if I can get through to the consultants secretary to see if the results are in yet because I simply can't go on like this.
Nothing was discussed with me except stopping hrt immediately.
I always understood the oestrogen pessaries were a very low dose and continued with those in the week prior to the hysteroscopy because I couldn't bear the thought of the pain I'd be in afterwards if I didn't. As it was the consultant said me VA was very bad and caused her problems.
Thank you all though, seriously its very comforting to know you all get how I feel. I'm feeling very emotional today, which is new too!! Hugs of gratitude to you all.
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Just spoke to the secretary and ghe results aren't back yet. She gas said she will make herself a post it note to get the consultant to look at them and give her permission to call me with the results as they would usually write to me with them. I explained I desperately need, if possible, to go back on hrt so she dud say she'd mention it to her.
I'll keep you all posted.
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Well done! I often took messages back and forth between the Consultant, physio etc. on behalf of patients. If the Consultant can fetch up the results etc., that will give you a Plan A. Plan B is to get back to the VA treatment ASAP.
Keep me up2date!
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Just thought I'd post an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar position to me: I had applied 3 x dose of gel yesterday, prior to asking here if it was a good idea!! But I didn't have a single hot flush all day and actually felt really well so I must have had symptoms of hrt withdrawal that I didn't realise.
Last night I slept, woohoo! Only woke twice, which for me is normal and no night sweats at all. I took 2 Utrogestan tablets rather than the one prescribed as I do wonder if my womb lining is thickened because I wasn't on a high enough dose.
So as you correctly said, it hasn't taken long for my system to get back to normal after restarting hrt. So relieved.
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You are having a really hard rotten old time of it just now MrsMitch - I am glad you are feeling a bit better. Take good care of and look after yourself my lovely x :hug:
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Just thought I'd post an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar position to me: I had applied 3 x dose of gel yesterday, prior to asking here if it was a good idea!! But I didn't have a single hot flush all day and actually felt really well so I must have had symptoms of hrt withdrawal that I didn't realise.
Last night I slept, woohoo! Only woke twice, which for me is normal and no night sweats at all. I took 2 Utrogestan tablets rather than the one prescribed as I do wonder if my womb lining is thickened because I wasn't on a high enough dose.
So as you correctly said, it hasn't taken long for my system to get back to normal after restarting hrt. So relieved.
Ive been following your journey Mrs Mitch Im so glad xx
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Thank you for your kind encouraging words ladies I really do appreciate it :thankyou:
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Hi.
I'm in the same boat.
Had to stop my hrt for a biopsy, I was on tablet form, and my results came back normal.
I've been off hrt now for nearly 3 months.
The symptoms are returning now rapidly. Started with the sweats, then night sweats, causing lack of sleep. And now the new one is anxiety and I can't breathe in to take a deep breath, ( used to have this before, when I first started meno symptoms, )
My gynae said the thickened womb lining was probably down to not absorbing the progesterone in the tablet form. As soon as I stopped taking it, within a few days the bleeding stopped. So it does make sense.
But what to do?
I'm increasingly getting worried about how all this will pan out, before hrt, my symptoms were horrendous, then after finding one that suited me, everything got better, so it's been years since I've felt like this. On top of it, which makes everything worse , my OH is poorly and going through a serious health problem, and I'm caring for him, so I really don't need all this now.
Maybe I should go private and see a specialist and try patches? ...think ill need to do something, no use going to my GP, I know what she'll say, No, no hrt for you because you've had bleeding! .....she tried to get me off it some years back. Saying we can only stay on it for a maximum of 5 years. 🙄
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Hi jillydoll
Im in a very similar position to you.
I was on gel and cyclogest rectally as i couldnt cope with utro. i got unopposed estrogen had a heavy bleed and thickened womb lining. My biopsy was also normal all bleeding stopped after id stopped the hrt.
My gynae clinic has suggested the coil but i definately know i wouldnt get on with it. im wondering if i may absorb the cyclogest vaginally better.
Im so sorry about your OH being ill. I hope you can get something sorted out.
Take care xxx
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Hi Jillydoll I'm so sorry you have so much to cope with, all these problems returning for you is a huge burden to carry.
Maybe a private specialist would be best if you can afford it? Prior to my bleeding/hysteroscopy my husband said I should go private to get the dose of everything I need, plus be prescribed other things my GP can't and talk everything through to make sure I'm on what's best.
I do worry the outcome will be being told not to take hrt now, that terrifies me more than a cancer diagnosis because that could be dealt with, but no hrt? Cannot bear the thought. I wonder if mine is just not absorbing utrogestan too?
I hope you manage to get some expert help and sort your symptoms out.
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Hi.
I'm in the same boat.
Had to stop my hrt for a biopsy, I was on tablet form, and my results came back normal.
I've been off hrt now for nearly 3 months.
The symptoms are returning now rapidly. Started with the sweats, then night sweats, causing lack of sleep. And now the new one is anxiety and I can't breathe in to take a deep breath, ( used to have this before, when I first started meno symptoms, )
My gynae said the thickened womb lining was probably down to not absorbing the progesterone in the tablet form. As soon as I stopped taking it, within a few days the bleeding stopped. So it does make sense.
But what to do?
I'm increasingly getting worried about how all this will pan out, before hrt, my symptoms were horrendous, then after finding one that suited me, everything got better, so it's been years since I've felt like this. On top of it, which makes everything worse , my OH is poorly and going through a serious health problem, and I'm caring for him, so I really don't need all this now.
Maybe I should go private and see a specialist and try patches? ...think ill need to do something, no use going to my GP, I know what she'll say, No, no hrt for you because you've had bleeding! .....she tried to get me off it some years back. Saying we can only stay on it for a maximum of 5 years. 🙄
If the results of your biopsy were normal, I don't understand how your GP can say no hrt. Is she just one who is against hrt in general.
If you have the money, I'd go private, explore options (perhaps estrogen that isn't a tablet form, and a different progesterone maybe a higher dose) and have a scan say in a few months to check lining hasn't grown. Then whoever you see privately can write to the GP, say you have looked at options and made an informed decision etc, and ask them to prescribe. They may still say no and private prescriptiond are expensive but perhaps you could ask the practice manager to look into it or see another GP. This is impacting your quality of life and you are entitled to seek a second opinion x
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Hi everyone.
I'm booked in for tomorrow morning with a private meno specialist.
Waiting for an appointment with my own GP is useless, so I've taken the plunge and paid for one. I can't wait weeks suffering these symptoms with everything else I'm dealing with.
Yes Penguin, I'll see what happens when my own GP is informed, and I'll take it from there. I know one DR at my surgery is anti hrt, .....wonder what she'll be like when she hits meno. 💁♀️
Mrs Mitch, yes that's what I'm thinking and hoping, that your results will be the same as mine, and you've not absorbed the prog.
I was told there's more of a waiting time now with regards to results because more and more are going private.
Hopefully you'll get yours soon.
Discogirl...........you have my sympathy, its no fun is it. ....waiting every day to see if symptoms ease any. Isn't there anything you can do?
I'll let you all know tomorrow how I've got on, fingers crossed. 🤞
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Hi jillydoll
Well im just taking things a day at a time see how i get on x
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Hi all. 👋
Been to my appointment this morning and she was lovely.
Totally sympathetic and understanding .
So she's put me on estogel 3 pumps per day, and utrogestion 100mg.
I can increase the estogel to 4 pumps if needed but she said wait and see how I feel, it's all to do with treating my symptoms and how I feel.
I have a phone consultation with her in 8 weeks time to see how I'm getting on. Then, at the 3 month mark, she'll take bloods to see where I'm at.
I'm a bit apprehensive about starting it tonight, but then looking back, I was when I first started all of the hrt I've ever taken.
It surely cant be any worse than the night I had last night with hardly any sleep because of night sweats. 🤷♀️
Hope it goes OK for you Disco, hang on in there. x
Any news yet Mrs Mitch on your results?
Xx
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Sounds like you are being very well looked after Jillydoll so hopefully things will ease for you but it does take time.
I did start another thread to say I've not had the letter with results but the consultant secretary said they do have them and that if anything worrying had been found, they would have phoned me and she said a letter with the results has been written in stead. So she was saying no new is good news.
Thank you for asking. Let's hope your sleep and other symptoms improve.
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Hello ladies.
Jillydoll. - I wish you luck with your new regime and I hope you see the benefits soon.
I have recently left the private clinic and gone back to my GP surgery for my HRT ( so a similar change to you but in reverse, if you see what I mean lol).
I have been prescribed Utrogestan 100mg orally every night and told to continue with two pumps of Oestrogel every day but that can be increased if symptoms return. The aim is to stick with Utrogestan for effective womb lining protection but tweak the oestrogen dose if necessary.
Menopause is mainly dealt with by a Senior Nurse Practitioner at my surgery and now I have my talons into her I won't be letting go!
Wishing you well and take care.
K.
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Thanx everyone.
Good luck kathleen with your hrt, your on the same as me, I'm on 3 pumps tho.
Havnt seen much difference just yet, I'm expecting an miracle I think. Still sweating and night sweats are terrible.
I think my moods lifted a bit. Could be psychological I suppose. 🤷♀️
We hang on in there hoping this will work. 🤞 xx