Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: MIS71MUM on August 15, 2018, 04:33:26 PM
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Can I have some advice please?
This past 3 weeks have been really awful for me. I've had a massive return of my symptoms, sweats, flushing, poor sleep, dizzyness, nausea, etc. The worst by far was the out of my skin anxiety! I knew I was close to losing my marbles 10 days ago, even the way my husband looked at me, made me realise I wasn't great.
Anyway 10 days on - still sweating away but the anxiety has stopped thankfully. During this time, I managed to speak to a very dismissive GP whom I begged for blood tests. I expained that I had suicidal thoughts for 2 days every so often, and she didnt seem the slightest bit interested.
Anyway - the results are back;
24.4 FSH
12.8 LH
153 Oestradiol pmol
My tests were at 10.30 am and I hadn;t applied my gel. But I had applied 1 pump at 10.30 the pervious evening!
Looking back at my past results, I seem to have never had anything above 153 on patches or gel. Admitedly I was on 75mg of patch but have been on 4 pumps of gel for about 4/5 months now.
What should I do next?
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Maybe you try tablets ? Why do you think your body doesn't absorb estrogen? What's your gyns explanation?
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I'm a bit reluctant to try the tablets as I thought they were higher risk for us ladies.
Also i'm not sure my rubbish gp (female) would support me going to 6 pumps. She told me to go private!!!
I'm 100% positive that I am still ovualating from time to time, and it's my own progesterone that's causing the awful anxiety. I just need a preparation that will override my cycle so that I dont ovulate.
I've considered taking the Contraceptive Pill but I don't have a womb so I'm sure I'd be in trouble for taking something that I dont need.
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I think that 6 pumps are too much, maybe you just need stronger estrogen. Did you try Qlaira or something like that?
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Can't for the life of me remember where I got it from but it was before my hysterectomy 18 months ago.
Never ended up trying but now I don't need it, I'm not sure a GP would prescribe it for me again.
6 pumps would be ridiculous, I'd run out of places to put it, im only 5 3!!
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What do you take Emerald? Are you peri? I'm sure we've been on threads together before?
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Yeah, I think so! I tried livial, cyclo progynova and I am on Femoston 2/10 for a year now.
I feel good on it, I am 42, in peri and don't like the idea of patches...
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I was put on patches after my hysterectomy and a blood test showed that my oestrogen levels were almost zero. I really did feel dreadful. My consultant said that some women just don't absorb HRT through the skin. I've been on tablets every since and feel amazing.
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My huge sympathies! I have exactly the same absorption issues - but even worse. 3 x pumps a day and current blood tests showed oestrogen levels of 54 (range is 48-545)!!!
I've really not wanted to do pills - I've heard gel is safer plus I hate tablets - but I'm now considering it.
I've got the mirena coil in. I didn't do well with progesterone in tablet form (utrogesteran),
Can I get just estrogen only pills? I find the whole thing confusing!
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Yes you can get Oestrogen only tablets x
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Elleste solo (oestrogen only) worked great for me for years until I hit natural peri then I needed something more, I now realise it was probably testosterone all along my body was needing
Anyhow elleste solo comes in 1mg or 2mg and really are worth a try if you're not absorbing x
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Thanks Annie. Did you get any side effects?
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Thanks Annie. Did you get any side effects?
None at all ! Although to be fair I wasn't looking for any but I felt absolutely great on them for 13 years. Within 3 days my symptoms were gone, they came back after @3 weeks so dr put me on 2mg and I never looked back (until 13 years later when I hit natural peri ) x
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That's very encouraging, Annie.
Do you know if Femoston also do a solo?
I'm so torn over how to proceed. My FSH is over 100, my estrogen levels 54. It's clear I'm far into meno, if not post. I didn't have a period for 14 months before starting HRT - and the only reason I did was because I am 48 and have osteopenia. My mum has osteoporosis (although she had a hysterectomy at 36 and no HRT).
I don't have any other symptoms really - except terrible fatigue, bad sleep. No flushes or sweats. Mood not brilliant but I exercise a lot.
If I'm not absorbing and I've come this far without, I wonder if I should whip out the coil and just go cold turkey? I'm nearly 49. My last dextra scan showed that I had not only stopped the progress of osteopenia but I had begun to reverse it.
That's the main reason for all this.
Sorry, just musing aloud!
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That's very encouraging, Annie.
Do you know if Femoston also do a solo?
I'm so torn over how to proceed. My FSH is over 100, my estrogen levels 54. It's clear I'm far into meno, if not post. I didn't have a period for 14 months before starting HRT - and the only reason I did was because I am 48 and have osteopenia. My mum has osteoporosis (although she had a hysterectomy at 36 and no HRT).
I don't have any other symptoms really - except terrible fatigue, bad sleep. No flushes or sweats. Mood not brilliant but I exercise a lot.
If I'm not absorbing and I've come this far without, I wonder if I should whip out the coil and just go cold turkey? I'm nearly 49. My last dextra scan showed that I had not only stopped the progress of osteopenia but I had begun to reverse it.
That's the main reason for all this.
Sorry, just musing aloud!
I honestly don't know about femoston, I only know about the hrt I've tried over the years
May sound really stupid but have you had your bloods done re tiredness ? Ie vid D, iron, thyroid, b12 etc ?
When I couldn't sleep I used Phenergan every other night and it worked great
It's so hard what to suggest as in terms of meno symptoms, you're really lucky (I don't mean it as if you're not suffering) but if you were to for example try testosterone you'd need good oestrogen levels before trying, testosterone would help with energy x
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Yes, all other levels are fine/good
The reason I even checked my estrogen levels this week is because I'd gone through the whole rigmarole to get testosterone from a consultant - which I have! But need good estrogen levels.
It's all such a tiring cycle - but yes, currently, I know I could have a lot of other, crap symptoms
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Not sure it'll be helpful to you but I had issues absorbing the gel correctly and swapped to patches, I had an adverse reaction to tablets.
When I saw the Menopause Specialist I was using Estradot 100 mcg plus gel and had an Oestrogen level of 194. I was told to use 200 mcg and change it three times a week (to prevent the dips) - my level went to 500-700.
The Specialist said they wanted to make sure I could absorb the patches.
At my last review I discussed reducing the dose and I am now using 175 mcg. I have been reassured to concentrate on symptom control and not what dose I have to use to feel well.
My advice would be to find a Specialist to help support you as it's so hard to see things clearly on your own :)
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Salad - can I ask if you suffered from any side effects of the patches? It's just that for the 1st 24 hours on a high patch, would make me more anxious - Day 2 was fine?
I'm beginning to think pills may be the answer, even for jusy a short while. Maybe I can swap and change, once my levels are healthy and high!
I too have testosterone but haven't taken it for longer than 7 days in the past 4 months. I agree that your Oestrogen levels needs to be high enough first.
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Salad - can I ask if you suffered from any side effects of the patches? It's just that for the 1st 24 hours on a high patch, would make me more anxious -
No, not that I'm aware.
Have you ensured all your other levels are ok eg low Vit D can cause anxiety.
Hope you find something to help x
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Hi ladies
I really thought I was through the meno, but sadly not as I have just gone back to the gel/mirena as I couldn't cope with the flushes and lack of sleep, however it's not ideal as it causes me to have irregular bouts of spotting which always abruptly stops when I stop the gel. I also don't think I was absorbing it properly and evenly and would like to try a tablet equal to 1-2 pumps of oestrogel if anyone has any suggestions. I'm 53 and not sure where I am in the meno journey as I've been on and off HRT for almost 3 years, but would love to find something suitable as my dexa scan showed osteopenia 2 years ago.
Thanks
Dolly x