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[JennyR]

Hi,

I'm 33 and had my ovaries and tubes removed six months ago as part of major surgery to get rid of a rare type of cancer. I kept my uterus and had eggs frozen before my surgery, so hope to still be able to have children one day.

I started HRT three months ago. I would have been happy not to take it, as I felt fine without it, except that I was getting horrible hot sweats, which I couldn't tolerate.

My mood is a different story, though... I understand that many people who go through this kind of instant, early menopause suffer from horrible mood swings and that going on HRT sorts them out. For me, it's been the opposite. I felt much more 'balanced' in the three months after my ovaries were removed but before I started the HRT.

I am on Tridestra which is oestrogen for about 70 days, then progesterone for about 10 days which apparently induces a period. The oestrogen phase isn't too bad, but the progesterone phase makes me feel really depressed, anxious etc. So much so that a couple of days ago, I threw away the last two progesterone pills in the pack, and started back on the oestrogen sooner than I should have. My mood has improved slightly since then... but I haven't had a period... I don't know how important that is.

I don't know what to do. Apparently I can't take oestrogen alone, as it carries a high risk of uterine cancer unless combined with progesterone. But I can't tolerate the progesterone... and I can't take nothing, because of the hot sweats.... I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I just wondered if anyone has any advice about Tridestra and whether there are any good alternatives for someone in my situation...?

Thanks 

[CLKD]

Why do you need to have a bleed?  If your ovaries have been removed, isn't that the point?  that bleeding stops because there are no eggs to be removed? 

How were your moods during your 'natural' cycle?

I think you need to go back to the Consultant who did your Surgery for a long chat.  In the meantime, read the menus, left of screen to see if there is any advice which can help. 

[CLKD]

   by the way 

[Clovie]

Hi JennyR

I know EXACTLY how you feel, unfortunately.

I have started a couple of threads about how I have felt on the progesterone phase of Tridestra and also on the progesterone phase of Cyclo-progynova, and also most recently on the COCP which also contains progesterone.
I don't know how to link my threads sorry, but if you search under my username you might find them?
 
I was/am so bad I could only take one cycle of each as the progesterone phase turned me into something of a mad woman   anxiety, paranoia, guilt, unbearable sadness, feeling of utter bleakness - you name it.

I am apparently progesterone intolerant, and the ladies on here have been marvellous - they know so much about it - have been a tremendous help!!!

I'm sure someone will be along to help you, I'm not much help I'm afraid, as I'm still going through options to try and eliminate the nasty effects of progesterone - hoping to start on Utrogestan (a more tolerable progesterone for some affected ladies) next week.
Anyway I just wanted to sympathise and to say I was EXACTLY the same on Tridestra - it was like someone had flicked a switch when I started on the blue tablets (the progesterone ones)
Keep strong Jenny! 

[Limpy]

Hi JennyR

Welcome to the forum.

I haven't taken Tridestra so can't comment on that.

The Hot Sweats are horrible, that's part of the reason I started HRT, but I am loads older than you.

I have been told that "They" the medics aren't happy giving oestrogen by itself because the womb lining builds up with the risk of uterine cancer. I don't know whether a conti HRT (with no bleeding) would be suitable for you. Might not be a good idea if you want to get pregnant, don't know.

Best thing to do is to speak to somebody, your GP as a starting point, then a specialist.

You say you want to have children, speak to somebody, so you get the best advice to;
1 - Feel good
2- Maximise the chances of pregnancy

Good Luck

[honeybun]

You still have to have a bleed because you still have your womb. It's a case of finding a progesterone that suits you.

Have you thought of e mailing Dr Currie and asking her advice. She is the expert and will be able to guide you to different preparations that will suit you.

As you want to have children then it's important that you keep things as good as you possibly can.

Try Dr Currie for help.....details on the home page.

Honeyb
X

[Taz2]

Welcome to the forum Jenny R.

Taz x 

[Hurdity]

Hi jennyR

Welcome from me too.

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Re HRT having been plunged into menopause at such an early age you really do need to have oestrogen  at least until the average age of menopause ie 50/52 ish to protect your bones from osteoporosis.

Oestrogen stimulates the uterus lining to prepare for pregnancy and as has been said already if there is no pregnancy it needs to be shed regularly otherwise it thickens too much and as you said, potentially can cause endometrial cancer. It is the job of progesterone to do this ie allow it to be shed. You must have a bleed and I would have thought after 70 days of oestrogen your lining would have built up. Also the bleed won't necessarily come after a couple of days - withdrawal bleeds can happen a few days after stopping the progesterone so may yet happen!

Look - I am not a gynaecologist, but since you are hoping to become pregnant one day I would have thought in addition to talking to someone as limpy says to maximise your chances I would have thought intuitively you should as far as possible be trying to mimic your natural cycle, and use hormones as close to what your body would be producing.

Therefore in your situation ( and I prefer this anyway) I would go for a shorter cycle - because that is what you would have been having, and use bio-identical hormones - that is estradiol - for the oestrogen, and micronised progesterone for that part of it. Unless you are highly progesterone intolerant hopefully you shouldn't get more than "normal" pms symptoms (for you) - ie whatever you used to get on your monthly cycle.

I definitely would not want to go on a no bleed preparation in your situation, and especially as that gives progesterone ( and often a synthetic type is prescribed) all the time, and the associated downturn in mood it can cause.

Lookk at the menu on the left under HRT preparations - there are oestrogen only tablets, or patches or gel (maybe the transdermal oestrogen would suit you better moodwise?) if you prefer them. The progesterone is Utrogestan and you would take it for say 10 days in your cycle - depending on how much oestrogen you had.

Also your tesosterone levels may well have dropped considerably as your ovaries have been removed so it might be worth having this tested too.

Are you under a consultant re HRT in your situation? I do hope so.

Hopefully other women who have had total hyster can advise here re the testosterone but there are threads on it.

Hope this helps and I do wish you the very best re pregnancy as well as feeling better generally.

Hurdity x