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[LJB12]

Hi,
I just want to feel less alone in this whole thing!
I had a BSO in December 2015 to cure PMDD. I was put on Elleste Solo 2mg and a Mirena coil (which I'd had previously anyway). Things were all good, no menopause symptoms but I just lacked Ooomph and zest and get up and go. My estradiol levels were 352 (can't remember the units) which the letter said was "normal".
I saw Nick Panay who prescribed 50mcg Estrodot patch, testim gel and vagifem. I felt terrible on the patch - really low energy, depressed etc, so went back on to the tablet until I saw him again.

The testosterone and vagifem worked a treat but I was feeling a bit irritable and having weird thoughts like "Do I even want to be married anyway?" - never thought anything like this before!

Saw Nick Panay again and he put me on 100mcg estrodot patch which I've had since December 22nd. It made me feel highly anxious, total loss of confidence, worrying, panicking, upset at work. These symptoms increased the day after I changed my patch, and I had sore breasts too.

I have an appt with the menopause nurse on Tuesday of next week and she will go through some blood test results with me, hopefully that will show that my estrogen was too high?

Last week I went back on the 2mg Elleste solo but now feel very worried, anxious, panicky, depressed, concerned - I'd classify this as feeling low as opposed to jittery on the patch. I wonder if this is the difference between very high and very low estrogen?
I only get an appt at the menopause clinic once every 3 months which is a long time to wait. Haven't tried my GPs but maybe I should, though surely the meno clinic is more specialist. 

I feel really lost as if I'll never get this sorted. I just would love to hear from some others who have been through, or are going through, similar things to me. I feel really desperate - after 15 years of PMDD I thought my misery was over, but menopause seems to be causing just as much trouble at the moment 

Thanks in advance

[Annie0710]

Hi I had a hysterectomy years ago keeping ovaries but they failed soon after and now dissolved

2mg elleste solo was brilliant for me for 13 years but at 45 it all went downhill with menopause symptoms

I've tried 75mcg and 100mcg estradot and it's too high for me giving the same symptoms as you.  Progesterone does oppose oestrogen but I'm not sure how much so 75mcg  oestrogen would (from what my meno nurse said) be lower whilst using progesterone

Don't stick with a dose you're uncomfortable with .  Maybe Try Snipping some off the  75mcg patch and give it a day or 2 until you find your happy dose

[LJB12]

Thanks Annie.
Do you think you see benefits within a couple of days?

I feel absolutely terrible on the 2mg tablet this time round - 100mcg felt too high (thank you for verifying that it sounds like too high) but now I feel too low - but that's just instinct, I have no blood tests or anything (yet).

[Annie0710]

Don't worry about blood tests.  They're helpful like in my case telling me I was post meno as I had no periods to go by but you should go by your symptoms.   Things do change even post meno so try snipping the patch .  I remember how jittery high doses was affecting me and I'm sure when reducing the dose I'd notice even within a day but on the flip side if I forgot to put a patch on or change it I felt no symptoms return !

[Rhiner]

Hi LJB,

I too have had BSO last March. Started on Femoston but really bad headaches kicked in after 8 weeks. Changed to Oestrodot , started on 50mcg, but still felt very faint, upped to 75. Meno specialist told me to stick with this for a month no matter how I felt and sure enough things started to settle. Took me about 8 weeks with oestrodot before I was convinced the dose is good, before I started on the prog. Thought I would never be normal again! Plus, I was not put on HRT straight away, had a hormone crash before HRT was mentioned, 2 weeks post op.  So, you are not alone. Sounds like you could possibly need 75 rather than 100. Cut one in half and try, this is the approach I took until I got it right.
Hope this helps, R

[Annie0710]

Ooh just to add that I was on 75mcg for 18 months suffering the 'high oestrogen' effects as I was convinced I needed it. 

[CLKD]

Sorry - what's "BSO" 

[Annie0710]

Ovary removal - bilateral salpingo or  saplingo oopherectomy (spelling is probably all wrong !)

[LJB12]

Ive put a 75mcg patch on tonight so we will see how that goes.

I just want to feel normal again. I got a brilliant job last May but since I've been on the patches (100mcg) I feel as though I have been jeopardising it with my sudden lack of confidence and inability to think :-(

[Annie0710]

Bless you I didn't last long at all on 100s, I didn't like 75mcg with but 100s omg I felt a complete nervous wreck

[LJB12]

Honestly it's good to know I'm not loopy and it is "just" a case of getting my estrogen dose right ... I was fine on the 2mg elleste for a year, just lacked ooomph, I just dont think I get on well with patches.
Might ask for gel so that I can alter the dose more effectively?
We will see what the nurse says on the phone on tuesday!

[Annie0710]

Thats a good idea to try gel.  The problem is you need a reasonably good dose of oestrogen in ratio to the testosterone gel otherwise you'll tip towards the androgenic side which isn't good

[LJB12]

Well I put a 75mcg patch on last night and have felt good today, happy and smiley. Been studying for my MA today so concentration good. Felt just good. Hopefully this isn't imaginary but the estrogen has kicked in, and that it won't build to being too much. Regardless I needed a break so today has been much appreciated.

[Annie0710]

Aw I hope it continues for you x

[Cassie]

You could perhaps try the gel, but my understanding is that the patch delivers a very low dose consistently I dont think you could get that low dose with the gel, but you can certainly play around a bit as it has a plunge pump action to increase or lower but as I say, if I am correct, I am sure the patch experts can confirm that with the patch its a miniscule amount you are getting each day, so shouldnt really be causing too many symptoms, how much oestrogen does it say is in your patch?