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[Annie58]

I'm 55 and I have looked at the forum for the last few months as I was stuggling with peri-menopause/menopause symptoms.  I am now feeling very low as I started Prempak C (0.625/015mg) a little over a month ago and things seem worse rather than better.   
Over the last few years I have had very heavy, frequent and painful periods and saw a gynaecologist who said there should be no problem with me having HRT once I have a 3 month break from my periods. During the last 2 years I have gone 3 months without a period a couple of times and most recently I haven't had a period for over 7 months. After a lot of soul searching (and feeling a failure) I asked to go on HRT.
My symptoms of vaginal dryness have improved but the night sweats and flushes are getting worse.  I am so sleep deprived and now quite exhausted and tearful. To cap it all,  I now have the period from hell.  I went back to the GP 2 weeks ago and was told that I had to stick with the Prempak for 3 months before they would review it.  If I am going to have periods like this every month I think I am no better off and am thinking about stopping the medication.
I am really lucky that my husband is very understanding.  We have separate beds now so I have a Summer duvet (4.5 tog) but even that is too hot.  I've done all the other things recommended, cut down on caffeine, have the radiator switched off etc. I am also fortunate that I was able to take early retirement a few months ago, I can't imagine working at the moment.
The forum has been supportive as I realise that I am not alone.  I do feel that unless you are going through these problems you can't possibly understand.
Can anyone tell me if things will improve over the next couple of months and if the periods will remain as troublesome? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

[Joyce]

Hi there Annie. It can take a while for your body to adjust. Some take longer than others. I'm only on oestrogen so can't help with regards to your periods.

Don't worry about the separate beds. Hubby & I sleep at opposite ends of the house, each with a 4.5 tog duvet. My hubby gets very hot in bed, plus he snores very loudly.  I'm planning on a 3 or 2.5 tog duvet if I can get hold of one.  Secretly I think hubby is relieved I'm at opposite end of house, rather than me nagging about the racket he makes most nights. 

I don't work, so am grateful that I can catch up with lost sleep, if necessary, during the day. I sympathise with the tearfulness. I'm trying to come off HRT at the moment & having the odd blub.

I do hope that things improve for you.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Annie58 and welcome to MM
You poor thing - you are in the right place to get some support.
You are not a failure - going on HRT to deal with your symptoms is a very sensible thing to do.
I have to say the treatment by your gynae sounds rather odd.  The idea that you have to put up with menopause symptoms until you get 3 month breaks in your periods seems very wrong.  If he/she did a FSH test and the level was high, despite still having regular periods, then many doctors would have prescribed HRT to help balance the hormones and alleviate symptoms.
Did your gynae investigate the reason for your very heavy periods through your peri meno stage?
My feeling, from what you have told us, is that your gynae is very old fashioned!!
I assume you have just finished your first month on Prempac c.  Prempac C is one of the older variety of HRT and is very low dose.  If you hadn't had a period for 7 months you are probably post meno - although officially you are not post meno till you have been 2 years without periods - at 55 I would have thought you were post meno.
Essentially your gynae has expected you to go through peri meno without HRT and a little HRT  would have given you symptom relief.  Your oestrogen level could be very low by now and Prempac C may not be strong enough to alleviate your symptoms. Is the withdrawal bleed you are experiencing like your periods were before?
Did the gynae give you options e.g. offer different types of HRT?  Was a Mirena coil offered?
Many women like patches and find they get fewer side effects.  Many ladies on this site like the bio-identical HRT - this is either Oestrogel or oestrogen patch with Utrogestan for the progesterone part.
Do read up all the information under the headings to the left of this screen. Ask us questions - really get clued up about what is on offer. Perhaps stick with the Prempac C for another month and if things aren't better ask to be referred to a meno clinic that is up to date with the latest treatments.
hopefully others will be along with advice and help
Keep us posted about your progress.  DG x

[KatieLiz]

Hi Annie58

It is never a failure to replace hormones that your body is no longer producing!  I have not had experience of the hormones you have been taking but as Dancinggirl pointed out, this is a low dose.

I am always of the opinion that if you haven't taken HRT and your symptoms are severe, then you probably need a higher dose!  HRT can make such a difference if you are taking the correct dose.

I do believe you should give HRT a 3 month trial as it sometimes takes a while for things to settle but if you don't feel better than you need more not less!

Keep a diary of your symptoms and go back to your GP but I do think you need a higher dose.

Good luck! x

[Annie58]

Thank you so much for your replies, I really appreciate your thoughts and comments. 

KatieLiz, the separate beds thing will probably be a permanent thing as my husband also snores and we are lucky enough to have the room in our house for this. It is something that doesn't really get talked about on the whole as the impression is that you don't have a happy marriage, but that is far from the truth.

Dancinggirl, I was originally referred to a gyne specialist after my husband came with me to my GP due to very long term period problems.  (I was pretty much ignored before that). It was typical that by the time I saw the specialist I was going through one of my period free times and in all honesty the age I was I thought that I was finished with them then.  He did actually say that if my GP would not prescribe HRT once I had been period free for 3 months then I was welcome to go back to see him.  In hindsight I wish I had insisted on further investigation into my periods many years ago.  I was simply prescribed medication (mefanemic acid) which didn't help a great deal and damanged my stomach as no lansoprazole was prescribed at the same time and I need to take this every day now. My period I am having now is very heavy and painful, like they were over the last couple of years and if every month is going to be like this I think I would rather suffer the sleep deprivation.  It was actually such a joy to be period free for the last 7+ months. Prior to seeing the specialist I had been given an internal scan due to bladder problems and everything was apparently fine.  My GP's specialism is actually gyneacology so if I don't get any satisfaction when I go back (with my husband again - as I know how this works now) I will ask to be referred back to the hospital.  I will give it another month but I cannot see me lasting if I have another period like this next month.
I wasn't offered any other alternative by my GP at point of prescription and I held off taking the tablets once I saw comments on this site about Prempak C, but in the end things were too much. In between times I tried vagifem for the vaginal symptoms which did help (although I got thrush) but obviously didn't help with the night sweats etc. I have also tried the Menopace tablets for over 2 months in the past with little effect.

Cubagirl, your idea of a diary is very good and I will start this straight away and try to actually look back at the sequence of events over the last few years. 

I do think I may need stronger medication and patches are more appealing to me than pill popping, but I will post an update in a couple of weeks.

Thanks again everyone, it's amazing how many ladies are struggling.  PS my cousin, who is close in age to me, was refused HRT as she is a smoke and has broken both her wrists and an ankle due to osteoporosis and I don't fancy that happening to me!

[CLKD]

Separate beds in separate rooms?  Once you begin to feel better you can re-create the secret visit from your courting days  and that space can be yours: tart it up as you like, pillows, chocolates, read all night without waking Himself 

Have a good read of the menus - left of screen, browse round etc..

[Joyce]

I used to swear we'd never sleep apart. When you need sleep you'll do anything. Doesn't mean we love each other any less.

[Annie58]

A quick update on my HRT.  I have slept much better the last couple of nights so think the medication may be finally kicking in.  However, my periods are absolutely awful.  Basically so bad that I can't leave the house.  At the moment I am weighing up if it is worth having 2 days of this compared to being able to sleep much better.  I am also more tearful but not depressed, more emotional.  I have an appointment with my GP on Monday so will see what he says.

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear about your very heavy periods Annie58. Provided the doctor can make sure there is nothing else wrong eg fibroids or thickened lining, then I would suggest a change in HRT and perhaps patches with estradiol (the same oestrogen as ours), rather than the Prempak which consist of horse oestrogens and maybe stimulating the lining too much.

You may be more tearful due to your own hormones still fluctuating as this does happen during perimenopause, but also it could be this HRT not agreeing with you.

Although it is generally recommended to try  a particular type of HRT for 3 months to allow the body to adjust, if you really want to try a different HRT then you should be able to insist on this.

So - either it is the HRT causing the heavy bleed or your own hormones, if other things have been ruled out.

Good luck with the GP on Monday

Hurdity  x

[Annie58]

Thanks for your comments hurdity, I am now 2 and a half months in with the Prempak and will ask my GP if I can try something else.  Also whether I even need to have HRT with a bleed as I'm 55 and my last period was now back in June last year. My husband is coming along with me and sexist as it might sound, I find I am taken more seriously if he is there!

[Annie58]

Hi all
Just a short further update on my HRT etc.  I saw my GP yesterday and he said "I told you it could take 3 months for the HRT to work" - but he didn't!  I have another 3 months supply of the Prempak C and he has put this on repeat but I will go back if I need to.  He said the heavy withdrawl bleed should ease off but in the meantime has given me more mefanemic acid to start taking 2 days before my period is due and whilst bleeding. (I had this previously when suffering heavy periods).
He also said that NICE guidelines prevented him prescribing the continuous HRT even though I am 55 because my last period was in June.  I am going to check this out though.
Overall feeling a little happier but not fully convinced just yet.
I'll put a post on the Prempak C thread later.