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[ogs01]

Hi everyone
I first found this site about 7 months ago when I was beside myself with hot flushes and night sweats!! 

I am 43 and last October had my FSH tested and it was 76 which showed I am going through the menopause!  I was really shocked as I had still been hoping to have another child and also very shocked as my FSH 18 months earlier was only 4!  Unfortunately my GP could give me no explanation at all as to why there was such a dramatic rise so quickly - I thought it gradually increased as you went through the peri-menopause.  My periods had also become erratic often missing 2 or 3 but they hadn't stopped altogether.

Does anyone have any information regarding this - should I have requested another test just to make sure??? 

Secondly, I was put on Elleste Duet 2mg which took about six weeks to reduce the hot flushes and night sweats.  But I feel absolutely awful!  I have put on loads of weight, have constant breast tenderness, have no energy and can't be bothered to do things most of the time!  I also have very bad mood swings especially when it nears the 'period' that I have.

I went back to my GP yesterday and she was as helpful as she could be but I wonder how much GPs do in fact know about this?  She has prescribed Femoston which I will start next week.  Does anyone have any experience using Femoston? 

I think I would possibly also like to see a menopause specialist just for some support - I live in Hertfordshire - does anyone know of a specialist? 

Thanks everyone - would be grateful for some replies and support! xxx

[Hurdity]

Hi ogs01

Sorry to hear of your problems with HRT.

Normally to be accurate several blood tests should be taken, as levels vary throughout the cycle and at different times of day. There is some information on this site about this here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diagnose.php

However if you have been missing several periods and this is new for you, as well as symptoms of flushes and sweats - this is indicative of menopause approaching (but this can last for several years).

Mood swings unfortunately are part of what happens during peri-menopause when hormones fluctuate a great deal - there is a good article here about the peri-menopause:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php

The (synthetic) progestogen in Femoston is closer to our own progesterone and many women do seem to tolerate this one better than other tablet HRT types, so I hope this works for you. Otherwise you could later try transdermal oestrogen (patch or gel) with separate progesterone (Utrogestan) although at your young age this might seem a bit of a faff!

It is important that you make sure you replace deficient oestrogen to help protect your bones and circulation at least until the natural avergae age of menopause of 51-2.

There is a map on this site which lists the menopause specialists. Click on where you live and a list will come up - and it says which ones are NHS. If your GP is not a specialist then you may be able to get a referral - I don't know what the rules are regarding this or whether everyone has a right to a referral? There are several in London - not far from you. (I am lucky to have sympathetic specialist female gynae GP in my area.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[coolatlast]

Hi Ogs1 !

I too have been put on Elleste Duet, but I'm taking the 1mg.   It's ok (ish).   I am on Day 9 now and the hot flushes seem to be getting a bit better and touch wood I haven't had too many side-effects.  But, I know a lot of women that have reacted really badly to Elleste.

I don't understand why the Doctors put so many women on Elleste to start with, only to have to change them to Femoston when the Elleste doesn't work out!

Why start them on the one that is known to have lots of side-effects in the first place?  It doesn't make sense.

Are they hoping that some of us will give up on HRT all together and not bother going back for another prescription? 

[coolatlast]

Hi Ogs1 !

I too have been put on Elleste  Duet 1mg.   It's ok (ish).   I am on Day 9 now and the hot flushes seem to be getting a bit better.

I don't understand why the Doctors put so many women on Elleste to start with, only to have to change them to Femoston when the Elleste doesn't work out.

Why start them on the one that is known to have lots of side-effects in the first place?

Are they hoping that some of us will give up on HRT all together and not bother going back?

By the way, Ogs, Femiston has had very good reports on here, but elleste not so much.

[Nina]

I feel I should stick up for elleste duet 2mg

It's been brilliant for me overall (am 42).   I guess if you have no problems then you don't feel the need to post about it do you?

You know what they say, people don't complain about what works, only about stuff that doesn't 

[coolatlast]

I feel I should stick up for elleste duet 2mg

It's been brilliant for me overall (am 42).   I guess if you have no problems then you don't feel the need to post about it do you?

You know what they say, people don't complain about what works, only about stuff that doesn't 

Hi Nina...... I'm going to give it my best shot ....... I haven't reached the green tablets yet...I'm hoping they won't be as bad as everybody's making out!

[Nina]

Yes I'm sure you'll be fine!

I can't tell the difference between them to be honest, although I do get irritable around my bleed. But then I did pre hrt too 

The 2mg has settled me right down and I feel all woman again 

Good luck!

[coolatlast]

I wonder why the doctor started me on the lowest dose (1mg).

I looked on the HRT Preparations Section and it lists the 1mg as being peri-menopause.

I started meno 'properly', round about the usual age - 53 (am now 54), so wonder why she put me on the lowest?   (never thought to ask at the time as I didn't even realize how many strengths there were) and HRT was all 'new' to me.

I hope she puts the dose up,when I see her in two months time, as I feel that this dose is only 'half' keeping things at bay.

p.s.   (just realized this topic is aimed at early-menopause people.   I just saw the words Elleste........sorry )

[Hurdity]

Hi Nina

You're absoutely right there - there are probably hundreds and thousands (hopefully!) of women happy either without HRT or with the products which seem to be notorious for side effects in others - but why would they come here - they will be happily getting on with their lives oblivious of any issues!!

coolatlast - when you say meno - 'properly' - what do you mean? As I expect you know menopause is the date of the last period which can only be determined in retrospect, and if you start cyclical HRT before the 12 months has past then you will never know exactly when it would have been. During the first two years following the last period oestrogen levels continue to fall until they generally reach their all time low, and stay at this level (give or take estrone conversion etc which depends on body fat). If you are not yet two years post-meno or not likely to be then 1 mg may well be sufficient for the time being - and if it works - great! You will soon know if it doesn't as symptoms will start to creep back.

It's always advisable to start on a lower dose initially - even if you know you may well need a higher  dose - because sudden increase - especially of oral HRT (which goes through the digestive system and liver) - can also cause side effects, until the body acclimatises.

Hurdity x

[Dandelion]

Hi Ogs1 !

I too have been put on Elleste Duet, but I'm taking the 1mg.   It's ok (ish).   I am on Day 9 now and the hot flushes seem to be getting a bit better and touch wood I haven't had too many side-effects.  But, I know a lot of women that have reacted really badly to Elleste.

I don't understand why the Doctors put so many women on Elleste to start with, only to have to change them to Femoston when the Elleste doesn't work out!

Why start them on the one that is known to have lots of side-effects in the first place?  It doesn't make sense.

Are they hoping that some of us will give up on HRT all together and not bother going back for another prescription? 

I think my doctor was hoping I would give up on HRT and just put up with the meno but why should I when there are treatments out there to make life better?

I also wondered why elleste and evorel are still on the market when they obviously cause so many problems for women.
Why not make more products with dydrogesterone in, the same as Femoston?
It could be that social engineering that I mentioned in the other thread.

I'm on Femoston, I've posted loads about how just over 3mths on Femoston 2/10 didn't work enough to stop flushes and sweats until stopping gluten just over a fortnight ago.

Ogs1 I would try the Femoston if I were you.
The dydrogsterone is more user friendly.

[Hurdity]

Dandelion

I answered your question in my reply to Nina - Elleste and Evorel are clearly OK for lots of women otherwise the pharmas would get the idea as no-one would be using them!

However I don't know why more HRT tablets contain norethisterone ( from different companies) than Dydrogesterone, which is only found in the one preparation.

As I said on another thread I don't subscribe to the conspiracy/social engineering view. It does have a lot to do with profit/commercial reasons - since even the health professionals don't seem to have a say in whether a product is kept or withdrawn (eg Intrinsa patches, Orthogynest pessaries) - which both fulfilled an important role.

Hurdity x

[Dandelion]

Dandelion

I answered your question in my reply to Nina - Elleste and Evorel are clearly OK for lots of women otherwise the pharmas would get the idea as no-one would be using them!

However I don't know why more HRT tablets contain norethisterone ( from different companies) than Dydrogesterone, which is only found in the one preparation.

As I said on another thread I don't subscribe to the conspiracy/social engineering view. It does have a lot to do with profit/commercial reasons - since even the health professionals don't seem to have a say in whether a product is kept or withdrawn (eg Intrinsa patches, Orthogynest pessaries) - which both fulfilled an important role.

Hurdity x

Hi Hurdity

So, is dydrygesterone less profitable than the norethisterone?
Maybe most women get on with norethisterone, and that's why it's more prevalent, yet these boards seem to reflect that more women get on with dydrogesterone.