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[Ljp]

Hi again,
I started a thread yesterday about my gynae hysteroscopy appointment yesterday, which resulted in me having a mirena coil and an estring fitted.

From advice I have received on her (thank you ) I am swaying towards trying a patch or oestrogel.

I have an appointment next Thursday 17th with my GP ( should I try for sooner?)

Questions I'm now having are:-

Patches, or oestrogel? - I'm feeling oestrogel as I've been told it's easier to control amount required?

Is the mirena coil safe as the progesterone part? Or should I consider having it removed and using a bio identical progesterone instead?

When using HRT do you use the oestrogen all the time including the days you take progesterone?

How soon do you know if it's helping?

On another note, I had mirena coil inserted yesterday, and the hysteroscopy and biopsy, both uncomfortable procedures, I'm still feeling a dull ache today, especially left side, is it usual for it to be uncomfortable fr a few days? When should I be concerned?

Thank you for your help   

[honorsmum]

Firstly, I should  I have no experience of HRT.
BUT...I did see Dr Annie Evans earlier in the year, and her favoured approach was the Mirena coil for progesterone with Sandrina/Oestrogel for oestrogen. As I understand it, 2 pumps of the oestrogel every day (you could start off lower and customise to suit).

All the friends I know who have had the Mirena fitted have felt crampy afterwards.
You should allow a minimum of 3 months for the regime to work, 6 months for optimum.

Hope that helps.

[Joyce]

I'm only on oestrogen. I prefer patches to gel, but that's just me. I'm currently on Estradot 25 patches which you change twice a week, oestrogel you apply daily. Estradot 25 is very low dose & also very small patch, sticks well too.

My friend got on very well with the Mirena. She had it removed a few years back & has been fine since.

[Tinkerbell]

I saw a meno specialist recently and was prescribed a Estradot patch for the oestrogen and Utrogestan for the progesterone part.
She told me that the Mirena was very good for keeping the lining thin and I can go for that method if I want to, apparently she uses it with her Estradot patches too.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi lisajp - I have responded to you on your other thread.  Stick with Mirena as it is a good option for you right now - far less hassle than separate Progesterone and there is a good chance it will suit you. I would try the Oestrogel and if you find it a hassle then try the patches.  Try not to worry - go with the flow and enjoy the benefits. Good luck  DG x

[Ljp]

Thank you all. Just one question this time, I currently just have the coil and the estring, will it be ok to wait until next Thursday to see my GP. or would you advise I try to see her this week to start on the oestrogel?

[Nina]

I have tried both. The gel was fine to start with but after a few months I found va worse, palpitations etc. so I went on patches (100 estradot) and these are much better for me.

I think that I probably got a bit lazy with the gel tbh 

[Ljp]

Thanks Nina, think I will try oestrogel first and see how I go.

We're palpitations something you suffered with as part of your meno symptoms? Or were they brought on by the gel?

[Nina]

Yes they were a symptom, and they were suppressed (I don't feel they ever go away completely) with tablets. With the gel they gradually got worse and then now on patches they are suppressed again.

[Mary G]

Patches, or oestrogel? - I'm feeling oestrogel as I've been told it's easier to control amount required?

I would definitely recommend the gel.  Firstly, as you say, you can adjust the dose to suit your needs and from my own experience, I think it works better than the patch.

Is the mirena coil safe as the progesterone part? Or should I consider having it removed and using a bio identical progesterone instead?

Now that you have had it fitted, I would stick with the Mirena for now.  The Mirena coil is not the same as Utrogestan, it is a synthetic progestin.  However, it considered safe and the progestin content is mainly concentrated in the womb and is thought to be safer than oral synthetic progestins.  That said, some does get into your system but not enough to worry about unless you are intolerant to progestins.

When using HRT do you use the oestrogen all the time including the days you take progesterone?

Yes, you use it every day including the days you take separate progesterone.

How soon do you know if it's helping?

With the gel, very quickly, probably a couple of weeks.

On another note, I had mirena coil inserted yesterday, and the hysteroscopy and biopsy, both uncomfortable procedures, I'm still feeling a dull ache today, especially left side, is it usual for it to be uncomfortable fr a few days? When should I be concerned?

Give it some time to settle down, it's normal to feel like that after a procedure.  I had loads of pain after I had the Mirena fitted in fact I almost passed out at the FPC, broke into a profuse sweat and was shaking badly.  I still don't know how I drove home.  The first time I had a coil fitted I was in such a state the doctor that fitted it had to drive me home!

I would stick to the Mirena for now and see how it goes.  If you tolerate it well then keep it but if you have any side effects, you can always have it removed and change to Utrogestan.

Hope that helps.

[Dancinggirl]

Great post MaryG.
I just want to add that I had a Mirena for 4 years and found it fine. At 59, I'm now on Utrogestan but this does give me occasional spotting.  Nothing is perfect but the alternative of being without HRT is far, far worse!!!
DG xxx

[Ljp]

Thanks Mary it does help.
I am just so up and down in my thoughts, and making a decision is do difficult, certainly not easy with a menopausal brain!

I partly feel that I have rushed into this due to the suggestion and fitting of the mirena coil, I now feel that I have no choice but to go on to full HRT, OR have mirena removed, go back to using the estriol cream, and hope I have no further PMB.

How to decide, I am driving myself crazy! Now the mention of progestogin is scary, I had always though I would just go through menopause with nothing and deal with symptoms, unfortunately the overactive bladder and urgency, was unbearable, resulting in me using estriol cream, then six months later having the PMB.

 I don't think using nothing at all is an option for me, as my bladder will need help, so it's a question of going back to just using estriol and hoping that no more bleeds occur…OR leaving the coil in for now and trying oestrogel for a while and see how I feel… can't help but feel concerned as to how I might feel and possible side effects.

Sorry to waffle, just how my thoughts keep spiralling 😟

Spoke to a Dr from my surgery, she says I need to have BP done before they will prescribe oestrogel, so leaving it until my appointment with my GP next Thursdy and will discuss with her.

[Dancinggirl]

Lisajp
Please, please relax.  I think you have been taken down this road because it is right for you at this time. If the bladder issues were making your life difficult then the combination of the Estring with the extra HRT may well really help everything - even the meno brain. I think you should stop asking questions now and chill. Anxiety is another meno symptom that HRT can sometimes help.  There is a very good chance you will simply get your life back on track!!! DG x