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[saffy123]

Hello all. I apologise in advance if this seems a stupid question.
I am 42 and peri. Four weeks ago I upped my estrogel to 3 pumps and also added Estring. I plan to use progesterone every other month. (In the past I have used a lower dose of estrogel and used my bodies own progesterone to produce a period).

Anyway from day 21 I have had really bad period pain, and very bloated belly, far worse than I have ever had before. The last few nights the pain seems to be drilling into my back, and even turning over is painful. I have used the estrogel for a number of years and I'm guessing this would not be causing such severe period pain?? So then I thought it must be a large surge of my own progesterone kicking in and wanting a period to start, but there is no sign of that. So that just leaves the Estring.... would that cause period like pain??

Am I right in thinking only progesterone causes period pain/bloating??

Sorry if that all sounds a bit random, I just can't understand why I'm feeling so bad.
Any thoughts gratefully received, thanks xx

[Dancinggirl]

The Estring shouldn't make that much difference although some cramping is common when first using local oestrogen.
I do wonder if your reliance on the progesterone you may still be producing naturally is now not working so well - you are probably deeper into the menopause so you are not producing so much progesterone naturally and this will result in a greater build up of the womb lining so probably the cause of the bloating and possibly the pain.  You may need to use the progesterone phase more often to ensure the lining sheds properly, especially as you are using a high dose of Oestrogel - you have increased your dosage by 50%!!!!
If I were you I'd start the progesterone phase and see what happens.  DG x

[saffy123]

Thank you dancing girl, to be honest I'm really worried about taking the progesterone part, hence trying to delay it (always hearing on this forum negative experiences), but I guess maybe the time has come to bite the bullet  xx

[Dancinggirl]

saffy123 - it is actually a very small percentage of women who react badly to progesterone so you really mustn't expect to feel bad when taking it - it tends to be the women who struggle with progesterone that visit MM - one doesn't tend to hear from women who do well on the standard synthetic progesterone.  Many women actually feel really good when on progesterone as it can have a calming effect!!!
Which progesterone are you going to use?  DG x

[saffy123]

Hi Dancing girl, I have Utrogestan 100mg capsules. I struggle badly with bladder problems (frequency and burning), hence adding the Estring. I do suffer from anxiety as well. From what I have read hear on this site progesterone has a negative impact on both anxiety and the bladder, so I am dreading making both even worse. The Estring hasn't worked its magic yet, but I am so hoping it will.
Thank you xx
Ps really can't use the Utrogestan vaginally as I know this will irritate my bladder 

[Dancinggirl]

saffy123 - I find Utrogestan makes me feel really chilled and relaxed so you may feel good while taking it.
I hope you feel better soon.  DG x

[saffy123]

Do you think I could get away with taking 100mg Utrogestan 12 days a month rather than 200mg? Just thinking I still have some of my own progesterone as well xx

[Taz2]

Hi saffy - have you decided on this regime yourself or are you being medically advised?

Taz x 

[Dancinggirl]

saffy123 - don't over think all this - do the 12 days of 200mg and see how it goes - you may well feel fine.  The important thing is to get a proper bleed and shed the lining.  You may not be producing progesterone yourself now if you are deeper into peri meno.  Dg x

[saffy123]

Hi saffy - have you decided on this regime yourself or are you being medically advised?

Taz x 

Hi Taz,
I'm currently paying privately to see a menopausal specialist and she agreed to a bi monthly progesterone at 200mg for 12 days.

My bladder has been quite bad so the thinking was to give the Estring a good stint to work before adding in the progesterone. However my own progesterone is probably trying to kick in so I guess may be once monthly progesterone is the better option. I have read lots on here bout using less, so I thought may be 100mg dose may be enough?? However as Dancing Girl has said may be I'm over thinking this.

 The thought of making my frequency even worse really scares me...that peri anxiety is taking hold  xx

[saffy123]

saffy123 - don't over think all this - do the 12 days of 200mg and see how it goes - you may well feel fine.  The important thing is to get a proper bleed and shed the lining.  You may not be producing progesterone yourself now if you are deeper into peri meno.  Dg x

Dancing Girl I know you are right, just this peri anxiety causing me to worry...my normal cycle - without estrogel- is currently around 26 days and is very regular (before kiddies I always had unpredictable cycles around 45-55 days). So I'm guessing I would still be producing some progesterone?? xx

[Taz2]

Is it bladder frequency?

Taz x

[saffy123]

Is it bladder frequency?

Taz x

Hi Taz,
Yes finally diagnosed with VA (high up in vagina). Had been suffering with frequency for years and GP's just fobbed me off, told me I was too young to be peri. For me bladder frequency was my first peri symptom (apparently this is unusual esp as I was just 40 at the time  ) xx