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[scamp90210]

Hello all well I must say I am not looking forward to this journey.
But am experiencing symptoms I.e hot flushes joint pain dryness etc.
G.P. put me on premarin but flushes have got worse and abdominal cramps and headache and a new concern  as in no progesterone.
Not totally happy with this a I am aware of cancer risk. Am I correct in that as I still have my uterus I need progesterone?

[MicheleMaBelle]

His camp- if you have a uterus you need progesterone.
Go back yo your doc- have a look at the HRT preps on this site.

M x

[CLKD]

 

If you have a womb you will need progesterone, though some ladies find it makes them feel ill.  There are various ways of delivering HRT, some find patches useful.

As oestrogen levels drop off, the body may become dry: skin, nostrils, deep in the ears, vagina - we have topics on Vaginal Atrophy so do read these.  Also muscles may become lax = aches and pains 

Browse round.   Make notes.  Which cancer 'risk' are you aware of  .  Maybe decide which symptom you want to ease first and some ladies find it useful to keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress. 

Read through the green menus.

[scamp90210]

Well thanks for your replies will look at the forum in more detail today.
Saw the meno nurse yesterday as I wasnt happy taking premarin without progesterone as it would build up my womb lining ( I have already had issues with this problem) and was aware of cancer risk.
She said it should be ok but as I was not happy maybe I should go without or try alternatives ( which I had already tried)
After some discussion agreed to try something else and is discussing with colleagues and will get back to me.
So I wait and do my homework.

[Kathleen]

Hello scamp 90210 and welcome to the forum.

I know some people here regularly advise members to consult practice nurses but your situation highlights the danger of doing so if that person isn't adequately informed. Fortunately you are educating yourself so any mishaps will be averted.

I hope you find a regime that works well for you.

Take care and keep posting.

K.

[CLKD]

Sometimes it is quicker to get an appt with the Practice Nurse who can then discuss with colleagues, often ours will nip into the GP to ask rather than the patient needing to get another appt..

Do browse round. 

[Hurdity]

Hi scamp90210

 

Oh dear - yet another example of incompetence - not only from your GP but also from the menopause specialist! Shame on both of them. You MUST let them both know they are prescribing incorrectly if you still have a womb, are not taking the mini pill nor have a Mirena coil - because as the others have said it is ESSENTIAL to take  a progestogen to protect your womb, and how many other women are also being out at risk - scary!

Also ignorance in suggesting you go without and try alternative remedies instead of suggesting a different type. This meno nurse should not be practising as such - she clear knows almost nothing about HRT and menopause from what you say  - aaaarrrgghhh!

You doc has also given you an old fashioned oestrogen anyway which also happens to be one of the cheapest. It contains a mix of horse oestrogens (made from horse urine) so is not the same as our own oestrogen - estradiol - although does contain some of this.

You haven't said how old you are and where on the menopause journey you are -  what your periods are doing cycle length etc?

If you are still young perhaps you would prefer a tablet - and if so then Femoston is the one that is best tolerated of all the combi tab HRTs ( at least according to reports on here!).

How long have you been taking Premarin? Once you switch to another preparation your bleed may well be heavier than usual initially due to build of of womb lining but should settle - depending where you are in menopause.

Do let us know what happens and hope you find something to suit - yes do lots of homework - the info on this site (all the top tabs - pale green banner) are really useful!

Hurdity x

[scamp90210]

Well hello thanks for your replies. Just an update I have not had a bleed for twelve months then out of blue had menstrual symptoms and a bleed. This was all checked out and fine (hormonal) so now on low dose premique and will see how it goes.
confused as to where I am now in regards to peri or post but for now assuming they know what they are doing.
BTW I am 52 years young lol

[Hurdity]

OK Thanks - theoretically if you had another bleed around 12 months after your previous one and it was due to ovulation ( and sounds like it was if you had pre-menstrual symptoms indicating hormonal activity - whereas oestrogen breakthrough bleeding isn't necessarily related to hormonal activity - it can happen when the womb lining gets too thick, but also sometimes when oestrogen levels drop but ovulation hasn't happened - if the womb lining is thick enough - in which case it is termed oestrogen withdrawal bleeding), then you would start to count again until you had another 12 months bleed free. In practice if it counts as a post-meno bleed then docs may still say you are post-meno - to all intents and purposes.

I do hope the Premique suits you - and see how you feel after 3 months - but don't hesitate to try another type or even go back to a cycle if it doesn't work. There is surely an HRT type /regime out there to suit most women, but you have to endure the downsides with the up as no HRT will make you feel perfect the whole time - we didn't with our periods did we?!

Let us know how it all goes  and hopefully you will be on the road to and wellness and positivity

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

? mares' urine ?

[Hurdity]

Yes that's right CLKD - all the HRT types that begin with PRE are made from the urine of pregnant mares. They used to be called "conjugated equine estrogens"  (CEE) but the marketing info for this product has now dropped the "equine" which hides its origin so even in research papers they are now called "conjugated estrogens" (CE) which sound perfectly OK!!

Hurdity x

[scamp90210]

well ladies day 4 of premique and not happy about the mares urine 
And omg stomach pains started yesterday evening also bloated it is not helping anything other than vaginal dryness.
Have decide I think to consult with the nurse again on Friday I can put up with most of the symptoms but want this damned atrophy sorted.  I have no sex drive etc probs because of this.
Maybe HRT isnt for me as I had cramps etc with the premarin.
I will just have to take something to protect my bones too.
open to any suggestions
Poor Hubby says im a nightmare atm lol.

[Hurdity]

It's as well to know where these products come from in case this affects an individual's choice.

There will be an HRT that suits you if this one doesn't - but you might have to try a few at first before settling on the right one. If you are looking for bone protection then HRT is the best way to achieve this. Continuous combined (no bleed) HRT contains continuous progestogen which does sometimes give rise to low grade side effects in some women - although as I said before 3 months is the time normally to allow for a particular type to settle.

I started HRT in late peri-menopause - and from the start used patches and very quickly changed to these with separate progesterone and have been on this combo more or less ever since - and has suited me fine. Hope you manage to feel better soon

Hurdity x