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[Frannie]

Hello. I'm 53 and suffered really badly with hot flushes and sleepless nights for two years. I no longer have any periods. So my doctor recommended I went on Premique low dosage HRT.   After some time, I decided to try it. To be honest, there may have been a bit of improvement to the hot flushes after the 19 days I took them. However during that time I had two migraines with flickery vision (which I used to get when I was on the pill, funny enough) and a funny twitching eyelid. However, worse than that is a bruise that I have now had for eight or nine days next to my nipple.  It's small and yellowy with a darker patch. I thought  I must've hit myself and forgotten about it. However after a few days I felt around it in the shower and was shocked to find a small (1cm?) hard-ish lump underneath it. It doesn't seem to move and doesn't hurt. I of course went to the doctor and she immediately told me to come off the HRT. She has made me appointment for the breast clinic, for which I have to wait about two weeks! But I am really worried now. Can HRT bring on breast lumps in such a short time? Would be really grateful if anyone else has had a bruise on their breast with a hard or lumpy area underneath, particularly in relation to HRT. Of course, the two things may not be related. Grateful if anyone has experienced anything like this.

[CLKD]

If there is a bruise around the breast anywhere you need fast tracking for investigations.  Mum had a bruise prior to requiring mastectomy however, my lump wasn't sinister until it got to histology 

A mammagram or ultra sound will put your mind at rest, do see your GP this week.

[Silly]

Hi Frankie,

It's not your bra by any chance is it? Or fibrocystic changes.  We have to be seen within 14 days. You may get your appointment and it be closer though.  I go on the 19th being 13 days from referred. I've been referred three times before and been seen 10 days after referred it depends I think how busy they are.  My lump came up quick but I had pain inside with it.  I've weaned myself from feeling it as I'm too worried.  Your referral will come quick once gps done it.  X

[Frannie]

Hello, thanks for the comments.  I have an appointment on the 20th.  Hopefully nothing... but it is worrying.  I worry that 2 weeks is a long time for something to grow worse, if it is bad news.

I am also very cross, as a vegetarian verging on vegan, that I was not aware that my Premique low dose is a product made from pregnant mare urine, apparently.  Very cruel practice.  If I'd known, I'd have never taken HRT in a million years.  I think this needs to be wider spread to those ladies who are coming up to the menopause. 

[Frannie]

I certainly won't take it again.  I shall suffer the hot flushes and moods as best I can!

[Mbrown001]

Not all HRT is the same though.
The older ones certainly are from mares urine.....all that begin with Prem

I hope all goes well for you but if you were doing well on HRT then with your doctors blessing then there is no need to stop, just change to a more modern one.

[Frannie]

Thank you, but the doctor told me to stop taking the HRT.  After 19 days I've been put off for life, I'm afraid! I'm sure it's good for some, but I didn't notice much difference anyway, only the migraines! It may have begun to give me a bit more energy and a little better sleeping, but I can't really say there was much difference and I'd rather not risk it.  And what it's made of has shocked me, actually!

[Frannie]

I was using Vagifem, local HRT, for a while before I tried the Premique I mention above.  Could anyone tell me if there is PMU in that?  Many thanks.

[Frannie]

Thanks, to all of you who answered above.  Frannie x

[Silly]

Sorry calling you Frankie, iPad corrected  I'll think of you 20th

[jessieblue]

Hi Frannie, Im really sorry I dont have a lot of exact similar experience and Im so sorry you are having this worry.  I totally understand how scary it is as I had a trip to the breast clinic myself two weeks ago for breast pain and I also 19 years ago when I was pregnant with my son I had a lump come up pretty quickly.  At that time I was only 35 so had an ultrasound and fine needle aspiration.  I had been fast tracked as my doctor was quite worried but I could not get an appointment for 3 months NHS!!  I enquired about going private and still had to wait 6 weeks believe it or not.  I gave birth before the lump got checked and I was told on the day it was a cyst and totally harmless.  They suspected it wuld go down after oestrogen levels returned to normal etc.  Things have clearly really improved because I literally phoned up and got a private appointment next day just recently.  It sounds like the NHS have got a much better system now too and it probably seems like a lifetime away but it will soon be here and soon be behind you.  I will be thinking of you and sending wartm thoughts.  Please keep us informed there is lots of support on here. 

Sending thoughts to you too Guinea Girl, I pray both of you have good outcomes and can put all the worry behind you. 

I agree re the use of pregnant mares urine.  Terribly cruel and unnecessary practice nowadays.  I hope this will soon be a thing of the past.

[CLKD]

Do read our threads on Vaginal Atrophy.  Not many ladies get relief from symptoms unless they use prescription treatment.  For me it was like razor blades up there  with irritated bladder and the need to pee .......... VA mimics urine infection-type symptoms too  .

Not all HRT is from mare's urine.  Do browse round, make notes 

Make sure too that your diet is a healthy as it can possibly be, that you aren't short of iron and get out into the sunshine to top up VitD levels.  You may require supplements at this 'time of Life'  and your GP can do certain blood tests to see if you are low on anything.

[Mary G]

Frannie, sorry to hear about your breast lump but they are very, very common during menopause.  I didn't know about mine, it came up on the routine ultrasound I always have immediately after a mammogram.  Mine was a water filled cyst and I can't feel it.  The breast specialist said cysts come and go all the time and loads of women have breast cysts for years but are completely unaware of them - most cysts only show up on ultrasound.

Moving to HRT, it sounds like you are yet another person who is badly affected by synthetic progesterone which causes migraine in a lot of women.  I had exactly the same experience as you when I had a Mirena coil (which contains synthetic progesterone) once my own oestrogen levels were low.  I have silent migraines which consist of (sometimes) a blind spot following by zig zaggy schimmering patterns - aka scintilating scotoma - which lasts for about 25 minutes.  However, I do not get a headache afterwards hence the name 'silent migraine'.  Cutting a very long story short, my migraines are caused by all types of artificial progesterone used in HRT preparations, nothing else.  I didn't get on well with synthetic progesterone in the past but it only caused migraines once my oestrogen levels dropped very low.  This could be the case for you too.

Please don't rush to give up on HRT.  Your doctor prescribed a completely outdated form of HRT which is heavily laden with synthetic progesterone and the wrong type of oestrogen (horse urine).  There are far better forms of HRT available now which will not damage your breasts. 

If you are progesterone intolerant, the key to success is to keep the progesterone dose as low as possible.  I use Oestrogel, an oestrogen gel you rub on your skin and Utrogestan, a non-synthetic progesterone capsule best used vaginally for fewer side effects.  You might want to look into this regime and check out Professor Studd's website, he talks about breast issues and HRT.

It sounds like we have had exactly the same experience re breast and migraine!  I do hope I have reassured you. 

[CLKD]

Browse round.   Make notes.  Maybe decide which symptom you would like to ease and see if there is anything here that you could try?  It may take a while to find something which kind of suits so don't give up hope!

[jessieblue]

Hi Frannie, I was wondering about how you got on at your appointment?  Have been thinking about you.  Hope all went well. xx