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[Dotty]

Well I've been taking Elleste Duet Conti for nearly 3 months now and am still struggling......still exhausted, still got no appetite, night sweats are getting worse and insomnia is getting worse.

Do you think the problem is that I am not absorbing the oestrogen from the tablets?  Anyone else suffered with this?

Thank you xx

[Daisydot]

Sounds like it dotty maybe try the Oestrogel pump.ive gone from Premarin tabs to Evorel patches to the gel now and I'm doing pretty good on one pump but not quite there so I'll give it time though and then have another discussion with consultant.i think you've been pretty patient and maybe time for a review good luck xx

[Dotty]

Thanks Daisydot.

I've felt they haven't been working for ages.....since about week 3, but I was told I'd got to take them for 3 months and to change things before then could make things worse.

[Mary G]

Yes Dotty, I can relate to that.  First of all, I really do sympathise with you because I too had problems with absorbing tablets.  I was on Angeliq which had a lower dose of oestrogen that Ellesse and it didn't give me any relief at all.  I also used patches that didn't stick properly and didn't work so it has been a long slog to find the right type of HRT that actually works.  If Ellesse was going to work you would be getting better results by now. 

I seem to remember you saying that you asked your GP for Oestrogel but she didn't know how to prescribe it.  If that is the case, you need some proper specialist help and I would urge you to take the fast track.

I found this link which you might find helpful:

https://menopausedoctor.co.uk/what-is-the-menopause/hrt-not-one-size-fits-treatment/

Dr. Newson is highly recommended and I think after all the problems you have had, you deserve a proper consultation with a menopause specialist and you might want to consider her.  I'm sure she does telephone consultations if you are a long way from her and like Professor Studd will write to your GP with her recommended prescription so you can get Oestrogel on the NHS.

Please do get some help, I think you have suffered for long enough.

[Dotty]

Mary G....I have persevered because that's what I was told by a menopause specialist.  My GP is stuck to know what to do.

I will look into seeing a different specialist because these tablets aren't working.

thanks for your help x
 

[Mary G]

Dotty, who was the specialist, was it an NHS menopause clinic or a private specialist?

From what you have said, it sounds like you don't get on with norethisterone which is very common. 

[Dotty]

Mary G. It was a private specialist I saw.

Why do you think it's the norethisterone that's not suiting me?

[Mary G]

Dotty, norethisterone is a very strong form of progesterone and a lot of women struggle with it, myself included in fact I can't go anywhere near it because it gave me 5 silent migraine attacks in one day.  You are taking 2mg of oestrogen which should give you some relief even if you don't absorb it terribly well and I think that the norethisterone in the tablet is overly opposing the oestrogen and stopping it from working.  I know there are many women who get on well with Ellesse but you are obviously not one of them and I know I wouldn't be either.  Even if it isn't the norethisterone, I don't think this regime is going to fly. 

I think you've given it a fair trial and you should be able to ask the menopause specialist for Oestrogel and a different form of progesterone, Utrogestan perhaps?  My view is that it is far better to have an HRT regime that you have some control over and offers you maximum flexibility. 

Can you remind me, did you ever suffer with PMS?  Are you generally sensitive to progesterone i.e. the contraceptive pill?  Have you ever had a Mirena coil?  If you did and it worked well then that is another progesterone option for you to consider.

[Dotty]

Mary G No I never suffered with pms. I took Noriday ( mini pill) for many years after the birth of my children. I found that I couldn't take the combined pill after my pregnancies as it made me feel like I was pregnant . Sufferers terribly with sickness in pregnancy .

[Mary G]

Dotty, that's interesting because Noriday contains norethisterone but at a lower dose I think. 

If you felt OK on it then you can't be very progesterone intolerant.  Therefore, you should easily be able to find a different form of progesterone that suits you.  I would still try and change to Oestrogel but with a different progesterone.  You could consider Utrogestan, Provera or perhaps a Mirena coil.  You also need to decide whether or not you want a bleed free regime.

One other thought... it could be that your resistance to progesterone is not as good as it was.  That certainly happened to me because pre-menopause I had a Mirena coil without it causing migraines but once my oestrogen levels dropped they started. 

Lots to think about.

[Dotty]

Thanks Mary G

I went back to see my GP and she suggests changing to Evorel Conti patches......They are the same medication and progesterone as the tablets I am taking so I don't see how they are going to help x

[Mary G]

Dotty, I'm really sorry to hear that, why wouldn't she give you Oestrogel?   What is the thinking behind this prescription?

In your situation I would phone the private specialist and tell them you want to change to Oestrogel.

[Dotty]

Mary G - she didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I said “gels”.

I've got an appt next week .

Thanks for your concern.