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[prestige]

Apologies for this question....but can your GP prescribe Oestrogel and Utrogestan?

I have previously been prescribed on Elleste Duet Sequi as I am still in the perimenopause stage (last period came in Nov). After using the HRT for 3 months I came off it, as apart for alleviating my night sweats it did nothing to take away my other bothersome symptoms eg fatigue, nausea, bouts of insomnia. In fact I'm convinced it magnified the symptoms and I felt dreadful.

The last time I went to the GP, he refused to prescribe me any further HRT, as he felt they were basically all the same. He insisted that AD's would be the way forward.

I have not taken the AD prescription and have really just tried to "bob along with life " with a few supplements like a good iron tablet and flaxseeds for breakfast.

At the moment I sometimes have good stretches in time with very little symptoms (or symptoms I can just about manage with). Theses are the times I cross my fingers and toes that the dreaded menopause have passed. Then out of the blue, I will feel fatigued, jittery, nauseous, plenty of night sweats and just feel so damn well ill.

Is this something that is common to menopause, or am I just going stir crazy?

Before I try an expensive private consultant - I wondered whether Oestrogel and Utrogestan could be prescribed by my GP?

Thanks for listening to my rant!!

xx

[Dotty]

Yes it is menopause .... my worst symptoms were nausea , total exhaustion , feeling very ill, loss of appetite, insomnia and hot flushes .

I was on Kliovance and then Elleste Duet Conti for 15 weeks with no great effect.

I'm now on Oestrogel and Utrogestan and yes, your GP can prescribe these.

[Mary G]

Yes, you can get Oestrogel/Utrogestan on the NHS but it's not always easy.   Some GPs come up with the goods straightaway and others try to fob women off with something cheaper.   You can insist on having this regime and try waving the new NICE guidelines in front of them and see if that works.

One further point, the NHS are trying to fob women off with a cheapo version of Oestrogel called Oestrodose which a lot women don't find as effective.

I hope you manage to get it.   Please let us know how you get on.

[CLKD]

No question on here is stupid 


Maybe have a chat with your local Pharmacist to see which GPs in your area support HRT?  Have a word with the Practice Nurse at your Surgery who may/not be au fait with HRT more than that GP seems to be.  You should not have to pay for treatment, however, it's often easier and quicker than trying to battle against GPs with their heads in the sand!

[Dancinggirl]

prestige - there are no ‘Stupid' questions on this forum.

Oestrogel adn Utrogestan can be prescribed on the NHS and in fact probably should be one of the first regimes to be tried. 
Your GP is wrong, there wouldn't be a variety of HRTs available if they didn't differ - he/she shovel know this!!!!!!

The peri stage is tricky and no HRT will solve everything but is is trial and error.

Print off the info from this site to show your GP ( many need to see things on paper before they understand). Utrogestan is called 'micronised progesterone' and isn't usually under HRT treatments, so needs to be looked up in a separate section of their drug book.

However, you could ask to try Femoston 1/10 first, which is a good HRT in pill form, as it has a kinder progesterone and often suits most women well.  No HRT will be perfect and any progesterone can bring fatigue, headaches, low mood PMT and cramps etc. The problem with Oestrogel and Utrogestan is that they are separate things, the gel needs to be applied daily and the Utrogestan is used for 10-14 days each month and can used orally or vaginally - used orally it can bring sedation, low mood and PMT - used vaginally it can irritate the bladder and vaginal area. It's rare for a women not to have some side effects with any progesterone.

Poor sleep and fatigue do tend to hit hard with meno - but the right HRT can help - it's just about finding the right HRT.
Don't use ADs/SSRIs. DG x

[prestige]

Thank you ladies for your response!

Dotty - how are you getting on with the new regime? We seem to have very similar symptoms, although I believe you are 3 years post menopause.

I will book an appointment with my GP and see if I get anywhere with him. I will print out extracts of the NICE guidelines and probably take hubby with me for extra support.

Failing that I will just have to try and visit a menopause specialist in my area of Cambridgeshire.

xx