Hi Hurdity
I have great news to share, the Gp finally prescribed me Continuous Combined hrt - Kliovance plus Noriday as recommended by Dr C. This is because Kliovance has the same types of hormones as Elleste Duet which I thrives on, but because Kliovance has a lower progestin than Elleste, and I have simple hyperplasia, noriday adds additional progestin of the same type, to stop the endometrium thickening further. This is progestin therapy until I have the Mirena fitted- appointment in August , and I'll go on estrogen patches then.
As for Dr C, yes, I did email her originally through the website after paying the fee a couple of types. I owe Dr C a huge thanks for her involvement. I dont know if this was an exception but I am extremely grateful - perhaps Dr C felt equally frustrated with the mistaken beliefs on which the consultant's recommendations were based, and the other consultant's statement that “in this country we do not prescribe continuous combined hrt†was so incredibly wrong that perhaps Dr Currie felt it needed addressing.
I also spent the last three months or so researching everything about menopause and hrt - literally, it's been like doing a masters degree in hrt! A week ago I went to the Gp with 4 research papers printed out, and today I had another 4 for her to support my case - everything from Royal Colege of ObGyn to trials on HRT, endometrial hyperplasia etc. I have even had a book written by Dr Currie, read it, underlined all passages relevant to my case and left if all with the GP.
To sum it up, because I was nearly 2 years post menopause when I started on Elleste Duet, they could/should have really put me on Continuous Hrt. But because I was only 46, the original doc thought sequential HRT was okay. However, when the bleeding didn't fall into a regular pattern after the initial 6 months, the signs were that more progestin was needed, and I started my research and started realising that continuous combined hrt was needed. So I started asking for it, but it was as if I was asking to be prescribes a banned substance!
As the combination of erratic bleeds and hyperplasia is taken very seriously, the doc sent me for ultrasound which showed 6mm endometrium but it was measured at the wrong time anyway, towards the end of the oestrogen only pills. It should be measured after the monthly bleed when the lining has been shed but never mind. I was sent for biopsy which showed simple hyperplasia without atypia. That's when the whole circus started, with the consultant recommending stopping hrt, only have Mirena, no estrogen and the GP wouldn't go against.
The initial two emails from Dr C that I printed out and took to Gp didn't get me the prescription but at least the GP started making calls to the hospital consultant etc. Then Dr C wrote a strongly worded letter - both to the hospital consultant and the GP, and I received a copy this morning - what a read that is! And that finally got the Gp to prescribe the continuous combined with extra progestin for now, and reassuring both the GP and the consultant that there's is no need to stop estrogen (as I am on a low dose 1mg tablet) as long as there is enough progestin.
So I'll have the Mirena fitted either during the biopsy scheduled on 14th August at the hospital or sooner at the GP surgery, and then hopefully the hyperplasia will be reversed.
Anyone going through a similar battle, I recommend learn everything there is to know about the problem, read all the research, NICE guidelines, GP guidelines, RCOG advice etc, print out a copy for doctors, and keep a note of all names, dates and everything the docs say. It is shocking how much misinformation and lack of knowledge it out there among GPs and consultants, Dr C said she was ‘sadly not surprised'. I must say it was like a court case and Dr C being the best lawyer in the world. It is not easy to prove a doctor wrong, but it's my body my health and look what happened when I blindly trusted doctors with the Sequential HRT. I also had to often remind myself that I didn't do anything wrong, this was not a lawsuit where I was the defendant, but boy did it feel like that sometimes!
Does this answer all your questions?
Thank you so much for helping me stay sane!
Andie xx
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Topic: Forced off HRT and onto Mirena due to simple hyperplasia (Read 9866 times)