Hi
I am not quite new - been using the site and posting some questions over the last few weeks but didn't introduce myself as a new member so am doing this now.
Firstly this site is brilliant and you are all so helpful. This has already helped me masses and made me feel more confident to challenge convention and experiment. However I am finding it all a bit overwhelming as there are so many different variations of how to take HRT.
I naively knew nothing about menopause until last year and thought it was something that lasted a year or two and then was done with. How wrong I was!
So bit about me. I am 51, fairly fit and very slight. I work full time and commute into London 4 days a week. I work for a dot.com in a fairly senior role that is predominantly male and much younger than me (so having menopausal moments is not really on any of their radars - currently leaving meetings to "take a call" to get though bad flushes!)
Periods fluctuated between none and super heavy for about a year but no adverse symptoms then periods stopped and hot flushes kicked in middle of last year. Got to the point where I was sleeping (barely) on a towel with a cold flannel by the bed and decided I couldn't go on like that! Went to the GP knowing nothing about HRT and after a short and uninformative appt got prescribed Ellest duet.
Then did loads more research on different types of progesterone and decided this didn't seem like the way I wanted to go.
So had a private appt in Oct last year. Consultant said as I had been period free for 10 month I might as well start continuous HRT and gave me Utrogestan and Sandrena.Ironically a week later (before taking tablets) I had another period so put the tabs and gel in the cupboard. Next 4 months ticked along fine and symptoms all disappeared.
Anyway in the last few months the flushes and sweats have returned along with many of the other usual symptoms. Dryness, loss of libido etc and dry eyes making wearing contacts difficult.
Went back to my GP and she said as periods were still fluctuating then I should probably start taking progesterone sequentially but she wasn't at all familiar with Utrogestan and didn't really know quite how to suggest taking it other than what it said on the packet. She also gave me a prescription for Vagifem
After more research on this site ( thank you all again) I decided I would use the prescription the consultant gave me but try taking the utrogestan vaginally 100mg per day on days 15 - 26 and use sandrena gel 1 mg each day plus the vagifem. I wanted to start on a low dose of the progeste
![Smiley :)](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/smiley.gif)
Vagifem has worked a treat and that all seems much better in that department.
Started taking the sandrena with high hopes (1mg) but sadly I have noticed absolutely no change good or bad. (3 weeks in).
I have started the progesterone too now - as yet no side effects (good news) although only been using for 5 days!
I am now unsure what to do next. The gel doesn't really seem to be doing anything. I have experimented with arms and thighs, and given lots of drying time etc. I guess either the dose is not high enough or I am not absorbing it.
I can't get another appt until at least Sept with the consultant and also this is seems an expensive route if one needs to keep experimenting.
Thinking I will experiment myself and try upping sandrena to 1.5mg and see if that improves flushes. If that fails then maybe see if I can get a prescription from my GP for estradiol and try that instead. Then I guess get a follow up appt with the consultant to tell her what I am doing and see what she thinks.
I also hadn't really thought through how I get my prescription renewed.
Sorry long intro....
So now a few questions.....
I understand the progesterone part thins the lining. As I am only taking half the official dose how do I know if this is enough? Is this where scans come in or does this need blood tests or both? Presumably these need to be done privately?
Or do I just wait to see if I get a bleed and if not assume the dose is too low?
Does the progestrone actually trigger the bleed and when should this happen - when you finish the tablets or during it?
If I increase the gel dose do I need to increase progesterone?
Do people typically just experiment themselves with this and then basically tell the GP what they want?
How are people managing to flick between a private consultation and getting prescriptions renewed when it all seems so trial and error?Sorry for all the questions but I feel like I am making it up a bit as I go along.
Any advice would be most welcome and I will continue to read through the posts here. I have just found the gel and utrogestan support thread which I am ploughing through.
Thanks all!
Macjac