Menopause Discussion > Alternative Therapies

Low progesterone? And what do I do/take for it.

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Focus:
I'm new to all this. And even newer to starting to learn about it all.

Here's where I'm at: GP has been very dismissive and useless. So I'm bypassing her totally now and educating myself.

Age 48 (almost 49).
Almost 9 odd months of increasingly heavy periods, larger and larger clots, increasing flooding.

From mid October: period 8 days long with all of the above. Still 3 weeks before next period.
Went to GP. Blood tests, low ferretin, given iron tablets and Transexemic Acid. GP dismissed perimenopause.

From November: 8 day long, very, very heavy, very clotty period.
Went to GP. Given Cerelle, which I took for one packet. One week break. Another 8 day longvery, very heavy, very clotty period.

Called NHS24. Referred to hospital. Given Norethistone. Doctor said I was 'the right age' for menopause
Went to GP. Asked for combined pill (which I was on for years and which worked really well).
Became ill with stress of preceding x months.

December. First packet of mini pill, some breakthrough bleeding but felt OK

January. Second packet of mini pill, heavy and long period mid packet with large clots and flooding.

Where am I at now?

The best I have ever felt was when I was on the Norethisterone. I actually felt like myself. Not talking about the endless bleeding having finally stopped, but I was my old self again.

Which leads me to wonder if I'm low on progesterone? My mood is a total roller coaster, but most of the time I'm feeling super panicky, really stressed out, very depressed. A bit like when I used to get regular, normal periods and it was the week before my period. I used to feel very, very tearful and vulnerable, and feel 'picked on' and paranoid.

Now, I knew those symptoms so well, that it happened so regularly, that if I just managed to get through the day/that week, then my perspective would change. And it always did. As soon as I got my period, I started feeling much better, mentally. And then on the second day of my period, I'd feel better physically. Then back to my normal self.

And now? It's like that panicky, stressy, vulnerable, paranoid feeling but never ending. And multiplied a bajillion times. It's been going on for months and months now.

The stress of it all, and also the stress of dealing with my GP (including her manner) has triggered the PTSD I suffered with for a good few years from 2007. I need to feel in control, and I need to feel in control of the decisions that are being made in regards to my body - or at least made to feel that I am being listened to and have equal input. The lack of all of this has also subsequently triggered my eating disorder from my late teens/early 20s.

Now, I'm very, very familiar with this feeling of extreme stress, and this fight or flight state I'm currently in - all because of my experience with PTSD. I need to try and deal with this asap.

So, should I be on the combined mini pill? I'm wondering if I shouldn't be on the POP? The Cerelle I was originally given. And also trying to raise my progesterone levels as well?

How do I do this? What do I take to try to raise my progesterone levels?

jaypo:
Have you had the clots/flooding investigated? I had exactly the same & it was fibroids & they need their own separate treatment,might not be that of course,just wondered if you'd had any scans etc

Focus:
Thank you. I haven't.

But I have an appointment with a sexual health/contraception clinic next week, so I will mention it then.

They've been brilliant so far. The nurse I made the appointment with spent ages talking to me over the phone and said she would get me a referral for their menopause clinic as well.

My appointment is on Wednesday morning. Just less than a week.

Hurdity:
Hi Focus

Sorry to hear about your heavy bleeding - yes this is typical of peri-menopause or just before it starts, if you are still ovulating regularly. Have you had cyclical irregularity ie has you cycle started lengthening yet to longer than 28 days and is this variable?

I'm not sure what the combined mini pill is - the mini pill is progestogens only and the combined pill contains oestrogen as well. As you are still under 50 and depending on any risk factors you have for cardio-vascular problems, you may still be able to take the CCP in one form or another. There are a couple designed for peri-menopausal women called QLAIRA and ZOELY. They contains high doses of progestogens which help stem the bleeding as well as prevent conception and also estradiol - our own (body-identical) oestrogen. A pill like this would suppress your cycle and prevent the hormonal turmoil, and hopefully heavy bleeding that you are experiencing.

nevretheless in view of the fact that treatments suggested by the odcotr have had no effect on the bleeding i would ask for a referral as jaypo says just to check for fibroids etc in case these might be contributing to the problem.

The other alternative is the Mirena coil - which will definitely control the bleeding and then you can add in oestrogen when your own levels fall as you enter the peri-menopausal transition - starting with a low dose as a top-up and then increasing if you need to.

Here is an article on peri-menopause and the website section on bleeding which might help:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/heavyperiods.php
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/periodtreatments.php

Hope this helps :)

Hurdity x

Focus:
Thank you.

I can't do anything invasive (PTSD). So the coil is an absolute no way for me. I can barely go to the dentist. So triggering to have someone invade my space like that. Couldn't. Deal. It's in my medical notes.

Cycles really short now.

Night sweats, insomnia, dermatitis noticeably worse, tinnitus worse. And you're saying it's not even started yet? How can it be worse than this? Seriously, I'm feeling like I've had enough of everything. I can't cope any more with this. How does it get worse?

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