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[emily06]

Hi, I have been a lurker for a while but joined today. This looks a great place to get advice. I don't know any women my age who I can talk to about my menopausal issues so hope you can advise me. My mother suffered terribly through the menopause and almost had a breakdown. She is very anti medication so wouldn't accept help, whereas I will take all the help I can get after seeing what she went through.

I am 51 years old and up until this year have been having regular to the day periods. This year I missed a period but have been suffering from insomnia, anger issues and the most horrendous hot flushes which are becoming unbearable now.
My last period was on 6th May and at the end of that month I finally found the courage to talk to the gp. He issued me with Evorel Sequi and told me to start them when my period came around 6th June.
You couldn't make it up but my periods seem to have stopped, I missed Junes, and now July's hasn't arrived. I'm not sure what I am supposed to do now as I know you need to start them when your next period arrives. It so frustrating knowing the patches could help me but I am unable to use them.. My gp just told me to read the leaflet and it just says put on within 5 days of period arriving.

Please can anyone advise? Do I need to start my period first or can I just put one on my due date? I hope my question makes sense, I am new to all this and find this HRT subject so confusing. I have been reading  the helpful information but I am disabled and get confused easily. Thanks in advance, nice to meet you all.

[jillydoll]

Hi emily06

I don't know how to advise you because I'm post meno, and don't know much about the sequi hrt,s......just wanted to bump your post up...someone will be on shortly to give their advice.....hang tight...
Oh and        Glad to have you on board....xxxx

[Foxylady]

Hi emily06, I wouldn't want to advise you incase I'm incorrect but I'm 41yrs, was on the pill advised to stop so they could check my bloods (FSH & LH, I've found out since the checking of bloods is unnecessary, majority of menopause specialists will advise to go by symptoms) a month after stopping. Had 2 periods the following 2 months then started on Everol sequi, I just followed the leaflet as GP didn't give me any specific advice. See if any other ladies can advise you about this. My gut & professional experience says you should just start them on your due date. The insomnia and hot flushes are horrendous, they were my biggest issues. Anti medication can have it's place but why suffer mentally/physically when there is relief out there? Have a look into lifestyle too, HRT in itself is rarely the answer to all the symptoms, diet, including supplements etc also have a place. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for someone else. Is there a local menopause clinic you could access or does one of the GP's in the surgery have a particular interest in women's health/menopause?
You can use the search function to put in a word or few words you want to search forum for previous threads that have covered a particular subject. All the best. x

[emily06]

Thank you so much for your replies ladies.. yes I am looking at lifestyle changes too, I stopped smoking 11 months ago and never drink alcohol as I am on a lot of pain medications. I am a sucker for chocolate but have been trying to eat healthier the past few months. Regarding mom, she's always been anti doctors/medication and when after menopause she got osteoporosis, she can't weigh more than 6 stone. It's another reason why my gp wanted me to try the patches.

I am not sure about the menopause clinic, I haven't been with this gp surgery very long so will have to look into it. I have been searching furiously for a situation similar to mine but can't seem to find out lol.. The only information is telling me to use the patches on my due date, but as my periods seem to have stopped I'm not sure what happens then.. I know there are different patches to use if your periods have stopped so am more confused now.

Thanks so much ladies. Will keep checking the forum in case anyone else can add anything. x

[Hurdity]

Hi emily06

 

It is very tricky deciding when to start when you are peri-menopausal and yourt periods decide to stop for anything up to 6 months. This happened to me when I started and the thing to do is just start the HRT - as I did. Do not worry about your cycle - it has gone up the spout anyway with your missed periods. If you do suddenly ovulate (HRT does not prevent this happening) - well the worst that can happen is you get extra bleeding at the "wrong" time. Taking the Evorel sequi will esnure you have an artificial period at the end of the combi phase of the patches. You cannot come to any harm by starting them straight away but will do yourself a lot of good because your flushes should hopefully begin to abate very soon after starting the patches (within days or a week or two...).

Good luck - slap one on and then let us know how you get on!

Hurdity x