Hi all, how are we doing?
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Kathleen, you are right, these studies all quote differing oestrogen levels to help combat symptoms. Chelsea and Westminster do the same; a minimum of 250 for bone protection, 400-600 for depression and anxiety and so on. But as you say, how are we meant to reach those levels, without other things giving way?? To me, it's parallel with finding a needle in a hay stack!
I have a daughter too, althought only 17, she is totally freaked out by the possibility that she could end up like me in 30 years time! Keeps asking if this 'menopause lark is genetic"!
Are the anti d's not helping in any way with the emotional ups and downs Kathleen?
600 is quite a high reading, but I suppose nothing in comparison to our old pre menopausal levels, which would have been off the scale I am guessing. I think keeping a diary is an excellent idea and you may discover some useful things in the process. Sometimes I wonder whether we expect too much from HRT, in that we want it to fix EVERYTHING in an instant. I naively thought that was the case before I started tinkering with it and have been bitterly disappoined to date.
The 'experts' Mmmm. I am beginning to think they are not necessarily experts, but more individuals who for a small fortune, will allow us to tinker with higher than licensed doses of different products and hope for the best. I have seen two private specialists in 3 years. The second has come to the conclusion that I must be on the lowest dose possible, because of my BC history. Well, what if the lowest dose possible just isn't doing the job??
I am also beginning to think that my natural periods have returned. How am I going to know, other than coming off HRT for a good few months? Maybe the cyclical regime would give me an indication?
Muriel, we are both tinkerers then! :-) I have visions of us looking inside our boxes, trying to decide which combination would work best for this week! You are on a good old whack of oestrogen, so I wonder why the flushes are still being so bothersome?? I too am sick of hearing the specialists say "give it 3/6 months" This is SO hard when tying to function day to day. SO many times, when I have not slept, I have been tempted to jack in work/go sick etc, but somehow, I have got up and made myself go in (even on zero sleep). I think if I had a more demanding job, with more hours, I would have been sacked by now for incompetence. It is also really frustrating because I need a higher paid job and yet I just can't right now, as hormones are so precarious. Being caught between a rock and a hard place comes to mind!
How much P do you take to oppose all the O? Is that the prime cause of post menopausal bleeding?
I only ask because I have had a ton of PMB since 2021 and it has been investigated on a number of occasions with two hysteroscopies which revealed nothing sinister, except a thin womb lining. I deperately want to be back on my 75 patch and utogestan, which I know keeps my bladder problems at bay and lifts my mood. But, it makes me bleed (unless it is real periods)
The coil keeps being mentioned, but as I seem to be so sensitive to hormones, it scares the pants of me!
I don't think we ever do come out the other side either. More learning to deal with the new normal!
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I do hope you both have okay days today, whatever you are doing
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