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[applejack]

Just for info, had an oestrogen implant inserted last week. This is a last resort since the amount of HRT I need to control symptoms caused endometrial polyps even with a coil in there and rather than have constant hysteroscopies the meno specialist and gynae thought this might be worth a shot. It's a 50mcg dose whereas the patches I had before were as high up as 150 at one point and I'd prefer to keep it lower if possible so hopefully this will work.

Apparantly implants are used reasonably successfully when all else has failed so we'll see.

Anyway, if anyone wants to know how it's going at some point, should there be others in the same position or considering it, then I can try and help.

Funnily enough started testosterone pump about 5 weeks ago and at the same time dropped my patch down to 100 and actually felt ok, so hopefully the testosterone was the missing link and this further drop to 50 won't be as awful as it might be.

It didn't hurt - the injection in the stomach was a bit meh, but the small incision and insertion was completely painless after the local took hold so don't be put off. Also, it's only been 7 days and I can't even see where she cut. I'd need a magnifying glass to find it now.  Hope this reassures anyone who might be worrying about it.

Four days since I took the patch off and became fully dependent on the implant. I might feel differently in a weeks time if I'm pouring with sweat and having palpitations thought the night again 

[Flossieteacake]

Thank you for sharing this. I really hope it is something you get on with without side effects.

[Lily102]

Thanks for sharing. Also interested to hear how you get on.

[Rumbaba]

Hi applejack

I'm  really interested in finding out more about the possibility of n implant, as my dose is so high, suggesting that I cannot absorb properly.  May I ask where and how you got the implant?  Was it at a private clinic?

thanks
 Rumbaba

[applejack]

Hi Rumbaba

Yes, a private meno specialist. The implant was quite difficult to source and she had to scout around. She said the last time she did one was a few years ago and that was for her meno certification. She hadn't actually done one on a patient for over 10 years. I think it's mainly cost and the fact that things go in and out of fashion. It's more common in the US or Australia, apparantly. When I told my GP I was getting an implant done privately she said she'd never heard of them.

[sheila99]

Rumbaba someone on here got one on the nhs at Chelsea nd Westminster because of absorption issues. If you're anywhere near it might be worth trying to get an appointment there.

[Floo36]

HinApplejack,  just wondering how you are getting on since having the implant, have you had improvements yet?

[applejack]

Ok so I said I'd update so here it is.

tl:dr background
Last year estradiol reading plummetted to 90 so you can imagine the symptoms that brought on.
We tried;
1. Bumping the patch up to 100, then 150. This got the reading up to 280 but triggered polyps and bleeding
2. Polyp removed in november, so we tried again with combination of patches and oestrogel, this time with mirena in situ but the bleeding came back in feb. I was then put on mirtazapine as i hadn't slept since this started and was on my knees and my mother had died in the meantime and it was getting all too much
3. We tried norethisterone with the coil and this time we went for oestrogel - symptoms did not improve. Tried lenzetto - oestradiol reading dipped to 230, bleeding came back, second polyp was very fast growing and removed in june
4. Meno specialist and obgyn (who was dealing with the bleeding) decided last throw of the dice was an implant. It took ages to get hold of one and I was still on a 100 patch+mirtazapine to keep me ticking over but I was worried a third polyp would fire up. ALso took ages to get an appt with the meno specialist who, even though she's private, runs out of appointments like you wouldn't believe and it's got more noticeable over the past 6 months or so.  ANYWAY, finally got the implant on August 18th.

WITH IMPLANT IN
Kept a 50mcg patch on for a week on advice of meno doc.  Finally taking it off and going "commando" was scary!
Started bleeding two weeks later and was howling with despair. Meno doc said to sit tight as it could just be hormonal high jinks as these things happen
Generally felt wretched for 2-3 weeks, hand tremors, hot flushes, you guys know the score.
Bleeding stopped after 5 days and HAS NOT COME BACK, so she was right
Took about 4 weeks to feel human. Hot flushes sudddenly stopped. Everything else calmed down a bit.
Had my new estradiol results this week and it's shot up to 386 which is a RESULT!
There are occasional smears of old blood, very, very scant, almost unnoticeable and nothing like before. I may just need to have 6 monthly scans but I'm seeing the obgyn tomorrow for a progress check and will see what she says.
Meno doc also did a check on the general health of my bits and bobs and said it's all looking a lot better than it was a few months ago so that's lovely.

However, because of the weight gain I decided to wean myself off mirtazapine so my sleep has wobbled a bit, but is way, way better than it was last year without the mirt, so I'm going to thank the increased oestrogen level for that. It's also caused an increase in anxiety and I've noticed my palpitations have increased but I was anxious before the menopause and think that's just me.   I'm still a bit trembly but again - I'm anxious anyway and the mirt withdrawal symptoms are pants so it might be that. The only thing I'm worried about at the moment is the hand tremor but I'm going to sit tight on that for another few months before going to the doc.

So for non absorbers like me, it might be worth a go. It is a pain in the neck to a certain extent, and god knows what will happen in a few months when it starts to wear off and symptoms come back because it takes a few weeks to get things back in shape, but considering the fact that the implant is 50mcg and is giving me more benefit than a patch of 150mcg, or 5 pumps of lenzetto, or 4 pumps of oestrogel, all of which I tried, it might be worth just saying "sod it, what have I got to lose?"

[Flossieteacake]

Wow the implant has really helped with your oestrogen! Thank you for the update. I am happy it has worked for you.

[Kathleen]

Hello applejack

Thank you so much for your update, it is very much appreciated.

I wonder why you were given 50mcg? Perhaps this is the standard starting dose for implants?

The Consultant I am hoping to speak to told me that he offers implants to many women in his care. He said that this method works well and I wish you luck with it

Take care and please let us know how you get on.

Take care.

K.

[applejack]

Hi Kathleen - the options were either 50 or 100, but she strongly advised the 50. She used to apply implants when they were more popular a few years ago so I trust her as she's very experienced. It may be that the estradiol level is going to go up even higher than 386 - I had the blood test after about 7/8 weeks but it might still be rising and with the bleeding issue Ive had for the past 18 months we have to be careful not to overdo it.

[Kathleen]

Hello again applejack

I think your doctor is right to be cautious.

My only reference for blood Oestradiol was in August last year when my levels were high at 600 but this provoked bleeding so it couldn't be sustained. I think slow and steady is the way to go.

Wishing you well.

K.