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[Tinx]

Hi I’m Tinx, mid-sixties, retired and menopausal after a hysterectomy/oopherectomy at 40. I started using Evorel patches a few months ago and went from 25s twice weekly to 50s twice weekly. Side effects on this higher dose are too much of a nuisance so I’m going back to 25s.

I’m going to have a look around and look forward to getting to know people here.

[Marchlove]

Welcome to the forum Tinx!

Low and slow is a good way to go, so that your body can adjust to the reintroduction of hormones. So I think you’ve made a good choice by going back to 25s.

Search around, lots of info on here!

Mx

[CLKD]

It can be Trial and Error.  Browse round.  Make notes. Ask away.   

[Flossieteacake]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[Songbird]

👋 Tinx and welcome. You’ll find some very useful info here and, remember, nothing is taboo. Ask away 

[Tinx]

Thanks for the welcome and replies everyone.

Anyone here from the south coast UK?

[Tinx]

Hi I’m Tinx, mid-sixties, retired and menopausal after a hysterectomy/oopherectomy at 40. I started using Evorel patches a few months ago and went from 25s twice weekly to 50s twice weekly. Side effects on this higher dose are too much of a nuisance so I’m going back to 25s.

I’m going to have a look around and look forward to getting to know people here.

What symptoms did you get at 50 that were better at 25?
I've just stuck on my first Evorel 50 patch. They gave me enough Provera to last all year and Evorel50 for less than a month, lol, they won't be accused of not making sure I get enough progesterone.

I was surprised because the nurse said they would start me on Femoston 1/10 then put me up to 2/10 later, she said they always start you on the lowest dose. Then we decided my BP is too bonkers for oestrogen pills, I got patches instead and they are the mid-dose.

I don't think it's common to take the 25 dose, so I'm just asking given the opportunity, why do you prefer the 25? I like to keep my doses low if possible. I went years being very organic and no pills or medicines unless I was really bad.

Vaginal dryness is a big issue with me and I previously used 10 mcg estradiol vaginal tablets twice weekly. I could only order one pack every six months but they never lasted that long so that wasn’t helpful. The 25s of Evorel patches helped with sleep problems, headaches and flushes but not the dryness. The 50s were better for all the symptoms but…. they make my breasts so tender it’s unbearable. That started almost immediately after moving up to that dose. Also I’ve regained the stone I lost before starting Evorel (both doses) and my ankles get puffy.

To put things in perspective a bit:
I have gastric reflux and have been on Omeprazole for years.
I have osteoarthritis.
I have hypertension and high cholesterol - but both well controlled with meds.
I have type 2 diabetes but after 7 months went from 89 to 41 with meds and weight loss, so not happy to regain it and risk the diabetes recurring. I’m considering a gastric balloon so I’d be interested to know if anyone here has had one and how they got on with it.

[Flossieteacake]

Tinx, using the oestrogen pessaries twice a week often is not enough and many members use them daily. VA can only be helped with localised oestrogen but using vaginal moisturiser such as Yes and Sylk can be used throughout the day. You should be able to get localised oestrogen on prescription and your GP needs to understand they need to give you more then enough for twice a week.

You may find cutting a little bit of the 50 oestrogen patch will be better if 50 is too much and 25 is too little.

There is also an oestrogen pessary called Gina which is available over the counter.

[CLKD]

A gastric balloon may work, but it is a huge operation and life will never be the same  .  Never will you go back to eating 'normally'.  A friend underwent surgery 12 months ago and is doing well, after years of consultations and lots of therapy so that she is fully aware of the don't related to this major surgerical intervention.

Does the Omprazolol ease your reflux symptoms?  This is common in peri-menopause because muscles may become  lax which allows these conditions to become problematic, hiatus hernia is common.

Vaginal dryness can be eased by KY Jelly, appropriate Vagifem or Ovestin: OTC 'gina' is sold to ladies who haven't had a period for 12 months and who are over 55.

Is the OA a problem?  It's common from the mid 40s because we evolved to walk upright = putting stresses from head downwards, especially on the hip region and ankles.  Footwear becomes more important as we age  : ditch those mules, slip on sandals, flip flops.  Buy good quality support shoes for Winter, good lace up boots for walking and pay more for sandals in the Summer.  With support on each side of the 'instep' to stop the feet 'going over'.  If foot wear is cheap any compensation during walking will affect the spine from feet upwards  .  I'm great at falling off slippers  especially when walking upstairs 

[Tinx]

The breast pain is something I'm worried about going back to Evorel patches. On Evorel Conti they got really sore, I'd forgotten how sore they can get.

The pain in my breasts had stopped about two years before my first hrt attempt, I thought it was Evorel Conti because that was the only time in the last three years I've had breast pain.

The specialist said, no, it was something else, lots of changes happen, extra oestrogen doesn't cause breast pain. So maybe it was the progesterone part? No, she said it wasn't Evorel Conti caused my breast pain, it would have been something else that happened at the same time, coincidence.

I think that was the only part of the conversation we didn't agree, it was so nice to be listened to. My GP is too busy interupting to tell me I'm wrong to ever listen to a full sentence out of my mouth. Now they only do phone consultations, the problem has made it impossible. I'll only phone on her days off.

My diabetes nurse is like that. Gets her tuppence-worth in first and isn’t interested in what I have to say/won’t shut up long enough to let me speak. Annoying isn’t it?

[Tinx]

A gastric balloon may work, but it is a huge operation and life will never be the same  .  Never will you go back to eating 'normally'.  A friend underwent surgery 12 months ago and is doing well, after years of consultations and lots of therapy so that she is fully aware of the don't related to this major surgerical intervention.

Does the Omprazolol ease your reflux symptoms?  This is common in peri-menopause because muscles may become  lax which allows these conditions to become problematic, hiatus hernia is common.

Vaginal dryness can be eased by KY Jelly, appropriate Vagifem or Ovestin: OTC 'gina' is sold to ladies who haven't had a period for 12 months and who are over 55.

Is the OA a problem?  It's common from the mid 40s because we evolved to walk upright = putting stresses from head downwards, especially on the hip region and ankles.  Footwear becomes more important as we age  : ditch those mules, slip on sandals, flip flops.  Buy good quality support shoes for Winter, good lace up boots for walking and pay more for sandals in the Summer.  With support on each side of the 'instep' to stop the feet 'going over'.  If foot wear is cheap any compensation during walking will affect the spine from feet upwards  .  I'm great at falling off slippers  especially when walking upstairs 

There’s no surgery with a gastric balloon. The type I’m thinking about is the newer balloon pill that is swallowed under x-ray guidance then inflated. After around 4 months it breaks down and is excreted. No hospital stay and it’s done within the half hour. I won’t have invasive surgery as it’s too risky. I know someone who had a band, lost several stones but then regained most of it by consuming high fat and sugar soft foods.

The Omeprazole does ease my gastric reflux. Every now and again I try to come off it without success. Also, with the OA I need to take Naproxen which increases acid. It’s a never ending battle but there are plenty worse off and at least it’s not RA.

Reading all the replies I’m going to have another chat with my practice nurse consultant about restarting the Vagifem pessaries and if she agrees I’ll ask for enough to use daily and see if it helps the dryness.

OA is always a problem and always painful to some degree. I take Amitriptyline to help sleep though it doesn’t always work plus Naproxen, paracetamol or cocodamol. What a lark! I also use deep freeze gel to help ease stiffness and pain occasionally.

I do wear good shoes and have inserts to help with supporting my feet. Diabetics are advised not to wear open toe sandals or flip flops although at the moment my diabetes is well controlled so I’m not too worried.

Thanks so much for your help CLKD. ❤️

[Tinx]

Thanks so much for these replies everyone. I’m going to make an appointment and discuss it all with my nurse consultant.

I really appreciate all the information. ❤️

[Flossieteacake]

Good luck at your appointment.