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[JoannFran]

Hi ladies

I wonder if anyone can offer an advice (I’m due to see my meno dr in a few weeks so will also ask her).

I’m 48 and had peri symptoms since around 45. My worse symptoms were extreme anxiety and a feeling like my body was wired/racing heart/insomnia.

I’ve been on Evorel/Utrogestan for a couple of years and have built up to 100 patches which I’ve been on for coming up to a year. This has kept me feeling balanced and whilst not completely eliminated the anxiety I have been able to live my life again. It took me a while to feel ok on the Utrogestan part and I tried vaginally but it made the wired/internal buzzing feeling worse.

Anyway for the past few months I’ve been feeling ‘off’ again. Anxiety isn’t too bad during the estrogen only part but weirdly my ectopic heart beats are very frequent then which then makes me anxious. During the Utrogestan phase my ectopic heart beats are much much less. However last night when I took the Utrogestan I felt awful, totally wired and couldn’t sleep. And my anxiety has been slowly returning. I’m so scared that I’ll end up back in the very dark place I was in a few years ago.
Now wondering if my estrogen is too high or needs upping? I’m aware that my own hormones are probably still doing their thing.
Not sure what I’m trying to ask really? Has anyone had any experience of HRT becoming too much after being balanced for months? Or do I just need more estrogen?
I’m also on 0.5 testosterone which initially helped massively with aches and pains and wellbeing. My testosterone levels are now on the high end of normal so can’t up that.
So so sorry for long post.
Any advice/experience gratefully received x

[Banjo1973]

Hi Joann

Sorry to hear you're not feeling so great. I'm not sure I'm going to be much help but I am in a similar position to you (only a bit older - 50)

Like you I take a pretty high dose of estrogen (sandrena 2mg) and generally do well on it. But I absolutely hate the Utrogestan cycle. It makes me wired and jittery. Vaginally was somewhat better but still only ok for 5 days before 'utro hell' kicked in (plus it caused irritation).

Long story short - I don't think you need to up your estrogen nor anything else. I suspect Utrogestan maybe the issue for you. What dose are you on and how many days are you on it for?

In sheer desperation (I'm not recommending this but on IVF forums some women have been directed to do this...) I tried utro rectally. It was so much better. So next progesterone cycle (I'm so desperate I can't face doing every month which I know is dangerous) I'm going to try Cyclogest (which I obtained privately) which is designed to be taken vaginally or rectally.

It sounds like you have a private meno specialist, would it be worth asking about a different form of progesterone?

[JoannFran]

Hi Banjo

Thanks for replying :-)

I’m sorry you are having a hard time with Utrogestan too!

I’ve been ok on it for a good 6 months so not sure why it’s changed. Makes me think that it’s the estrogen/progesterone ratio?

My meno dr has suggested the mirena coil. But I had it about 15 years ago and suffered migraines. Wondering if I should give it another go? Have you tried any other progesterone?

Meno dr also said I could do utro every other month which I tried and ended up with the worst weird heart skipping beats situation (ended up in a & e). Which I know is due to estrogen as my ectopics are much worse on the estrogen only part. So strange!

Thanks again for your reply. I hope the cyclogest works for you. I’ll be interesting in how it goes.

Xxxxx

[Banjo1973]

I'm the sort of person who is very scared of change. Estrogen made me feel so much better I have kind of put up with Utrogestan as the only alternative offered was the Mirena which I was not keen to try.

That's why I've stuck it out with variations of Utro!!

I'm very interested in progesterone dosing as it seems to be 1 set dose whether you're on tiny amounts of Estrogen or large. My first experience of utro was 2 tablets 12 days a months. My pharmacist friend said 1 tablet would be fine.

Your meno doc suggested progesterone cycle every other month - but my meno doc (NHS) said "absolutely not" when I mentioned taking it every 3 months!!

It seems like you're body isn't liking the 'rollercoaster' of progesterone... have you considered taking (a low dose) of progesterone continually?

[JoannFran]

It’s so tricky trying to get the right combination isn’t it!

My meno dr said I could try continuous 100mg of utro with a 3 day break but it might cause intermittent bleeding. I’m like you and don’t like change but I think I’m gonna give it a go because I can’t be doing with this.

Thanks again for helping me. Xx

[Banjo1973]

You are too kind!!

If you are going for continuous,  I've read that some women take lower doses (ie one tablet every other day). Of course you'd need to monitor your womb lining with scans. However as you have private meno specialist, it might be worth asking for Cyclogest as you can cut it and adjust your dose?

Many women struggle with progesterone and we are all told to take these massive amounts to protect our womb linings, however we can't all need it in that quantity. Even if we are on a relatively high dose of oestrogen.

Let me know how you get on xx