Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[2cats]

Hi all,

I went to my GP today as I have been getting the old feelings back again of tearfulness and unexplained misery!  As I have been on 50mcg of oestradiol for 5 years now (I'm in my 40s) plus progesterone, I asked her if she thought perhaps my hormones were dropping even more so I might need a slightly higher dose...
She said the opposite was true, the further I went into menopause, the less oestrogen I would need.

Anyway she upped my patches to 75mcg to see if it made a difference to my mood. 

So I was just wondering what others on here might have been told by GPs or specialists regarding oestrogen amounts?

 

[Kathleen]

Hello 2 cats.

Sorry you are feeling awful.  I am interested in your replies as I am struggling with anxiety surges and wondering if less oestrogen would actually be of benefit as I am post meno. Mind you I'm suffering insomnia as well and who knows what combination of high or low hormones is responsible for that!

Hopefully the lovely ladies on this site can shed some light.

Wishing you well.

K.

[2cats]

Thanks for your replies.  I've put my prescription in for 75mcg Oestrodot so will hopefully pick them up next week and we'll see how it goes!

[Annie0710]

I don't know what my happy level is either.  I'm post meno and just hit 50 and on estradot 75mcg.  The 100s are way too high for me but I'd been on max oral oestrogen for about 16 years prior with no problems (well until peri struck)

If I feel my 75s are too high I snip a bit off and play that way x

[Hurdity]

2cats your consultant is right in one way - as Stellajane says - when you get to your 60's there is no need to have oestrogen at the same level as when you are young - (well  I don't know what the long term effect would be as there haven't really been any studies and especially with bio-identical oestrogen that most of us use nowadays) - but also to take the high doses of progestogens needed to protect the womb is just out of the question on a long-term basis - either because it has to be taken all the time , or to put up with a withdrawal bleed up until 70 and beyond (unpleasant!).

However you are in your 40's and if you have been taking HRT for 5 years then you were even younger when you started - I mean heavens above you're not even at the average age of natural menopause yet!!! Although stage not age is important in some ways when it comes to menopause (ie when to start HRT), absolute age should give some indication of what is reasonable - and post-meno or not - you would be experiencing much higher levels of oestrogen on average if you had not yet reached menopause. eg I was almost 54 and late peri-meno when I started hRT - and I started on 50 mcg - the same dose as you and remained on it until very recently when I increased it by 12.5 mcg (by snipping and adding small bit of another patch) - because I am also on testosterone and didn't want to unbalance my T to O ratios!

As Stellajane says your oestrogen levels fall 2 years following menopause and  some women experience a resurgence of symptoms at this point - or even start them for the first time - so need to increase dose perhaps temporarily before decreasing again ( depending on age!).

Sounds like 75 mcg would be a better bet. Can't remember what progesterone you use and how often? I presume also you don't know if you are post-meno or not yet but the symptoms might suggest that you are - or getting there?

Hope it works for you anyway

Hurdity x

[2cats]

Yes Hurdity, I was in my mid 30 s when this nonsense all started (hot flushes) but back then it wasn't really recognised for what it was, as it was very intermittent for several years. 
My progesterone is Utrogestan 100 but I've not been taking it properly as I always get a period within a week of taking it so then stop the pills.  Some months I've had a period naturally so then haven't taken any pills at all.  Not great I know and I'm a bit scared to admit this to my GP...
I've asked about how I'll know when I'm through the menopause and each GP has replied that I won't know whilst I keep taking HRT as any blood test will mask any true hormone levels.
Thanks for your replies ladies - they always make me feel supported.

[Tempest]

I had a chat with Professor Lumsden about this when I saw her last week, as I covered in my previous post. GP's have a lot of catching up to do with how HRT should be prescribed! Professor Lumsden (who formulated the NICE guidelines) said that women should be prescribed HRT at the EFFECTIVE dose for their symptoms. GP's are still stuck on the WHI study and are still very nervous about prescribing at a level that addresses the individual woman's needs, preferring to stick to low doses which may be ineffective and also forcing women off HRT after 5 years of use.

Provided you are well, have no other contraindicating health problems and receive regular follow ups (and attend mammograms) there is no reason why you should not stay on it until 60, and thereafter each woman's risk of continuing treatment should be assessed on an individual basis.

As Professor Lumsden said, GP's are very slowly 'getting it' when it comes to HRT, but it's not good enough. And she is continuing to push for better awareness.

Remember, the NICE guidelines published last year are EVIDENCE BASED and you are entirely entitled to wave these under your GP's nose and demand that you receive appropriate treatment to manage your symptoms.

Hope this helps! xxxx

[2cats]

Thanks Tempest.  How interesting!  One male dr told me no to higher oestrogen as he didn't want to be getting a phone call from the hospital saying that I'd had a stroke!! Nice!

[Tempest]

This gentleman is clearly a nincompoop, to put it kindly 2cats! If you're using transdermal estrogen, there is NO increased risk of stroke or DVT as Professor Lumsden assured me. The research for this is well documented, and GP's really aren't 'getting it'.

They really need to gen themselves up on HRT delivery methods and the risks, too!

[Hurdity]

  Tempest!

Hurdity x