Mumsnet Talk

I've been to the doctors today for my blood test results and been told the menopause is here .

I've got a prescription for Elleste 1mg - anyone out there taking it?

Would like to know your experiences, good or bad.

Thanks

Bumping for the evening crowd.

Sorry have no advice for you as am having my blood test tomorrow. Is Elleste HRT?

Yes HRT. I was undecided about taking it but due to being only 44 the doctor was recommending it.

I wondered how others had got on with it.

Ah, am 43 and the GP said if it is positive I would need to take HRT. Frankly, if it makes me feel a bit more normal, I'm in!

I've been up and down - sweats, moods, sleepless nights - so hopefully this will even things out for me.

My experience of this drug is very positive. I'm 54 and started on it about two years ago to help with hot flushes and migraines.

Thanks for the reply woollylamb - glad it helped you.

I would not rush into anything if you are able to...I had my last period in Jan this year and with this had the most horrendous hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia. Being undecided about hrt I starting to research alternatives which took a bit of time, only to find a few months down the line, the flushes and night sweats are no more - fingers crossed they won't return. I have read somewhere that taking hrt simply delays symptoms and as soon as you stop taking it the symptoms return. So if at all possible give it a few months and see what your body does...I am 48 btw and have probably been peri menopausal for the last 3 or 4 years - only symptom shortened cycles.

I am now so relieved I did not rush into any kind of drug and a friend gave me a great tip every time I felt a flush come on, just to think of it as a power surge...it helped me stop feeling embarrassed.

Good luck with whatever you choose...

Well, I had my results yesterday and I have started the menopause. I am seeing my GP next week re: HRT at his suggestion. However, I will spend the remaining time Googling think about not taking it as DressDownFriday suggests.

Feel a bit miserable really. Think it has just made me think well that's it then. I know its not but still a bit .

Sorry that should have been KT12. Bah!

Electric - I think your feelings are very normal - I too grieved the loss of my periods - a bit crazy because I so often cursed them!! But to me it felt as if I was losing an aspect of my womanhood - but life goes on and I just reminded myself that every woman goes through this stage at some time or another...

I did not find any alternatives to hrt - even the 'natural' alternatives had very mixed reviews and had side effects I was not keen on...just remember there are millions of women who are going though the menopause with you! It's not an affliction (even though it feels a bit like one) it is just a stage of life...

Thanks KT12, have had a mopey day but will perk up tomorrow <fingers crossed>.

How are you doing DressDownFriday?

Hi. Thanks for the replies.

I've been googling non stop and I'm still undecided what to do.

I'm not particularly bothered about the menopause as I've been having symptoms for the last year or so and had a feeling it was coming.

I feel fine at the moment and don't want to start the tablets in case they cause problems. Think I've been reading to many forums.

Hope you perk up soon electric

Forgot to say - the reason I'm dithering is the possible effects on my bones if I don't take them.

If you are only 44 it's a no brainer really. You should take HRT if you are 44. Replacing it now will simply give you what you would normally have if you had reached meno at the "average" age of 52. without it your bones are at risk.

Hi, I am on Elleste Duet 1mg.

I had a very early menopause in my thirties, but put off going on hrt because I think I was in denial – if that makes sense.
I suffered dreadful day-time sweats, mood swings, dry hair, dry skin, no sex-drive, lack of energy etc. I put up with this much longer than I should when my gp said that in my case, hrt was only replacing what should be in my body at this age anyway, and the fact that it wasn’t could lead to more problems, issues with bones etc. This out-weighed the risks, which anyway were higher in the group of people that were on hrt when they were past the usual age when menopause starts – does that make sense?
I wish I had gone on alot earlier, but have found that all of the above have improved a lot
If you are on the Elleste Duet, this enable you to have a monthly bleed, which helps make me feel more normal, but does mean that you pay double for the packet as it involves two different tablets

I also had an early menopause at 39 and put off taking HRT as i needed to get my head round it. But I have now been taking it for a year and feel so much better - more energy, better mood. But I actually had a very symptom free menopause so got off lightly apart from it being about 15 years too early!

I took HRT for my bones - oestrogen keeps bones strong. Before menopause your bones lose around 0.5% density per year. After menopause it can be 2% loss per year. I can't afford to ignore that.

I only ever read about Elleste Duet on here but I take Premique which is only one prescrition charge but means no periods and it's made from horse urine (barf!)

Just on my 3rd pack of the stuff. Have been to GP today and have a further 3 months supply. I don't think I've settled down completely yet, but I am feeling oh so much better than I did before I started to take it. Periods are still a bit haywire, and I was dreadfully low (suicidal thoughts) by the time I finished the first pack, then perked up once back just on oestrogen. Luckily no repeat of that last month. So today we decided a bit longer was required before we considered any tweaking. Hot flushes gone and I am sleeping better.

I am 47 if of interest. I didn't realise just how bad I was feeling until I started on Elleste and began to feel better. I feel I am in control of my life again. I would say its a good 2 years since I last felt as well as I do now.

Forgot to add my moods were appalling too, now I'm pretty laid back. Good luck, I hope it puts you back on a more even keel.

Thanks for the ongoing replies.

I'm going on a 2 week holiday in August. I've decided to start taking them after I get back just in case I have any "teething" problems.

I am worried about starting the tablets for reasons PoshPenny mentioned.

If it wasn't for the health of my bones I wouldn't take them as I'm not having any symptoms at the moment and the lack of periods is great.

I've been on it for 3 years. It instantly transformed me from a miserable shrieking harpy to a fairly normal 52 year old woman. A bit of a bugger about paying double for it, but a small price to pay for sanity.

No weight gain..but I'm exercising and have actually lost nearly a stone.

MrsRD did you have any initial problems with taking it?

Well done with the weight loss btw.

None at all.
Within 3 days I felt so much better.

I've joined as you are all talking about Elleste Duet to ask if anyone has come off it suddenly and experienced weight gain immediately. Can you let me know. I came off it because I was having surgery, approximately 4 weeks ago and I can physically feel my clothes getting smaller - has anyone else experienced this?