What is gp likely to prescribe me?

[Dailystuck71]

I will be 47 in February. I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago but I left my ovaries.

The last 2-3 months have been pretty awful.

Hot flushes, horrendous night sweats [completely exhausted], vaginal dryness and sex is just awful. I’m grumpy, tired and feeling pretty low.

I am going to make an appointment with my GP but what is likely to be prescribed? Is there and HRT that most prescribe in the first instance?

I’d like to read more about it initially but really hate feeling this low.

Happy Christmas 😀😂

Dr is likely to prescribe you oestrogen only hrt. I had a hysterectomy & im on a 50mg patch. Working for me

I have exactly the same, re night sweats. The night sweats have been awful. I am dripping, literally. The back of my hair is wet. My pants are wet. I have pools of sweat in the backs of my knees and the crooks if my arm.
I'm getting hot flushes all day, that aredi bad, they catch my breath, and I gasp for air.

I went to a new GP. He suggested seratonin was good for sweats. But when I got it from the chemist, it was citalopram. Which is an AD. And difficult to wean off.

And I have a history of people prescribing AD's and then it being investigated only for them to conclude I had NONE of the Edinburgh list etc, for example. So I wasn't best pleased. I rang him to say I didn't want to take them.

I'm now going to make a new appointment, but I know not what to ask for?

OP Estrogen only HRT as you have no uterus. Choose from tablets, patch, gel.

ADs Oblomov are for women with depression not menopause unless they have both and can't use HRT.

Have you thought about lifestyle changes? All drugs can have side effects.

All drugs can have side effects.

And a side effect of not taking HRT can be osteoporosis.

Untreated menopause at 47 means an extra 5 years of losing bone-density, therefore a higher risk of fractures, deformity and long-term pain. No 'natural' HRT has been shown to protect bone density? Even if it helps with the symptoms of menopause.

OP, without a uterus, you should expect to be offered oestrogen-only HRT, probably as twice-weekly patches or a gel to apply every day. (I've had both, and prefer patches.)

Oblomov, I was also advised to take ADs. I saw a different GP, who did further investigations and put me on HRT. God-send! A few years later I did take ADs for a couple of years, as I was still struggling emotionally, but that, I think, was pre-existing depression. I'm still on HRT, but no longer on ADs.

Dunno where that rogue question mark came from. It was a statement, not an uncertainty.

Have you thought about lifestyle changes? All drugs can have side effects

HRT is not a drug. Clue is in the name Hormone Replacement Therapy.

It's replacing what you had since you started puberty.

Body-identical estrogen is unlikely to give side effects if used in the right dose.

There really is no need to suffer with debilitating sweats and poor quality of life. Sadly too many GPs are still scared stiff of giving HRT and reach for ADs, despite the advice on this of NICE which is pretty unequivocal.

I had a hysterectomy 3 years again, full jobby. I was determined not to take hrt and tried the natural route, couldn't cope with the restless legs so now have a patch, best thing ever ! Feel human again

Daily, apart from being two years younger, I am exactly same as you as per hysterectomy type and history. I was first prescribed two pumps of estradiol gel, which did help but then my emotional symptoms got worse, and gp was unhappy for me to increase the dose to 4 pumps, so she switched me to Evorel 100 patches. (Both these are types of oestrogen only HRT which is what we need due to having no womb we don’t need progesterone). The beauty is they come in different doses, I think the 100 is a higher dose. So can be adjusted until symptoms improve. You stick them on your thigh and change them twice a week. They stick well, the only issue is they leave a black mark which is hard to remove but does come off with baby oil. I feel tons better, am back running and not getting tipped over the edge by every minor stress. I would say though, that I have noticed sugar and alcohol (the day after) can really effect my emotions now i am in meno, they never used to. Of course you will want to read up about evidence/risks, but make sure you read recent balanced research and NICE guideline, as many people’s advice is outdated now. At our age HRT is primary prevention for osteoporosis.

I'm 48 had total hysterectomy at 46. I initially started on 2mg oestrogen tablets which was too much. Dropped to 1mg and it wasn't enough.

Now on 50 evorel patches and they seem to be ok. I've never felt completely right since the op though, and I've just accepted this is how it is.

Thanks all. This gives me something to prepare for.

Lifestyle changes as in what argy?

I could have written brown turkeys post

My lifestyle changes Daily are v little alcohol, no sugar, lots of exercise. I always had a healthy lifestyle but I’ve really upped my game since my hysterectomy.

Thanks Nelly. I do all that anyway. Not much more I can do.

As Nelly says, the most important thing is to feel better but also protect your bones and heart.
Although you kept your ovaries, evidently many women's ovaries pack up quite soon after a hysterectomy. So as you are 4-5 years younger than average age for meno, you need to supplement for at least 5 years.

Personally, I like gel because you can adjust the dose. I've never needed to use more than 2 pumps, (1.5mgs) but I didn't start it until I was 53 and that was when I had my final period.

Um, where do you put the gel 🤗

Thigh or hip.

The instruction leaflet says upper arms/ shoulder or inner thigh (hip not mentioned.) I do upper arms.

It takes about 2-3 mins to dry. I apply after my shower and it dries while I'm cleaning my teeth or doing my make up etc.

I do however, only use 1 pump morning and 1 evening. So each arm gets half a pump.

The one I used allowed hip/buttock. Also upper arm. Basically anywhere fleshy that was not on the torso.

which type do you use Never?

I'm on Estradot, but there's been an annoying supply problem, so I'm on a combination of Estradot and Evorel ATM. Also have Mirena.

Those are patches. Not the same as gel. I think the OP was asking me about gel.

Dailystuck71 Tue 26-Dec-17 13:45:44
Um, where do you put the gel 🤗

Yes, but I had the gel for a year or so, so I was answering from my experience.

There are 2 brands of gel available in the UK; Sandrena or Oestrogel.

I've only had Oestrogel and it doesn't say apply to your hips. In fact it is very specific and the leaflet has a diagram with a body on it with shading showing where to apply.

Maybe you had Sandrena.

I recognise the name Sandrena, it's probably the one I had. TBH this was about 5y ago - I may not recall exactly where the gel could be applied.

Point being, though, that it's not applied internally, and I suspect that's what Daily was asking

Don't be ridiculous Pollyperky of course it's a drug. With benefits and risks, as explained here for the gel that's been mentioned: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/1392

Lifestyle changes are weight loss, increased exercise, healthy diet, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, ensure sufficient sleep. I think you have addressed these already, OP. It was merely a question.