Doctor gave me two choices

[Chill08]

Hello Everyone i have been lurking on here for a few months. I'm 41 the last 6 months have been having night sweats, horrible pmt, aches and pains, really heavy periods (now 23 days instead of 28), and the worst anxiety ever. Feeling pretty rough. Finally plucked up courage to spk to doctor today shes offered me mirena coil with oestrogen gel or cerelle pil with fluoxetine. Im petrified of having the coil as heard so many stories of heavy bleeding and doctors not wanting to take it out so i've opted for the 2nd option but i'm now panicking as side effects for both pills dont look too nice. Has anyone else been put on this combination and it worked?. Oh and also booked in for blood test to double check things. My heads in abit of a spin. I'd really appreciate some advice.

I had a coil, life-changing for the better. No periods at all for 10 years. I'm menopausal now & need it replaced.

When I had my first one, she said try it, no problem to take it out as it doesn't suit everyone.

I went for private acupuncture as I don’t want to take hormones or gave a coil. If you have the money it could be an option. Worked out at £50 a month for three months to sort it out. Night sweats all gone.

Why is that the only option for hrt? I’m taking patches - oestrogen only for 2 weeks then combination for 2 weeks (everol). I was taking oral but was only on the lowest dose when I needed a higher dose I moved to patches.
There are lots of options to consider so seems odd GP has only offered gel and coil.

Thankyou all for coming back to me. @wandawombat did the coil make your periods worse before it settled? @KatzP she said as i was under 45 these were the options i had.

i had a mirena before, post ds3 and it was great, no bother, no bleeding at all for years. Odd spotting for the first few months but nothing dreadful

Eventually had it replaced to work with Oestrogel as HRT and it works so well, I cannot recommend it highly enough. I had all your symptoms and more, I feel back to normal and like me again.

@Chill08

Thankyou all for coming back to me. *@wandawombat did the coil make your periods worse before it settled? @KatzP* she said as i was under 45 these were the options i had.

That’s not true. I’m under 45 and was on pills and now patches (I have an increased stroke risk so GP was only ok for pills in lowest dose.). I’d try a different GP at the practice this one doesn’t seem up to date. Also go armed with info - Dr Louise Newson has an amazing website. Suggest you direct your GP there. Also look at the NICE guidelines as well and see what that says.

There is a private Gp practice that specialises in the menopause. They charge £250 for a consult and are online/over the phone too. Can't fit the life of me remember what they are called but if you can afford it, I would strongly suggest that. I'll get on my pc when I'm home and find the link for you if you want. They offer a much more in depth service with very finely tailored treatment as that is what they specialise in.

I didn’t want the coil so went for the mini pill (cezarette) with oestrogen and utrogestan- I take one tablet every night. Works really well for me - I’m 40 and have autoimmune conditions and am in early menopause. Initially I had some breakthrough bleeding but now haven’t had a period in years. I saw a menopause specialist at the Newson Health clinic run by Louise Newson as mentioned above.

(I mean I take the mini pill every morning and one utrogestan - progesterone part of HRT - every night).

I had a coil fitted prior to starting HRT. No periods for years - in fact, they went from almost unmanageable pre-coil to none at all post-coil. Im not exaggerating when I say it was life changing and one of the best things Ive ever done. My GP advised me to get it replaced when it needs renewing to be able to carry on with Oestrogel. In fact, your post has remided me to pull my finger out and arrange the appointment today!

Thankyou for all your advice lovely people. I thought i'd give you an update. I spoke to doctor again as didnt fancy taking the fluoxetine. Im to go for my blood test in a couple of weeks and have my blood pressure done at the same time. If BP all ok doctor is to prescribe me hrt patches to work alongside the cerelle pill. Fingers crossed i might be getting somewhere