God someone help me

[Runaround50]

Hi all,
Really looking for some advice here.

Post menopausal 3 years.
History of BC.
Currently under Chelsea and Westminster clinic.
Have been on the Evorel 75 dose HRT patch and utrogestan for over a year. Prior to that, was on gel and utrogestan, but came off due to absorption issues.

My problem is bleeding and period pain.

I keep bleeding on the patch, despite ,my mood being good and feeling more balanced.

Had a hysteroscopy and scan in April, came back clear.
Now due another scan, as bleeding isn't settling down.

Chelsea suggested to trying a low dose of sandrena, but within days, was hit by period pain and nausea. Stopped the gel, but the pain continues.

My mood has plummeted as now on no HRT (levels were 465 on the patch) but it had to come off as the period pain was too much.

Chelsea said if the scan results are clear, they will review the progesterone as utrogestan isn't doing it's job.

In the meantime, what do I do? I'm scared there is something seriously wrong with me. I can't risk adding oestrogen right now, as it gives me such pain and I feel dreadful.

I am hoping they find something at the scan, as I can' t see a way of re starting HRT if I am bleeding all the time? It's the pain which is worse than the bleeding.

Why is this happening? My last period was 3 years ago!

So sorry OP, I can’t offer any advice but would be pushing them to do this as a priority. Feel so bad for you and hope this is resolved ASAP 💐

Did you have a send dose of AstraZeneca? I’m in a couple of menopause groups and many of us have seen increased or returning bleeding so it may be something temporary hopefully.

Did you have a second dose of AstraZeneca? I’m in a couple of menopause groups and many of us have seen increased or returning bleeding so it may be something temporary hopefully.

I do think, however, that is great they are giving you a good check and hope they are able to provide you with a solution soon.

Have they suggested mirena? That stopped my bleeding but I was progesterone intolerant so it made me very depressed and they took it out.

You are in the best of hands at the C&W and I doubt any of us can give better help :)

It's unlikely anything is wrong as you only had a scan 6 months back.

I don't know what to suggest as their advice to reduce the estrogen dose seemed the best.

Silly question- but is it definitely period pain? Can you go back to gel and just try half a pump to start with and see how that feels?

And maybe you need to up the Utrogestan from 100mg a day to 200mgs if you are using it continuously.

I am sure they will find an answer for you.

Thanks all.

Well, I had to put my patch back on last night after posting this, else I would have killed someone! God it was awful, the feeling of anger and that pain.

I have emailed the gynaecologists to try and arrange an urgent scan as im so worried about what may be going on.

The pain isn’t as bad right now, but no doubt as time goes on, it will build up again.

My last vaccine was May.

I did try to take the 200 utrogestan the other night @JinglingHellsBells, but boy did I feel wiped out the following day! I am not sure I can sustain that level of feeling so wiped out. This is what Chelsea suggested also.

So, the bottom line is, I need Hrt to function. Patch 75 is the dose that works. Now to stop pain and future bleeds.

I did try to take the 200 utrogestan the other night @JinglingHellsBells, but boy did I feel wiped out the following day! I am not sure I can sustain that level of feeling so wiped out. This is what Chelsea suggested also

@Runaround50 Have they suggested using it vaginally? That way, you avoid the wiped out feeling. I use it that way as my consultant feels it's absorbed better, so it ought to control the bleeding better, and it also avoids the wiped out feeling. (I'm using it on a cycle, by the way, not every day.)

If you don't want to do that you may find the wiped out feeling subsides as you get used to it.

Will try it that way @JinglingHellsBells
Do you use an applicator to get the tablet where it needs to be ?

@Runaround50

Will try it that way *@JinglingHellsBells* Do you use an applicator to get the tablet where it needs to be ?

No applicator- I did have one and it wasn't that helpful. Fingers work fine but best when lying down!

Will have a go @JinglingHellsBells. Anything is worth a try.

I’ve been reading up on norethisterone and wondered whether this may be a better progesterone option. Chelsea won’t review until I’ve had the scan anyway,

@Runaround50

Will have a go *@JinglingHellsBells*. Anything is worth a try.

I’ve been reading up on norethisterone and wondered whether this may be a better progesterone option. Chelsea won’t review until I’ve had the scan anyway,

Norethisterone is more powerful BUT if you have had BC I doubt it's recommended as it has a higher risk according to the stats. (There is a range of risk depending on the type of progestin.)

The other one suggested as being as 'safe' as Utrogestan is dydrogesterone which is only in Femonston (tablet hrt.)

Yes, this is the issue. Chelsea want ‘breast friendly’ HRT for me. But Im not convinced it’s the most effective.

I did see a private specialist in July. Now she won’t prescribe higher than 2 pumps of gel or 50 patch / 1mg oral, but is happy for any progesterone.

Chelsea are happy to up the oestrogen, but want the progesterone to ideally be utrogestan!

I'm with 'Chelsea' :) in terms of their opinion.
My consultant says the same and knows some of the Chelsea team.

Okay, let’s stick with Chelsea for now. They are calling in Jan re the scan results, so gynaecologist better get a shifty on! 😀

I just realise you are using Sandrena. Is there any reason why, rather than Oestrogel? They are almost the same but gel is in a pump not sachets.

The other thing is if you are in London (assume you are, or near) if you are really worried and your scan is delayed on the NHS, you can have a private scan- lots of good scanning places in central London. It'll cost you around £200 so that might not be what you want to pay, but for peace of mind you could probably get it arranged within days.

I’m in Cheshire.

Off the sandrena now, horrendous stuff for my womb pain.

Back on the patch. Much calmer and pain subsided lots.

Can get a scan locally I think. I need to ring them to get a move on.

Pain is back on the patch now! Good god, what is going on??

Still in hell.
Gynecologist won’t for 8 weeks, WTAF! How do they know I haven’t got some sinister issue developing?

More bleeding this week.
Severe pain.
Chelsea need to intervene and haven’t.
GP not interested.
Gynae say they have a back log and they need a letter from someone to confirm I need an urgent scan.

I’m the meantime, I feel like death!
Off HRT in the hope to prevent more bleeds.
Symptoms are raging p.

What is the actual point of life??.

Sorry you are suffering.

Did you mean to say your gynae won't/ can't se you for 8 weeks?

And as for the C&W- what's going on there? They can't physically see you so are you able to get a remote consultation?

OR back to your GP and an NHS scan asap?

I did say there are places in London where you could probably get a scan from consultant gynaes very quickly although this week is clearly difficult as it's so close to Christmas.

So what about finding somewhere nr where you live?

Hi @JinglingHellsBells
Yes meant to say gynaecologist won’t scan for 8 weeks. I don’t understand why? Just because the last one was clear, it doesn’t mean that all fine this time does it?

Chelsea need to write to the gynaecologists, to request the scan and they haven’t. I keep emailing and phoning, but nothing.

I can’t afford a private scan unfortunately.

I just want to go back on my patch and get on with life. Obviously something isn’t right as the bleeds keep occurring, even though I’ve been on this regimen for well over a year.

Chelsea need to write to the gynaecologists, to request the scan and they haven’t. I keep emailing and phoning, but nothing.

When you call them are you actually speaking to a real person?

It’s EXTREMELY difficult to make contact with Chelsea, extremely.

They say I gave to communicate via the patient portal online. Then no one gets back to you for ages.

I’ve got a telephone appointment with Chelsea on January 6, so may need to wait until then

Your GP sounds useless.

if you are having this heavy and odd bleeding you need to insist on a scan and keep on at them.

I know @JinglingHellsBells
My worry is that there is something fundamentally wrong with me.
Plus my symptoms are raging having gone cold turkey!

Any advice would be great, I started everol 50, everol conti in July....was fine and no bleeds and now I am having a very heavy bleed is this normal even though I not had a period for years ( I was on cerelle contraceptive ) so never knew when my periods stopped but other symptoms and blood test confirmed I was post menopause...I am just worried as now bleeding when wasn't bleeding for first few months of the everol or conti when first started them...they upped my everol to 75 in October and left my conti the same could that be a reason... I feel like taking the patch off as the bleeding is worrying me or is it supposed to replica periods????