UTROGESTAN 100

[julesxxx]

Hi wonder if anyone can answer a question please
iv been on Oestrogel 1 pump Am, and UTROGESTAN 100 before bed
this is my 5 week,
im keep getting really bad chills, where I cannot get warm, seems to be 2- 3 hours after Iv taken the tablet mainly when I’m in bed, but start feeling the odd chill afternoons now too, hands feet mainly, I never feel cold, does anyone else on this combo of HRT have the same symptoms, I was on Tiberlone for 20 years due to having a total hysterectomy due ovarian and endometriosis. And never had any side effects, and feed back would be appreciated thank you

If you've had a hysterectomy why do you need utrogestan, have you checked? It's to protect from thickening of the endometrium which you won't now have so do double check with your hcp

Utrogestan lowers BP so this may make you feel cold, it affects many women differently. Maybe try vaginally?

Not on the same HRT as you and I’ve always been a cold person but much more pronounced in menopause..

Hi Janiie
I had endometriosis and they didn't get it all. That was 20 years ago. Apparently it can come back if they didn't get it all. So she put me on that to stop growing again. Iv don't know. So I would be grateful if anyone in the gynaecologist profession could confirm it. The Gp that put me on it isn't available until next week or later to speak to her about it. The ones available are males who wanted me to come off it.

My bp was borderline high? so that maybe why, having dips in bp.

Hi.
Iv had a hysterectomy 20 years ago and was put on HRT tiberlone straight away. No side effects at all, So Iv never had menopause symptoms. She was concerned that I had been on it for all that time. She said putting me on these lowers my risk of things

I'm on the same combo as you @julesxxx but I don't have your symptoms. I still have my uterus which is why I take Utrogestan daily.

I take mine in the morning though, maybe you could try that so you don't get cold in bed.

I dare not do anything until I talk to the Gp who put me on it, I have health anxiety, so don't really want to swop to am, because I will worry about it, and at the moment I'm stable, and she's not in for at least another week. Do you do the gel in the morning too

Yes, @julesxxx I put gel on my upper arms in the morning, different arm each day, and take my Utrogestan tablet. So far so good, I'm about six months in.

Utrogestan is recommended at night because it can make you sleepy. If it doesn't do that to you, then taking it in the morning would be fine.
Yes it does make sense re the endometriosis. This Q actually came up at a menopause training day I was on today. Usually after hysterectomy, replacement of progesterone isn't needed but if endometrial tissue is suspected to be elsewhere then keeping taking it makes sense.
The only advice they had re stopping it was trial it and see what happens, but I'd want to do that under guidance of your GP/gynae rather than just stopping.

Yes, it's correct that women with endo always need progesterone with estrogen.

TBH I would question whether the 'chills' are connected with Utrogestan. I know you think they are, but progesterone (naturally or as HRT) actually raises body temp. In the 2nd half of women's fertile cycles, body temp rises on ovulation and stays high for the 2nd half of the month when progesterone kicks in.

One possibility is your thyroid, as thyroid issues (too low or too high) can cause symptoms of feeling cold. You should ask for some blood tests.

You are also on a low dose of estrogen and I'm wondering why. The dose is 2 pumps, although some drs suggest starting with 1 pump for a few weeks so the body adjusts to it more slowly. As you've been on Tibolone for years, that would not apply.

It makes no difference at all when you apply gel. (Some women divide the dose morning and evening.) As long as you keep to a routine so there are not big 'dips' that's all that matters.

Utrogestan is supposed to be taken at night as it's a sedative. You may feel sleepy or even dizzy if you take it during the morning. (Both are listed as side effects.)

Try not to get so anxious over it all. Both the gel and progesterone are both body-identical (the same as our own, totally natural unlike Tibolone.) You aren't going to do anything terrible by swapping when you use them!

TBH your GP is unlikely to be much help. I've never ever heard of anyone getting chills with Utrogestan (I've used it for years - around 8 /9) and I doubt your GP has either. Could it be your anxiety that is causing the reaction perhaps?

@julesxxx The other possibility for cold hand and feet is Raynaud's syndrome.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/raynauds/

This can be caused by stress so if you are anxious about your new HRT it's worth considering if this is what's going on.

Good Morning.
Thank you for replying.
You've given me a lot of useful information
Regarding the HRT I'm now on,
I was put on one a few years ago to see how I got on with that and I also has side effects with that too, I seem to have reaction to the coating on things, I was exactly the same with sertraline I was put on, I was having bad side effects for 3 months, i do get anxious about new medication but I didn't think I was, but subconsciously I maybe am, my late husband had raynards when he had cancer, I don't think it's that, his hands and feet tips were blue, the cold chills didn't happen last night, I have been under a lot of stress lately too, but I talk to my Gp about how I'm getting on in a couple of weeks, she said she would start me on a low dose to start with, with previously having endo and I have osteopenia in my spine and hips which could have been caused by having a hysterectomy early, or hereditary my siblings have it too, I hoping I can carry on with this combination if it's a lower risk for me, one lady on a Facebook group said she had the chills bad too, but she was the only one that replied had, but she didn't say if she had anxiety, i definitely feel calmer since starting taking it,

Thank you for replying
Glad you have settled on it, fingers crossed I do too

Good morning
Coincidence that it came up in your group.
When I had my hysterectomy the surgeon said it was a mess in there, my cervix was stuck to my bowel and it was making its way to other organs he said that if they had to operate again if it came back I would need a colostomy bag and it may not be able to reversed it again, so I will do anything to avoid having to go through that,

TBH I doubt it's the coating. These are usually normal 'food' products that most of us have every day in some way or another.
The coating on Utrogestan is a waxy coating. This is a list of the ingredients in the coating.

Sunflower oil, refined
Soybean lecithin
Gelatin
Glycerol
Titanium dioxide
Purified water

They are all natural food stuffs that most of us will eat all the time in foods we buy that aren't made at home.

When I have anything with gelatine I get bad acid reflux, that's why I have sprays for vitamins, I'm not saying that's the problem regarding the chills, but when I take progesterone it feels like it got stuck even tho I drink plenty of water with it,

'I dare not do anything until I talk to the Gp who put me on it'

Honestly, it is fine to alternate dose times etc without a consultation.

Have you tried taking it vaginally? Many do and then you won't have the reflux issue.

I note you say you have anxiety, do you do cbt or yoga, any calming therapies? I wonder if (understandably given your worry about endo reoccurring and someone said you could then need a stoma) that if you can try to get the anxiety under control a bit more that would be the best bet?

It has only been 5 weeks so it may all settle just in the meantime try wrapping up a but and a hot water if you feel chilly.

Thank you for your help it really is appreciated.
Can I tell you the things I'm on,
Which I wonder if there would be any interaction with my New HRT combo
Better you vitaminD K2. 2 sprays And organic moringa powder only 1/2tsp
I have the spray bevause my vitaminD level dropped to 25, and the moringa I have because it's supposed to be very good for you, sorry for bothering you and I understand if you don't want to reply anymore. I can't up my pump gel because she only gave me 1 bottle to last 2 months until I speak to her again to see how I'm doing on it, and she's away at the moment. Could it be that the balance isn't right??

Regarding yoga etc, I live in a village and don't drive so I'm stuck, do you know of any good ones I could download and watch, I listen to music, go walking, and crochet so I try to relax, I sound like a no hoper lol, I'm not it's just that I've lost so many people I love, my husband at 54 , my mum and sister were both 60 and died suddenly, hence my high health anxiety 💕

Honestly I absolutely understand your worries and anxiety, particularly having lost loved ones .

If you pop to your chemist you can ask for a private chat with the pharmacist who will reassure you regarding interactions etc.

Also the gel should be on your repeats, one bottle of course won't last long so ring the practice ask them to check it is on your repeats (or look online most practices have an online ordering system). I'm not trying to minimise your worries rather reassure you that you don't need consults with your gp. Practice staff can help with the gel prescription, pharmacist with interaction advice.

I don't know of any specific cbt or yoga sites but if you Google I'm sure they'll be plenty of suggestions. Try a calming app? Good that you walk a lot, I walk at least 10000 steps a day with my playlist on full blast. Really blows the cobwebs away!

@julesxxx There are loads of yoga sites online and one is here

Yoga with Adriene

The amount of gelatine in the capsule will be minute.
Do you think the issue you have is anxiety-based? Around your trouble swallowing pills? The capsule is very soft, not like a hard tablet, and dissolves very quickly.

If you are unable to get on with Oestrogel and Utrogestan, there are plenty of other options, such as patches which you stick on your bum!

These don't contain Utrogestan, so they don't have the same body-identical progesterone, but it may be an option to think about.

I think it might be helpful for your GP to refer you to a menopause specialist.
There are other options that could help.
For example, although you do need progesterone in case any endo is left, it may be possible to reduce the amount you take. I'd definitely be looking into a 2nd opinion from a specialist.

If you are under 60, HRT is recommended for osteopenia rather than other drugs, so it's best to try to get that right if you can.

Have you had a recent bone scan to see how bad your bones are?

Osteopenia can range from very mild to borderline osteoporosis.
The dose of gel for osteoporosis prevention is 2 pumps, by the way.

I was 62 last July, had a total hysterectomy at 42
I was total fine on tiberlone for 20 years but she said Iv been on it to long I was given that one because the end,
But she said that the risks is increasing the longer I stay on it, I take medication when I have migraines so no issue taking them, but try to avoid the ones that I call jelly coated,
I really don't think the Gp will send me to see a menopause specialist because I'm over the menopause age,
Even tho I think I need it for my bones, all I was told about the results of the scan was, don't lose to much weight, no chance of that for starters, keep alcohol to a minimum, which I don't drink much, I don't smoke and weight bearing exercises, just wondered if I do need to pumps instead of the one, but I have just googled that low estrogen in some women can cause cold flushes in stead of hot, iv never really had hot flushes unless I forgot to take a tiberlone for a couple of days. Joys of being a woman,

You could do with asking for more info on your bone scan.
Osteopenia covers anything from slight bone loss to something more serious. Your GP should have your results and you just have to ask for a copy.

The scans should be done every 2-3 years as well, so it depends when your last one was.

Tibolone may have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer compared to Utrogestan which is why your GP may have suggested you come off it.

Forgot to tell you,
I had a scan 7 years ago, the Gp said it was osteoporosis at the base of my spine, had a scan 4 months ago and said it was osteopenia of my hips and spine, and she said that I won't get another scan unless I break something,
With having telephone consultation it's hard to get things told, getting to see a Gp in the practice is nigh on impossible, but I'm going to try and push to getting to see her in person. Iv asked for blood results before and they weren't happy, so it's put me off asking,

@julesxxx You don't need an appt to get results of any tests. You can call the practice and ask for them, and collect them.

Seeing your results is your right and you can ask for them.

If you were diagnosed with osteoporosis 7 years ago and now more recently your GP is calling it osteopenia, does that mean it's improved (which is the logical answer) or are you saying you still have osteoporosis in your spine and 'only' osteopenia in your hips?

Osteoporosis of the spine is serious and if that is what you have at 62, your GP should refer you for more advice- which may simply be using HRT but you need to know what you are dealing with.