Talk me down… Mirena + Estradot

[IStandWithACrutch]

I’m 47. Over the past couple of years I’ve skipped periods for 3/4 months and then had weeks-long episodes of flooding, huge clots, using a mooncup with incontinence pads and period knickers to leave the house. That sort of thing. No cramps, just ridiculous levels of bleeding.

I have been seeing a gynae and I’ve had ultrasound, internal ultrasound, D&C, hysteroscopy. She feels the issue is purely hormonal, although what she thought was a small fibroid could be adenomyosis.
Tranexamic acid works for a day or so but then I’m back to the heavy bleeding. At the moment I’ve been bleeding for 5 weeks.

After years of refusing it, I’ve decided to have a Mirena inserted soon. Tbh I’m not that concerned about bleeding or spotting, I am worried about possible effects on my mental health. I did not get along at all with the minipill on the two occasions I tried it, my mood plummeted and I had to stop it after a month or so.
So progesterone by itself and I don’t get along.

I asked the gynae to prescribe me oestrogen with the coil, in the hope that it’ll help.
Lots of stuff I’ve been reading about bad effects from Mirena seem to be about having one by itself, ie no oestrogen.

I guess what I’m asking is if there’s anyone who, like me, doesn’t get on with prog found it OK as part of HRT with added oestrogen.

progesterone steals my joy. I had endless bleeding as I turned 50 , was prescribed norethisterone by GP to stop the bleeding. My mood plummeted so much. Luckily I knew what it was due to experience with bc pills and told gynae and she suggested Mirena alongside ovestin. It’s not been too bad. Mood is all over the place now anyway because of menopause but im definitely very affected by progesterone

Thanks! So you’re not using oestrogen patches, pills or gel?

Sorry just seen this. I’m also using estrogen patches

It's been fine for me, certainly nowhere near as bad as the utro, or the pill which both made me weep crying for days and the utro made me feel like I was sleep walking during the day.

However I did have some side effects, I had bad headaches for the first few months and I was exceptionally tired.

I then started on testosterone which made some difference.

I wouldn't say I'm happy, but I'm not downright miserable like I was for the first 5 months of this year.

I think part of my feeling down is just how much meno has hit me hard. I'm resentful. Also I've had awful atrophy which stopped me having sex and I am still in shock really. Doctor suggested cbt as if writing in a notebook is going to fix my disappeared labia🤔

You don't say how much oestrogen you are on? I'd def make sure you are on the best dose of that before getting the mirena.

Well I had it inserted four weeks ago. I started using 50mcg Estradot at the same time.
So far my mood has been fine, thank god. But I’m getting random cramps every so often, sometimes pretty painful ones. Last night the cramps woke me at 3am and I had to take ibuprofen.
Im hoping this wears off.