Desperate for your knowledge ladies

[user1497873278]

I have been struggling for the last 2 1/2 years, have pain in joints and muscles, hurts to walk, have flushing and hot sweats all night, never have more than 2 hours sleep a night as every time I drop of I’m awake again due to sweating and boiling hot, don’t ever feel cold anymore. I have been on evorel patches for 18 months, no difference at all, I have 3 weeks ago had a full hysterectomy, just hoping someone has some advice as what to try, I have read that some women don’t absorb the patches, also have read about utrogeston wondering if I need this, please help feel lost, hoping you lovely knowledgeable ladies might have some suggestions

hopefully someone with more knowledge will come along but if you've had a hysterectomy then you don't' need utrogeston as you've no womb.

Have you thought about trying the gel? Oestrogel?

I will look into oestrogel thanks, I have read that some women need utrogeston even after a hysterectomy as it balances hormones, I’m hoping someone might know a bit more about it, or have personal experience, thanks for the tip on oestrogel will try anything to see if I can get some relief

Hi sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with all these problems. It can really affect quality of life. I had to change patches as I was no longer absorbing them properly, I have a Mirena coil so I used oestrogen only patches, I changed from Evorelle to Estrodot and I also had to increase the dosage. I have no idea why I stopped absorbing the Evorelle as I had been using them for a couple of years and they had been effective. Are you under the care of your GP or a menopause clinic ?

Hi thanks for replying, just absolutely useless GP unfortunately, have seen 3 different ones all just clueless, it’s so frustrating

Recommend you check out Dr Louise Newsom, she is a leading UK authority on all things Menopause & has loads of resources for women and professionals & also see her ‘Balance’ app. If you can afford it, she also runs a private clinic in Stratford upon Avon or online. Good luck!

Thank you, I will look her up

As far as I’m aware progesterone (Utrogestan) is not required if you have had a hysterectomy. The reason it’s prescribed is to ensure that the womb lining doesn’t thicken. I think you need to see a menopause specialist.

The Balance app ( newson clinic ) is great lots of great women on there going through the same . You don't need Utrogestan because you no longer have a womb but Utrogestan is fantastic for helping with sleep problems when taken in the evening. But I'd speak to your GP as there are quite a few options .

Before the thread gets a bit to busy , are any of you ladies in need of some free Utrogestan? . I now have a Mirena coil and have I think 3 months worth I don't need all dated for 2025 if anyone is interested ?

@user1497873278 NHS NICE guidelines say that if your GP is struggling to manage your menopause symptoms you should be referred to a menopause clinic there should be one fairly near you at a big hospital. Good luck x

I wasn’t absorbing patches so have just (2 weeks ago) swapped to Lenzetto spray. So far, so good.

@TreeHuggerMum1 why did you go for the Lenzetto spray rather than the oestrogel, had you already tried it?

Louise Newson also has clinics in Chester and Bournemouth. Just had my first appt today. Very enlightening and feeling optimistic. Even before this OP, switching to gel, and taking decent amounts of magnesium and vitamin D had begun to make a difference.

I was the same no amount of HRT made any difference to the aches and pains but it did stop the hot flushes which were mild and not the problem.

I had to come off HRT due to breast cancer. I thought that things would deteriorate but they didn’t. After some research I started taking supplements, high dose magnesium, Vit B12 and Vit D. It took a little while but muscles are so much better.

Unfortunately I have to take Anastrazole which is a killer on joints, I have done my research again and now take antihistamines (loratidine) and a diuretic which make the joint pains bearable to the point that I’m not living on paracetamol.

Thank you, I will try the vitamins, so desperate x

What actual strength of oestrogen are you on, OP? I had to increase mine after my hysterectomy from 50 to 75.

I’m on 50, seeing consultant for 6 week check in a couple of weeks and I’m hoping he will up it, I can barely walk I’m in so much pain and the night sweats are all night every night 🤦‍♀️

Hi you could ask GP to check oestrogen levels as this will show if you are absorbing the oestrogen from the patches . I switched from patches to gel and this improved symptoms (but need progesterone as well) If gp won’t swap say the patches aren’t sticking and keep falling off.
Really hope you get some help with this and hope you recover from your op.
x

Have you covered the basics? Weight within normal, fluids, no caffeine no alcohol. and yes to supliments and clean eating.
check up for arthritis (s) osteo and RA.
if so push yourself slightly with exercise, swimming/biking are easy on the joints.
not before bed though.
bedtime, I kept an icepack at hand in a little cooler, positioned it as necessary (forehead, back of neck, upper chest)

And have you ever used the gel, @TreeHuggerMum1 ?

No, I went from patches to Lenzetto spray.

Progesterone is very important to balance the oestrogen even if you don't have a womb. See for example
https://www.bodylogicmd.com/blog/the-benefits-of-progesterone-treatment-after-hysterectomy/

I have read about needing progesterone after a hysterectomy but when I have asked the Doctor about it they just said no it’s not necessary 😤I’m definitely going to try and get some prescribed. Thanks for advice, I have tried diet changes, have cut out caffeine, no difference.

If you have all that pain you might have osteoporosis, that's what I eventually figured out after having an early menopause. I'd ask for a DEXA scan if you can.

@Bubbles254 The link you left is about bio-identical HRT. It's a US site and written by someone who is not a medical dr. In the UK, bio-identical HRT is not licensed, or approved. Drs who promote bio identical HRT often suggest using progesterone even in women who have had a hysterectomy.

Unfortunately, there is still on-going confusion between BIO identical and BODY identical (which is what women in the UK use and which is licensed (by the NHS.)

@user1497873278 You possibly need a higher dose of estrogen. 50mcg patch is a medium dose the same as 2 pumps of gel. You could easily increase to 75 mgs or 100mcgs. From what you have said, it's probably that simple!

Don't be tempted into asking for progesterone. This is the part of HRT that is responsible for breast cancer. Women using only estrogen reduce their risk of breast cancer (compared to women not using HRT at all.)