I'll try and keep it as brief as possible. Sorry to post in menopause when I am not actually menopausal (but I thought I was) I thought it was the best forum to discuss HRT and hormones.
I am a 44 year old woman who has 3 teenage children and my periods stopped quite abruptly a year ago. This occurred at a time of high stress and some other health issues started alongside it but stupidly I just put the periods stopping down to peri menopause and left it at that (busy!)
Fast forward to a year later and I am a shell of myself in that I hadn't realised quite how lousy I have been feeling. No enjoyment in life, grumpy, no libido, just really flat and sort of dead inside putting one foot in front of the other.
I went to my GP to explore HRT as the nurse picked up how dry my vagina was at a routine smear, but my GP rightly said they wanted to check my hormone levels via a blood test first. I was surprised to learn they were very much abnormally low. As in my LH and FSH were so low they were both less than 0.2.
IU/L and my testosterone was less than 0.4
Cortisol was highish but normal high at 572 nmol/L
Oestrogen was less than 44 which was below low ref range.
Prolactin was actually low (they originally suspected a tumour on my pituitary gland but brain MRI has more or less ruled that out)
So my tests showed undetectable gonadotrophins along with low levels of oestrogen confirming that the issue with my oestrogen production is related to my pituitary gland not producing enough.
So I'm not menopausal but probably functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.
I am a normal weight and we went through my lifestyle etc and there has been a conclusion that stress brought this on a year ago.
I was sent to an endocrinologist as they were concerned about the pituitary gland and that consultant started me 2 weeks ago on HRT:
Elleste Duet 1mg tablets.
I don't have a cycle so just started taking the pack and have just finished the oestrogen part (the white pills) and am on day 2 of the progesterone.
I have had a DEXA scan which showed no signs of abnormal bone density which was a relief.
I then had my planned appointment with a gynaecologist yesterday who reviewed the findings of the endocrinology dept and said he wouldn't have prescribed what they have given me in my circumstance.
He said for a start I should have been on 2mg and not 1mg.
He has instead prescribed me -
Oestrogel pump patch 750mg 3 pumps daily
Uterogostan 200mg 1 x OD at night (pharmacy is querying this as they said this is a vaginal treatment?)
Testogel sachet 40.5mg 1/8th of a sachet per day.
I am due to pick this up early next week.
Now this is the thing, I am currently white knuckling my way through my days for this last week.
It's like every (bad) feeling has come flooding back: feeling down, a bit angry, bloated, wanting to cry all the time, can't stop eating PMT style (it's like a daily binge I have no control over) I'll be the size of a house by Xmas at this rate. I have also broken out in PMT style spots on my face and I am incredibly bloated so all like an imminent period which of course I haven't had for the past year. I've been like this for a week now.
I have just ended the white pills in my pack which I believe to be the oestrogen and started yesterday the norethisterone part so can't put it down to the norethisterone part as I only started the blue pills in the elleste diet pack yesterday.
I am just after some wisdom from anyone on here. Is this normal what I am feeling, will it settle. I feel like absolute crap. Not sleeping either and I had hoped the HRT would help me get some sleep!
I am due to pick up my new HRT meds on Monday from the pharmacy (they had to order in) and I am in a pickle and don't know what to do for the best.
The gyne suggested I finish my current pack so I will finish the norethisterone and then go on to his new HRT regime which he has prescribed and I am due to pick up next week.
Are these out of control feelings normal?
Like loads of PMT feelings coming rushing back and me feeling like I am out of control with my feelings, my body argh (I currently look 6 months pregnant from bloat) and can't stop eating crap. Will it end (it's been a week now) is the fact that I am not menopausal and have basically walked round with very low hormones for a year part of how my body is responding to starting HRT?
The gyne said medically I need to take it as my hormones are so low and I can't be left like that. His diagnosis was hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.
So sorry this is long, I am completely desperate and dreading starting a new HRT regime next week. I am trying to run a house, work full time and run around after 3 teens whilst white knuckling my way through each day.
Thank you for any advice or experience you can give, I appreciate it.