I have my 6 monthly check up at the hospital for my endometrial cancer on Wednsday. It is now over three years since my surgery and I need to see if I can get some extra help for vaginal dryness.
I was given Estriol cream about 18 months after my surgery and I know it sounds strange but I just cannot use it. It makes me foggy headed, anxious and tearful. I have tried diluting it with lubricant so I am getting a miniscule amount but it makes me feel awful!
I know estradiol is much stronger but I just wondered if the side effects would be different? Does estradiol generally cause depression and tearfulness? What other side effects are common?
I could ask the surgeon if I could have some gel and maybe dilute it down with a lubricant to apply vaginally. I don't want to crank up my anxiety, so I really need to know if it would be worth trying. I have not gone near systemic HRT since my surgery and my body has been used to existing on no added estrogen.
I do this method with testosterone and it works well!

janet c

I haven't tried estriol personally, but I have read on the boards here that many women don't do well on it. Makes them tearful, groggy, etc. It apparently works a little differently than estradiol. Don't ask me to explain the hows and whys though, cuz I don't have a clue!!

I know for me, estradiol helped eliminate anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, and many many other things. It has been a godsend.

i have had no side effects from the compounded estradiol that I have been using for about 2 months.......and I get side effects from everything lol..........Valerie

Thanks for that-it may be worth a try then!
I thought I was an oddity with estriol. I have been told so many times it is the weakest estrogen and that if I can't tolerate that then I wont be able to tolerate a stronger estrogen. My main problem with it is the stomach churning anxiety. If any other estrogen is going to cause that then I don't want to go there!

janet c

Hi janet,

I take between .75 mgs and 1 mg. of Estrogel (estradiol) a day along with P and T.
I went on HT for relief of night sweats and terrible anxiety that just came out of nowhere late last summer. I stopped having periods last spring and then the anxiety hit.
Most ladies use more than I do, but I only want enough to help with those two symptoms and the estradiol is amazing for these issues.
This has been my experience....
Good luck.

c

Thank you for all your help. I will be able to have an informed discussion with the surgeon tomorrow now! I have always believed that estrogen made me anxious in the past and the way I felt on estriol certainly seemed to bear that out.
If estradiol helps with anxiety then I will try it if I am allowed !

janet c

HOORAY
I am so thrilled to say I have been given the all clear today after three years. The surgeon has pronounced me cured!
He has also given me a low dose estradiol patch of 25mcg.
I am so terrified of the effects that I have cut it up into eight pieces and have just applied my first one. I am hoping it doesn't affect me like estriol. Watch this space

janet c

Congratulations janet. That is fabulous news!!! You must be so happy and relieved.


c

Thanks manyboys-you amongst some others have given me the courage to try the estradiol!
I have not noticed anything untoward with the mini patch as yet ! Baby steps for me

Good luck with the patch and great news on the all clear. Sometimes its the type and/or delivery method of estrogen being used. I tend to need alot of E but don't get enough absorbtion from my e patch. Tried the spray E, Evamist and it made me all "jittery" and irritable along with palps. Back I went to the ole patch. Basically, you don't know until you try. Best wishes to you and a cancer free life. JZZ

Well I have had no ill effects from my eighth of one patch
I know it seems extreme to cut it so small but I have such a bad reaction to estriol at miniscule doses that I was terrified to apply a larger amount. I just don't get it-estriol is hundreds of times weaker than estradiol-yet it effects me really badly.
I have been thru a whole night with the equivilant of a whole tube of estriol cream on my bottom and I am feeling fine!
I am tempted to put another bit of the patch on or should I wait? I don't know how long before I would notice any effects.

Thanks for everyone's help

janet c

Dear 'janetc'
So very happy for the good news honey!
Hope the patch agrees with you and all will continue to be well!
God Bless
Elizabeth

Thank you Elizabeth-you are always such a sweetie

God bless to you also

janet c

janet, Congrats on being cured!!! WOOHOO, what great news!!

Just wanted to say that I felt the E after one hour. I think I was so very deficient that my body absorbed every molecule of the E and it gave me such fast relief. Is your patch .25 mgs or mcg?? I ask because .25 mgs is pretty tiny, so mcg would almost be a joke!! I started with .75 mgs of Estrogel and now I am up to 1.5 mgs. I feel pretty good at this dose.

Thanks Floater

Right well its called Evorel 25. It says on the box "each patch contains 1.6mg Estradiol absorbtion rate approx 25 micrograms in 24 hours"

I applied one eighth of a patch last night-I wanted to see how I felt on it-given the way estriol affects me.
I didn't notice much so today after swimming I applied another eighth along side the first-so now I have a quarter on. As soon as I applied the second bit I felt a rush.
Actually at present-no I don't feel a sense of relief. I feel woozy, hyped and a bit tight in the chest. It feels very similar to the way I feel after applying testosterone so I am used to the feeling. I am hoping I will settle down on it. My body has been deprived of E for so long I expect it will take a while. How much did you need to stop the flashes? I am having more flashes today because of the hormone change I suppose.
janet c

Update two hours later
My husband made me remove them both-I felt so ill I had to lie down. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was coming thru my chest and I felt so hyped I thought I was going mad! This is what estrogen does to me. I don't want to give up so soon but I felt very ill and very scared

If I feel ok later I will put back just one eighth.

janet c

[quote name='janet c' date='May 7 2009, 07:06 PM' post='283383']
Update two hours later
My husband made me remove them both-I felt so ill I had to lie down. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was coming thru my chest and I felt so hyped I thought I was going mad! This is what estrogen does to me. I don't want to give up so soon but I felt very ill and very scared

If I feel ok later I will put back just one eighth.

janet c

Hi, Janet, I have been reading posts here for about 7 years since I have had menopause symptoms. I, too have had the type of reaction you mention, to estrogen, even tiny amounts. It makes my heart race, my brain buzz, etc. However after 4 years of waiting for the symptoms to go away (since I last tried Estrogen), and they haven't, I may try it again. My doctor gave me some Divigel. It is very low .25 and I can just put on a small dab.
All I know is that I am not the same since I lost my hormones.

Eileen M

Janet,

I do not have the same reaction to E that you do so I don't come from experience here, but if it was me, I'd do what your gut tells you and take it really slooooowly. Listen to what your body is telling you and if it takes you weeks, then it takes weeks. There's no rush.

Take care,

c

janet, I am so sorry the added E made you feel worse! It is amazing how we are all so different. I agree with the last poster though, once you have settled down, go back to the tiny amount and give it a week or two before you consider increasing it again. As much as we want it to be, it isn't a race!

I am my own worst enemy. Deep down I knew I would not be able to just slap on a patch and feel ok. I am just sooo tired of feeling awful and I keep reading how everyone else in the world is flying along with HRT.
I have had no estrogen in my body for three whole years and I want my life back.
I am grateful to be cancer free but quality of life is important also. Thank you manyboys and Floater-you are right. There is no rush!
janet c

"Hi, Janet, I have been reading posts here for about 7 years since I have had menopause symptoms. I, too have had the type of reaction you mention, to estrogen, even tiny amounts. It makes my heart race, my brain buzz, etc. However after 4 years of waiting for the symptoms to go away (since I last tried Estrogen), and they haven't, I may try it again. My doctor gave me some Divigel. It is very low .25 and I can just put on a small dab.
All I know is that I am not the same since I lost my hormones."

Eileen M
[/quote]

Thank you Eileen. It is good to know I am not so unusual!
I agree it is not the same when our hormones are gone. Whatever we apply cannot be exactly what our own bodies produced.
Yes you must try your dab of Divigel. Maybe you will get used to it. I want to try very hard to get a little Estradiol into me-it would be better than nothing!
Good luck to you

janet c

Hello all,

Im not really new to this board but have lurked over the past year. I have had about all I can take and now will be seeing
my Ob this wednesday. I had bloodwork done and mentioned to him about the bhrt and he thought it might be good for me as Ive been miserable. I also have Hepatitis C and worry aboiut taking to many meds and dont want to overtax my liver, which is in decent shape after 35 years of infection. My biopsy came back stage 1 of 4, 5 years ago and I would really like to keep it that way. However my quality of life has really been sucking over the past 2 years, all the "usual" stuff I guess. Terrible sleep patterns, wake up and have to pee about every 2 hours, along with a hot flash.
Lots of muscle aches, foggy brain.....at first I though some of the stuff was the hep, as alot of us heppers have sleep issues
and muscle pain,fog and all that good stuff. But realized it had to be menopause since it only has gotten really bad over the past few years, when my periods became erratic and of course after learning so much more about menopause than I ever knew, ( or wanted to know )

Anyhow one of my questions is can any of the hormones I take be in gel form? IM thinking this will be much easier for my liver and i also would like to be able to control dosing as Im another thats kind of sensitive to most meds.

Appreciate and input and glad to meet you all.

Helen

Hi Helen,

Yesireee....Ask your doctor for Estrogel. It is estradiol in a gel form. Doesn't pass through the liver so it would be a good choice for you.
One pump delivers .75 mgs of estradiol. I was initially prescribed 1 mg. then went up to 1.5 mgs., but recently I have come down to .75 just to see if it did the trick with my symptoms. I am not trying to reverse aging or anything like that.....:-) I just want to get rid of the hot flashes, night sweats and find some more energy. At this point I think 1 mg. is good.
So, when you get your prescription you can start low and work up as your symptoms change.
Good luck!

c



Hi Janet,

How are you feeling now??? Better, I hope.
I am wondering whether a topical form of estradiol would be better for you. Then you could use as little as you feel comfortable with. It's just more adjustable.
I have Estrogel. I really like it.

c

[quote name='manyboys' date='May 8 2009, 12:14 AM' post='283469']
Hi Helen,

Yesireee....Ask your doctor for Estrogel. It is estradiol in a gel form. Doesn't pass through the liver so it would be a good choice for you.
One pump delivers .75 mgs of estradiol. I was initially prescribed 1 mg. then went up to 1.5 mgs., but recently I have come down to .75 just to see if it did the trick with my symptoms. I am not trying to reverse aging or anything like that.....:-) I just want to get rid of the hot flashes, night sweats and find some more energy. At this point I think 1 mg. is good.
So, when you get your prescription you can start low and work up as your symptoms change.
Good luck!

c



Hi Janet,

How are you feeling now??? Better, I hope.
I am wondering whether a topical form of estradiol would be better for you. Then you could use as little as you feel comfortable with. It's just more adjustable.
I have Estrogel. I really like it.



Janet, I too tried parts of patches and one thing I learned is that the estadiol is not evenly distibuted along the patch. My Doctor told me that. So when you put on that second bit and got your rush, it may have had more estradiol than the first bit. She said patches are not meant to be cut.So you may find a gel or cream to be better. That way you can completely control your dose. And the amount you get from each dose will be the same.
I know exactly how you feel. I am glad to finally find someone as sensitive as I am to estrogen. So maybe we can share our experiences. All my friends here are able to use patches or pills at "normal" doses. Luckily I have a doctor who understands that I am different. For several years I used Progest, just a tiny dab about 2x a week. It greatly helped my mood swings. But after several years I started getting racing heart with that, too, so I quit it. The thing I now find most helpful is 15-20 min of meditation once or twice a day. Take care,

Eileen M

thank you manyboys,

Im really kind of confused about the whole thing too. Do I have to take other stuff along with this, or will my bloodwork tell me that?

Ive tried to suffer thru all this naturally but have given up. I take alot of minerals and vitamins because of my hep so it just isnt doing the trick for me with the meno. I also just kept hoping it would get better and for the first year or so it was up and down, I would have good weeks and bad weeks but over the past 7-8 months its pretty much just been all bad. I take ambien, tylenol pm, or advil pm about 4 nights a week now. I work 3 days a week so now I make sure to take something on work nights to try and get some sleep.
they help but I still usually only sleep in 2 hour intervals, then a flash wakes me up and then I have to pee. I would give anything to do 5-6 hours straight, tonight was my off night from taking anything and here I am at 3:00 am

Im really tired of all the muscle pain too, especially in my arms and Im hoping to also get some relief from that.
I Just made a small cup of warm milk with honey and will probably do some reading here or play a game till I think I can pass out. My husband says he dosent understand how I can be so tired all the time yet not be able to sleep.

I just recently stepped down from administrating at a hep C forum over the past several years as this has just all really disrupted my life and I just couldnt spend the time there that they deserved. I feel bad about that and want to get my life back. All I seem to think about anymore is how to get some sleep and feel better. And Im sure thats the way with most of us here.

thanks for the input. Helen

Quote manyboys-

Hi Janet,

How are you feeling now??? Better, I hope.
I am wondering whether a topical form of estradiol would be better for you. Then you could use as little as you feel comfortable with. It's just more adjustable.
I have Estrogel. I really like it.

c
[/quote]

Hi
Yes much better thank you. I put just a one eighth patch back on last night before bed and I feel great this morning. Usually my morning anxiety and hot flushes are horrendous but I had hardly anything. I am sooo sensitive to hormones but if I keep it low I am ok.
I agree cutting up the patches is not ideal but both the doctor and the pharmacist said this patch was ok to do that. Also I like the fact that if I feel I am getting too much I can rip it off and I feel better within an hour. I use testosterone gel and I have OD'd on that. Once its in-its in and you can't take it away. So I like the control of the patch!

I can't believe how much my anxiety has dropped! I have been living in a hell for three years, struggling through every day and suddenly its like I have stepped into a different place. Fantastic and thanks for your encouragement!

Good morning,

I'm sorry, I can't remember whether you said you are going to the doc for testing???
My doctor doesn't go by blood levels for my hormones. He'd prefer to go by symptoms and symptom relief at least that's how we started. Once we got going, I asked for blood work to see where I was.
Estradiol will definitely help you with sleep. I know how you are feeling right now, I was there for more than 10 years. Thinking about it now, I can't believe I survived that long without a decent nights sleep (so many women suffer with insomnia at this time), then the hot flashes started about a year ago, then the anxiety came literally out of nowhere. Aches, pains, foggy brain....I had all the symptoms.
The first night that I used estradiol, I slept like a baby. For me, it was like a miracle.
I am taking progesterone and testosterone as well and I don't cycle them, I take them continuously. I do not want to go back to having periods. No thank you....:-)
If you are having blood work done, your doctor will most likely test for those hormones but regardless of what the tests say, if you are suffering with symptoms you should ask for treatment.
I have been doing a lot of research and reading and continue to read. I've changed dosages and types of hormones a few times since starting and will probably have to do that again while my needs change. It can be frustrating and it's not easy, but when you find a good combination that works for you it's very worthwhile.
Good luck....

c

Thank you for the reply,

I have had the bloodwork already and will go in for a follow up. I will certainly take your suggestion about treating the symptoms. Im pretty pro-active about my health since I was diagnosed with hcv and found so many Dr's just not that up on it as its a fairly "new" disease in the medical world. Ive also found that you sometimes have to be VERY assertive.

Im wondering if I should have just gone to my pcp for this as he is a great Dr. and is always willing to listen and work with me and since Ive been seeing him for over 10 years he knows me. But Ill see how my ob is about all this, if I dont get satisfaction I will move on to someone that will help me.

Im glad to hear that you feel and sleep better. Gives me hope too. Im of the mind that I would rather NOT have my periods back either.
Its been over a year now. Although once last July I bled fairly heavy after bad cramps that kept me up all night, ( though it dosent take much LOL!) but we found I had a swollen uterus along with a burst cyst on my ovary and some fibroids. we believe that was the culprit for the bleeding.
I have to ask, does your insurance cover this and if not, is it very expensive?

I will be checking back here quite often now Im sure. This definately seems to be one of the better meno forums.

Helen

Hi Helen,

Yes, our insurance covers my HT so that helps.
Also, I see my GP for all of this. I've been seeing him for over 20 years, he delivered my three boys and has become a family friend. Trying HT was his idea and I trust him. Also, do as much research and reading as you can. It really helps to have some good information going into this. It can be confusing.
My compounding pharmacist directed me to a website that he uses for bioidentical hormone information, evening giving me his username and password so I could get in and browse around. Lots of it is very technical, but I can get the idea most of the time. I can call him when/if I have questions. I am learning so much by reading these studies.
I think you'll find all kinds of good information and suggestions here on PS.
Enjoy....


c

Hi there...glad you posted today. I am sorry that you are dealing with Hep, too. ....talk about double trouble! Many people have hep and don't know it. You are lucky that you know.

The cream & gel does not pass through your liver, do it would be much safer for you.

Let us know your results.
Shebee

manyboys,

Its nice thqt you see your gp and he's someone youve seen for years. I do like my ob and he seems open but he dosent know me as well since Ive only been seeing him for about 2-1/2 years. He's also leary about prescribing some things because of the hep. But Ill just see how it go's. Hope my insurance covers it too. Im sure Ill be bugging you with question often, hope you dont mind.

Shebee,

You bring up a good point that SO MANY people are walking around with hep C and dont even know it as its pretty much known as the silent epidemic. Anyone that has had a blood transfusion before 1992 is at medium risk of having it, since they didnt have a test for the blood products back then. And anyone that has had piercings and tattos are at risk too but most people just are not aware and alot of people think its a sexually transmitted disease, but its a blood to blood only virus and not contageous in the ways most people think, Hep "B" however is transmittable thru body fluids AND blood.
I carried both of my sons while infected and have been married for over 30 years hubby and boys are clear.

Sorry, dont mean to go on and on but I try to educate people on this disease whenever I get the chance. I know so many that have lost jobs, family and friends because of people not being aware that you cant get it from touching, drinking from a carriers glass, kissing, etc. and when you dont know anything about it, it can be scary.

Off the soapbox now and back to the subject at hand.

I sure hope the bios work because today Ive been having ALOT of hot flashes and pretty much feel like Im just almost always warm and then sometimes I get the chills. Its just neverending.

Helen

No worries Helen. You can always PM me if you'd like.


c

Janet, I am so glad that worked for you. I am going to ask my Doctor about that type of patch. I do not know if it is available in the US or not. But I do like the idea of being able to take it off if adverse reactions occur. That is what I did before. So please keep me posted. Is the interval for changing 1 week or is it less? Will you leave it on the entire time or will you take it off? Also do you use any time of P? Sorry to barage you with questions, but you are the only person I have encountered who reacts like I do. And I would like to learn from your experience. So glad you have been relieved of the anxiety. That is the worst! Take care,

Eileen M

Eileen-I am sure you can get the patch in US although it would have a different name. I have to change mine twice a week. Yes I am supposed to wear it at all times as the important thing is to have a steady time released dose so the body can adapt.
I will not be using P as I had cancer and had my uterus and ovaries were removed so I don't need it at. However with the patch I do know there is a "combi" for ladies who still have a uterus which has some patches that include P for part of the month.
I went for three years without any E and my body was fairly well adapted to low estrogen although I still had hot flushes and dreadful anxiety. However I am already feeling so much better and the hot flushes have virtually stopped today
I don't think I am going to have to increase my dose too much more and I am pleased about that!
You may find you will only need a very small amount too.

janet c

Janet,

seems like a good idea aboout cutting the patch cuz like you say you can just rip it off if you dont feel good, I may also check into that. And its so encouraging to hear that you feel so much better so quickly.

Helen

Yes its unbelievable! I am on one eighth of a the lowest dose patch! I don't think I am going to need any more
janet c

Update on the E patch.
Well it has completely stopped my hot flushes but I am not liking the way I feel otherwise. I have stuck to the tiny dose but I feel all over the place-dithery - yesterday I thought I was going to pass out when I was out on a cycle ride. I keep feeling woozy and light headed.
I also feel sort of uneasy and not particularly happy within myself. I feel quite irritable with DH. I thought E was supposed to promote loving feelings but I have gone right off him at the moment!
Has anyone else had these affects and if so how long did it take before they wore off? It seems I am swapping one set of symptoms for another!
janet c

Janet, I just wondered how you are doing now with your patch. I noticed that after menopause, I stopped feeling dizzy and light headed. I used to feel that way from time to time, but I no longer do. Could have been the estrogen that I no longer produce! I have decided to try a very low dose patch, Menostar. It is .014 and I am going to cut it in quarters. It is quite small. I am hoping that this small amount will help my worst symptoms which are foggy headed, poor concentration and low mood. When I tied estrogen in the past, it very quickly relieved those symptoms. Hope you are doing better,

Eileen M.

Eileen
Sorry to say I felt like throwing myself off a bridge by Sunday night!
I had been feeling light headed and agitated anyway and then I had to change the patch on Sunday afternoon.
By Sunday evening I was feeling even more agitated and my head felt like it was going to explode! I am getting terrible headaches too. I couldn't watch TV or concentrate. I didn't know where to put myself! I am finding it is making my concentration and mood worse at the moment but that could be because I am not used to it.
I had to rip the patch off and left it off all day yesterday. My hubby is very good. He said as I am so drug sensitive not to worry about keeping it on all the time and just put it on-even for an hour a day -because it is helping with hot flushes and has reduced my stomach churning anxiety-especially in the morning.

Dont-laugh but last evening I cut an eighth in a 16th and left it on for an hour before bed. I could feel the rush even with that amount
I am pleased you have found such a low dose patch-that's great ! Is that the daily absorbtion or the actual patch amount? Mine is 1mg but absorbtion is 25 micrograms in 24 hours. Cut it up even smaller if you need!

Are you in US ? I am in UK and I think my one is the lowest one they do here .
I hope you get on ok-We must keep in touch on this. Do please feel free to PM me any time.

janet c

Janet, I am so sorry about your reactions. However that is what happened to me in the past. Today I am going to try a small piece of the patch. It is 1mg also, but absorption rate is 14 micrograms in 24 hours. So I am going to use 1/4 of that. I will PM you and let you know how it goes. I am also going to send you a link to a medical study I found where they gave pieces of patches to young girls whose bodies were not producing estrogen to take them into Puberty. They put the patches on them only at night. They cut them in quarters or eighths, just like you did. I will keep you posted. I am glad to have found another person who has this problem like I do.
Take care,
Eileen

Well everyone- I had to give up with the patch after a week. I tried really hard with it but in the end, when I had cut it into 1/16th and it was still making me feel really ill I decided it was time to stop. I am wondering if I am allergic to it in some way. I did notice that as soon as I applied the patch my chest would get very tight and I developed a wheezy cough which was worse at night. My heart was continually racing and I felt agitated to the highest degree!
I stopped three days ago, spent Wednesday in bed with depression and tearfulness and still don't feel right today

I cannot use even the tiniest bit of estriol cream either as that makes me anxious and weepy so I am wondering if there is something in the bios that doesn't suit me.

There is a lady on Hystersisters who says she reacts to the bios exactly the same and is allergic to them. She uses Premarin cream and is fine with it. My doctor gave me that ages ago but I am terrified to use it!

I think for now I would prefer the hot flushes to the way i felt with that patch. I never want it near me again

I am sooo disappointed

janet c

I feel sad that this route has proved so fruitless for you. The problem is that women who are massively affected by hormone fluctuation ie those whose menopause symptoms are very severe, will probably find supplementation very difficult. I have never tried HRT but given my past history, I reckon that they would blow my head off. They do not suit everyone. My daughter can't even take the BCP. Perhaps it is fate that you can't take them. You may be safer in the long term.

Can I ask, were your thyroid blood tests perfectly normal?


XIII

Yes they were two years ago. I had a cyst and nodules and had a needle biopsy and a thyroid blood test. All came back as normal. I have never had another blood test although I was supposed to have a yearly one to keep check on it.

I was never able to take the BCP. I also never used any hormones during peri apart from Vagifem for a few months. I did try a patch for a very short while but it made me very ill . I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer shortly after using the vagifem and the surgeon was always suspicious that it caused my cancer.

Interestingly I can use testosterone-it makes me feel great-and I still use it occasionally as needed but it doesn't help with hot flushes or vaginal dryness.

If I could just use the estriol I would be fine. I love the positive effects of it but I react so badly to it in other ways. I have tried the tiniest dose but I cannot tolerate it at all.

janet c

MMMMmmm........ I am just wondering. They would have checked your nodules for cancer. Thank-goodness that was fine but did they check for thyroid antibodies. The presence of cysts and nodules might suggest a thyroid prone to inflammation. Thyroiditis comes and goes and over time can lead to a hypothyroid state that would make surgical menopause much, much harder to get through. If you have a confused thyroid your hot flushes will be greatly magnified and what little oestrogen you have will not be used effectively.
Hypothyroidism may cause wheezing and pharyngial congestion. Just because your levels were fine two years ago, much could have changed since then.

Just a thought...............


XIII

I don't know but what i do know is that I have just spent nearly two hours in gut wrenching sobbing from the withdrawal of the estradiol. I am so angry that they took my healthy ovaries-they didn't even ask me. I am angry they didn't tell me how ill I would be afterwards and how I would never feel the same about anything ever again. I am angry that doctor gave me the patch even though I told him I was very sensitive and I am angry that I believed that I could ever feel better by using the thing!
janet c

How old are you Janet?




XIII

Why do you think I am being childish? I reserve the right because today i do not feel in my right mind-sorry

Of course I do not think you are being childish, Janet. I am just trying to work out the best course of action by looking at your age.


XIII

It's ok-I have been a bit out of my tree today-sorry. I am being tragic which always happens when I try to use hormones
I am 57 and should know better. I think I buy into this hype about the fact that our ovaries continue to produce low doses of oestrogen right up to really old age and that without them our long term health is compromised. The surgeon who gave me the patch said as much and of course I am a bit worried about it. I was producing masses of oestrogen before my cancer diagnosis even though I was in peri so it was a very hard come down when it was all taken away overnight!
I never really feel that well. Life is a struggle and I really hoped a little patch would do the trick but....such is life.
janet c

At 57 I think that your ovaries would have only been producing very tiny amounts. Hopefully the adrenals take over much of the production given time. Unfortunately it takes a while for this to happen. If you were having problems with a dry vaginal prior to all this I suspect that your ovaries were not doing such a good job. I know that the doctor suspected that the vagifem caused you problems but were you able to tolerate it well? Obviously some of the oestogen from the Vagifem would have moved into the generalised circulation. Did that make you feel very poorly?

XIII