topic Re: Meno Pause? in Wellness

Meno Pause?

Icegoddess — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 00:13:21 GMT

So, when the gyno took me off of the pill my periods immediately stopped, never had another. A couple of years ago I changed gynos and when I went in she was horrified at how long he let me stay on the pill. I can't remember how old I was, but I'm 60 now. I was having the hot flashes, but my main complaint was sleep, or the lack thereof. She put me on an Estradiol patch and progesterone combo. It worked great!!!

Fast forward to 1 1/2 years later, and apparently the generic patch I was on was discontinued and they replaced it with another generic patch. Apparently, Mylan must be the only generic manufacturer of my dosage since the pharmacists at two different pharmacies tell me it's the only option.

The old patch was kinda translucent and not overly large. This new one is like 3" diameter and thick. It's a weekly patch, as was the other one, but it starts to come unstuck after 2 days, and it ITCHES! Can't scratch it because I can't feel it due to the thickness of the patch. Some weeks I would even have to use an extra large bandage over it or waterproof tape to keep it on. And when I would take it off it was always wet underneath, but at least I got to scratch.

Now, after being on this new patch for about 4 months I started getting some cramping. I wasn't sure that it was the patch as I thought maybe it was a bladder infection or something else. And then, last week I started SPOTTING.

So, now I have an appointment in a few weeks to see what my options are. The person I spoke with said they would probably give me an ultrasound to see if my uterine wall was thick enough, and then they may put me on the pills instead of the patch. She said "You shouldn't be having a period." No joke. Oh, and now I'm getting bad headaches again. I always get a lot of headaches, but this is more like the menstrual migraines I used to get. They have a pre-tell. A few hours before I'll start having trouble keeping my eyes open even though I've had plenty of sleep.

I guess there's no question here, just kinda venting, and a long one too.

Re: Meno Pause?

Thrive — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 01:39:06 GMT

Hi,

I thought I would respond to this because I went to a new gyn for a second opinion today. I had some light spotting and ended up with a biopsy and then a hysteroscopy The same gyn suggested a hysterectomy. The new gyn was not in agreement with this recommendation. Since the initial gyn did not do an ultrasound, I will have one done for reference. I found it amazing and refreshing that this doctor who is from a renowned hospital did not agree with the initial gyn. The initial gyn was beyond eager to perform a hysterectomy. I was able to feel some sense of peace after several months.

Re: Meno Pause?

itsmagic — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 01:13:38 GMT

I feel your pain (well, maybe not quite as bad as you). I had a hysterectomy many years ago and I was on an estrogen patch for about 20 years. I remember using that thick generic patch many years ago and I made sure they didn’t give me that again because it just doesn’t stick well and it does itch. At that time I had good prescription coverage and did not have to go with generic but towards the end of using the patch the prescription got more and more expensive. I finally quit the estrogen patch a couple years ago and now deal with lots of hot flashes. Ugh!

Re: Meno Pause?

Icegoddess — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 02:40:05 GMT

@itsmagic wrote:
I feel your pain (well, maybe not quite as bad as you). I had a hysterectomy many years ago and I was on an estrogen patch for about 20 years. I remember using that thick generic patch many years ago and I made sure they didn’t give me that again because it just doesn’t stick well and it does itch. At that time I had good prescription coverage and did not have to go with generic but towards the end of using the patch the prescription got more and more expensive. I finally quit the estrogen patch a couple years ago and now deal with lots of hot flashes. Ugh!

@itsmagic, I have a friend who is going to the same doctor as I am and she's also on a patch, but a different dosage that she puts on twice a week. She says it's tiny. She's mainly concerned with hot flashes. I could deal with those, it was the lack of sleep for me. I'm not sure what the dosage is on hers, but I think it may be lower, so I don't know what they base the dosage on.

Re: Meno Pause?

Skyegirl21 — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 02:56:34 GMT

I’m on Minivelle patch for debilitating night sweats, the lowest dose that I cut in1/2 (which is doctor-advisable for a patch drug). It is great, and tiny, not inexpensive but I cut them in1/2 so that’s 1/2 the price- It works! Keep trying different things until you find something that works for you. Don’t give up- 💝

Re: Meno Pause?

NicksmomESQ — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 03:10:14 GMT

Several years ago I started having terrible night sweats & hot flashes.Doc wanted to prescribe the patch.I was reluctant to start hormone replacement therapy. I went for a second opinion.The second Doc told me to buy standardized Black Cohosh over the counter.I bought it in GNC.I took it for 3 months .My symptoms went away.

My girlfriend had the same problem.I told her about the Black Cohosh.It helped her too.Although she took it a little longer than I did.

Re: Meno Pause?

Icegoddess — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:19:22 GMT

I tried several OTC remedies before asking the doctor about it. Saw no change whatsover with any of them.

Re: Meno Pause?

Icegoddess — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 05:04:45 GMT

I should also say that I don't really trust the natural remedies. They are still messing with your hormones. And knowing that when you use Estradiol you need to pair it with Progesterone for it to be safe, you're not getting that kind of information when you buy OTC stuff.

Re: Meno Pause?

RealtyGal2 — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:36:04 GMT

@itsmagic wrote:
I feel your pain (well, maybe not quite as bad as you). I had a hysterectomy many years ago and I was on an estrogen patch for about 20 years. I remember using that thick generic patch many years ago and I made sure they didn’t give me that again because it just doesn’t stick well and it does itch. At that time I had good prescription coverage and did not have to go with generic but towards the end of using the patch the prescription got more and more expensive. I finally quit the estrogen patch a couple years ago and now deal with lots of hot flashes. Ugh!

I went through Menopause cold turkey and never went on HRT of any kind. I was unable to take the pill when I was younger because it gave me headaches and I chose not to go on HRT because it seemed that everyone I knew had breast cancer and they had all been on HRT. A friend of mine gave me a book on natural cures for a number of things including Menopause. I took lvitamin B12 and vitamin E and C and made it through with only about 6 months of frequest hot flashes, then they became manageable. The vitamins really work. Andrew Lessman on HSN also has a mixture of ingrediants that balance out female hormones. I also noticed that certain foods would bring on hot flashes such at chocolate, sugary deserts, and meats like beef and chicken (anything that had animal estrogen). I was lucky to share an office with a male co-worker who liked it cold so I was able to position my desk in front of the cold air vent. That got me through the worst of it. Other employees would come back to our office and claim the we could hang meat there it was so cold, but my office mate would just tell them that if they didn't like it, they did not have to stay. I was lucky. I wish I could find the name of the book so I could share because it had a lot of great cures for ordinary things.

Re: Meno Pause?

Ainhisg — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:24:21 GMT

@Icegoddess, I wish you much luck in finding something that works well for you. I tried all sorts of natural products when my symptoms began in 2012. I think they "might" work if symptoms are mild, but nothing about my experience has ever been mild. From horrific night sweats, chills, lack of sleep, hair loss, and vag atrophy (have to use a cream for that), not only have my symptoms been on the extreme scale, but they are still occuring 7 years later. How do I know? After changing doctors in 2017 because of a similar situation to yours, my new doctor wanted me to go off the pill (was still on it at 54 after misguided HRT) for 6 weeks and then wanted to do a blood test to check my FSH levels.

As soon as the pill was out of my body, all my symptoms returned with a vengeance and were worse than they had ever been! I couldn't wait to go back on "something," because my life was miserable. We talked about the patch, because it is better for your body, but it was just too cost prohibitive for me. And since I am low-risk for breast cancer, he put me on HRT again, but this time...with the new doctor...he got the amounts exactly right the first time, and slowly...my life returned to normal with a bonus that my blood pressure went down. Thank goodness I switched doctors!

Re: Meno Pause?

Icegoddess — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 16:20:41 GMT

@Ainhisg, that sounds awful. Glad you got it worked out. Hopefully, I will too, and quickly although I have to wait a couple of weeks even to get in to see her.

Re: Meno Pause?

itsmagic — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 21:18:47 GMT

@Icegoddess My doctor wants me off of estrogen now that I’m older and used the estrogen patches for many years. He says the hot flashes I now have will eventually end. I’m not so sure about that!

Re: Meno Pause?

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 00:26:55 GMT

Oh, Ladies I am sitting here sympathizing with you. My hot flash days were minimal because I had a great female Gyn who I found after dealing with other doctors. In the beginning I was put on two different pills which took away all the hot flashes, however, due to the fear of developing cancer, doctor's became leery of prescribing hormone therapy which left many of us suffering.

I remember that one of the pills in particular was a danger but can't remember the name of it. The estrogen pill is the one my new doctor prescribed for me, something like 0.5 mil, a tiny pill that took all the flashes away for good.

My daughter currently just started menopause and oh Lord, the dramatics!!!! You would think her life is coming to an end. I reminded her that every woman goes through this, not just her and getting in a car with her during the winter isn't any fun since she immediately turns on the AC. She has an appointment with a supposedly excellent Gyn in February and I told her about the estrogen pill suggesting she mention it to him just to get his reaction. Hopefully he gives her something before I lose my mind listening to her complaints. Good luck to all of you who are dealing with the discomfort of being a female. One thing for sure, men would never be able to deal with the things we strong, amazing women have to put up with.

Re: Meno Pause?

RedTop — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:32:06 GMT

My bleeding issues started at age 48. After testing, my OB/GYN prescribed 10 mg of Provera daily, which took care of all of my issues; I took the medication for 12 years.

My doctor has a PhD in his field, so I trusted him completely to stay on this low dose med for so long. He assured me the benefits outweighed the low risk. I went off the drug 2 years ago.

Re: Meno Pause?

kismet — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 07:16:59 GMT

Lindsays Grandma,

I read your reply about your daughter and what she's going through and my daughter sounds like your daughter's sister. I get all types of questions and I think since she has a computer and searching she seems to have every symptom. I said to her that I went through it alone, my mother passed, and I just dealt with it until the hot flashes took over my body and mind. I did go on HRT but did end up with breast cancer in 4 years. She was like that with her pregnancies, I never knew all the things pregnant women went through and I never had any problem and even delivered my first on her due date. It's a whole new world today. i tell her to stay off the computer. One thing for sure, menopause will pass eventually.

Re: Meno Pause?

Mindy D — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 22:16:55 GMT

“What are the benefits of hormone therapy?

The benefits of hormone therapy depend, in part, on whether you take systemic hormone therapy or low-dose vaginal preparations of estrogen.

Systemic hormone therapy. Systemic estrogen — which comes in pill, skin patch, gel, cream or spray form — remains the most effective treatment for the relief of troublesome menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. Estrogen can also ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.

Combined estrogen and progesterone therapy may reduce the risk of colon cancer. Some data also suggest that estrogen can decrease the risk of heart disease when taken early in the postmenopausal years. Systemic estrogen helps protect against the bone-thinning disease called osteoporosis. However, doctors usually recommend medications called bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis.
Low-dose vaginal products. Low-dose vaginal preparations of estrogen — which come in cream, tablet or ring form — can effectively treat vaginal symptoms and some urinary symptoms while minimizing absorption into the body. Low-dose vaginal preparations do not help with hot flashes, night sweats or protection against osteoporosis.

If you haven't had your uterus removed, your doctor will typically prescribe estrogen along with progesterone or progestin (progesterone-like medication). This is because estrogen alone, when not balanced by progesterone, can stimulate growth of the lining of the uterus, increasing the risk of uterine cancer. If you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy), you don't need to take progestin.

What are the risks of hormone therapy?

In the largest clinical trial to date, a combination estrogen-progestin pill (Prempro) increased the risk of certain serious conditions, including:

Heart disease
Stroke
Blood clots
Breast cancer

Subsequent studies have suggested that these risks vary, depending on age. For example, women who begin hormone therapy more than 10 or 20 years from the onset of menopause or at age 60 or older are at greater risk of the above conditions. But if hormone therapy is started before the age of 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits appear to outweigh the risks.

The risks of hormone therapy may also vary depending on whether estrogen is given alone or with progestin, the dose and type of estrogen, and other health factors such as your risks of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease, cancer risks, and family medical history.

All of these risks should be considered in deciding whether hormone therapy might be an option for you.

Who should consider hormone therapy?

Despite its health risks, systemic estrogen is still the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. The benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you're healthy and you:

Experience moderate to severe hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms
Have lost bone mass and either can't tolerate or aren't benefiting from other treatments
Stopped having periods before age 40 (premature menopause) or lost normal function of your ovaries before age 40 (premature ovarian insufficiency)

Women who experience early menopause, particularly those who had their ovaries removed and don't take estrogen therapy until at least age 45, have a higher risk of:

Osteoporosis
Heart disease
Earlier death
Parkinson's-like symptoms (parkinsonism)
Anxiety or depression

For women who reach menopause prematurely, the protective benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks.

Your age, type of menopause and time since menopause play significant roles in the risks associated with hormone therapy. Talk with your doctor about your personal risks.

Who should avoid hormone therapy?

Women who have or previously had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, blood clots in the legs or lungs, stroke, liver disease, or unexplained vaginal bleeding should usually not take hormone therapy.

If you aren't bothered by menopausal symptoms and started menopause after age 45, you do not need hormone therapy to stay healthy. Instead, talk to your doctor about strategies to reduce the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease. These strategies might include lifestyle changes and medications other than hormone therapy for long-term protection.

If you take hormone therapy, how can you reduce risk?

Talk to your doctor about these strategies:

Find the best product and delivery method for you. You can take estrogen in the form of a pill, patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring that you place in your ******. If you experience only vaginal symptoms related to menopause, estrogen in a low-dose vaginal cream, tablet or ring is usually a better choice than an oral pill or a skin patch.
Minimize the amount of medication you take. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed to treat symptoms, unless you're younger than age 45, in which case you need enough estrogen to provide protection against the long-term health effects of estrogen deficiency. If you have lasting menopausal symptoms that significantly impair your quality of life, your doctor may recommend longer term treatment.
Seek regular follow-up care. See your doctor regularly to ensure that the benefits of hormone therapy continue to outweigh the risks, and for screenings such as mammograms and pelvic exams.
Make healthy-lifestyle choices. Include physical activity and exercise in your daily routine, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, don't smoke, limit alcohol, manage stress, and manage chronic health conditions, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

If you haven't had a hysterectomy and are using systemic estrogen therapy, you'll also need progestin. Your doctor can help you find the delivery method that offers the most benefits and convenience with the least risks and cost.”

From the Mayo Clinic

Re: Meno Pause?

tobinskya75 — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 00:40:35 GMT

I would try maca, vitex, iodine, and bio-identical progesterone.

Re: Meno Pause?

lovesrecess — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 03:51:47 GMT

Did you try progesterone cream? I am so surprised drs are still pushing estrogen on post meno women given its history.

Re: Meno Pause?

lovesrecess — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 03:53:22 GMT

Yes the progesterone cream really helped me and you do need to educate yourself before letting a dr play with your hormones with prescribing patches along with pills, etc.

Re: Meno Pause?

ID2 — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 10:37:45 GMT

Wow! I'm still reeling at what the OP said that her doctor kept her on the pill till she was near 60? Seriously? My doctor cut me off at 35. Done. No more pill for me.