Starting new HRT!!

[glassd18]

Okay here I go again. I went to the endocrinologist/fertility specialist/gyno today, and he gave me Enjuvia (a fairly new estrogen made from plants) to try with 100mg Prometrium orally or vaginally (my choice). I've had problems (upped frequency) with prometrium before, but I'm going to try vaginally this time to see what happens. I got a pretty good clean bill of health, and he wishes that my bladder would cooperate. I finally found a doctor who is willing to take the time to try different things.

[sami4]

Yea!

Glad to hear you may have something that works. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
I had problems with progestins and bio-identical progesterone too, so I know what you mean.
Sammi

[glassd18]

Thanks Sammi,

I had a rough night though!!! I used the Prometrium vaginally, and sure enough I was up a lot with nocturia. I will give it one more try, and the next option that the doctor said was an extreme low dose provera which I do care not care to try, and I know your views on this one, but I am running out of options. I may go back to trying the Alesse birth control if all else fails because the only side effect I had with that was tender breasts.

[sami4]

Glassed

Actually, I did very poorly on Prometrium also. I did much better with a testosterone derived progestin such as Ayestin, or Levonorgestrel. I am just against Provera as the evidence in the studies showed a high correlation to breast cancer. You could also try the levonorgestrel medicated IUD MIrena. I had one for a year and loved it. They RX it for HRT endometrial control, BC, and any problem bleeding due to fibroids ect. It is a BC device and also stops periods after about four months. My endometrial lining with the Mirena was 3.2. I was also on Estradiol about 1.5 mg during that time.
Sammi

[glassd18]

I took Norethindrone Acetate (Aygestin) in Combi Patch, Activella, and other bc and hrt preparations, and it flares me. I am so darn sensitive to progestins. The Alesse bcp was the best I could find so far so I think I might switch back to that. I picked up the Provera this evening, and the Alesse. I'm going to try to do the Provera and see how it goes. Alesse has levongestrel in it. My very last resort aside from a hysterectomy which I'm have considered is forgoing all HRT, and just using vagifem. This isn't what I want, but I'm so fed up. If I had a hyster at least I could still take the estrogen, and not have to worry anymore about the progestin. Thanks for your help Sammi.

[sami4]

Hyster

Well, I am 12 weeks out from a hyster. I had post menopausal bleeding due to numerous fibroids. The Mirena IUD was the only type of progestin I could stand because it didnt go systemic and only into the uterine lining. I tested this twice and both times the progestin in my serum was non detectable.
It stopped the bleeding and dripping after 6 months. I decided to have a hyster because I got tired of the biopsys and ultrasounds every three months.
The Mirena shrunk my enlarged uterus which then made the lining hard to detect from the fibroids. They kept thinking the lining was thickening, but it was the uterus shrinking. Finally, I just had them yank it. Guess what? The lining was very, very tiny due to the Mirena, so it worked just great. I could have kept using it as the progestin part of HRT.
Although, I do think I have a lot less pressure and frequency since the uterus is gone. I am also taking a much higher estrogen dose now that I dont have to be worried about the fibroids.
Sammi

[glassd18]

Hi Sammi,

Wow. You would think that the pressure from an enlarged uterus would relieve the bladder some. I'm happy for you that you have some relief from frequency and pressure. Those are the two biggies for me too. I also have terrible hesitancy though too, but I think that's from my muscles being tense for so long. I took the Enjuvia with Provera 2.5mg(very low dose), and my symptoms so far have not changed so I think we have a winner. The prometrium is definetly out because I have headaches yesterday, and frequency was up etc... so I know it's not for me. The Provera as I stated above seems to be working fine so far. If I have any more problems maybe I'll talk to him about the Mirena IUD. My FIL peeved me off yesterday saying that all woman over 50 should have their uterus yanked. I was mad as all get!! I understand his thinking, but what the heck does he know. He's woman hater anyway. A male chauvenistic pig!! Sorry just had to mention that.

[sami4]

Cure for the Viagra crowd

Glassed: You should have come back with," You know I was just thinking the same thing about men over 50? If they didnt have prostates they couldnt get cancer, what a great idea for a preventative?
Sammi