Ladies who have had a hysterectomy - HRT

I had my hyst + BSO back in march and then had 13 weeks with no HRT before starting on tibolone. I've now been taking it for 5 months and I am not really happy with it. My hot flushes are manageable now but I have a lot of bloating, water retention, joint pain, and I've got bad skin :/

I went to see the GP yesterday, told her all this, and she offered me another prescription for tibolone. When I said I wanted to try something else, she gave me low dose oestrogen patches but said I probably shouldn't use them because oestrogen alone would bring the endo back (although the letter from my bsge consultant clearly states tibolone and then transdermal oestrogen if the tibolone doesn't help). She wasn't even sure what oestrogen patches to prescribe and basically said that she never gives anyone oestrogen on it's own because women in a normal menopause need a combined HRT. I really do feel that the NHS lets us down with this surgery - they cut everything out and then leave you to your own devices. There's no decent aftercare at all.

Obviously she has now frightened me and I don't know what to do for the best. I've emailed the nurses at my bsge centre to ask for advice but in the meantime can people tell me what they are using?

[Judan]

I had a similar problem.

I had a TLH & BSO. And endo excision for stage 4 endo. Surgeon gave me a prescription to take to GP for Elleste Duet Conti. GP refused as I don't have a wind- I had to get a private prescription from the surgeon for it, and in the meantime his team have written to my GO asking why she refused, and why she thinks she knows more than the surgeon (who is top BSGE in my area).

I've been on it for 6 weeks now and it's helping with number and frequency of hot flushes and headaches.

Guidance just doesn't exist for ladies like us! Xxx