Endometrioma, dizziness and HRT

[CofG]

I have been applying Oestrogel and taking Utrogestan once a day and I feel better in that my joint pain and lower back pain go away, I have tons more energy, I feel happier but after I am on it for a few days, I start getting discomfort from the only ovary I have left which has an endometrioma in it and I seem a bit more forgetful. I have memory issues which I am hoping will improve with HRT and I have also been feeling dizzy and lightheaded every day. I wonder if this is due to the HRT or due to low peaks in oestrogen levels or due to high peaks from the HRT. I don't know

Perhaps I need a steadier constant dose of oestrogen? I have been applying Oestrogel one pump twice a day... I don't know how much I need to use!? I had a hysterectomy in 2019 but they left my healthy ovary in which then developed a new endometrioma 8 months after the surgery. And 7 months after the surgery my hearing loss got worse and I had my first episode of Meniere's which I now believe was hormonal. I was not given any progesterone to counteract my high levels of Oestrogen after the surgery which I feel would have prevented tons of issues with my hearing and my memory and mood I have been taking Utrogestan for 5 months now but only started Oestrogel a month ago on and off to see if my dizziness was caused by the Oestrogel... I don't know where to ask for guidance... I also feel that I probably need Androfem to improve my cognitive issues...

[Bethleah]

hi. I suffer with dizziness due to endo for years. I’ve not found anything that helps me. I was on hrt patches 1/2 combo patch twice a week but had to stop due to an unexpected bleed and I haven’t restarted them. Maybe worth talking to endo specialist if you can or a gp with interest in menopause. Dizziness is a symptom of both endo and menopause but often ignored (at least in my case). Maybe ask them to explain your treatment and reasons for the hrt and alternatives. I’m under a menopause team amongst other speciality’s and they explain stuff but they are overstretched so getting a referral may not be possible or could take a long time. You could try talking to the pharmacist as they know more about the medicines than the gps. Good luck

[CofG in reply to Bethleah]

Thanks for your reply! I have an appointment with the endo specialist on 15th March. I am thinking that perhaps I need Testosterone which is not available on the NHS so I might end up having to go to a private menopause clinic as they should be experts but I don't know how much they know about endo... I wonder if we are at a higher risk for cancer when we also have endo and are feeding our bodies more oestrogen again. If endo was caused by high oestrogen or unopposed oestrogen then is HRT totally safe or indicated? I feel that I get pain from the endometrioma again even though I am also taking Utrogestan... I never used to have dizziness until 7 months post hysterectomy in 2019 when I wasn't given progesterone to counteract oestrogen. This for sure caused the new endometriomas

[Bethleah in reply to CofG]

the oestrogen can reactivate the endo. I was on progesterone pills and oestrogen patches but couldn’t tolerate the progesterone in pill form. I was switched to a combo patch but it doubled the oestrogen which didn’t suit me. My options were take nothing or use half a patch twice a week. This was better. For me it’s the oestrogen that causes the dizziness I think. I am also susceptible to side effects so have to weigh up whether the benefit of the meds outweigh the side effects. Usually they don’t. If you can do some research on your options so you are somewhat informed. Dont let them fob you off. Some doctors won’t prescribe hrt or estrogen for menopause as it can reactivate the endo. Others say menopause cures endo.

[CofG in reply to Bethleah]

Hi, so you had dizziness even before the menopause and being on HRT? May I ask how old are you? And you are definitely in the menopause/peri? I didn't know endo can cause dizziness... why is this? due to higher than normal levels of oestrogen, do you think? which might explain why going on HRT could bring it about again... did you ever not feel dizzy at all? perhaps for a period of time? do you remember?

[Bethleah in reply to CofG]

I’m 49. Not had a period in nearly 2 years. Do t know why you get dizzy with endo but it was the first thing I asked when I saw the endo specialist at Oxford bgse. Unfortunately I have had dizziness and other unusual symptoms since 2013 and episodes before then. There was a definite correlation between ovulation/period and dizziness.

[CofG in reply to Bethleah]

sounds like you were perimenopausal... perhaps it was more due to fluctuations of hormones all those years rather than the endo

[Bethleah in reply to CofG]

that may have explained some of it but not the previous episodes throughout my life.

[CofG]

I wonder if I am better off coming off the hrt completely, even the Utrogestan... but then the joint and back pain and IBS might get worse again and my brain fog and memory issues are awful. I feel like I'm losing my mind, literally... so I might have to have a second surgery to remove the remaining ovary and any remaining endo so that I can safely take HRT for the cognitive issues? Is this supposed to be this hard? I had a pulmonary embolism from the first hysterectomy and now I'm on blood thinners... my memory started declining since that surgery