HRT - how long before I notice a difference?

[Judan]

Hi Ladies

Im 8 weeks into my TLH BSO and endo excision and about to start on HRT.

My consultant has prescribed Elleste Duo Conti 2mg, have any of you had this one before and how long did it take to work?

Im having back to back hot flushes which leave me with headaches, insomnia and feeling low.

xxxx

[RachaelE]

Hi

I’ve not used elleste duo but I did find another oral HRT caused horrible nausea. However, you may be ok and you should notice a difference in a couple of weeks. Some women notice an improvement within a couple of days of starting HRT. If you find it does cause nausea, ask your GP for patches or gels, which give you the hormones through your skin and therefore avoid your liver. Patches work brilliantly for me.

Normally, women who’ve had a TLH don’t need the progesterone in HRT. Is there a reason why you’ve been prescribed it? Is it because of the endo?

Hope you feel well soon and are recovering well from the surgery. X

[Judan in reply to RachaelE]

Yes I be limits to help prevent endo reoccurring. GP refused to prescribe it to me so had a private prescription from consultant. Been on it now for 15 days. Less hot flushes during day and night. I've been using neuro rest yo help the insomnia. Other than that seems to be ok. Week 11 of recovery and doing well, just have to slow down sometimes as I suffer for it if I do too much.

How are you? Xxxx

[RachaelE in reply to Judan]

I’m fine thank you. It’s been a long road to recovery for me. Nearly 2 years since my TLH + BSO and still get pain, but no menopausal symptoms which is a huge relief. I’m on evorel patches, oestrogen only, which is my life saver.

I timed my initial recovery quite well. I work in a school and had the op at half term and my GP (who is fab) signed me off until the start of the Xmas holiday so I had 11 weeks off altogether. Going back to work was exhausting, though. For the 11 weeks I was at home I would be fairly active (within the limits) in the morning and then need a nap in the afternoon. Got too used to that!

Why did your GP refuse HRT? They should be following NICE guidelines. You shouldn’t have to pay for a private prescription. And, if a private consultant prescribed it he or she should have written to your GP who really ought to repeat it for you.

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

The RCOG website has some useful information for women who’ve had a hysterectomy.

rcog.org.uk/en/patients/men...

Dr Louise Newson is also excellent - google her.

Mindfulness helped me with sleep, especially as I suffered terribly with anxiety until the HRT really started doing its stuff.

Hope the recovery continues to go well. It can take a lot longer than most people think. Xx

[Judan]

What pain are you still having. ? My bowels are not yet normal still having cramps and constipation as on iron.

GP didn't want me to have the combined HRT - consultant has wrote to GP to ask why. I'm following it up in few weeks.

Thanks for links will have a read.

Yes, it's a huge operation especially when combined with endo excision. Xxxxx

[RachaelE]

The pain is probably from adhesions which, apparently, I am very prone to but for which there seems to be no reason. I had adhesions before my hysterectomy which were the cause of my pain and if they’d been seen at an earlier diagnostic laparoscopy I could have avoided the hysterectomy. I then developed more as a result of the surgery which got so bad I had to have them divided, in the knowledge they would probably grow back, which I think they have but I can’t even have a laparoscopy to find out because of the risk of even more adhesions. It’s very frustrating. Apart from heavy menstrual bleeding due to perimenopause, my gynae health was always good. The pain is manageable these days, sometimes I even manage without pain killers, but sometimes it comes on for no particular reason so bad, I end up back at the GP because there’s always a concern I could have a partial bowel obstruction. Oh boy, it’s fun being a woman.

It took me a while for my bowels to get back to normal. They really don’t like all the pushing about that happens during surgery. I found having oats for breakfast every day really helped. Plenty of fluids too.

Hope you’re feeling ok today. X

[RachaelE]

By the way, I was at a menopause workshop with Dr Louise Newson last week and she said that, although women who’ve had a hysterectomy don’t need combined HRT, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have progesterone as well as the oestrogen.

[Judan]

Thanks Rachael, good to know.

Sounds like you're still having a tough time. Big hugs xxxx