Nicky Dear Health Coach

In my last blog, I mentioned that life had thrown me a bit of a curve ball. I wanted to share this in the hope that it may alert others and ensure they don’t have the same experience.

About a month ago I began to feel unwell. I couldn’t really pinpoint what it was but I just felt “off” and thought I must be coming down with something. My mood was really low, unlike me, and I felt like someone had pulled out my batteries. Over the following 2 weeks, my sleep was disturbed, I felt exhausted, not wanting to go for the long walks I usually do with my dog, Pip. My joints and nerves were aching. I then started to have horrendous abdominal pain, and started bleeding. At this point, I had a light bulb moment… I have been taking body identical HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for 3 years, and this, along with all the nutritional and lifestyle changes I have made, I have been virtually symptom free as long as I am consistent with my healthy diet and lifestyle.

In January (3 months prior to me noticing these health change) I had received an email from our local pharmacy to say they were changing my progesterone prescription from my usual Utogestan to a ‘more cost-effective brand’ Gepretix. The email assured me that they are identical and I would not notice the difference. Having witnessed the problems my dad had with his change of medication, I was wary, and I spoke to our women’s health nurse, who is absolutely brilliant. She assured me it would be fine, so I collected my next prescription and started taking it, not thinking any more about it.

I had been taking the new prescription for 25 days. When I started to bleed I started to put 2 and 2 together (bearing in mind by this point I could barely remember my name, let alone something that happened weeks ago, the brain fog had become so bad!)

Thinking back to my knowledge of Menopause and what happens to your HPA axis when one of your hormones is out of balance (see my previous blog on inflammation) causing symptom chaos, I started to do some research online and found several forums where women were discussing the same issue, having had their prescriptions changed, and were being sent for scans and other invasive procedures as a result.

I filled in the dreaded e-consult form and asked for a call from the women’s health nurse. I explained what had happened, she was very apologetic and said she felt I should go for a scan as I hadn’t had a period for over 10 years, but I was certain that the change in progesterone was the issue. I asked her if other women were experiencing the same issues and she confirmed that they were. She was as frustrated as I was.

I asked what the difference in price was between the 2 different types of progesterone. The answer… £1.50! I understand that the NHS is trying to save money and that when you multiply this by the thousands of people taking it, it adds up to a few thousand… however many women may not make the connection between the symptoms and the change in prescription as it doesn’t happen immediately and anyone reading this who is experiencing brain fog, you will know that, you are focussed on getting through each day, and if you are feeling depressed and exhausted, just putting one foot in front of the other is enough to contend with.

If the consequences of these changes are scans and further procedures, then any cost savings are being lost, and what’s worse, women are being made to suffer for the sake of saving a few pounds.

The nurse changed my prescription back to my original Utogestan, which I collected the same morning. My healthy habits had slipped during the weeks I had felt so low (which no doubt made my symptoms worse). I took some time out to rest and reset, and I made sure I was eating anti-inflammatory foods, drinking lots of water. I booked a massage, which helps to improve lymphatic drainage. I took gentle walks and got some early nights. After 10 days of taking a double dose of my original progesterone to control the bleeding, it stopped, and I felt I had emerged from a very dark tunnel; my energy returned, and I felt like myself again. I went back to my normal dose as recommended by the nurse.

Whilst this was a profoundly unpleasant experience, it was a reminder of how some of my clients are feeling when they first come to me and how difficult it can be to make changes when you feel so unwell. But equally how making these changes is absolutely life changing as it has been for me.

So… if you are on HRT and you are thriving, you do not have to accept changes. If you receive an email saying they are changing your prescription, contact your surgery and tell them you do not wish to change.

If you are on HRT and have made all the Nutritional and Lifestyle changes I have suggested but are still struggling with symptoms, it is worth trying other types, as some women thrive on Gepretix and other types of progesterone and also different types of Oestrogen.

We are all unique, and our bodies absorb and metabolise everything we consume differently, including hormones and all nutrients (which is why there is no one size fits all when it comes to our health). We need to be treated as individuals, be persistent, and you will eventually find the right combination for you. But HRT alone is really not the answer.

If you are on HRT but have not made any changes to your Nutrition and Lifestyle, and you are experiencing stubborn weight gain, anxiety, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, brain fog, hot flushes and many more symptoms which you may not realise are connected, I have lots of information on my website which can help you make the changes you need to rebalance your hormones and change your metabolism.

For some women HRT is not the answer, and changes to their diet and lifestyle can be enough to naturally rebalance their hormones. I have developed a 12-week programme tailored to help each individual achieve their health goals and improve their future health.

Please contact me for more information on how we can work together.

Please don’t suffer in silence; it’s time to make the changes you need.

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