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[charliegirl]

Hi everyone, well the honeymoon period with HRT is now at an end. Was advised by Dr Currie to go on low dose mixed HRT last July and have felt great until about a month ago and now have symptoms worse than ever tired low back and tummy ache, dizziness sick, so dissapointed  It seems like your body adjusts to the dose.
Charliegirl.x

[Cazikins]

Sorry you are having a bad time at the moment charliegirl.
Don't give up just yet, or write HRT off. We all go through ups & downs with it.
Just keep a diary of how things go for a few more weeks, if it doesn;t improve than go back to your doc & ask for a different type, it may help.

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear this charliegirl.

However if by "your body adjusts to the dose" you mean it becomes ineffective after a while - this is not really the case except sometimes at very high levels of oestrogen (much greater than occur naturally) except at very high levels.

If your symptoms are returning if may be you need to review the dose.

Where are you in menopause, how old, when last period etc? Also what HRT are you in? Still having a bleed?

If your symptoms are hormone related then you should be able to sort it out dso that you feel as well as possible.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

Hurdity x

[charliegirl]

Hi Hurdity, am 60 years old and had meno at 52 but still having pmt/period type symptoms every once in a while. Am on evoril contirecommended by Dr Currie. I will say tho that missed a dose a while back, could that have something to do with it??
Thanks for your reply
Charliexx

[KatieLiz]

I started on 1mg/10mg Femoston (low dose) but after 6 months I needed the higher dose 2mg/10mg Femoston.  Don't give up - it just means the low dose helped you a bit and now your body needs a bit more.

I think this is the problem sometimes when you are started on a low dose and when that is not enough you automatically think its not working.  This is Hormone Replacement Therapy and if your hormones are depleting then you need them replacing - low dose is great as a starting point but sometimes this needs adjusting and increasing. 

Perhaps make an appointment with your GP and see what they say.

Good Luck! x

[Hurdity]

Hi again

I doubt whether the docs will recommend going onto a higher dose at 60 because Evorel is already medium dose for transdermal HRT, but always worth a try. There isn't a transdermal combi HRT that gives you a higher dose so would be a case of maybe cutting the patch and using one and a half, but I definitely wouldn't do this without discussion with gynae. Are you still under Dr Currie?

Maybe the progestogen in Evorel is disagreeing with you as your body changes. For example even with HRT maybe the skin is gradually getting thinner and more of this is getting through. The norethisterone in Evorel can cause pmt symptoms in some women. Maybe try a different type for exaple separate oestrogen patches and bio-identical progesterone (Utrogestan) which probably wouldn't have the same side effects. Maybe worth a try?

When you say you missed a dose - how long did you forget to change for and how long ago was this?

If it was longer than a couple of days then your oestrogen and progesterone levels would have fallen and given rise to pms symptoms a day or so later which might last for a while? The same thing could happen if a lot of the patch comes unstuck but I guess you're probably well used to them if you've been on them for 8 years. I was on Evorel for 3 months when I first went onto HRT and the norethisterone didn't agree with me. Also I was v sensitive to the changes in prog levels when the patch came a bit unstuck and got terrible migraines .

Hope you feel better soon

Hurdity x

[charliegirl]

Thanks girls!!! Hurdity I meant have been period free for 8 years but only on HRT since last July. I only forgot for a day so maybe didnt make much difference?? am on 3.2 estradiol and 11.2 noresthisterone. You are probably right am not going to be put on a higher dose at my age, so maybe look at something else.It could also be patch coming unstuck, will try to be more vigilent for a week or so and see if it improves. I might contact Dr currie thru the website as well.
many thanks for your advice.
charliexx

[Hurdity]

Sorry charliegirl - you did say in your first post you only started HRT last July! Doubtful whether one day wouldmake a differecne although if the patch was off completely it might have made you feel a bit dodgy for a day or two.

From the sound of it I would definitely try a different type.

We are meant to be on conti HRT at this age but problem is if you haven't had HRT before you are going straight onto continuous prog so now way of getting away from it if it disagrees with you.

If you want to try Femseven - that's the only other conti patch - but as I said before I would go for separates and try out Utrogestan as it's bio-identical - if you don't mind oral meds (although I use it vaginally - but still on a cycle because I don't want continuous prog - at least at the moment although I have been advised recently to go on it continuously!

Hurdity x

[charliegirl]

Hi Hurdity, have another problem dry and itchy down below does this mean the hormone level has dropped or altered??
Thanks Charliexx

[Hurdity]

Hi there

This area is very sensitive to lack of oestrogen - the skin thins over the years - and many women still get problems down there even on full HRT like me. This problem will not get better without vaginal oestrogen - and there are probably hundreds of women or thousands suffering from this without having been given this treatment. It also will help prevent bladder problems too.

Here is the info on this site - under vaginal problems:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/vaginalsymptoms.php

You can use Vagifem, Orthogynest pessaries or gynest or ovestin cream.

All the info is on this site -
under vaginal problems - treatments
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/dryness.php

or under HRT preparations/vaginal treatments
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/local.php

I use Vagifem sometimes, Gynest pessaries sometimes, and top either of these up with gynest cream for the outer bits if they get sore. You start by using the Vagifem or the pessaries or a cream dose - every day for a fortnight and then twice weekly as a maintenance dose. Keeps the area plumped up nicely.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[charliegirl]

Thank you so much Hurdity, this is how I know its hormonal!! Am trying to contact Dr Currie on here but my phone provider wont accept it, will have to keep trying.
charliexx

[wornoutmum]

Hello

I am 53 and decided to try HRT to help the transition through the menopause emotionally and physically. I started on Femosten 1mg/10mg but after 6 months I needed the higher dose 2mg/10mg which I have been taking for around 8 months now. The dryness has gone which was a principal reason for starting HRT as applying oestrogen cream with an applicator made my vagina sore after a while, but I have  a lot of discharge now. I also have constant vaginal and vulval soreness, it often looks red and angry and despite taking a Diflucan tab in case thrush was the underlying cause, it continues. Using oestrogen cream with the applicator is very sore too. My GP said it would be due to the oestrogen depletion. I have also tried dabbing aqueous cream pre shower which stings! I only rinse with warm water.

What is happening? I feel miserable, I have to change underwear twice a day owing to the discharge and the soreness is embarrassing. I have not had a sexual relationship for a few years and is something I have steered away from owing to this! Incidentally I had an anterior and posterior repair 7 years ago, no incontinence problems at all and a Mirena removed last year once 7 years had passed.
Any tips?

[Taz2]

Hi wornoutmum just wanted to say 

Taz x

[wornoutmum]

Hi Stellajane

Thank you for your helpful reply. I am going to a different GP on Friday (because my usual one is on leave) to discuss the soreness and that I want to change HRT. I had a 10 day break a couple of weeks ago as I ran out and hadn't had time to organise a further prescription...I noticed how the soreness came back with a vengeance about 7 days into recommencing so, that and your useful information has confirmed what I suspected, time to change!

Best wishes

[Hurdity]

Hi wornoutmum

I think you just need to check first if the discharge is caused by anything else.

I also agree with stellajane that you may need a vaginal oestrogen as well as the systemic HRT ( ie tablet or patch or gel). As well as patch HRT, I use either the vagifem, or Orthogynest pessaries - although I have some of the cream too but haven't tried using the applicator.

I find either the Orthogynest pessaries, or the Vagifem do the trick - but the dampness is more with the Orthogynest pessaries.

Personally I would resist changing to a different tablet HRT if you feel well otherwise, because the progestogens in the Femoston is the closest type you can get to the progesterone in our own bodies, wheras all the others are not. It is the progestogens that often cause the problems with HRT - re  pms, anxiety, headaches etc.

I would try a new vaginal product first. The vagifem tablet is inserted using a thin plastic applicator. The Orthgynest pessaries are waxy things you just poke up there - very easy and nothing to irritate hopefully.....

However as stellajane says you could try patch or gel - but alongside micronised progesterone (Utrogestan capsules).

Hope this helps and you get some improvement soon.

Hurdity x