Hi pixigirl
Sorry to hear you are feeling rough.
When I came off HRT for 3 months about 2 1/2 years ago - the symptoms did take this long to come back - began to come back noticeably after 6 weeks - 2 months and by 3 months they were all there again including some unexplained pelvic aches/low back-ache, bladder problems - for which they could find nothing wrong. It all went back to normal once I re-started HRT.
Stomach problems ie upset stomach would not be down to menopause/stopping HRT, but headaches could be. Perhaps best to check with the doc if it's not a bug - to make sure the headaches are not due to something else. Similarly re stomach. Have you changed your diet at all? More fatty food? More fruit/acidic food? More wine/alcohol? Try decreasing some of this and eating bland food for a while and see if it helps? Does Milk of Mag deal with it?
Re HRT patches - I reduced my dose from 50 mcg to 37.5 mcg two months ago due to the spotting I was getting (as a compromise after I was asked to stop HRT) - and I can definitely notice the difference - in my bladder ( have to get up in the night every night now) and I am hotter at night (yes I know it's hot weather) - and generally feeling more generally overheated with a few flushes - than before. I drear to think how I would feel if I had to stop completely.... I intend if possible to go back onto the 50 mcg patch once my investigations have finished, if all OK.
Hope you feel better soon with the patch back on!
Hurdity x