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[Julia Dizzy]

Hi Ali51,
hello there! - this forum is brilliant for sharing our issues! Sorry you've not got on great with your regime and I guess one size definitely doesn't fit all. I've been on 2 and a half pumps estrogel and 100mg Utrogestan for past 8 months and I haven't had any improvement in my symptoms apart from a reduction in hot sweats.
I'm 63 and my symptoms before were all very similar to yours. Just feeling not me at all for ages. I decided two weeks ago I had had enough of sore boobs and a burning around the nipple, bad stomach pains with rumbling (Utrogestan??) and still feeling rubbish, so have decided to stop altogether for a while to see how I went on and until could go back to Meno clinic which will probably be a while! Am still taking Vagifem for VA as that has been an issue.
I have sent an email to Dr Heather Currie and am still waiting for an in depth reply. I'm hoping to maybe try FemSeven patches if and when they become available again later in the year.
You might feel better after a few more months on it you never know, a lot of ladies say it can take longer for some people, it depends on each individuals reaction to it. I know the benefits outweigh the risks and I really wish I could say I felt marvellous, but I don't, and if the side effects are awful that's no good? I really wanted to be on it and get all the benefits to protect me as I get older.
I hope you get sorted if you manage to get your appointment, good luck with it all and stay safe xxx

[Ali51]

Thankyou Julia
I guess there just aren't any easy answers are there?! I?ll persevere, as I want to keep my long term health as well as I can...... hope you find a solution too x

[julie55]

Hi I would like some advice if possible I am 59 I've been on hrt for 9 years elleste duet conti was fabulous on it until the dreaded shortage I was put on kliofem in Nov persevered with it for three month gave me terrible palpations and anxiety so was changed to evorol conti patch that gave me a terrifying feeling in my head numbness pins needles and vertigo I was convinced it was the patch so I took it off nine weeks ago thinking all the symptoms would go away they didn't I have had vertigo for nine weeks the numbness has subsided and and I get slightly dizzy it was a horrible experience and is still sort of lingering in the background I have hot flashes every night I can't be certain it was the patch but if it was the effects are only just wearing off I've got vaginal dryness I've got hot flashes I've lost my boobs and a stone in weight  my ears are ringing I've been off hrt for nine weeks  I asked my doctor for the gell and tablet I have it it's here sat in front of me but I'm terrified to take it incase the above happens again and I've been reading some posts on here  made me feel uneasy about taking the plunge my doc not well up on hrt on the gell it says use once a day and the tablets take one a night on empty tummy there 100 mg I'm 59 not had a bleed for 8 years I'm scared confused and wondering if I start this is it going to be ok and if it is I want it for life but I'm sure my doc will take it off me when I'm 60 I think you always want the success storys but I do realize everyone on here wants help or they wouldn't be on here can anyone ease my mind please

[sheila99]

The NICE guidelines have changed and there is no age limit now. Very few people react badly to oestrogen, it's normally the progesterone that causes the problems. You could start on a sequi regime so you tell if the progesterone is a problem, then change to conti if you're OK. You could also use the Utrogestan vaginally which has fewer side effects (push it up as far as you can just before you go to bed). For sequi you take 200mg for 12 days (I think it's from day 16) then you'll have a bleed a couple of days after finishing it. You already feel bad so imo there's nothing to lose by trying it, thousands of women do well on it. If it's intolerable you can always stop. Good luck!

[julie55]

Thank you for your kind reply Shelia x so do I just put one tablet up there and how many pumps of gell would I use it just says use once daily very helpful 🥴 do I start with one pump or two my first tablets elleste duet conti was 2mg oestogen 1 mg northisrrone  xx Ty

[Cassie]

Julie55, its a wonderful combo that. I havae been on it for 15 yrs and aint stopping. Just put one utrogestan 100mg up vaginally, much easier than swallowing, I  use mine for 12 days per month usually from the 1st to the 12th, much easier to remember and 2 pumps on gel, I alternate legs and rub it in well, it works a treat.

[sheila99]

That isn't the standard dose Cassie. If continuous it's 100mg capsule every day,if sequi it's 2x100mg capsules for 12 days per month. It's important to stick to the standard dose unless you have the agreement of your gp and/or regular scans, there's an increased risk of cancer if you have insufficient progesterone to keep your lining thin.
julie55, I don't know about elleste but evorel conti is equivalent to 2 pumps. Maybe start a new post with this title and someone might know? Two pumps is a common starting dose then you can adjust up or down as you need to.

[Annies]

Hi ladies, hope I'm posting this question in the right place and not repeating something already asked loads! Apologies if so.
Am in first month of oestrogel/ utrogestan regime, but only using 100mg orally of the utrogest for 10 days, days 16-26 because I am starting off v slowly on the oestrogel, only quarter to half a pump daily to adjust.
After only 2 days on the utrogest ie cycle day 17, I am spotting quite heavily, as though I'm about to start my period. 🤨Prior to beginning hrt this month I was having  periods each month anywhere between days 20-30. This month I woukd have expected a shorter natural cycle (after a 29 day cycle last mth) had I not begun hrt, so might this be my own hormones still taking the lead and/ or an insufficient amount of utrogestan being absorbed do you think? If the latter should I just see what gives the next few days and if my period does arrive this early, consider asking gp re increasing the utrogestan to 200mg?
Thoughts really appreciated, thanks everyone!
 

[Cassie]

It may not be standard dose Sheila but many of us have been on this protocol, myself included for years and years, and it goes without saying that anyone taking any form of HRT, would have at least an annual examination by a specialist, including an endometrial ultrasound.

[sheila99]

Er, no, not on the nhs. Most people are prescribed by their gp not a specialist and I don't know anyone who has an annual scan on the nhs. I had one before I started hrt but haven't been offered it during the two years I've been on it. If you use less than the prescribed dose and have scans that's great but given the increased cancer risk imo we shouldn't suggest anyone else does this without explaining the risks.

Annies, I find my own cycle is always stronger than the hrt one. It's difficult in peri when your own cycle fluctuates. I can tell when I ovulate so I take it a couple of days after that. Since doing it this way I've always bled at the expected time, before I would bleed at any time of the hrt cycle, sometimes twice in a month. Maybe see if it's a proper bleed and start counting with the start of the bleed as day 1. I think it's more likely to be timing rather than the dose that's causing it. Given the low oestrogen dose you're probably OK on 100mg Utrogestan assuming your doc thinks it's OK.

[Annies]

Thnks Sheila99. Yes peri is certainly a devil. Past few mths have been alternating from longer to shorter cycle with the odd random length one thrown in for good measure!
Ok, I think I'll do as you suggest and try to synch as far as poss with my natural cycle. The prospect of 2 periods a month is def not appealing! If I count the first day of proper bleeding as day 1 and stop the utrogestan (even if I've only had 3 or 4 days' worth) I'm guessing that's fine for one cycle. If ( touch wood not) I get another v early bleed next mth I'll have to rethink it as can't obviously keep on missing out the utrogest so may I guess then have to try it vaginal or up it orally?

[sheila99]

I think it's a case of try it and see what works for you. I have a natural 6 week cycle and the enforced 4 week cycle on evorel patches just didn't work. I haven't bled before day 10 on utro so the odd time it's happened I've stopped it. My reasoning was that my body had produced enough progesterone so it should be OK but I really don't know if this is right, my gp couldn't advise. Some people say you should complete the course but this puts the next cycle out of step.

[Annies]

Thanks again sheila99. I agree,.just have to try this approach and see - will hopefully fall in with my own cycle more or less once established on HRT. Period has pretty much arrived today as feared so hoping nxt cycle if I do ovulate, it'll be later on..if not I might investigate the vaginal route to improve absorption..

[Cassie]

Sheila I am under a private gynae, having said that havent been to see him in almost 3 yrs, and not going now until things simmer down.

[Flan747]

Hi! I have been on 3 different types of HRT in the past 12 months. I am currently on Oestradiol gel and Utrogestron. I have ok days but mostly bad with anxiety and I can only describe as a tight ache in my stomach which doesn't sound a lot but appears to lower my mood! I have recently increased to 4 pumps of gel just before my period and I had a very good 4-5 days. My sleep is not great but I'm managing ok. Now my period has stopped all symptoms have returned. My question is should I reduce my gel even though I didn't feel good on 3 pumps or should I increase? Cannot get the balance right and some days. I had a blood test on 3 pumps and it was 140(sorry not sure how it's measured) this was in day 8 of cycle