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[warwick01]

Hi

It's my third week using Everel Conti patches and although in some ways I feel better for example much calmer, more energy. However, some physical symptom have appeared which include:
Headache
Feeling flushed
stomach cramps
flatulence (wind)

has anyone else had these symptoms? and will they settle? as I am feeling calmer, I don't want to stop using the patch.

Many thanks W

[honeybun]

I use these after moving from the sequi.

It can take a little time for your body to get used to them. Perhaps you could try a smaller amount. You can cut a little off the patch. Perhaps start with a half for a couple of weeks and then build up to a full patch.
You don't say how old you are or whether this is your first HRT.

I use a half patch but I have been on patches for a few years and am trying to cut down.
Oestrogen can cause digestive problems to start with until you get used to it.


Honeyb
x

[warwick01]

Hi honeybun,

I am 55 and been using 3/4 pumps of oestrogel with a seperate progesterone for the past few years. I have been using HRT since the age of 51.

For the last 6 months I have become really tense uptight and thought I would try the coni patch to see if having the progesterone every day would help. I  also add 1 pump of the Oestrogel to top it up as I think Everel patch 50 accounts to 2 pumps of Oestrogel (although Im no expert)

In some ways I do feel better, it's the stomach pain and yuck feeling that concerns me!

Thanks for your reply

W

[honeybun]

It could be the extra oestrogen that a causing your stomach problems.
Also if you are topping up with even more there is a chance you will not be using enough progesterone and that can cause a build up of your womb lining.

I really would be wary of that. If you think you are not on a strong enough patch then ask for the higher strength. At least that way you are balancing things out without taking any risks.

I know that a lot of women find HRT helps anxiety but I am not one of them. My anxiety started after two years on HRT so you may well be the same as me and have to look for other ways of managing that.


Honeyb

[Shazzie]

Hi W

I too have been on Evorel conti for the past few months. 

I felt a bit sick and jhad headaches so I cut the patches in half about 6 weeks ago and after a couple of weeks felt much better.

It does take time for your body to adjust.  Reckon it can take up to a month before you see changes in your symptoms.

Good luck and I hope things settle for you soon.

Shazzie xx

[warwick01]

Thanks for both your reply's.

I will try without adding any extra gel to see what happens. The problem is I never know if I'm having to much or not enough HRT.

Will keep you posted

W

[honeybun]

You must always oppose the oestrogen with the correct amount of progesterone so you have to stick to the recommended dosage.

You can add extra bits of patch, or stronger patches but dont add extra oestrogen on its own. It's not safe.


Honeyb
x

[Hurdity]

Hi warwick

Re the extra oestrogen - I thought we discussed this on another thread a week or two ago?
Honeybun is right re the progesterone normally, but in the case of Evorel -the conti patches give twice as much progestogen as the same cycle of Evorel sequi and therefore, as norethisterone is a powerful progestogen, there would seem to be some leeway in terms of oestrogen. If your specialist gynae has prescribed this then no harm in trying - any bleeding you get that doesn't settle will be an indication of something amiss - eg insufficient progestogen.

Some women (myself included) get headaches with norethisterone - which is why I don't use Evorel so hopefully you won't be one of the unlucky ones.

I am wondering though why you didn't just continue with your previous regime but change from a cycle to continuous progesterone (which I presume was Utrogestan - generally well tolerated as progestogens go?!). This would cause the least change for your body and you would know very soon whether your symptoms would settle with having progesterone every day?

I would give it another few weeks and see how you feel - hopefully the symptoms will settle as your body acclimatises!

Hurdity 

[warwick01]

Hi Hurdity

As always thanks for your advice.
I decided to try the conti patch as I was finding I was feeling uptight and tense most of the time. Also the last few periods have been heavy.

The first 2 weeks on everel I felt good much calmer and improved sleep. However I have had a bad headache with woozy head feeling for about a week now. Im at the point where Im not sure if to give it a few more weeks suffering with this headache or stop and go back to 3/4pumps of oestrogel with separate 5mg Northisterone for 7 days.

Do you think my body just needs to get used to the Everelpatch?

W

[Shazzie]

Hi W

I know that my body took a few weeks to get used to the Evorel conti.

Just a quick question W.  Sorry if I sound stupid but I thought you only use the conti if you have stopped periods.  Thought the sequi hrt are for ladies who are still bleeding.

Sorry if I have got this wrong.

Shazzie xx

[warwick01]

Hi Shazzi

I am 55 and I have probably finished having periods naturally. The HRT I have been on for 3 years was the gel with separate Northisterone, which would bring on a period.

Having noticed a heavier period with more pain I thought I would try the conti patch.

Had to leave work early today because of this woozy head thing. I'm not sure this is working for me.

W 

[Hurdity]

It could be the norethisterone in the conti HRT giving you the headaches warwick. if you are one of those who cannot tolerate it then the symptoms will continue.

I think I've said before that many of us who do not like having continuous progestogen continue with a cycle even when post-meno.

It's a case of which regime makes you feel best overall - HRT is not a magic cure - for some women at best it recreates the menstrual cycle - with the associated peaks and troughs you were probably experiencing. For most of us we prefer the long term benefits that adding oestrogen will provide, and the control of symptoms such as flushes, sweats, generalised aches and pains, tiredness that are alleviated to some extent by HRT. To achieve this, I have to put up with feeling rubbish sometimes on the progesterone and having a bleed ( every 6-8 weeks).

I sympathise about the heavier periods because I have noticed that as well but can't bear to shorten my cycle to a month as it "should" be!

Hope the woozy head improves

Hurdity x

[warwick01]

Thanks for advice Hurdity.

Today in work I had the most scary experience ever

As you know I have been experiencing really bad headaches all week they tend to come on after lunch with continues flushing in my face.

However today I had been completing some computer training and I felt this weird heavy feeling come over my head,I felt I was going to callapse.I stood up to walk to the toilet but I felt drunk my balance was way off. It scared the crap out of me. I made an excuse and headed home ( should not have drove the car ) I have had this bloody headache ever since, thought I was having a stroke.I took my BP when I got home it was 150/97 which is high for me.

I have pulled the bloody patch off and will go back to my old routine BP back to normal now , will monitor for nxt 24 hours.

Never Never Again W

[jacquiellen]

Hi warwick01, was just reading your post, hope you feeling ok now?
I have been using evorel patches and the first time, every morning I woke up with rosey cheeks (which I never normally have) and like a pressure behind my eyes, then as I went on with it I became very tearful and seemed to be arguing with everyone so I stopped it.
I tried a month with nothing except 1000mg starflower every day felt much better although hot flushes returned and anxiety especially at night so couldn't sleep. Still had some patches so thought I'll give them another go this time got to just over three weeks with them and completely knocked out with tirdness no matter how much I slept still felt tired. I have been cutting them in half the last three times I applied and I do feel more clear headed. Don't know if this is any help? Not sure if I will continue with them! Do you think you will?

[Hurdity]

Anyone who is feeling tired on HRT it is likely to be the progestogen. Oestrogen should make you feel good and certainly never tired! Sohot I replied about your situation on your other thread!

Sorry to hear about your severe headache warwick. What puzzles me is that you were presumably OK on the previous regime which was also norethisterone? However from what you say you only took it for 7 days but you have been absorbing it now for 3-4 weeks so looks like you can't tolerate it once it builds up in your system.

Unfortunately you will probably have to stick to a cyclical method of HRT if you are progesterone intolerant. I can;t remember if you've tried Utrogestan? I have a feeling you have?

Hurdity x