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[WindSinger]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and am so glad to have found this site. I'm really hoping that someone can share their experience and perhaps give some advice please;
After nearly five years of full on menopause symptoms and trying various supplements and diets, some of which have proved successful for varying lengths of time, I have now given in and started Evorel Conti patches two days ago, mainly due to the hot flushes and night sweats occurring every 20 minutes day and night.
So, two days in I have what feels like nasty period pain and a head-in-a-vice headache. Is this to be expected? Will this pass or should I already see these symptoms as warning signs that these patches are not for me?
I am 49, hypothyroid with border-line Addisons Disease (adrenals) and have not had a period for four years.

Many, many thanks for any advice,

WindSinger

[Hurdity]

Hi Windsinger

 

Having had quite an early menopause it is beneficial for you to have oestrogen at least until the average age of natural menopause which is 51-52.

Sorry to hear avout your headache - I know how debilitating these can be. Side effects are very common when first starting HRT - and especially if you are well into post-menopause.  Firstly your body is unaccustomed to oestrogen which can cause nausea and headache initially and secondly the progestogen (norethisterone) in Evorel conti can also cause headaches and other symptoms in some women.

Because you have started on continuous combined HRT ( as you are post-menopausal) you won't know for a while what the symptoms are caused by so it is best to keep going for a few weeks if you can. The general advice is to give each type of HRT 3 months - but this can be hard if the progestogen disagrees with you. Can take painkillers for a couple of days to see if the headache goes? If it is very severe eg a sudden severe migraine which you've never experienced before then the advice is I think to consult GP to see if you should stop the HRT.

Some women also experience erratic spotting or bleeding during the first few weeks or months of Evorel conti or other conti HRT but this should also settle.

Hopefully all this is temporary and you will soon feel the benefit of the extra oestrogen! Some women have to try a few different types before finding the right HRT to suit so do not despair if this one doesn't work for you!

Hurdity  x

[WindSinger]

Thank you Hurdity..... I soooo needed to hear some female support (It's an all male household here) and I was feeling pretty low today-feeling like I'd just added a load more nasty symptoms to my menopause with the HRT. But ok....I will stick it out and hope to get acclimatized to the hormones. Again, many thanks.

[whitestrand]

hi Windsinger
just wondering how the patches are working out for you now? as i started evorel conti patches in March (after 2 yrs of no bleeding)  and after 6 weeks I felt great....no sweats and anxiety almost nil and I slept for 6 hours straigh but then I started to bleed . very lightly at first but now 6 months on I am still bleeding (heavy) after 8 days of bleeding so its getting worse instead of better.... I also am very itchy "down below!" something I never suffered from
Just wonder if anyone can advise please? I feel very bad now also

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM whitestrand and WindSinger
WindSinger - Hurdity has given you some great advice - she is a font of knowledge as she has a science background and has helped many of us on here with excellent common sense support.
Don't worry if this HRT preparation doesn't suit you as there are so many others to try. 

whitestrand - I think you should try something different.  I would get the bleeding investigated as a precaution - you may have fibroids.  You might want to consider a Mirena  with oestrogen in patch or gel form.  The Mirena should reduce and eventually stop any bleeding  - it is often recommend for those with heavy bleeding or fibroids. The amount of progesterone absorbed systemically is a lot less so therefore fewer side effects. You are then able to adjust the amount of oestrogen you use to the amount that keeps your symptoms at bay. If you are feeling itchy try some Multi Gyn Actigel for use in and around the lady parts - it helps to restore the acidic balance and sooth itching - Hyalofemme is also good - you can purchase these on the internet.

If you haven't already done so, I would suggest you both read up all the info under the headings to the left of this screen to get really clued up.

Keep us posted   DG x

[whitestrand]

Thank you for the reply. My doctor has arranged an appointment at the hospital just to check out the bleeding. I also halved the patch on her advise 6 weeks ago but within 6 days the hot flushes and anxiety and not sleeping came back but I didn't bleed I went back on full patch after 3 weeks of being on the half patch and am now sleeping again and hot flushes gone but the bleeding is worse than before and the itching Just wondering if I should try cutting a quarter of the patch as it may take a few weeks to get an appointment in the hospital as I am a public patient. And yes I really must read all the information Bit lazy!!

[whitestrand]

Oh I am also Hypothyroid and taking Eltroxin 50mg