Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Briony]

Hello, I'm now into my fourth week of patches. Up til now I have noticed little difference, apart from fact my period seemed easier, and my mood slightly calmer. Then suddenly today -wham!- I am so on edge (for no obvious reason) I feel a little sick and tired. It's horrible. Can't concentrate at all and have butterflies in my tummy. Just know I won't sleep 

My first reaction was to take off the patch, but then I wondered if this is perhaps just a stage you go through initially? Did anyone else experience anything similar?

I am also worrying that maybe I am not peri (estrogen was low and have frequent fatigue, headaches and tingling. FSH and all nutritional tests came back normal, so doc decided to try HRT). Could I perhaps just have an imbalance rather than low estrogen per se? If so, could the patches be harmful?

Any advice appreciated. Had such high hopes for this and now feel so sad that it's seemingly having the wrong effects! Thanks for listening, B x  ps I am 42

[Joyce]

Initially when I was put on patches, I was given a higher dose than I'd been on with gel. After a short period of time, I felt as though I was wired. Not pleasant. I stuck it out thinking it would get better, but it didn't, so had to drop down to lower dose patch.

Maybe speak with your GP. You may need something different. HRT is a bit trial & error I'm afraid.

[Dancinggirl]

You may just be getting a spike or dip of hormones.  If you are peri meno then your own hormones will be fluctuating and this can have an effect.
I wouldn't let one bad day put you off - after all it may not be the hormones, you could have a bit of a tummy virus.  I've been feeling sick on and off for two weeks and a couple of people have said they've had a similar thing.
My only thought is that if you are in early peri meno the patches may be a bit too high a dose.  You could try Oestrogel with a separate progesterone which is what I used through my peri stage.  You can start really low - on one pump of Oestrogel per day and then increase later when you need more as your own hormones drop.  You then use the progesterone for 10 - 14 days per month depending on the progesterone you use.
DG x

[Liz]

I had these sort of thoughts the first time I tried HRT.  I'd had a stressful year (lost my Dad) and panicked and went to the GP and we decided to stop the HRT and see how I went.  The sweating came back and I felt very out of sorts.  Went back recently to try the HRT again and am now feeling loads better, although my cycle is a bit erratic. 
I asked my GP about "What if I'm using HRT and don't "need" it?)  She said the hormonal dose is much lower than, say, the pill, so it wouldn't do any harm, especially on the low dose that I'm on.

I'm 46 and peri, by the way.  My main symptoms were sweating, low mood, losing hair and very severe joint aches.

I'd definitely stick with it for another couple of months - my GP said 3 months is the minimum I should try it for.  I'm currently about 2 months into this time, I said I'd definitely stick with it until Christmas and see how I go.

[Dancinggirl]

Excellent advice Liz.   DG x

[Briony]

Thanks to you all for really helpful advice and reassurance. You don't know how much it helped knowing there were people out there who knew how I felt. I got myself really wound up last night! Strangely, the anxiety was better today, but I started to ache and feel tired/nauseous again (my normal low estrogen symptoms).

I think I will definitely stick with it for three months, Liz, as you suggest. Anything to potentially help the aches and hair loss, as well as the anxiety. It sounds weird, but part of me wishes I did have hot flushes too (I only get cold ones) as then I'd feel I was 'definitely' in the gang, rather than harbouring this silly fear that's it's something else, something terminal and dreadful that no doctors have been able to find!!

Dancing Girl, I'll definitely ask about swapping to the gel next time I visit my GP. I like the idea of having more control over the dosage. I know my estrogen dips very low, but I think it's intermittent.

Again, thanks to you all for your advice and support. You're ace x

[Liz]

My joint aches have almost disappeared in the last 2 months, Briony and my hair loss has slowed right down, so like you say, may be a good idea to stick with it at least for 3 months and see how you feel.

I really like the gel, by the way.