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[moonbeam121167]

Hi can anyone help, I am currently on 4mg of Zumenon and before that 2mg Zumenon and 100mg of Estradot and have been feeling fine,  this last few weeks been having headaches, they feel like my head is going to fall off my neck, had them before months and months ago but now they back, had physio before but it never helped, I also have Ibs and thats been good for the last 6 monthish but that also is playing up, hence the nausea, I feel quiet weird, my hubby thinks it could be stress or to much HRT but I have been on the higher does for about 4 months and been fine, due to have my estrogen tested in a few weeks to check if my levels are ok as before the increase they were very low hence the increase, my IBS has been under control but bang this last week or two I feel blurrrrr and today I have awful nausea and my poor head, not sure what to do, anyone have any advice please 

[Ju Ju]

There are so many causes of headaches and I hope you have checked in with the doctor to see if there is any obvious cause. Just thought I'd post my story in case it helps. I had a constant headache a few years back, sometimes bad and no amount of painkillers helped. I went to the doctors, who checked signs for anything obvious, but all was fine. He was at a loss, so was only able to send me home with advice on hitting it hard with painkillers safely. I was not particularly stressed and had had my eyesight tested recently. I woke up every morning with a thumping headache, so eyestrain wasn't an obvious cause. In desperation, I booked another eye test and found my prescription had suddenly changed considerably. New glasses ( money.... ) but headache gone.  Just a thought. The symptoms of eyestrain are not always obvious.

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear this moonbeam.

I remember when you were posting before it was pointed out that tablet HRT is not advised if you have stomach problems and also IBS itself can affect the amount of oestrogen that is absorbed (from tablet HRT) into the body. 4 mg of tablet HRT is a very high dose and personally I would have thought that other causes aside, the metabolites (breakdown products) from this dose are bound to affect the body in some way. Only a small fraction of what is taken as tablet HRT actually gets into the system as estradiol - I mean look at the dose compared to patch HRT.

It is strange to suddenly react like this after 4 months if the oestrogen is too high?

I would definitely go to the doctor (sooner rather than later) about the headaches because it is not good to experience these on HRT, as well as very debilitating.

I can't remember how long and what dose you tried transdermal HRT for - did the Estradot not suit you then and how low were they when last tested - and were they tested more than once? Sorry - lots of questions!

Hope your headache gets better soon.... sounds like a migraine?

Hurdity x

[moonbeam121167]

Hurdity, before the consultant change my dose I was on just Estradot 100mg but my levels were still very low and I was still having flushes, since the increase I felt good on the Estradot 100mg and 2mg pill , was on this for 3 months,  only changed caused when I went to GP to ask for a new script he said whats the point of been on both types when you can be on just the pills and since been on the 4mg pills  I feel crap, heavy head, nausea just feel horrible and also very miserable, snapping at my family, could it be my body getting used to the new route, pills. I am on Zantac for my stomach and it has been helping for months, it got bad when I had a bad cold and in the night it was so bad all I had was Ibuprofen  and god that hurt my stomach, but after a week it got better. Since the change of route its got bad again,  I wish I never change to the 4mg pills and stuck to 2mg and patch, do you think it could get better over time, should I give it more time, I have my meno appointment on the 19th Feb and having my estrogen levels checked in 3 weeks ready for the consultant.

[littleminnie]

Sounds a bit strange but, have you tried cutting out the paracetamol (or whatever you take). A friend of mine was told that too many can cause headaches, so you get stuck in a vicious circle.  I use that roller (can't remember it's name, might be 4head), I think it really works.

[moonbeam121167]

I dont really take anything, its more of a neck ache really, my head feels like its gonna fall off my neck, its feels heavy, quite a weird feeling really, all I take is a Zantac 300mg  in the morning, up until the change to 4mg pills ( was on 2mg Zumenon pill and 100mg estradot patch ) I felt not too bad, but for this last  week I feel real horrible, my poor stomach is bad, I have bad nausea, my stomach has a bad gnawing feeling, no energy, feel quite miserable. I am not sure if it is the change to both pills and if so should I give the change a while to work or should I go back to GP and ask for the patch back
xx

[Millykin]

It is horrible to feel like that. I have been same HRT since April all going good and then I had 2 weeks of AB for infection and I've been left feeling terrible, nausea, anxious, stressed, shaky. I only suffer from headaches now and again mainly up back of neck/ head I use forehead there. Hope you get sorted soon
X

[Kathleen]

Hello moonbeam.

I can't help specifically but a while ago I had a headache every day which always went about 9 pm in the evening only to return the next morning. I have never been prone to headaches and this was a new experience for me. After six months the headaches went away never to return.

I am convinced they were hormonal and yours probably are too. As someone once said of the menopause, it is a gift that keeps on giving!

Take care.

K.

[marras]

Just wanted to sympathise Moonbeam. Having a constant headache is very debilitating and tiring to say the least. Do hope you get better soon.x
Kathleen, I love that saying, 'menopause is a gift that keeps on giving'. How very true!

[Briony]

Sympathy from me too. I have been plagued with both these symptoms (nausea is often accompanied by crushing fatigue too, as if pregnant). Was scared that HRT would make it worse, especially as, in the first few weeks, it seemed to. However, now four months in, it's hit me that these symptoms have significantly reduced (just hope I am not speaking too soon!). Have you seen your GP about something for the nausea? Motilium helped me a bit (and you can buy it OTC) but I have had best results with Metoclopramide (which, according to the leaflet, is indicated for nausea with migraine/headaches).
Really hope you get some relief soon x

[Hurdity]

Oh dear - what a pity the doctor suggested you changed your prescription - because 4 mg is a high dose to take orally.  With your history of stomach problems and headaches I would tend to steer clear of tablet HRT altogether. You could have kept to transdermal HRT and still increased your dose - for example I can't see why you couldn't have tried gradually increasing the patch by a small dose at a time eg for a month or so from 100 mcg to 125 mcg ( ie big patch + small one) or the 100 mcg patch and some gel. However perhaps the consultant thought it would be good to try both methods in your case to ensure that the maximum dose got through into your system - since you were still getting flushes.

That being said,  in the world of menopause and HRT if a regime is working for you and not causing any health issues then don't change it! Therefore personally I would go back to the regime you were on before - if you were doing fine on it then best to keep it that way.

As I said IBS will also affect absorption from the HRT so decrease in oestrogen levels will also give symptoms ( not sure about headaches?).

I would mention your problems to your doc sooner rather than later (re the headache and IBS) and ask to get back onto your old regime asap and well before your appointment with the consultant in February.  Don't be fobbed off!

Hurdity x

[moonbeam121167]

Hi went back to GP , it wasn't the one I normally see and he said give the tablets chance to work, and that was that, he gave me a new script for anti sickness pill and sent me home.  Tonight I have a blinking horrible neckache, my head feels like its going to fall off my neck, dont see the consultant till the 19th Feb, just dont really know what to do, feeling miserable, thought with the patch, pill combo things were looking up then bang, gone down hill again, fed up big time x

[Briony]

Are you sure the nausea is connected to IBS? I almost always get it with a headache and have been prescribed Metoclopramide (sp?) to take as it works well with this  sort of nausea. For the headaches, I now use 4Head, recommended by Millykin (thank you Millykin  ) which definitely helps - and isn't a drug. My headaches are definitely worse when hormones are fluctuating ... Maybe it could be worth keeping a diary? Good luck xxxx

[Millykin]

Your welcome Briony, glad it's works for you, I constantly rub it in forehead and back of neck when I feel headache starting  x

Moonbeam hope you get something sorted soon, I hate nausea feeling, do you eat ok? Plenty of fluids?
X

[moonbeam121167]

Hi all,  over 2 weeks have past and still I am getting the headaches.  I have tried 4head but it doesnt help, also still have the nausea and not sure if is related to the headaches.  I have Metoclopramide for which I used sometimes, but its the headaches that are getting me down . I still have 19 days before I see the consultant, hubby says to go to GP but don't see the point he was the one who put me on oral HRT, I want to go back to the patch totally but he is against the transdermal route, I felt ok on Zumenon 2mg and Estradot 100mg, only had a very slight nagging headache but since been put on the 4mg Zumenon they can been horrible , just don't know what to do. Suppose I will have to grin and bear it till I see the consultant, hopefully he will listen and I can go back to the transdermal route.