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[mand3966]

Hi everyone,

I'm due to go back to my local menopause clinic in a fortnight after being on evorel conti patches for the last 3 months.
I was told to start by using a third of a patch twice a week, then if after 4-6 weeks my syptoms hadn't gone, to up the dose to half a patch twice a week, which I did.
I have been on half a patch now for approx 7-8 weeks, and am finding that alot of my syptoms are returning (they never fully disappeared, I still had hot flushes every now and again, and still woke up 3-4 times a night with night sweats, my mood hasn't improved either!). I'm not saying the patches haven't help, they have, as I used to have a flush every 30mins! It just appears that after about 6-8 weeks of being on a certain dose, my flushes become more frequent again, and night sweats are 10 times worst!

My question is.... is there a normal dose of HRT that most women use to relieve their syptoms? I know several of the women on here have told me that the half a patch I am on is still a very low dose, and that is why I am still having the hot flushes and night sweats.

Obviously I will speak to the nurse at the menopause clinic about this, but only have 10-20 mins with her, and have loads of other things to try and relay back to her....

I would be interested to hear what dose other women have used who have had similar syptoms to me, that being hot flushes every 30 mins, night sweats 3-4 times a night, terrible moods, lack of sex drive etc....

Many thanks,
mand3966

[littleminnie]

Hi Mand, I use Everol Conti patches, 2 full patches a week.
I used to have about 3 flushes an hour and about 4/5 night sweats.
I don't have any at all now. I can wear clothes with arms in now!
You are really only on 1/2 a dose. I would up it to the normal dose.

[mand3966]

Many thanks for your replies Littleminnie and Susan,

Littleminnie, your syptoms almost mirror mine, 2-3 hot flushes an hour, and 4 to 5 hot sweats a night. These have decreased slightly since being on the half a patch, but by no means near, have they ceased completely.

Susan, thanks for your input. As you say, I was put on an 'ab-normal' dose of a third of a patch to start with, then onto a half a patch because I've experienced really bad side effects previously when trying HRT tablets. I tried 3 different sorts and each one made me terribly light-headed, dizzy, to the point of thinking I was going to faint, and gave me headaches. That why I asked to be referred to the menopause clinic, and why it was decided that I should try patches.

I have been fine on the patches, apart from a few headaches at the start which have now ceased (touch wood), no side effects to speak of.

I think when I see the nurse at the menopause clinic I will enquire about upping my dose to a full patch (even if I have to do it gradually, and use 3 quarters of a patch to begin with).... I was hoping that by going on HRT, all my syptoms would disappear, and have been quite disappointed to see that they haven't.

Thanks again to you both...

Mand3966

[littleminnie]

I think they would have gone if you had gone straight onto a full patch (I understand that you couldn't). I think if you up it to a full patch the flushes and nights sweats will go. I've not had any for 9 months.
Other symptoms took a lot longer.

[mand3966]

Hi Littleminnie,

No hot flushes or night sweats for 9 mths!!! That sound like heaven!!!!   You saying about the other syptoms taking longer.... I don't think it helps my mood when I'm waking up 4/5 times a night, every night! I'm hoping my mood will improve as my night sweats disappear!

Thanks again, I'll keep the forum updated on my progress!

Mand3966

[Hurdity]

Hi mand

For most of the 5 years I have been on HRT I have been on a 50 mcg patch which is the standard post-meno dose.

And yes I agree with the others - this is sufficient to get rid of symtpoms of flushes and sweats for me.

When I went off HRT for 3 months and then went back onto 25 mcg (at the GP's suggestion) the sweats first stopped for a while and then returned - which they have not done since being back on the 50 mcg patch.

As for the other symptoms - I think we have discussed on here before that things like VA need more than this ie a topical/vaginal oestrogen in addition - for many women - and the sex drive - I hate to say can disappear for good.

Hope this helps and your flushes disappear when you eventually get up to a full patch!!

Hurdity x

[mand3966]

Thanks Susan and Hurdity,

Hopefully if the menopause clinic nurse agrees to me upping my dose to a full patch twice weekly, I shall see a great improvement!

I'll keep you all posted.
Many thanks for your positive posts....

mand3966

[Amandajane46]

Hi I have been on 50 mcg everol conti full patch for 3 months and not all of my symptoms have disserpeared and I'm perimenopause I'm looking to go to a menopause clinic