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[vj]

Hi everyone,, I'm new here and I have a question :  I'm 52 and have just been prescribed Femeston conti 0.5/2.5 to help me with menopause symptoms, in particular hot flushes and headaches.
I've been taking the tablets for just over a week and have as yet had no benefits, in fact the night sweats are just as bad and the headaches are getting worse. I'm also experiencing anxiety, dizziness and depression (which I've not had for years until I hit menopause, and these have definitely worsened since taking the hrt)
I know its only been a short time but I don't want to take anything which makes me feel this awful and I don't know whether to persevere or stop.
Do any other ladies have any advice or experience?
Thanks

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome vj
It is very early days and you have been given a very low dose so it will take a lot longer to do it's magic.  Some side effects initially are inevitable and most settle as the body adjusts to the hormones.  I have to say the dose may well be too low for you at your age but it's worth starting low to see how it goes. It's often a good idea to start with sequential HRT to start with to gage whether the progesterone suits - it does mean putting up with the withdrawal bleed but many of us prefer to have this so as not to use progesterone all the time. However, Femoston has one of the kinder progesterones so suits many women very well.
You haven't told us your meno story? When did you periods stop?
Give things time.  DG xxx

[vj]

Thanks for the reply, it was really helpful.
My story is the usual, my periods  stopped  about a year ago after an uneventful perimenopause. Hot flushes started off bearable and were over quickly so I thought it was going to be a breeze!  Recently the night sweats and sleep disturbance began along with more headaches and some panicky/anxious epidodes. I decided to visit my doctor to see if there was anything that could help, hence the hrt.  This past week I've felt a lot worse than I have done before and I'm feeling worse than I did before I took the hrt. I'm off to my docs later today to ask some advice as to keep on or not take the tablets. I don't want to feel any worse as I have a full time job and a busy life (haven't we all!) I'll post later about the advice I'm given. I was interested to see if other ladies had persevered after feeling worse and if so, how long it had taken before they saw any good results. 

[Dancinggirl]

vj - I hope the doctor advices you to persevere for a bit longer. Such a low dose will take more time.  However, it might better to ask to switch to the Femoston 1/10 sequential, as being on a higher dose of oestrogen would give you greater relief from symptoms far quicker and you can then tell if the progesterone is OK for you as well. DG x

[vj]

Hi Dancing Girl, just back from the docs. It was a different doctor to the one who prescribed the hrt and basically she wasn't really in favour of hrt, believing menopause to be a natural process which women need to go through. She recommended a natural approach but did say that I should carry on for a month with the femeston and see if I start feeling better if I wish to. She's an older lady, obviously post menopausal, and maybe she had an easier time during her menopause than some. She was very kind I must admit but not much help as she didn't even look at my records to see my history and didn't ask any questions. She recommended oil of evening primrose and b vits but not much else.
Ah well, I'll just think about it a bit more before I decide. Someone on another forum mentioned that Magnesium helped her with the anxiety side of it so I'll have a look into that too.
Thanks xx

[Hurdity]

Hi there vj

  from me too!

Dancinggirl has already given you very good advice but unfortunately your doctor is no help whatsoever!

That is absolute rubbish - doing it naturally - how very dare she (when you have asked about HRT)? Evening Primrose and vitamins?

Please please do carry on with the Femoston for a while yet - and what a shame you did not get a different preparation. Dancinggirl's suggestion was great re the sequential HRT and a higher dose. A week is no time at all to get used to it - well tablet HRT anyway. Next time please go back to the original doc and in the meantime read up as much as you can about menopause and HRT.

Re vitamins etc - of course - it would be very good advice if she would tell you to look at your lifestyle and diet and see if there are any changes that you could make as you enter this next, long phase of your life. So - get as many nutrients as you can from your food (rather than supplements) - cooked from a variety of fresh ingredients, cut down sugar, refined carbs and processed foods, take lots of exercise, lose weight if you need to, stop smoking,  get fresh air and sunshine, reduce alcohol, relax more.... - well perhaps not all at once and you may not need to!

Re anxiety - if you can find mental/coping strategies to help deal with this then all the better - there is a site called no more panic and there are many posts about mindfulness and techniques to help relax etc.

Do keep us posted on your progress and let's hope you feel better really soon. I have been on patches for over 9 years and they worked within a week or so - but the dose was higher (and still is) - I am in my 60's

Hurdity x

[vj]

Thank you Hurdity for your comments, I really appreciate them

She wasn't much help, I agree!!

I'm doing some research online at the moment, learning all I can about menopause, hrt etc. There's a lot of information out there, some of it conflicting. I think I'll give it a rest for tonight.

Thanks again for commenting, this is my first ever forum and I already have been made to feel welcome. I'll keep posting and learning from everyone on here, hopefully I'll be saying how much better I feel  soon, fingers crossed!

[Cazikins]

Hi vj & welcome from me too.
I am on the same tablets as you & they keep my flushes at bay.
I have been on HRT for the last 9 years & I had a break from all HRT for about 9 months, but decided to go back on at a very low dose last June, because of the impact on my life caused by the hot flushes.
They work very well for me- but as the others have already said it will take time.
I personally prefer to take the lowest possible strength & for me & it is working.
Try & bare with it & hopefully it work as well for you.
Good Luck
Cazi x

[vj]

Thanks Cazi,  I'm encouraged to know that they work for you.

Hope you don't mind me asking, but did they take a long time to kick in and did you feel worse before you began feeling better?

Thanks x

[Cazikins]

Of course I dont mind. no problem.

For me it took about 2 - 3 weeks before the hot flushes abated. I don't think I felt any worse before I felt better, but we are all different vj.
Try not to "look" for problems. I know that can be hard to do but HRT doesn't always cure all the issues associated with the menopause.
Chin up girl. you'll get there you just have to try & be patient.
Cazi x

[vj]

Thanks Cazi, patience is not a virtue of mine! 

I'll give it more time and see how it goes.

Thanks again:) x

[Cazikins]

Patience isn't one of mine either vj  but sometimes we have to be patient to get the balance right.
Good  Luck & let us know how it's going.
Cazi x

[vj]

Thanks Cazi, I will x