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[lawles66]

Hi
I'm fifty and started HRT  patch in May. I was having  terrible flushes, weight gain, lethargy, insomnia, no period for 10 months etc etc.
After a few trips  to see GP ( and getting no where as reluctant to give me hrt despite the fact I have  no risk factors and am good candidate for this) eventually found a sympathetic female GP who gave me Evorel Sequi 50.
Initially I felt good on oestrogen patch ( had few side effects  but they were tolerable ) but always felt on edge and weepy  with noresthisterone /oestrogen patch 3rd and 4th week  but decided to give it 6 months to see if it would settle.
Unfortunately it hasn't, in last 2 months, the insomnia is back (even during weeks 1 and 2), feeling bloated , on edge  and anxious at times.
I would like to continue with patch as really like them but wanted to try different progesterone.
I wondered  what your thoughts/experiences were re progesterone and wondered how do you know if oestrogen too high or too low as symptoms seem same either way ?   

[Hurdity]

Hi lawles66

 

Sorry to hear your symptoms have returned. Like Stellajane says - it could well be the norethisterone in the Evorel which is disagreeing with you, as you suspect. This is the product I started with nearly 10 years ago. I only used it for 3 months and got terrible migraines (I didn't know about progestogens then!) and a friend suggested I changed to progesterone - which I have been using pretty well ever since without problems - or rather I am generally fine most of the time. but naturally feel somewhat pms-ish during the progesterone phase sometimes - which is quite normal, as in our menstrual cycle.

I also started in late peri-menopause as you did (you may even be post-menopausal) and the oestrogen dose was always fine ie 50 mcg. Although as Stelljane says we vary in the levels of oestrogen needed to make us feel well it is highly unlikely that your dose is too high at 50 mcg. It is far more likely to be the progestogen causing your problems.

I would think about Stellajane's suggestions and then go for whichever one you like the sound of. There are also Femseven patches also - changed weekly, and these seem to be better tolerated than Evorel although some report sticking problems.

You haven't said how old you are - so it is conceivable that the oestrogen dose is not high enough if you are very young - but I would change the progestogen type first.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Hurdity x