Hi there PMB63
When you say you started the menopause do you mean your periods started to become erratic and perhaps you skipped the odd one here and there?
As you progress further towards menopause average oestrogen levels will fall until your ovaries pack up and then for the next two years oestrogen levels fall further until they bottom out and stay approx at the same level ( if you stay the same weight!). Maybe as you are a bit nearer to menopause you need a slightly higher dose to keep flushes and sweats at bay?
Re the question about oestrogen - yes it is normal to feel better during this phase and especially if you are using synthetic progestogens as you are. Some women also feel bad for the first few days back on the oestrogen phase because of the progesterone withdrawal symptoms but are OK once it has left the system ( the progestogen that is). This is normal pmt. Yes other women find that their sweats return during the progestogen phase because it seems for some, the progestogen can interfere with the beneficial effects of oestrogen. However it could also be the effect of your increased weight - ie you will get hotter and sweat more irrespective of HRT menopause etc.
Gaining weight at this stage of life is very common and most of us have to eat less and exercise more just to stay the same weight. I think many women especially put on weight during peri-menopause because this phenomenon takes them by surprise (it did me) and my weight crept up even eating the same and doing the same (not enough!) exercise. Also some of the hormones surges seem to cause carb cravings I think too!
Anyway the good news is you can lose weight as you get older and even on HRT - several of us on here have m
managed it. You have to be quite drastic though. Smaller portions, lots of fruit, veg nuts, beans protein fish etc and cut out sugar and refined foods, cakes, biscuits sweet drinks etc ( apart from odd treats now and again!). I'm now down to just a few pounds more than I was when I was 18 (now in my 60's)!
You could also go to the doc and get your thyroid tested - have you had a test done? Many fibromylagia symptoms can be due to thyroid malfunction (Thyroid UK talk about this), and also low oestrogen and sometimes testosterone too. Having less than perfect thyroid function also affects energy levels....
You might find it easier to increase your oestrogen by having separate oestrogen pacthes and progesterone (Utrogestan or Provera) - but depends what others you have tried.
Hope this helps and good luck with the slimming club!
Hurdity x
