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[EllaM]

I have recently increased from estradot 75 to 100 as suggested by Dr Currie in the hope of levelling out the awful fluctuations which were making me really ill.
The strange thing is that since doing so it feels as though I have absolutely no estrogen in my body! My eyes are so sore, dry and gritty, I have dried up down below 😩, am not sleeping well at all and have felt anxious. My mouth is really dry and I am flushing and sweating. Surely at such a high dose of estrogen I shouldn't be feeling this way?
Hoping some of you knowledgeable ladies can offer an explanation xx

[Tinkerbell]

I have read something about too high a level of estrogen through HRT and systems worsening.
I will see if I can find it!

[Menomale]

Hi EllaM,

I'm sure someone with more experience will answer you soon, I just would like to say that maybe the fluctuation in oestrogen levels is the culprit here as you mentioned you have just changed your dose. If you are still perimenopausal a 100 µg might not be enough to level high peaks of your own oestrogen. Also, high doses does not equal more benefits, it's all about balance and that may take more time (3 months). Meanwhile, meno hell is exactly how you have described  Hope you feel better soon. xxx

[CLKD]

Could it be that you have a certain amount of your own oestrogen, joining in and upsetting the regime?

[EllaM]

Thank you so much for your responses.  I think I just thought that more estrogen would stop the fluctuations and I would have the benefits of a good level of estrogen which is definitely not the case.
I will be 52 in July and have experienced hideous fluctuations for approx. 5 years with some periods of stability and relatively normal life. Surely this has got to be calming down but seemingly not as I have been off work since the end of Nov with awful symptoms which have taken me to a very dark place at times. I have always known that I have been very sensitive to fluctuations as she i was told to go cold turkey on my hrt by my consultant in prep for zoladex, within 4 days I felt like I was dying. I was so scared the patch went back on and I wasn't able to have the zoladex as I was told I would have to be without hrt for 3 months. This seems contrary to what other ladies on here have done.
I feel so devoid of estrogen on this higher dose I'm now wondering whether to reduce it again. If only this were easy.
Best wishes to you all xx

[Hurdity]

Hi EllaM

How long have you been on HRT and what were your periods doing before you started HRT ie do you know how far along the menopause journey you are?

Tinkerbell is right - it is Tachyphylaxis that can occur if oestrogen levels consistently reach higher levels than they normally do but this tends to occur more with implants according to prof Studd: http://www.studd.co.uk/implants.php - and he discusses it in relation to reproductive depression

If you are fairly advanced along the menopause journey then the higher doses should definitely even things out most of the time - but as CLKD says when your own cycle kicks in oestrogen levels can go temporarily higher (eg at ovulation).

Normally if you want to actually shut down your cycle you need even higher doses of oestrogen I gather.... What progesterone are you taking and how are your bleeds?

Also if you are dry down below then you should consider vaginal oestrogen in addition to the patches - many women need both so some Vagifem may well help.

I do hope you get this sorted and feel better soon

Hurdity x

[EllaM]

Thank you so much for your reply Hurdity. I will be 52 in July and have been on HRT for 3 years with little success to be honest. I don't feel that it has ever made a significant difference to the way I feel. My periods prior to starting HRT had changed with many days of brown spotting before they actually got going and although slightly further apart I never missed.
My biggest problem over the last 5 years has been extreme fluctuations that have made me feel really ill. Over recent weeks i have felt my own hormones fluctuating with copious amounts of egg white mucus at times.
I am on 14 days of utro every 2 months but sine being prescribed this regime last Aug have only managed the full 14 days x 200 once as I felt fine (suspect my own hormones were behaving). I have had one bleed without utro and other times have managed 7 days but I always have a good bleed and have never had any unscheduled bleeding or spotting apart from after the utro.
I'm just struggling to understand why when taking a high dose of estrogen I feel totally devoid of it! Could this have coincided with a big drop in my own estrogen? Surely it should have levelled things out?
Strangely enough, although having symptoms of low estrogen over the last few days my mood was better and i felt more positive. This all changed yesterday afternoon when I felt rough and tearful. I slept terribly last night and today have noticed some stretchy mucus. Today is day 7 of utro so it seems my own hormones are still kicking in in the background.
After 5 years of hell I just want some stability so am seriously considering Zoladex or coming off HRT completely to see if it is making things worse.
Having the ladies on this forum to talk to really helps as I really am at my wits end and feeling so hopeless at the situation xx

[CLKD]

It really can be Trial and Error.  What symptoms were you trying to ease B4 you began HRT?  Do you keep a mood/food/symptom diary, some ladies find it useful.

My periods came and went in various colour forms, i.e. bright red blood, brown discharge, 1 day or several - for 2/3 years.  Then they stopped.  Fortunately, other than vaginal atrophy treatment I have not had other symptoms for long enough to warrent HRT.  PHEW!

I can't remember how supportive your GP is or if there is a Gynae or menopause clinic close by with knowledge?

[EllaM]

Hi CLKD, I just wanted to feel better, simple as that as I had felt so ill at times. I realise now that this was periods of fluctuation.
I did keep a diary for a couple of years but stopped as I constantly obsessed over patterns and looking for answers.
My GP is supportive but not at all knowledgeable. I do have access to a consultant at a meno clinic but it still hasn't stopped the fluctuations unfortunately.
All of my symptoms seem to be heightened at the moment which I just awful. I just need things to settle so I can get back to work and have some sort of normal life xx