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[jillyrich]

I'm just looking for a little virtual hand holding really.

Im just about at the end of my tether. I'm post meno and have spent more than 3 years trying to find an HRT regime that suits me that doesn't either

a) make me bleed
b) make me miserable, tetchy, grumpy, brain fogged and tired
c) make me hideously fat.

And I seem to have failed.

I've only tried patches due to a family history of Blood clots and didn't want to take the slightly raised risk of oral tablets.

I've tried a couple of different combi patches - I bled almost constantly. Tried for a year.

I've tried oestrogen only patch (estradot) with Utrogestan - I put a huge amount of weight on and felt so horrendously tired I could hardly function. Tried for nearly 18 months.

I've tried the estradot patch with Provera - only tried this for 6 weeks as I have put on 5lb in that time. And still feel horrendously tired all the time.

So I've looked and looked at the alternatives and really don't know where to go from here.

I decided yesterday that this is a horrible, miserable way to try and function so I have stopped the HRT. Yesterday I ripped the patch off and didn't take the progesterone.  I'm sure I should have tried to wean myself off it but I truly cannot cope with feeling like this any longer. I am actually sitting here writing this in tears. Which is pathetic I know but I can't help myself. This is no way to live.

I'm really hoping against hope that if I get meno symptoms back again that they're not as bad as before. I surely can't feel as bad with meno symptoms as I do on the HRT.

Sorry for ranting / rambling. Thanks for reading. X

[ancient runner]

Gosh I have no idea what to say but here for you.

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hi Jillyrich- maybe you need to have your progesterone dosage tweaked- take it less often under medical supervision? I do sympathise. Would a mirena coil be an option - that and oestrogen gel?
Why don't you try halving your patches and trying that until you can get an appointment? Maybe better than going cold turkey.
I tried it recently and started to feel more like myself ( progesterone sensitive) although halving the oestrogen dose brought the sweats back.
Don't feel you've failed- there are another couple of options you can try before deciding finally if you want to come off it ( and I understand totally as I'm a bit fed up with it all too )
Take care and let us know how you get on x

[Emma]

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/stopping.php

[CBA]

^^^ I was just about to suggest the same. Your HRT symptoms sound like too much progesterone to me.... I had to go cold turkey not that long ago...you have my sympathies!

Jx

[jillyrich]

Thank you ladies for your replies.

I stopped the HRT 12 days ago and at the moment I feel ok. No flushes have crept back yet and I definitely feel a little better without taking any progesterone. And I'm sure I will continue to feel better without it.  I am having a bit of insomnia, and also quite a few headaches but nothing I can't cope with. I've even lost 2lb without trying, which makes me very happy.

I'm not sure how long it would take for the flushes to return, if they're even going to - as I'm a good few years post meno I'm rather hoping they won't come back at all! I was trying to work out exactly when my meno symptoms first appeared, and I recognise now that I was actually flushing back in early 2012, although I didn't realise at the time what it was. And I started my first patch (evoril conti) back in November 2013.

Maybe, just maybe, my body has gone thru the worst of the menopause and I will feel just fine without any HRT.

I phoned my doc to let them know I'd stopped the HRT cold turkey (he wasn't very happy - said I should have weaned myself off. Oops) and I have a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks to see how I'm getting on.

If I'm not having any flushes or any other symptoms then I will stay off the HRT. If the flushes are coming back then I'm going to ask to be referred to a meno clinic as unfortunately the doc isn't very clued up about HRT, he thinks one size fits all - which we know it doesn't.

Fingers crossed all continues to improve!

[Starproms]

Hello and sympathies from a fellow sufferer. I came off h.r.t six weeks ago, cold turkey and am trying to cope without it. However since giving up I have had cystitis, spots on my face, loss of libido, shrinking breasts, hair loss and a dry, uncomfortable vagina. On the plus side I've lost six pounds in weight.
I considered the dry vagina was the worst symptom so I went to the doctor and asked for Vagifem, which is a tablet, inserted into the vagina. I have so far had four of those and I am waiting and hoping for an improvement. The cystitis was very painful, but anti biotics stopped that and I am hoping it will not return.
I came off h.r.t because my medication, Climesse, was withdrawn and the alternative did not suit me.
I hope you feel better soon.

[kenny]

I came off cold turkey, few headaches a few days in , survived for 6 month no symptoms , in the last month started feeling very hot morning and night, I have went back on HRT, 3 weeks ago, I suppose I could have survived without it but I'm a big believer if something is not as it should and can be sorted then HRT it is. They have virtually disappeared and I'm not beating myself up , if I need it I will take it but was glad I tried without HRT for a while. Good Luck whichever way you go. X

[cubagirl]

Having gone cold turkey in the past & ended up back on HRT  again, I've now found my optimum level. Only half of a 25mg everol patch twice a week, keeps flushes & sweats at bay. I tried coming off that low dose last year, but back came all the discomfort. GP is happy for me to remain on it for foreseeable future, agreeing that quality of life is important.

[Sunnydays]

Cubagirl, does this mean you are able take oestrogen only as the Evorel 25, I'm sure, is oestrogen only? If not, what do you do for the progesterone bit? Sunnydays