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[Sherekhan]

Hi there,
I have now been on Elleste Duet 1mg for one month.
My symptoms since have 2 ovarian cysts removed and one ovary have been intense night sweats, loss of sleep, very low mood (especially in week before period) foggy head, dry skin, restless legs etc etc.
I'm 47 and perimenopausal.
Desperate to improve matters I started the Elleste Duet and told to give it 3 months.
The first lot.of pills made me feel no different and therefore nothing to report. Second lot made me ravenously hungry, bloated, swollen, a face full of spots and bloody awful! I feel so hacked off as I'd prayed hrt would help.
I'm now on day 3 of second pack and am having the most heavy uncontrollable period with intense period pains. It's the heaviest period I've ever Had.
I know I should give it 3 months to balance out etc but I'm really reluctant to carry on taking them.
Please anyone, have you got advice?

The weightrgain and feeling of dropping out of reality/society is very real for me. I cannot continue like this. I've always been prone to overeating and weight gain, but these cravings are in a super league.

Shall I stop taking them?

[dahliagirl]

I would definitely try it for another month if you can to make sure it is the type of hrt - it is unlikely to do anything with your period now if you stop.

Are you taking ibuprofen?  Mefanamic acid and tranexamic acid are also helpful - worth asking a pharmacist.

I had more painful bleeds with elleste than I do on femoston, but they were not heavy - a bit brown and sludgy 

[Taz2]

Hi Sherekhan - It really does take three months or so to know whether an HRT suits you. The first two months can give really heavy bleeds in my experience but then it should even out to much lighter bleeding. The pain is normal too for the first couple of bleeds. Cope by taking, if you can, ibuprofen which as well as being a painkiller has another ingredient which slows bleeding. Are you using tampons and pads? The nighttime pads are good for daytime use too although you do tend to waddle like a penguin because of the bulk between your legs! I also found that a hot water bottle helped to ease the pain - especially the pains that go right from front to back. I used to have to sit on one on the way to work - sat on a towel too of course just in case of bleed-throughs!

It's also normal for the first few lots of the progesterone containing pills to give you spots and make you feel pretty horrible but this too should ease up after the first few months. If you have suffered from PMT you can probably identify the same sorts of feelings - especially the ravenously hungry one and I appreciate that if you are prone to over eating then this will be a worry to you. Different progesterones give you different side effects though so if, at the end of the three months, you find it doesn't agree then you can try another one with a different progesterone. It can take quite a few attempts to find the right one for you so don't give up. At your age it is important to replace the oestrogen you are missing in order to protect your heart and bones up to the normal meno age so if you can persevere then do although I can remember those first couple of bleeds!

Taz x

[MIS71MUM]

The progesterone in Elleste is notheristerine which is very effective at clearing out your uterus. Gynaecologist like this progesterone as it keeps the lining thin and therefore, lowers the risk of anything untoward growing.
I would definitely continue for another month or so.
However looking at the positives, many ladies can't tolerate notheristerine as it's so powerful, can affect mood too, so if you can tolerate it mood wise, you should be able to tolerance most other forms of progesterone.

You could always try the Mirena coil as that should minimise bleeding and you can then take as much oestrogen as you like.

[Dee46]

Sherekhan I have been on hrt 3 months now & found my first month period really heavy also had brown discharge for about a week before, my 2nd month period was the worst I have had in years & pain awful even bled on the bed sheets something else I haven't done for years, 3rd month it was heavy but not as bad, I am determined to give tissue hrt 6 months before I decide if it is not for me, like a lot of women on here say you need to give it time to settle, I am sure the periods will get better

[Sherekhan]

Hi all,
Thanks so much for your replies, it's so helpful and comforting to know people understand!

I have an idea, I wonder what you think....

Should I take my oestrogen daily as per normal, as if feel ok with that, then cut my progestogen to every other day in an attempt to avoid the horrible feeling it gave me last month?

What do you think?

[Taz2]

I don't think that this would give you enough protection for your uterus Sherekhan. Also it is the withdrawal of progesterone which gives the bleed so if you stop/start/stop/start this wouldn't be a good idea.

Norethisterone is notorious for giving women PMT type symptoms so, if after three months, you still feel awful on the progesterone phase then it would be worth going back to your GP to ask for an HRT with a different progesterone.

Taz x

[Sherekhan]

Yes, thank you Taz, I understand what you mean.

I need to be patient and wait out the 2 more months.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Taz2]

Has the bleeding eased a little today?

Taz x