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[wombat62]

Hi ladies

Just wanting some thoughts and advice from you knowledgeable ladies before I go back to the docs.

I was on 50/140 patches and quite happy on them but had to change because of the lack of supply. Doc put me on oestrogen patch with a pill, which I'm only taking half of (which seems to be ok here in Oz). However, whilst I didn't have a problem with the norethisterone in the patch since being on the tablet version I've had boob problems.

First of all I thought it was going up from 50 to 75 oestrogen (hot flushes/night sweats had got worse again) so for a couple of days a week I would have sore boobs/nips and then by week 4 it was most days and quite uncomfortable, since then it has subsided a bit but I've had itchy nips and still a bit tender. So thinking it was the oestrogen I cut a bit off the patch to get it nearer to 50 and that's been fine, flushes and sweats are under control.

Then reading some other threads it seems the discomfort is down to the pill version of the progesterone, one lady said she was fine on the patches but pill version gave her side effects and someone else mentioned boob problems on tablets.

So, question is will it settle or being 5 years on HRT I'm a bit concerned about hormonal activity in the boobs as isn't it the progesterone that causes the issues? Apart from the fact it's flipping uncomfortable!

I asked at the chemist about the supply of the patches and he said they had some in so I think it's a case of grab them as soon as you get to the date on your next due date for buying. So should I ask for a prescription for the patches and if they weren't available have a back up of combination pill with a different progesterone although it's probably not good to keep swapping.

The other option is to go to combined pill all the time but I wanted to avoid pills as they go through the liver. Having had gallstone problems in middle age I'm particularly keen on not stressing the liver but is it an issue of hrt going through the liver?

I'm just so annoyed that the supply went awol on something that suited me but any thoughts would be welcomed before I go back to the doc.  Thank you!

[Hurdity]

I've always been a nil-by-mouth HRT gal myself so I would always opt for that option (transdermal/vaginal for both) and do not want stuff going through the liver with all the associated extra metabolic by-products. Similarly I like to keep progesterone to a minimum (and using it cyclically) and prefer to use progesterone itself rather than the synthetic progestogens. If you do not have any general health risks and are still fairly young then it is a matter of preference and what works for you - sorry that's probably not much help - but there are so many different possibilities that you need to try them and see I would say. Good luck anyway!

Hurdity x

[wombat62]

Hi Hurdity

Thanks for your reply and I would prefer to not take anything orally. However, here in Oz we don't have as much choice as in the UK so it's the scarce patches or pills!

I found a list of HRT available here and the combinations of low, med, high dose etc like listed in the MM info sheets.

The only other progesterone I can see is something called Prometrium (micronised) which seems to be a non-synthetic one. It's an oral capsule but when I read the possible side effects there the same as what I'm on other than it might be a bit kinder? Can't see anything about taking a product internally or as a cream. The only other tablet contains medroxyprogesterone.

Actually for the first time in weeks the boobs feel more normal but that could all change tomorrow!

I think I'll go back and see if I can get another prescription for the patches with a back-up. At the moment the flushes are under control so I maybe able to make a patch last a bit longer. Oz is chemist city so if I pound the streets maybe someone will have them in stock!

I'm 55 so is that considered still relatively young 😄 I would like to come off it but whilst still working I need sleep and not to fall to pieces!