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[Donna-paul]

Just wondering if anyone else is having problems with hrt. I've tried Femoston and now having to stop Elleste as I am getting same allergic reaction on both thought it was progerstone but it's the oestrogen in both as haven't started the progerstone yet. Get painful burning rash/ sores and flu symptoms and skin itch all over. My gp never had it before now referring to see a specialist in menopause I do have m.e as well. Appreciate any advice.

[Dancinggirl]

Could be the fillers in the pills.  Perhaps try patches? DG x

[CLKD]

Firstly, fill in the yellow 'card' either in the Pharmacy or on-line.  It is rarely offered by GPs!

As DG suggests, it may be the fillers or packaging of the product.  It may not be the active ingredient.  Maybe see your local Pharmacist for advice then hot foot it to the GP.

[Salad]

Hi Donna-paul

I was 'allergic' to the first HRT I tried - I think it was Elleste Solo.

I took the first tablet and had nausea, dizziness and felt unwell. The second one the following night gave me severe stomach cramps, profuse watery diarrhoea, I was grey, clammy and fainting. I was hospitalised with the second reaction.
I then changed to gel and used that without adverse side effects and now use patches. My GP explained I had a reaction to what the tablet was made out of rather than the Oestrogen itself.

Hope you can find something to suit you 

[Taz2]

Skin rashes and sores are mentioned as side effects in both Elleste and Femoston so they are not that unusual although it is a real nuisance that you suffer in this way.

Some HRT's mention Erythema multiforme in the side effects. This give a rash like this https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/erythema-multiforme/Pages/Introduction.aspx. There is also another one called Erythema Nodosum which is linked to auto immune diseases and can be triggered by the contraceptive pill so I guess HRT could also trigger it? Again some HRT's have this down as a side effect. It looks like this http://www.thelillierdsurgery.nhs.uk/health-information/?arturi=aHR0cDovL2FwaS5wYXRpZW50LmNvLnVrL2NvbnRlbnQvcGlsL2VyeXRoZW1hLW5vZG9zdW0tbGVhZmxldD9hcGlrZXk9MWQ3Yjg1ZWEtMDIxZi00MTIzYWI1MA==

I hope that the specialist can find something to help you. It could be that you also need to consult with whoever deals with your M.E. as this can make you susceptible to all sorts of skin reactions.

Taz x 

[Donna-paul]

Thanks for all your reply's. the skin rash is more like escema red dry and very sore. I've never had skin problems until I started the hrt. I agree trying a different method ie patches or gel but my gp wants a menopause dr ie long waiting list!!

[knorman]

Hello Donna-paul, I am wondering if you have seen the menopause Dr as yet and what the outcome may have been?  I think I may also be having an allergic reaction to HRT. Like you, never had the problem before HRT, my symptoms are burning tongue, lips and extremely dry mouth. Now on my third type of HRT and like you, thought it was likely to be the progesterone, but now I am thinking it may be the oestrogen as have not started the progesterone yet. There seems to be a link between oestrogen and histamine, which may explain both of our symptoms?  Extremely disappointed, as 3 weeks in HRT was starting to work well for me. 3.5 weeks in symptoms started.   I also have ME/CFS, so as we compromised immune systems, is that a possible link too?  I have spoken with my Dr and am going Vit C and fruit free for a few days to see if symptoms die down, as they shot up again when I took my Vit C powder, it was immediate. Also wondering if the gel might be an option as suggested by Salad as it may be a reaction against the actual tablet (elleste conti and now elleste solo). My poor head is struggling to keep up with it all! I would love to hear from you.

[Donna-paul]

Yes I saw consultant end of Nov. I'm still struggling in side effects of hrt although better than when on tablets. I'm on the oestrogel as he thinks it was something in the matrix of the tablets. I haven't got the rash but got headaches and are struggling with the norethistrone .Waiting to see my dr next week to discuss lower dose and shorter as the consultant wanted me to take 5mg a day for 3 weeks which many people on here say is very high. The trouble when you have M.e you can't tolerate medications like everyone else I have to start low. It's the headaches which I'm struggling with most even when I take just oestrogel as I've reduced the progestrone to 12 days. I don't know what the answers are it's just keep trialling different things. Good luck.

[knorman]

Thank you Donna, I really appreciate you coming back to me, I am quite at my wit's end today. If the no fruit/Vit C doesn't take the burning tongue and lips away, I will ask Dr about the Oestrogel. I do think it is the combo of the effects of medication with the CFS as well.  I hope next week starts to bring you even better results.

[Donna-paul]

Update and few questions if anyone can answer. Been back drs today about the norethisterone and he says they don't do 1mg to take for 12days. I can either half 5mg(2.5) for 12 days or take 5mg for 7 days a month.? The other problem I'm having is with the oestrogen it makes my muscles and joint in ny right shoulder and arm really painful especially if I try to take 2 pumps. Do anyone else have this problem and will it go eventually I really don't want to stop as I am feeling some benefits.

[knorman]

Hello Donna-paul I am not able to answer your questions, I think Hurdity and Dancing Girl are the ladies who have a great deal of knowledge. However, I have been following your post because of my own allergic reaction to oestrogen. My Dr is going to speak to their head pharmacist, so if I find anything out that may help you, I will be posting under Allergic to oestrogen. I very much hope I have something positive to report back, like you, I want/need to keep taking it. My night heats started back last night where oestrogen leaving my system, so after a little potter round house this morning, I am now shored up on the sofa making sure I rest! x

[Donna-paul]

I think m.e is causing the problems tolerating the hrt. But I had awful Adrenalin surges and panic on of all the time in middle night and awful tearfulness and crying. I started to wonder if I was having a breakdown but it's all hormones and the oestrogen is helping that so torn.

[knorman]

Hello Donna-paul

How are you today? My Dr has not been able to speak with the pharmacist as yet, but I am back to see the Dr in 3 weeks time.  I have just posted the following under the utrogestan/estrogel thread:

Hello I am due to start utrogestan/estrogel in a few days.  Trying the estrogel, as after a few false starts with Elleste Duet/Solo and a Femseven patch, it appears that oestrogen is causing me a problem (very intense burning, tingling tongue and lips), although originally we thought it was the progesterone in the combined tablet and patch. I should take the utrogestan 25 days out of a 28 day cycle, but in order to see if the oestrogen really is the problem, was going to delay taking the estrogel without the utrogestan for 7 days to see if symptoms reappear. I have had andomyosis in the past, so concerned about womb thickening.  This only occurred to me once I had left the Dr surgery so didn't ask the question at the time. Very nervous about the new combination as if this doesn't work, I'm not sure there are any other options left for me. I hope this makes sense!

I was going to post this under my own post regarding the problems I have been having, but can't remember the title. Great!

[Donna-paul]

I'm not sure how this forum works wether you should do a new topic each time for people to see and reply. As I've posted twice and had no reply. My gynaecologist said take the oestrogel at 1 pump for 2 weeks then slowly increase up to 4 if need be. If after 2 weeks ok with oestrogel start the progestrone. I'm only up to 1.5 pumps as I do react to things which is such a pain. Just finished 10 days of norethisterone at 2.5 which was awful and wondering how soon should you get a bleed. As when I took 5mg which was even worst I bleed straightaway really heavy. It's all trial and error I think. I try oesrogel for couple of weeks to see if you ok with it.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Donna Paul
This is a forum and people respond when and if they can - we're not a professional helpline I'm afraid.  Your doctor should be giving you advice about this really.
I was worried about giving you more advice as I think I confused you before.
Normally a bleed will arrive 2-3 days after you finish the progesterone but this will vary and depends on whether the womb lining has built up enough.
I am also confused myself about the dosage of the Norethersterone you have been given and I also wonder why you haven't been given a kinder progesterone eg Provera (Medroxyprogesterone) or Utrogestan. One and a half pumps per day is a good dose - stick with this for a few weeks to allow your body to adjust and settle.
I assume to have been using the Oestrogel with the progesterone for those 10 days? DG x