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[Dotty]

Has anyone who is post meno found that they have needed more than 2mg of oestradiol or its equivalent to reduce their symptoms?

I've been on Elleste Duet Conti for 9 weeks and am still suffering from total exhaustion and night sweats.

[Annie0710]

Have you tried oestrogen gel or patch ?

I'd say the digestion (tablet) taken out of transdermal would deliver more oestrogen maybe? Plus with gel you really can sort the dose out easier to take night sweats away x

[Dotty]

Hi Annie no I haven't tried them x

[Mary G]

Yes Dotty, I do and I am 10 years post menopause.  That said, it's difficult to give you a precise number because I use Oestrogel but nonetheless, I need shed loads of oestrogen to feel completely normal and keep the migraines away.  Anything under the 700s is useless for me.  Unfortunately I am severely progesterone intolerant so it's a difficult balancing act but I think I have finally cracked it now. 

[Dotty]

Thanks Mary G.  I think I need more than I'm on at the moment

[Hurdity]

Hi Dotty

Do remind me of your age and history?

2 mg is regarded as a high dose but as Annie0710 says if you are taking it as a tablet then much can be lost to digestion (and this is variable). As I'm sure I have already mentioned on other posts of yours, if you are taking progestogen continuously - and especially norethisterone - this can also affect you if you are susceptible.

After 9 weeks you should not still be experiencing night sweats if the HRT is to work and I wonder if you have any digestive problems?

I think I remember now - is it you whose consultant said they would not change your HRT until you had been on it for 3 months? Well if so then only 3 weeks to go and I would definitely ask for a transdermal HRT. I have only ever used patches and they worked straight away (within days) at the 50 mcg dose. I was just under age 54 and late peri-menopause. I did not need to increase the dose once I became post-menopausal and actually have no idea when this was because I started HRT before I reached menopause + 12 months. I only recently increased slightly but not because sweats came back - but because I use testosterone and didn't want to become T dominant.

You can either try a combi patch or separate oestrogen patch (or gel as Annie0710 suggested) with a progestogen added. Also I would recommend trying a cyclical HRT (I'm sure I've said this before!) so that you can see how you feel on the oestorgen only part before introducing the progestogen - downside being you would have to have a bleed. Alternatively Mirena coil for the progestogen. Sorry I can't remember how old you are or where in meno you were when started HRT ie how long since period!

Hurdity x

[Dotty]

Hi Hurdity I'm 53 and 3 years post meno.

Yes you are right - specialist said she wouldn't change medication for 3 months so I've got 4 weeks to go.

[Hurdity]

Great - I've got something left of my memory! Read up as much as you can about the different types so that when you go to the specialist you know what you want to ask for and why - good luck . If we can help any more then do ask again!

Hurdity x