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[jillydoll]

Hi all you lovely ladies.

Need some advice please.

I stared femoston conti last year 0.5/2.5mg after trial and error on patches which were
Giving me horrible migraine headaches. At first they were great, then about 2months after
Been on them the headaches started up again. Not as bad as before on the other hrt but still
They were back. So because my mood and anxiety were much better I stopped them.
I stupidly thought that I was ‘better' but after 3months without them all my symptoms returned!
So, February this year put myself back on them, a week later felt great again, no side effects
At all, until now. This past 2weeks headaches are back every day. Feel so deflated.
I was doubling up the dose on occasions when my anxiety was bad and that did seem to sort that
Problem out, along with an antihistamine every day, then after a few days would go back down to
My normal dose.  Do you think it could be that that's messing me around.?
Don't know weather to wean myself off them altogether or carry on!

What do you think?




Forgot to say, I'm 53 ,3years post meno.
Thanx jillydoll.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi jolly doll
You mustn't muck around with your doses or you will get fluctuations and side effects like headaches. Antihistamines will also give headaches - they tend to dry you out and give bad sinus pain headaches.
When starting any hrt it takes at least 3 months for things to settle. So I would simply take the correct dose everyday, try to avoid the antihistamines and see if things improve in 2-3 months time. DG x

[Mary G]

jillydoll, I am wondering if you are having migraines because your HRT contains a low dose of oestrogen and a high dose of progesterone?

What is your migraine history i.e. have you always suffered with them or did they start with the menopause/HRT?  Did you have migraines before a period pre-menopause?  If so, you might have to limit your progesterone intake.

When you say you doubled up, do you mean you took two tablets?  If so, that would be a huge hit of progesterone which is the most common cause of migraines with HRT use.

If you get on well with Femoston in principle, it might be worth thinking about changing to a different dose, perhaps 2mg oestrogen.  I don't know if that is available in the conti range but if not, perhaps you could swap to a Femoston cyclical regime although that would mean having periods again. 

[jillydoll]

Thank you both dancing girl and Mary g for the reply's.

I have always had migraines well, the odd one or two way before the menopause started
But they did seem to get worse as I got older.
I did think it was probably a bad idea to up my dosage because of the amount of progesterone
So have now gone back down to my original dose. The antihistamine thing I fell upon really,
I get car sick and someone suggested taking one for that and it worked, but I also found it
Really helped my anxiety too, so have been taking one everyday after my evening meal
For months now. I only take one maybe two if anxiety really bad, now I'm scared to stop them.
But I will try. I haven't took one tonight but to be honest I know where  they are and I'm fighting
Not taking one. But I won't and I'll see where I am tomorrow.
As for having bleeds again every month, no, I can't go back there. That's the only good thing to
Come out of menopause that they stop. 
So, I will stop the antihistamines, and carry on my original dose of femoston for another couple
Months or so and see how I go because now that my mood has lifted I don't feel the need to double up.
Hopefully the migraines will fade away now too.

Thanx for the advice.

Jillydoll xx

[Dancinggirl]

The antihistamine will not help anxiety - it's for allergies and it sometimes helps people sleep better because it can make you drowsy - this drowsy effect is probably what made you feel relaxed at first.   The problem is, the drowsiness effect only works for a while - if you are taking antihistamines everyday then this relaxing effect will only last a week or two at best as your body becomes accustomed to the drug and the drowsy effect wears off. You are simply physiologically hooked on these antihistamines but they are drying you out and very probably causing the headaches. SO DON'T TAKE THE ANTIHISTAMINES.

You need to let the HRT, taken properly over the next 3 months, do it's work and then get back to us if things haven't settled.  A few headaches is quite normal with most HRT types but if your flushes and night seats are under control then that is good.  DG x

[jillydoll]

Hi dancing girl.

Yep I really think you're right. I had a migraine yesterday again, and like I said I refused
To take the antihistamine last night, and hey presto no headache this morning!

I do feel much better this morning for not taking the antihistamine, I don't feel so,how can I put it,
Feel so weighed down. That's the only way I can describe it..

I will carry on with the femoston  conti for now and see how I go.

Sometimes, things are staring you in the face but you just can't see it.
So yeah the antihistamines are making things worse..

Thanx so much for the advice.  Hope you are well.

Thanx again. Jillydoll doll. 

[jillydoll]

Hi Stella Jane.

Thanx for that.
I have resisted asking the antihistamine now for a couple of days and have found
The migraines have gone. They were horrible. Always on left side of head and also
Pressure just behind left ear. Felt like the arm on my glasses were far too tight and
Digging in big time.

Now when I take my hrt pill all I get is a very low grade headache which two
Paracetamol seem to sort out.
Hopefully, after the next couple months or so my body will except them. If not, I'll
See where I am.

I know what you mean about the sleeping. I was so worried I wouldn't sleep without
Them, but I have been. Not too bad at all. I was worried for nothing.

Jd x