Hi Ladies... thanks so much for your input... its really helpful.
Stellajane, yes my hair loss is significant since starting the patches so it figures that its the norethisterone that is causing this... and quite possibly the bloating if, as Hurdity says, this has been reported by others too.
Once I finally started the HRT earlier this year I almost instantly felt better... it was like a weight was lifted. I also started a new way of eating, similar to yours Hurdity, (Low Carb/Zero Sugar) and it was fantastic. Energy levels rose, I felt happier and the weight started to fall off... I truly felt that this was IT.. I had finally found my 'post meno path' as it were... I felt like the final pieces of the puzzle were to find a method that wasn't so messy, and explore the use of Testosterone as this might help with Libido (as I have read). switching to these combined patches is a bit of a blip in my search for the right HRT for me.
The Utrogestan200 was prescribed to me by my Doc in Switzerland, where I work for the best part of the year, and while orally may have been possible I was told to use vaginally. I am not keen on the idea of orally anyway due to the load on the liver so it suited me - aside from the mess. I trusted her judgement on the dose but only recently found that this is usually prescribed for cyclical use. I actually started using cyclically as I was advised to by another member here due to the high dosage but the bleed was so awful (heavy and painful) that I stuck with continuous with the plan to revise it all once I was back in the UK. I have now been to my UK Doc (I rarely go so its a new one now! but she is a partner in the local practice so I feel like I'm in good hands) and we have revised the prescription....
She has put me on Oestrogen patches, and Uterogestan 100 pessaries. I pick this up on Monday. If, as you say Stellajane, these are smaller then this may solve the messiness issue.
ALSO... she is testing my Testosterone levels in view of putting me on low dose Testosterone to help with libido. I am SO pleased about this. She said that it has only recently been used for women here in the UK (I understand in the US they have been for some time now, with good results) but that they must monitor the use to ensure we stay within the correct levels for women. So I need to be tested every 2/3 months - a little tricky for me as I work abroad so much but its 'do-able'.
So... I am a happy bunny for now.. I know I need to exercise a little more patience but the bloating and hair loss really put the frighteners on me so had to make a change. Lets see what this new regime brings!
Meanwhile I will continue with my new way of eating and introduce a little more exercise...