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[Catcc]

Hi everyone

I tried Evorel Conti a few months back but didn't like initial side effects   When I went back to my doctor she suggested ultra low dose Femoston Conti as a starting point for a few months in order to gently re-introduce hormones into my system (I am 2 years post menopause).   I took my first tablet last night and feel weird this morning.  Had a headache (took some paracetamol), and feel extremely tired.  Also have diarrhoea this morning.   

Has anyone had these kind of side effects on starting HRT, and do you just persevere/will they pass with time?

Thanks

[Katejo]

Hi everyone

I tried Evorel Conti a few months back but didn't like initial side effects   When I went back to my doctor she suggested ultra low dose Femoston Conti as a starting point for a few months in order to gently re-introduce hormones into my system (I am 2 years post menopause).   I took my first tablet last night and feel weird this morning.  Had a headache (took some paracetamol), and feel extremely tired.  Also have diarrhoea this morning.   

Has anyone had these kind of side effects on starting HRT, and do you just persevere/will they pass with time?

Thanks

Which initial side effects did you get with Evorel Conti? Just interested because I started it about 6 weeks ago and haven't had any side effects or changes yet.

[Wrensong]

Hi DLC, I had a trial of Femoston Conti Ultra Low dose several years post menopause but stopped after a month as I began to get daily headaches with some familiar migraine features after about 3 weeks, together with a worsening of pre-existing IBS-C.  Are you a migraineur by any chance?  If so, oral HRT is not usually recommended as the peaks & troughs in blood levels can aggravate the condition.  This makes me wonder whether non-migraine headaches may also be more common on oral HRT.

Transdermal forms are approved by migraine authorities, with patches possibly a better bet than gel, as in theory you get steady gradual release of hormones into the system, though there is still some fluctuation over the life of each patch.  I'm a migraineur (since late teens) & was aware of the migraine risk with oral HRT, but had exhausted most other options so felt the Femoston was worth a try.  I was fine on Evorel Conti with no classical migraine episodes (aura with severe headache etc) throughout 2 years use, but poor absorption meant my meno symptoms were never well controlled.  I did continue to have the occasional ocular migraine episode on EC, but as these have no or only mild headache, they don't count in my book!

Unlike you, I was no more tired than usual on Femoston & I wouldn't expect such a low dose after 1 night's use to have a profound effect, but we are all different & many women find progesterone in all its various forms is rather too sedating.  I'm sure you know that 3 months is the recommended trial time for new regimes, unless side effects are intolerable. 

Some women seem to get on better with Utrogestan & a patch or gel, so this might be an option down the line if you find the Femoston is not for you, though Utro is pretty much Marmite & personally never suited me at all. 

You could also always go back to the Evorel Conti if you feel you might be able to tolerate the acclimatisation period long enough to see whether it suits you better long term.  You could maybe start on half a patch for a few weeks, as I did, being 3-years postmeno when I started HRT.  From what I remember I did have an increase in symptoms for a few weeks after starting EC but these settled & long term I felt better on it than without, despite the poor absorption.

[jillydoll]

Hi DLC.
I'm on femoston conti, and yes, I suffer headaches from them. I also suffer migraines, which my doctor knows about, but tbh, the migraines are nowhere as near as bad as when I was on patches.
I've always been a headachey kinda person anyway, it seems everything can give me a headache, so I'm pretty much used to them, but like I say, the Femoston do give me headaches, but they have settled down a little bit now. I've been on Femoston Conti for about 15/16 months...also, they do make me tired aswell, which is why I changed from taking them in the morning to the evening time instead. I take mine about 6pm, and by 8/9pm, I'm tired, and I know they've kicked in....it does get easier the longer your on them,
at first I thought I'd never get through the day, but you get used to them, and anyway, the tiredness was a small price to pay in comparison to the other side effects I was getting from patches, and symptoms from menopause anyway...so I decided to stick with them...
The only other thing I've noticed with them is that I've had to higher my dosage, I'm now on 1.1/2mg. But started on the 0.5mg like you....
Stick with it, it may all change for you and get better over a few months....
Let us know how you're getting on....
Jd xxx....oh, the diarrhoea? Maybe it's them too, hard to say really....keep an eye on what happens ....could be something you've  just eaten? Xx

[Catcc]

Hi

Thanks so much for your replies.  It's all really helpful. 

Jillydoll - I'm a headachy person too. Like you, my doctor knows about this.  I will stick with it and see how things progress.  It's good to know that you felt the same and that you have benefitted from Femoston

Wrensong - yes, I used to get migraines with my periods and to be honest I was surprised that my doctor recommended a tablet HRT (I thought she'd tell me to use half patches to "wean" myself onto them).  I understand her logic - i.e. try a very low dose.  I did mention Utrogestan to her but up here in Scotland it's not available on the NHS (she did seem to indicate that she might be able to give me a private prescription for it - so I may ask her about this again further down the line).  I have also wondered whether I should give the Evorel patches another try.  Might be another option. 

Katejo - maybe I didn't give Evorel Conti long enough.   I just felt very jittery for 3 days and didn't sleep a wink (palpitations and very hot) - so I stopped after the first patch. I should maybe have started with half patches.  I may end up giving them another go.

I do get headaches easily - even the Vagifem sparked off 10 days of migraines in me when I first started using it - the first migraines I'd had in 3 years (apparently that can happen with even localised estrogen, but you have to persevere).  I did persevere and they eventually stopped.  The vagifem is helping.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me.  It really does help. 

xx




 

[Wrensong]

DLC - yes Vagifem I can believe gave you headaches - I had them every afternoon (thankfully not migraine strength) during the initial 2 week loading period - I assumed reaction to the previous night's dose wearing off. 

Femoston & other oral brands may not be the best for you if you are a migraineur, but it does take time for the body to adjust so perhaps worth persevering until/unless you feel it's not right for you.  You are the best judge - no-one knows your body like you do, though at this time of our lives it can feel like it's been swapped for an alien one in the night & no user manual left with it! 

If the Femoston gives you a full blown migraine, personally I would not want to continue with it, but there are other options so don't lose hope.  Good luck & let us know how you get on.
Wx

[Katejo]

Hi

Thanks so much for your replies.  It's all really helpful. 

Jillydoll - I'm a headachy person too. Like you, my doctor knows about this.  I will stick with it and see how things progress.  It's good to know that you felt the same and that you have benefitted from Femoston

Wrensong - yes, I used to get migraines with my periods and to be honest I was surprised that my doctor recommended a tablet HRT (I thought she'd tell me to use half patches to "wean" myself onto them).  I understand her logic - i.e. try a very low dose.  I did mention Utrogestan to her but up here in Scotland it's not available on the NHS (she did seem to indicate that she might be able to give me a private prescription for it - so I may ask her about this again further down the line).  I have also wondered whether I should give the Evorel patches another try.  Might be another option. 

Katejo - maybe I didn't give Evorel Conti long enough.   I just felt very jittery for 3 days and didn't sleep a wink (palpitations and very hot) - so I stopped after the first patch. I should maybe have started with half patches.  I may end up giving them another go.

I do get headaches easily - even the Vagifem sparked off 10 days of migraines in me when I first started using it - the first migraines I'd had in 3 years (apparently that can happen with even localised estrogen, but you have to persevere).  I did persevere and they eventually stopped.  The vagifem is helping.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me.  It really does help. 

xx

I am only on half patches myself.

[Catcc]

Hi

Wrensong - you describe this so perfectly - I do feel like my body has been swapped for an alien one with no user manual!!!   .   Every day brings another unwelcome surprise!  Just spent the last 4 days of our much needed holiday hardly able to walk due to the irritation in my intimate parts (another story - which is an ongoing issue but is hopefully now under control).   I assumed (wrongly) that leading a healthy active lifestyle meant I would sail through the menopause.  Ha!  How wrong was I!    I'm still hopeful that I will find a way of coping with it all and getting used to the new me!   Although I'd much rather have the old me back :-)   So far Femoston hasn't given me a migraine (just a headache).  If it gets worse I'll definitely stop and give the patches another go.   I think my doctor's approach was to try the lowest possible dose option first with a view to later switching me to patches (although she did mention the mirena, which frightens the life out of me!  Think I'll ask her for utrogestan instead or re-try Evorel Conti).  Thanks so much for your support. x

Katejo - Hope you find that Evorel patches help you.  I wish I had started on half a patch.  If I go back on them I think that's what I will do.  I think I read in one of your other posts that you are taking HRT for UTI type issues.  Has it helped yet?  x

[Wrensong]

DLC, oh sorry to hear your hols were spoiled - I have that T shirt in every colour - even had to have a GP appt for a UTI while away on hols!  If you are only using Vagifem twice a week you may need to increase this.  Up to 5 a week is considered acceptable with menopause clinic/gynae/GP approval.  I need this higher frequency of use with Estriol 0.01% (weak oestrogen cream) for external bits, as do many women & even then, VA is not well controlled for me without systemic HRT.

Yes, like you I've wondered what on earth I'm doing wrong to have such a rubbish menopause - eat sensibly, exercise, no alcohol.  Feel a bit cheated tbh.  The frustration is enough to drive a girl to gin & doughnuts!

You WILL find a way though.

Your GP's approach was entirely understandable, but she/he may not have considered that you could have started on half a patch of the EC, which would give the same dose of oestrogen as the Femoston Ultra Low.  The dydrogesterone in Femoston is generally considered kinder on the body than the norethisterone in Evorel Conti/Sequi, so if you can get away without headaches you may be better on the Femoston.  But I wasn't!  We are all so different & it's very much a case of one woman's meat . . .

Good luck with it anyway.
Wx

[Katejo]

Hi

Wrensong - you describe this so perfectly - I do feel like my body has been swapped for an alien one with no user manual!!!   .   Every day brings another unwelcome surprise!  Just spent the last 4 days of our much needed holiday hardly able to walk due to the irritation in my intimate parts (another story - which is an ongoing issue but is hopefully now under control).   I assumed (wrongly) that leading a healthy active lifestyle meant I would sail through the menopause.  Ha!  How wrong was I!    I'm still hopeful that I will find a way of coping with it all and getting used to the new me!   Although I'd much rather have the old me back :-)   So far Femoston hasn't given me a migraine (just a headache).  If it gets worse I'll definitely stop and give the patches another go.   I think my doctor's approach was to try the lowest possible dose option first with a view to later switching me to patches (although she did mention the mirena, which frightens the life out of me!  Think I'll ask her for utrogestan instead or re-try Evorel Conti).  Thanks so much for your support. x

Katejo - Hope you find that Evorel patches help you.  I wish I had started on half a patch.  If I go back on them I think that's what I will do.  I think I read in one of your other posts that you are taking HRT for UTI type issues.  Has it helped yet?  x

I don't know yet re. UTI. Vagifem improved things a lot but I started that last September. Too early to know whether the HRT will make any difference. Consultant seemed to think that I would be able to reduce the vagifem but that hasn't happened. In fact the VA irritation has returned a bit as well.

[Catcc]

Hi Wrensong and Katejo

Sorry for delay in replying - had a big family event yesterday. 

Needless to say I have had a thumping headache for days now, so I didn't take another Femoston.  I'm really disappointed as I thought I'd be fine on the ultra low dose (I liked the sound of the dydrogesterone, rather than the Norethisterone).

I'm seeing my doctor later this week so I'll mention introductory half patches to her as a possible way forward.  Wish there was a transdermal HRT with a kinder progesterone.  It's tricky one, as I know that the migraines are sparked off by fluctuations in estrogen, so I wonder if I perservered with Femoston, if my body would get used to having it regularly and the estrogen levels would be more steady after a while taking it.  I wonder if the headaches would then go?  Not being an expert in this I have no idea!  And I'm not sure I could cope with these headaches for much longer.

Katejo - sorry to hear that you've had a setback with the VA.  Hope it's starting to get better.

Wrensong - are you still on systemic HRT?

Thanks for your suggestions and support!!!  xx

[Rosie63]

Hi DLC.  I'm currently on Femoston conti,  been taking it for nearly 2 months now.  I had exactly the same side effects you describe but, fingers crossed, everything seems to be settling down now.  This has only been over the last week I would say so still early days but each day I'm finding I'm gradually feeling more like my old self.  Not sure how long you've been taking it but I would say try to give it a bit more time if you possibly can. 

I hope you start to see an improvement soon.  Let us know how it goes.

Rosie63 x

[Catcc]

Hi Rosie

Thanks.  I have only taken one tablet.  I took it on Wed evening and woke up on Thursday with a terrible headache that just continued to get worse.  I still have it.  I haven't taken another tablet since then.  Maybe stopping was a bad thing as the sudden input of hormones and then sudden drop might be what is making the headache persist.  I'll speak to my doctor later this week.  Thanks so much for letting me know how you have found it.  So glad you are getting a good result with it.

DLC x

[Wrensong]

Hi DLC, so sorry the headache persisted.  How disappointing for you.  Impossible to answer your question as to whether had you taken further Femoston tablets your body would have adjusted in time, but I completely understand your not wanting to continue with them if you are a migraineur.  The headaches I had on Femoston were not migraine strength thankfully, but getting them every day for a week after 3 weeks on the Femoston felt like a warning (given oral HRT is not advised for migraineurs) & I did not want to risk the return of migraines proper.  With the way the Femoston also further slowed tummy transit, which is a continual hassle to manage, I felt I couldn't sensibly continue.

I agree about the sorry lack of availability of a bigger range of transdermal options for prog.  With FemSeven patches currently out of the loop too, it's a pretty dire situation. 

Like you, I had hoped the dydrogesterone, being considered a kinder form of progesterone, would suit me & at such a low dose too.

Yes, after a long time off systemic HRT, I have only very recently, tentatively, begun a trial of Oestrogel - just 1 pump at the moment - and for the first time postmeno intend to try a sequential regime to see whether I can tolerate Utrogestan in short courses.  The gel is a more or less new form of oestradiol for me, though I had a little Sandrena to top up the Evorel Conti for a while when fairly new to systemic HRT.  Hoping I may absorb the Oestrogel well enough that the progesterone becomes less of a problem.  Not optimistic though, having had 3 failed trials of Utrogestan before & 2 of those had to be abandoned in under 10 days. 

Had avoided sequi regimes postmeno for medical reasons rather than simply preferring to avoid a bleed, so really this is a desperate measure for me!  But in my 14th year, symptoms continue & I find them difficult on top of other conditions, one of which - chronic pain - seriously disrupts sleep, so continuing to overheat badly every night is something I really need to get under control if at all possible.  Have osteopenia to consider too & being chronically underweight, at risk of progression to osteoporosis.  Haven't dared go for another DEXA since stopping HRT 16 months ago!

I hope you can come up with a new plan with your GP.  The steady release of hormones you should get from Evorel Conti (half patch for a few weeks to start with) may well make that worth another try, as I was free of major headaches on those.

If you are not still taking paracetamol for the current persistent headaches, don't be afraid to take them, for a few days if need be, within recommended guidelines of course, to see it off.  A Neuro once told me it's important to do this, in his words "to close the pain gates".

Let us know how you get on & good luck with it.

[Catcc]

Hi Wrensong

I am so so sorry to hear about the struggle you've been having.  I really hope your new regime works for you. 

Thank you so much for all your help.  I wish I could say or do something to help you.  It's awful to be in pain and not be able to sleep.

I've been taking paracetamol (and nurofen at times too).  Headache is still there but hopefully will go (I had a headache for 10 days when I first went on the twice weekly dose of Vagifem and that did eventually stop - I am so happy about that, as I really like the Vagifem, it's really helping).

Hope you start to get things under control. x