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[AG]

Hi,

I have posted on here on and off over the last year and a bit. Now nearly 50, and in late peri with very irregular bleeds I had a bout of continuous hot flushes and all sorts of other symptoms earlier this summer and decided to go on low dose of HRT. Initially started with Estraderm MX25 combined with Utrogestan tablets, but especially the Utrogestan I had to stop after a few days due to really bad side effects. I have now started on Femoston 1/10 tablets but - whilst mood improved (hot flushes have subsided lots but could be coincidence since they come and go over months) - my coordination now is "out of the window", dizziness and heavy limbs at times and other stuff. I am wondering whether I could take half a tablet per day instead (tablets look as if active ingredients are spread throughout tablet) and see whether I can "stomach" that. Has anyone done this or had similar experiences? My thyroid has also been playing up a bit on and off throughout peri, and I now have a throat irritation since taking HRT, not sure what to make of it. I am going to see a specialist later this month also to see what can best be done but thanks for any comments. AG

[Dancinggirl]

What about trying Oestrogel (only use a very low dose of one pump per day) and try Provera for 10-12 days each month? DG x

[AG]

Hi, thanks, I'll mention that when I am going to see the specialist. AG

[bear]

Hi AG,

So sorry you're having such dreadful symptoms. Utrogestan is off the menu for the rest of my life.
I also don't like the idea of taking oral HRT, too many side effects.
It's not a good idea to take half a tablet, as well. Most tablets are coated and not supposed to be broken, they can cause damage to the stomach or be released too rapidly.
Perimenopause symptoms are barely controlled by low dose HRT, anyway.
Talk to your doctor about patches, gels or even birth control pills.

BeaR.

[AG]

Hi BeaR,

Thanks for your reply. I started with patches but that did not go well in combination with Utrogestan, oestrogen gel seems like an option. For now, I'll take femoston 1/10 for a few more days. Birth control pill hormone levels are way too high for me (tried for a short time and was unbearable). The main thing is that likely my hormone levels still fluctuate causing issues. If using HRT in post meno that should be easier to adjust. Overall, things are improving (compared to 2018 this year is better). AG

[sheila99]

Gel has the advantage that you can vary the dose which can be useful in peri.

[AG]

Sounds like a good option in that respect. What I also noticed since starting a low dose of HRT is that my throat is irritated, having issues with swallowing, and something a bit like acid reflux, not sure. Since my thyroid is a bit borderline and oestrogen can affect it I wonder whether this is what is happening but could have another reason. Has anyone else noticed this when starting HRT? AG

[Ladybt28]

Hi AG - welcome back from us  I had acid reflux, plus a sensation like someone was sitting on my throat and my chest and I couldn't take Femeston at all.  I had 6 types of hrt before finding the right one.  All had different side effects, Femeston and Provera on its own were the worst.  The others, although I took them for the prescribed 3 months to see if they settled, didn't settle.  Can't take Provera at all but Utrogestan vaginally is fine for me.  So it took me 18 months all in to get it right.

What menopause symptoms were you having before starting hrt or making the changes to your regime.  When I started my gel and Utro I had side effects but none like I had before and they settled.  The thing is with hrt things don't settle quickly and you may get some weird side effects in the first month that should lessen in the 2nd month and then go by the 3rd.  Its a long old haul but having issues in the first few days is pretty normal.  Our homones take ages to balance and the longer they have been "out of wack" the longer I think personally they take to settle.

You are very early days and peri fluctuations don't help.  Tell us more?

[AG]

Hi, thanks, I'll give it some more time, and I'll ask specialist as well I am seeing later this month. One reason I started HRT was a barrage of hot flushes simply not stopping aside from other symptoms. They have mostly gone but I am having balance issues, coordination and generally feeling dizzy and also the throat issue and just random things like heavy limbs at times as if having flu.
HRT seems to help with mood and hot flushes but brings some other issues. I will keep going with it for a bit longer. Thanks. AG

[Ladybt28]

It may be that Femeston doesn't suit you AG.  It really is a case of finding the one that suits you best.  I would persevere for a little while yet but if those symptoms don't settle then you will need to try a different kind. I had real problems with Femeston and yet loads of ladies swear by it.  Its ok that its helping with the flushes etc and the mood but the other stuff shouldn't hang around

I had terrible headaches and a dizzy head as you describe which came on at random.  The throat thing and acid reflux was something I got when I took tablets. It didn't happen with patches or gel. Its tough I know all this faffing about but when it does get right, its worth it. x

[AG]

Thanks. I'll keep going for a bit with Femoston since there are some positive effects. I am not yet on the progestorone part of it but still have balance problems and dizziness and coordination is off. What I am a bit concerned about is I had another thyroid and hormone blood test, and TSH is nearly 4.8 mIU/L but with T4 at 13.7 pmol/L, and oestradiol at 509 pmol/L (due to HRT I believe, FSH value was 38 and LH 44). Potentially, I may be better off with temporarily low dose of thyroid meds rather than HRT but will ask specialist about all this. I am aware that hormone levels fluctuate but my thyroid has been borderline one and off over the last two years in conjunction with peri.Has anyone gone down the route of low dose thyroid meds instead of HRT, and has that worked? AG