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[Larkspur12]

Please help, I'm at my whits end.I'm on estrodot 50 patches and Utrogestan for 12 days per month. I've only just started HRT, Just 6-7 weeks into it. First 2 weeks on the patch I felt much better, clearer head, more energy. I felt really positive that HRT would help me. Day 14 I started taking the Utrogestan 200mg orally, nightmare, I felt sick, dizzy and very low. I spoke to my doctor who suggested I half the dose to 100mg for the time being while he investigated some options. I decided to take the 100mg vaginally as suggested on this forum, made such a difference. So for the next week or so felt ok, more steady. Had a period immediately after stopping the Utrogestan which was quite heavy for 2 days. However the last 14 days Have been hell. The period abruptly stopped after 2 days and I went headlong into ovulation, pains like you wouldn't believe!!! Thought I was giving birth. Pains lasted all day and then the day after terrible PMS , sore breasts, headache, very tearful, dizziness, low mood, hot flushes and bad anxiety. I even had a panic attack! Then this morning I was lying in bed after a shockingly poor nights sleep and had a whoosh of blood, like someone bursting a balloon. Im assuming this is now my natural period, but I've never had bleeding like that before! Has anyone had any experience like this when staring HRT? Do I carry on and hope it gets better? I do I give up and put up with feeling crap? Feel very alone with it all. I'm only 41, I wasn't expecting to be going though all this yet.

[sheila99]

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. My periods are noticeably heavier when I ovulate than an hrt induced bleed, and I suspect heavier because of the added oestrogen. I had trouble getting my own cycle in step with the hrt one and it sounds as though you are too. My natural cycle is stronger than the hrt one so I think you need to time the prog to fit in with your body. I can tell when I ovulate so I start the 12 days a couple of days after that. If it's a month when I don't ovulate I take it at 4 weeks (I have a natural 6 week cycle). Perhaps you could try something similar? Peri is always difficult as there will be times when you have either too much or little of something and if your cycle varies in length that makes it harder too. I don't think you should give up, as you're so young for meno you need added oestrogen to protect your heart and bones.

[Larkspur12]

Thank you for replying, it's been a bad day today. Spoke to my doctor this morning, thankfully he is very understanding and is doing his very best to help me out. I felt better on the 50 estrodot patch and the progesterone together but only 100mg. He has now put me on continual HRT to try and help with the ups and downs. I'mTrialling it for 4 weeks. Feel like I'm going a bit crazy sometimes, would be really nice to be able to switch off the tears and just get on with life. I've gone from a happy, sociable, content person to somebody I don't even recognise any more in the space of 18 months. Just can't see a light at the end of the tunnel at the moment at all. However, as quickly as I crash down sometimes I can pick up overnight. So who knows how I'll be tomorrow :-)

[CLKD]

HORMONES 

 

[Larkspur12]

I think you're right about trying to sync cycle with HRT. I did try doing this in the beginning but because my cycles seem to be shortening all the time I can't seem to get it right. I think I've been trying hard to keep it to 14 days on the Utrogestan and 14 days off Because that's what the doctor told me to do, but I like your idea better. It would make much more sense. I think he'd probably be quite happy for me to play around a little bit. It's so hard to know if you're having too much or too little oestrogen isn't it.

[sheila99]

If he'd prescribe oestrogel you'd have the option to vary that too though 50 is a good starting dose. My cycles went through a phase of being shorter, the only time in my life when I had a normal 28 cycle, it lasted about 6 months then back to normal. It does get easier as you get closer to meno.
I started with patches but trying to fit my body into a 28 day cycle just didn't work, I would bleed at any time of the month.

[Larkspur12]

Thank you sheila99.
It's good to know that things can get easier as we progress through.
I feel I need to try and get the hrt right as I'm likely to be on it for a long time. I'm only 41 now and there's history of osteoporosis on my maternal side, so will probably need the bone protection long term. it seems like finding the right hrt may take a bit of perseverance and patience ( something I'm not too good at!) 😁x