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[Ambers]

Hi.  I've been a member for a while and find the forums really useful but wonder if I could ask a little help?  I'm 57 and started HRT again 8 weeks ago after stopping in early January this year.  I'd been taking it since age 50 with ups and downs never seeming to get the dose right.  My GP was very helpful although I felt I was prescribed the 'stock' doses and treatments.  I seemed to be sensitive to progesterone and did spend times very down and low but stuck with it until last December when I felt enough was enough and decided to wean myself off.  I have to say that mentally I felt wonderful - it seemed to take a couple of months to clear my system however I'd only been on the lowest dose Femoston at the time (I'd only ever taken low or very low doses).  Fast forward to this October with the revenge of symptoms; hot flushes (never had those before), horrendous night sweats, smelling burning (I've given furniture away as I thought it was that!), awful itchy skin but the worst was my energy and aches - I'm a recreational runner who could then hardly run for a bus!!  Decided to see a gynaecologist privately who had been recommended who prescribed one pump of oestrogel and 100mg Utrogestan orally as she felt I'd probably had too much in the past.  After 6 weeks an improvement in energy, no sweats, no smells but still very itchy.  Running also getting better. At the review two weeks ago we agreed to continue for another 3 months.  However I've just developed awful palpitations again - starting in the evening.  I apply the gel in the morning to my outer arms and was taking the progesterone at night but after reading on here have just switched to vaginally with the tablet (headaches and dry eyes) and my question is, should I use a little more gel to try to relive the palpitations? My next appointment isn't due for 2.5 months although I could go back.  My blood pressure is fine.  Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar or has any suggestions.  Many thanks.

[Hurdity]

Hi Ambers

 

I am a bit puzzled as to what your gynae thought you had had too much of in the past? Your oestrogen dose was very low at 0.5 mg - known as the ultra low dose. 1 pump is just a normal low dose for gel (0.75 mg) and with luck you might absorb it better - so you should be getting much more oestrogen than from the tablet.

I can't comment on your palpitations except they are a known symptom of low oestrogen and peri-menopause (amongst other causes) - but it is worth getting them checked out.  Can you mention to your gynae by e-mail and ask about increasing the dose? Also if you are taking the progesterone every day then this could slow down your recovery as it is a sedative and can make women feel drowsy even when used vaginally ( it does me). Have you thought of taking it cyclically? However an increase in gel dose alone may help even while taking the prog every day - sometimes the negative side effects can be masked by increasing the oestrogen dose. It might lead to breakthrough bleeding though?

Hurdity x

[Ambers]

Hi.  Thank you for the reply. She gave me the impression that she thought the dose I'd been on previously was too high and giving me symptoms although I think I need to discuss this with her again given what you've said.  Reading through the forum I have just changed over to using the gel on my inner thighs and think I have a small improvement in the palpitations so unless things go down hill then I'll wait for my next appointment.  Yes, I am generally tired, but at least my body doesn't feel quite as 'ancient' as it did a few months ago and the exercise is easier.  Thank you for the suggestions; I will discuss these with her.

[Hurdity]

Hi Ambers - interesting that your gynae said this. You don't have to name the person but was this person a menopause specialist? The ones that are recommended are on the British Menopause Society's list of specialists on their website. Not all gynaes are expert on HRT and menopause I gather. Any reputable menopause expert should know about the approx equivalence of differeent dose strebgths. They are given in the menus - Treatments/HRT preparations. Here is the one for post-menopause treatments:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

Here are the oestrogens:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php

You can see they are divided up according to strength.

There is no way that you would be getting too much oestrogen from the Femoston 0.5/2.5 and I can confidently say that your recurring symptoms will be due to low oestrogen.

So glad you are feeling somewhat better on this regime

Hurdity x

[Ambers]

Hi.  Yes my gynaecologist is a BMS member.  Perhaps there was a bit of mis communication somewhere so I'll go over everything at my next appointment.  I'm just baffled as to why most of my symptoms are much better (apart from the horrendous itching) when the palpitations have started up again - I didn't have any after I started on HRT and neither when I had the long break this year....
My joints are still very achy and I feel the energy is slipping again so maybe my dose needs some tweaking?
Quick question - am I ok using the gel in the morning and the progesterone at night?  The palpitations start early evening which suggests that the oestrogen is wearing off maybe? Although if I use it at night I suppose I would get them earlier in the day.  I see that most ladies do the morning and night routine.
I'm coming back as a man next time 

Thank you for help.

[Hurdity]

Hi Ambers - just use them at a time that is most convenient for you - and bearing in mind if you share a bed with a male partner there should be no skin to skin contact where you apply the gel for at least an hour after application to avoid transfer. I would try out different times and see how you feel. I hope you manage to sort it out and the palpitations ease! re progesterone - it has a sedative effect so it is generally advised to take at night as you are doing.

Hurdity x