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[Mogster71]

Hi girls

I am really sorry for whinging but I don't really know who to talk to or what to do. My husband is great, but it is very difficult for him to understand why I can't seem to just stop taking the HRT.

Every month seems to get worse and I don't know if it's the HRT causing side effects or whether my symptoms are getting worse and I need more so they are better controlled. I have been taking Femoston 1/10 sequi since October last year. All was well at the beginning but since Christmas they headaches I am getting are becoming more frequent again and lasting longer, with accompanying nausea. I usually hit the progesterone phase and think right...when this packet finishes I will jack it all in and go it alone. When the last pill comes round I've talked myself out of stopping in case things get worse/I won't be able to cope/I'm denying myself of the heart/bone protection etc.

I'm getting indigestion, acid reflux, dizziness, now joint pains, sore bits and upset stomach on top of the headaches. Have any of you reached a point where you just think this may be adding in more problems than it's solving? Please dont' think this is an HRT-hate post - I would have been so happy if it was the magic bullet I hoped it would be and I got all the good benefits.

Sorry for coming across so negative, I am normally a very happy person but I'm fed up feeling rough, grumpy and flat for no good reason.

[Perinowpost]

Mogster71

Have you considered changing your hrt, it doesn't sound like it's suiting you? If you were settled you wouldn't need to talk about it so much as it wouldn't be a problem x

[CLKD]

What are you taking HRT for, which symptom would you like to ease first?

As oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax, = aches and pains or overall dryness, inside and out.  Do you keep a mood/symptom/food diary to chart progress?  Indigestion is common during The Change due to lax muscles. 

Brisk walking for 10 mins daily will help bones.  Running up and down stairs?  Skipping?  Walking .......

A good over-all diet is essential.  Lots of 'me' time.  Maybe stop the HRT and see how you feel after 5-6 weeks. 

[Mogster71]

Hi Peri

Thank you for your message - I've already tried several forms of HRT but Femoston seems to be the only thing I am able to tolerate at all. Most other forms of progesterone have been even worse, including utrogestan. The only progesterone I haven't tried is levenogestrel but last time the doctor checked there wasn't a sequi version available, meaning my only option would be to have a Mirena.

[CLKD]

Many suffer with progesterone part of the HRT cycle 

[Mogster71]

Hi CLKD
I started taking HRT last year to try and solve the headaches...but they are getting worse anyway! My periods were becoming more irregular (I think an 8 week gap when I saw the doctor) and of course with all the chopping and changing last year I have no idea where they are now. I am also a low BMI so I wanted to protect myself against osteoporosis.

Dryness is an issue, even down to my eyeballs! Can't wear contact lenses for any length of time so I gave them up. I have just taken up cycling which I know isn't weight bearing but thought would do the heart protecting bit, (plus I enjoy it). I have weights at home and a skipping rope ordered last week which should be with me soon. I log my food in my fitbit and keep a headache diary through an app as well.

If I could lose the headaches I would be a very happy person. If I haven't got a headache, I'm still worrying when the next one will hit and how bad I'll feel! Doc has given me some vagifem so I have the option of stopping and just using it locally instead.

Thanks CLKD x

[Perinowpost]

I couldn't tolerate Femoston because of the headaches it gave me.  I feel your pain. There are no easy solutions when you struggle with progesterone x

[Mogster71]

Perinowpost

Thank you lovely. I had heard that it causes headaches in some ladies (sorry you experienced that) - I just don't know if this is what I'm experiencing too or if they would be there anyway if I stopped! Progesterone is a nightmare. Norethisterone gave me racing heart and hair shedding, so I know I can't go back there again either. Boo!

Do you mind if I ask what regime you are on now, please, if any? x

[sheila99]

Are your headaches only during the prog phase or do you get them at any time? It sounds as though you may need more oestrogen as you still have dryness. Do you have other meno symptoms that would indicate low oestrogen? Are you close enough to meno that a long cycle would be an option? Assuming you feel OK during the oestrogen only phase it would give you longer feeling good. Have you tried provera? If you have headaches all the time have they investigated other causes?
 It's a pity there isn't a way to trial mirena without needing a doctor to remove it. I'd like to try it too but worried about feeling lousy all the time.

[Mogster71]

Hi Sheila

Thank you for your message - before HRT I didn't really guage the pattern of the headaches but since taking it, they appeared predominantly in the pill changeover week. Now they are coming whenever they like again and I am not keen! I've not tried Provera, no - is that the same kind of regime that Utrogestan would be?  The problem there is that with the utro thing I couldn't even get the oestrogen patch at the right level, so I felt lousy throughout...

I'm still peri (I think) so I'm not sure whether long cycle would help or be advisable. That's exactly why I daren't try the Mirena too x

[sheila99]

Perhaps ask for a referral to a menopause clinic? Provera is supposed to be gentler than utrogeston, some people who can't use utro are OK with provera but like all these things you don't know til you try. Perhaps you could try oestrogel, this has the advantage that you can vary the dose yourself until you find the optimum. Some people who are prog intolerant use utrogeston as little as 10days x 100mg but this either needs to be under supervision or arrange your own scans. If you use it on a cycle you should only feel bad whilst taking it and a few days afterwards.
After 40 years of a natural 6 week cycle my lining was thin so I am rather more relaxed about a long cycle than most.
  Are you sure your headaches are hormone related?

[Mogster71]

Hi Sheila

Thank you for your message, I'm pretty sure they're hormone related - I see an osteopath fairly regularly to keep my neck/spine in check, my eyes have been tested, re-tested and even put myself through private laser eye surgery in the hope that it would sort the issue out (sadly not).

My only actual symptoms before starting it were headaches (no flushes or anything like that) with some dryness. Everything else symptoms wise seems to have come about since I started taking it. I'm wondering whether I just rushed into taking it before I actually needed to. x

[CLKD]

Have you read the threads on vaginal atrophy yet?

[Mogster71]

Hi CLKD

I've read some posts yes, but not the thread with lots of pages yet....will work my way through it.

[CLKD]

Basically - low oestrogen levels may cause the body to become dry and affects the vagina in particular.

My symptoms were urine infection-type feelings of the need to pee.  Often.  With a nip as the spincter closed.  I sat on the loo with a cuppa in one hand and a glass of water in the other - the place that I felt I was able to relax.

'ovestin' regularly does help.  Have a look-see at the 'yes' and 'sylc' threads for ideas.