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[Mogster71]

Hi all - me again

Thanks for all your support so far you have been a godsend x

I posted earlier in the week about my headache woes and how I was considering coming off HRT because it didn't seem to be helping my symptoms any more. I've been tying myself up in knots and reading so many posts trying to decide on the best course of action.

My question really is whether my headaches are actually caused by a further oestrogen dip rather than what I suspected was an aversion to progesterone? The reason I ask is that the headaches are popping up earlier in the pack now, the joint pain in my wrists is back after being absent for a while and my v-jay is really dry and sore. Never had hot moments to begin with so I can't use the return of those as a yardstick. I'm on day 2 of Vagifem so too early to say if that's helping but lets just say I don't fancy a bike ride!

I've been taking Femoston 1/10 for about 6 months (only just picked up a repeat for the next 3). I have some 2/10 in the cupboard that was given to me by my previous GP and stopped as it felt too strong last summer...is it worth a switch up to see how that feels on the oestrogen part without doing any harm?

Appreciate your thoughts xx

[Salad]

The symptoms you mention do seem to be indicative of low oestrogen.
My GP and Menopause Specialist have told me to adapt the dose depending on my symptoms- so I do.
If you don't feel very confident about it, you could call your doctor to check first 

[Perinowpost]

Headaches and aches and pains in my bones have always been synonymous with too much progesterone for me Mogster. I know because as soon as I stop taking it those symptoms go. Conversely the dryness etc, is low oestrogen so it could mean you need more O and less Prog x

[Mogster71]

Hi both

Thank you - I've had a rummage in the cupboard and I have one complete month of 2/10 and one where I'd taken the oestrogen pills for 5 days. I will try and get to speak to the doctor before Wednesday which is the end if this packet of 1/10.

Absolutely banging head today, alternating ibprofen and paracetamol isn't even touching it. Feeling a bit FML lol xx

[Hurdity]

Hi Mogster

Sorry to hear about your headaches. Hope this one has eased. Did we discuss before on another thread about whether they're migraines and possibly having sumatriptan? Obviously you want to get your hormones right though? Tablet HRT can exacerbate headaches and in these circumstances transdermal is recommended. I have the feeling I might have said this to you already so apologies if I'm repeating myself. I can't remember everyone's story!

I think you're fine to switch to the 2/10 without doc approval as you have been prescribed them and it was your own response that led to a reduced dose? However you might want to mention your ongoing headaches as these may need investigation if they are that severe and that frequent?

I think you're quite young in your 40's yes? Have you thought of the COC pill designed more for menopause which  suppresses the cycle? I might have mentioned this too! There's one called QLAIRA which only has two days without oestrogen but at least your own cycle won't interfere with the HRT.  However if synthetic progestogens arr your problem  this may not work although it's a newer type.

If you have VA then good that you are using vaginal oestrogen. Keep it up and hopefully things will improve soon!

Hope you're feeling better today.

Hurdity x

[Mogster71]

Hi Hurdity

Thank you so much for your lovely reply and kind wishes. Friday's headache was on and off bad, meaning a full day of alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen. Should have started out with aspirin in the first place really! You have a good memory, we did talk about sumatriptan but like you say, I'd rather get my hormones right so I feel better all over. Whilst they are one-sided headaches they are not always migraine (not in the traditional sense). Its a funny thing really, they can wax and wane in intensity over the course of a day, just when I think I've shaken the darn thing off it'll start up throbbing again. I've started making a daily entry into a diary so I can say exactly when I get a headache. Not a single one yesterday (Saturday), even though a) it was warm and b) I had a glass of wine. 

I know what you are saying re the transdermal route but I found patches and utrogestan quite tough as the MX25 patch was too low and the 50 too high, just felt so fluttery (but strangely better in the progesterone bit). I daren't try a sequi with norethisterone which limits me somewhat. At the moment I feel my options would be to see how I fare on the 2/10 Femoston to see if the increased oestrogen feels too much still. The progesterone isn't any more than in the 1/10 thankfully!! If I really, truly don't get on with that I will have to try and get another telephone appointment to perhaps try oestrogel and utro vaginally. I did think about provera (again another option) but some ladies seem to say that felt quite harsh for them so not quite sure on that!

I did ask him about the BC pill instead of HRT, I can't even remember what he said now but presumably it wasn't right to follow up on. The vagifem I have now done 4 times, after day 3 I thought it was starting to work but I was sore again after so I will persevere with that. I've started taking an Omega as well over the last 4 days which is supposedly good for all your mucous membranes. Even my eyeballs feel sticky and dry. Contact lenses are a thing of the past, all my nasal cavity is continuously dry too. I feel like the flipping tin man that needs oiling haha.

Thanks for checking in Hurdity, I know you can't remember ever single person's story and it was kind of you to message. I hope you are feeling ok yourself too in these very strange times. X