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[Gilla999]

Any thoughts/opinions on the best method (patch or gel) or brand, or is it just personal preference? Is 25mg the lowest possible dose? I'm keen to hear other's experiences as I'm just starting on my HRT journey.

I started Estradot 25mg patch for the first time yesterday- slept like an absolute dream last night - but this afternoon I am feeling distinctly hyper! Also a very dry mouth and a huuuge spot has developed on my forehead, the kind I haven't had since I was a teenager! Are these normal kind of start up side effects? Feeling quite nervous with it all xx

[Hurdity]

Hi Gilla999

It's normal to worry when you first start HRT! I hadn't thought of spots as a side effect of oestrogen though - it's usually the progesterone that causes these  ie they tend to occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle in a fertile woman?

What are you using for progesterone or maybe you have no uterus or have a Mirena coil?

That is the lowest dose available yes - and really if you are taking hRT then you wouldn't really want to go any lower as the medium doses or higher are best for protection against osteoporosis. Depends of course on your age and stage of menopause too. Go fo the brand you feel most comfortable with. I was on estradot for years and was v happy with it but with the shortages was changed to Estraderm which I hated ( think rustly plastic bag stuck to your butt!) and now on Elleste solo patches and they are great.

Glad you slept better and hope that continues!

Hurdity x

[Gilla999]

Thank you for the lovely reply - this was very helpful xxx

I'm taking a bio identical progesterone lozenge, prescribed to me by a hormone specialist doctor. I couldn't cope with the Utrogestan!

I am only 42 (not many times I say "only" nowadays!) and still having regular periods which is why it's been tricky to know if taking Estrogen is the right way to go or not. My symptoms were night sweats and sleep maintenance insomnia which happened at exactly the same time every month - in the last 14 days of my cycle. Outside of that timeframe i slept like a log with no night sweats at all. It was really beginning to get quite debilitating as it happened for 14 days out of every single cycle. Initially i was prescribed only the progesterone but that didn't help so I added in Estradot. It stopped the night sweats and insomnia straight away although I have now been getting some other side effects - a racing heart, very sore and swollen boobs - which has made me question if I even need to be on the 25mg dose.

Something connected to my Estrogen levels is happening at this time in my cycle - I just don't quite understand what it is. I have a blood test on Monday for my hormone levels so at least I'll be able to see if the Estradot is causing my Estrogen to be somewhere it shouldn't