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[Mogster71]

Hello hello

It's been a few months (since my last confession). Brief history, and this is becoming a bit sketchy due to the timeframes!

I'm 49, been in peri for about 5 years now, had 18 months solid of awful headaches after not suffering before. Dry bits, bad temper, dizzy, nauseous. Everything but the flashes. Anyway doc started me on Novofem in June 2019 but it was hideous, and I reacted to the progesterone. After a few false starts, I was put on Femoston 1/10 which worked a treat for about 3 months but then my headaches crept back. At the start of lockdown, I fished out an old pack of Femoston 2/10 and asked my doctor if he was happy for me to try.

My headaches and every other symptom literally vanished overnight.

And there they have stayed for about 8 months. For the last 2-3 months though, they have started to come back again. This month has been worse. I do realise that my own hormones are probably having a bit of a party as I near the finish line but I spoke to my GP at least twice about upping my oestrogen again and he seems reluctant to rock the boat, since I have reacted to most other progestogens including utrogestan. From what I can remember, it made me drowsy to begin with but I think the periods were heavier? It has been a while.

When I tried it last time though, the patches I was given were Estraderm MX50s which at the time, were too strong. Now I've gone up a dose on the oestrogen is it any more likely I would feel any better, or more balanced this time around? Or are there any other combined HRT patches that don't contain norethisterone that are available? If you react to norethisterone orally would you necessarily react to it transdermally?

Thank you in advance if you can help. I hope you are all safe and well and have been managing ok. Trying to keep a positive spin on life xx

[CLKD]

It's Trial and Error that can get so tiring  .  MayB put the product names into the search box here and see what pops up?  Make notes ;-).

I believe that some ladies do have oestrogen for weeks without progesterone but need regular scans to make sure that the womb lining isn't building up too thickly? 

[Mogster71]

Hi CLKD

Thank you for taking the time to reply, I did have a long search through putting in the keywords, but it's so difficult to find someone with exactly the same thing that you end up reading dozens of threads which might have a loose link!

I've spoken to my GP this morning and he's prescribed me some Evorel patches (sequi) - as it's pack change day tomorrow I shall be starting them then.

Thanks again and hope you are well 

[Hurdity]

Now I've gone up a dose on the oestrogen is it any more likely I would feel any better, or more balanced this time around? Or are there any other combined HRT patches that don't contain norethisterone that are available? If you react to norethisterone orally would you necessarily react to it transdermally?

Sorry to hear about your ongoing problems - yes I do remember.....to give some brief answers:

1 It is impossible to tell how you will feel this time around because as you say you are likely to be in a different point on your menopause journey so you don't know where your cycle is fitting in. You can only try and see.

2 Femseven conti patches are now available ( not sure if this is everywhere?) and they contain a different progestogen - levonorgestrel - which is the same as in the Mirena coil. Many women appear to tolerate these pretty well. Possibly worth a try but they only contain 50 mcg oestrogen. Difficult to compare oral with transdermal  exactly re doses because it depends on your own digestion/absorption.

3 Again you may respond differently to the same progestogen taken in different ways. When used transdermally it is absorbed straight into the bloodstream and transported (around the body and)  to the uterus where it is needed to protect the womb lining. Taken orally it has to go through digestion and the liver so the dose is higher. Off the top of my head I can;t remember whether any of the metabolic breakdown products from norethisterone are particularly responsible for adverse side effects or whether when experienced, these are just due to norethisterone itself?

Unfortunately for all of us the progestogen in Femoston - dydrogesterone - continues to be unavailable separately in UK for commercial reasons ( withdrawn in 2008 if I recall?) which means options are very limited.

Did you take the utrogestan vaginally and cyclically?

Good luck with the Evorel sequi and hope they work for you.

Hurdity x

[Mogster71]

Hi Hurdity

Thank you for your kind reply as always, you're so helpful. I definitely am almost 2 years further down the line from that first attempt!

So the evorel sequi is not going too badly; I have had a few little headaches but not an all-dayer or anything drastic. Occasional nausea but then that's normal for me too. I did feel a bit wired and fizzy in the head. So hard to explain! I have started the first patch containing progesterone on Thursday  morning, and yesterday I had a niggly head all day and I seem to be more bloated overall. This morning my tummy is upset. It could be a coincidence of course, since I also suffer with IBS.

When I tried the Utrogestan I took them orally; perhaps at some point I will go back to that combination as I am really not looking forward to having to be on permanent progesterone. My body seems to have a real sensitivity to it! Even before meno started, I would always get an upset stomach leading into my period. I wish I'd taken more note of the headaches I had in my 20's and 30s as I'm sure these came along in cycles too.' hor

Blimmin' hormones eh?? Who'd have them....