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[Rachelsquelch]

For the past week I e been in agony around my left hip/lower back. I know it’s estrogen related as it’s the exact pain I had before I went onto hrt. I’ve tried to get an appointment with my gp but won’t be until next Friday. The thought of being in this must pain for another week is not acceptable to me. Yesterday I experimented. I took my normal hrt tablet & then rubbed in 3 pumps of Estrogel. By yesterday evening the pain was nowhere near it was before. Interesting! This morning there is still pain in the hip/SI joint but again not like yesterday morning, so I’ve done the same thing this morning to see what happens. The only thing is, I’m worried I’m over doing it with the estrogen but what are the effects of too much & can you OD on it?

[Rachelsquelch]

So throughout the day my pain has now all gone. I will continue using the tablet & the gel until I can see my GP next Friday as I have no adverse affects.

[Dotty]

Hi you can use up to 4 pumps of Oestrogel. Some ladies use more under guidance from a menopause specialist . X

[pepperminty]

Hi Rachelsquelch,

I have been exactly like you with awful pain in my hip and sacroiliac joint. Mine seems to be worse in the evening and is  like sciatica.  It goes into my foot sometimes too. I sympathise totally. I also wake up feeling like my joints need oiling I have tried upping my dose of estrogen and my joints are less stiff. I have read that 1 in 4 women in menopause experience tendon issues in the gluteal area which can cause this pain and it is directly related to low estrogen. You are replacing what your body has lost, but significant increases in doses should be monitored by a specialist.
 
We all absorb estrogen differently and depending on our age and whether we are producing any estrogen ourselves - or whether we are completely post menopause and not producing any, will determine our levels.
A common sign of high estrogen is swollen painful boobs.

You could ask the GP for a blood test, but they do not generally do this on the NHS.

I hope your pain continues to get better.

PMX

[Rachelsquelch]

Hi PepperMinty,

Thanks for your reply. You are the only other person that I have had contact with that actually has the same pain as I do! It’s grim isn’t it?
I just don’t understand why it’s happening right now as I’ve been on these hart tablets for about 5 years with complete success 🤔

I have continued to use the gel again today on top of my tablet. I’m still peri but have not had periods for at least 20 years due to a womb ablation. This confuses people, because I still get the mood swings & everything else that goes along with having periods.

I don’t have any boobs😂 so hopefully that won’t happen, but if it does I may have to reduce the amount.

I find my pain very hard to describe. It’s such a deep pain, almost like it’s actually in my bones. It also goes around the front of the top of my thigh & down my leg to the front of my foot too.
I also think because the medical profession can’t physically see anything that’s causing the pain, that they think I’m making it up or am crazy! It took me 2 & a half years of this debilitating pain before I actually got my HRT. Within 2 weeks of taking it I felt like my old self. Within a month I walked up & down Ben Nevis!

And now, I’m obviously worried as there’s no way I’m going back to that amount pain for any length of time, that was a very dark part of my life & I never want to return to it.

I’m trying to be positive, but I’m ready for a fight at the GP’s on Friday too to get what I need.

Good luck on this horrible journey & let’s hope we get what we need quickly. X

[sheila99]

It isn't unusual to need more oestrogen as your own supply packs up, I'm late peri and have had to increase twice because of returning symptoms. Too much will be different in each individual but there are side effects and some can be very similar to symptoms of too little. I was told max 6 pumps by a specialist but haven't needed more than 4, most gps won't prescribe more than 4. The usual advice is to increase slowly until you find the dose at which your symptoms are controlled.

[pepperminty]

Hi,

yes  Pain is not one of the top issues mentioned -  not  one  medical professional I have met puts 2 and 2 together. Both medical profession and patient don't associate the symptoms with lack of estrogen. I bet they would save the NHS a fortune in the long run if they tried HRt first.

Oh yes the dreaded mood swings. I can get several in a day!

Yes you have descibed my pain exactly as yours. I had various scans and was sent away like yourself and basically told to live with it. Living in pain with everything else that the menopause throws at you can be very dark.

I thnk that there is no reason that if your GP is reluctant to prescribe,   you can't ask to be referred to a specialist clinic. As long as you have the right progesterone to counter act the estrogen if you have a womb, then you should be ok. If your GP is clueless arm youurself with info from the louise Newson site. Also ask him exactly why he wont prescribe and put it in writing! But you never know he could have watched the Davina Programme! 

Positivity helps , but it is flippin hard sometimes!

I have booked an appointment with the Newson clinic as I think I need an overhaul HRT wise.  But there is a wait.

Let us know how you are getting on and how your GP appointent went .

I wish you a pain free weekend! 

PMxx

[Rachelsquelch]

Hi, so I saw my gp today. I went armed with all my information fro. dr Newsons’ website about which type of gel/tablets;patches to go on. I really was ready for a fight. However, I felt like I was being rushed (as usual) & was trying to explain what was going on with my symptoms. She didn’t really seem to hAve enough time to listen to what my pain was actually like or where it was going or how debilitating it actually is. I produced my prints out of Louise Newson’s & she immediately agreed to me going onto the patch to see if that had any difference in my symptoms. On,y got 2 months worth of Everol Conti at the moment so we will see. I am scared to change my regime in case I’m in more pain but I’m ready to give it a go. I told my gp there was no way that I was ever going back to the pain I was in before hrt. I hope she understands.

[pepperminty]

Hi Rachelsquelch,

It is a mare trying to get a GP who has time to listen these days. Or indeed will actually see you! I can't remember what you were on before- the dosage etc but try the patches and see. Yes it is scary isn't it. Fingers crossed it works for you.

I am still in pain and have an appointment soon to disscus the best options for me. I hope that it works for you. All you can do is give it a go.

I think as we get older we seem to require a tweek - testosterone can be good for muscle aches and joints I believe. So that may an option as we loose that also as we get older.
Keep us informed as to how you are getting on.

Wishing you well

PMXX

[Rachelsquelch]

Hi, I have put my first patch on this morning!👍
I am scared it won’t work, but I’m also telling myself, it could be the best thing since sliced bread. I just need to try it.
Although GP has only given me 50mcg patch of Everol Conti. I’m not sure that’s going to be enough for me as I was in pain with my Elleste duet Conti tablets which were 2mg so who knows! I suppose I can always go up in dose if needed.
I hope you finally get some relief once you’ve had your appointment.
Thanks for the tip about the testosterone.
Let us know how your getting on too.
Take care of yourself.
X

[pepperminty]

Hi Rachelsquelch,

I do hope it works for you and yes hopefully the beast thing since sliced bread! I have upped my dose a tad and it appears to be helping the 100 year old getting out of the chair impression I do so well. 
Yes i will update too.

 

PMxx

[possum]

This is me too. I have upped my dose once in 4 years and now the lower back pain has returned. ReAlly don’t want to increase again but the pain has steadily increased to the point of being intolerable so have whacked another patch on…

[warwick01]

Hi

For the last few weeks I have been suffering stiff joints in my lower back and both hips. Standing from the chair is extremely difficult I look like a 90 year old. During the night I am waking with hot aching hips with plain radiating from both groins to my knees. I'm restless as I can't get comfortable.

Currently using 3 pumps of Oestrogel 1 pump 3 times a day, this stops my hot flushes but wonder if at 62 I need more for joint pain ??
Wx

[CLKD]

Hip pain is felt in the groin.

Back pain over the area that we know as the 'hips'.  Which can be referred pain from the lower back. 

As oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax = aches and pains. 

[sheila99]

Might be worth a try but as your current dose is controlling your flushes it's probably the right dose. Has the pain been investigated in case it isn't meno related? We can self refer to a physio who may be able to help too.