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[jasmine5]

I’ve been advised to increase my Hrt by the Menopause Clinic as I’ve been experiencing some unpleasant symptoms again, mainly dry, itchy sore skin, Dry eyes and cuts in the vaginal area which makes walking very painful! 

I’m now about to add another 25mcg patch to my Evorel Conti 50 patches as well as using Vagifem, and to be honest I’m feeling quite worried as I don't know if it is safe to do so and also It doesn’t help that I can’t see a Doctor face to face to discuss my anxieties.  I’m now 63 and was really hoping to stay on the lowest patch possible, so I didn’t think for a moment that I would to need to increase my oestrogen as I got older!

What symptoms am I likely to suffer if my oestrogen levels become too high? 

[CLKD]

It is unlikely that oestrogen will become 'too high' as your symptoms suggest a lack of it.

Do keep up with the 'vagifem'.  Getting VA under control is important.

You could add the extra patch tonight to see if there is any difference.  MayB wait a couple of nights for it to kick in and review.  It may take a few days for the extra dose to 'kick in'.  Let us know how you get on.

As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out. 

[Postmeno3]

Right now I feel, at a personal level, that oestrogen levels CAN be too stimulatory and that might be the issue rather than pure quantities? Can increased symptoms be due to increased sensitivity and therefore increased stimulation? I worry about piling in more and more, especially systemic, oestrogen when it seems many of us react to that; just something I'm grappling with a bit just now for myself. I'm really curious as to whether adding more and more oestrogen, for some, is necessarily the solution? 🤔

[Rosie63]

I’m tending to agree with Postmeno3 on this.  I can only go from my own experience but at 67, I am finding the more oestrogen I use, the worse I tend to feel.  I’m still trying to find a balance between managing my symptoms without causing horrible side effects and to be quite frank, I’m finding it hard to differentiate between what’s a symptom and what’s a side effect as they can be similar in my case 🙄 Obviously your VA needs treating separately with local oestrogen to get that under control.  It’s a nightmare isn’t it jasmine5 and one I never dreamt we’d be having at our age.  I hope you get the answers you need and deserve soon.

Rosie63x

[sheila99]

Symptoms of too much oestrogen can be very similar to too little. 50mg isn't a high dose so do have scope to increase but dry skin can be caused by other conditions such as hypothyroid. If it was me I'd add half a patch for a couple of months, if it makes no difference you can reduce again. I'm 61 and on 100mg, every time I try to reduce my symptoms return. I take the view feeling well now is more important to me.

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I am 65 and still experiencing emotional issues although my physical problems have pretty much resolved.

My meno clinic is keen for me to increase my Oestrogen gel but when I did this recently I had a lot of bleeding and my.breasts became super tender. About a year ago I had a telephone conversation with an NHS consultant who said that for some women less is more when applied to Oestrogen doses. I am beginning to wonder if he was right!

I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful but I share your confusion and frustration.

Take care everyone.

K.

[Hurdity]

Hi jasmine - I would want to attend to the vaginal issues separately because this may be able to be helped with a different dose/type of local oestrogen.

I agree with sheila99 - there could well be other reasons for dry skin generally and I wouldn't necessarily increase oestrogen. I would want to have a full panel of other tests eg thyroid.

In contrast with sheila I started HRT aboyt 15 years ago ( now late 60s) on 50 mcg patch and have almost always been on this same dose, though a couple of years or so ago I increase by a smidge to approx 62.5 mcg. Any symptoms I still experience at my age I put down to other factors - but are not serious enough to warrasnt investigation.

What were the symptoms you were experiencing that led you to start HRT and have these been alleviated?

Also adding extra oestrogen to a conti patch could cause overgrowth of the endometrium though if you are under the medical supervision of a menopause clinic they will not doubt be scanning you every so often to check this?

Hurdity x

[jasmine5]

Hi Hurdity…..the Consultant has prescribed a 25mcg of Everol Conti to be used alongside the 50mcg, although I think there is a 75 patch which would be more convent should I decide to stay with it. He’s prescribed one months supply and will ring me to discuss how things are going at a later date, although he did mention that more oestrogen can result in sore breasts and bleeding.

I started Hrt when I was 53 now 63, symptoms from what I can remember were mostly sweats, joint pain and moods.  Yes these particular symptoms have been alleviated, but have been replaced with new ones because according to Doctor, my oestrogen levels are low

The dry skin is a new thing for me, it started around a year ago.  My lower legs in particular are very itchy with raised patches which sometimes weep.  It’s particularly irritating at night especially when you don’t sleep well anyway!  The vaginal issues are the worse, I find it very distressing especially having to plan what to wear if you are going to be walking any distance as certain clothes really do cause a lot of pain. This has been ongoing for a few years and I’ve had several courses of Vagifem.  I already had a diagnosis of dry eyes but they are much drier lately. 

I have a face-to-face Gp appoint soon so I’ll ask for some tests before I start the new regime and also see what he suggests with regards to the dryness.

Thank you all for your very good advice.