Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[NinaRina]

Hi, I joined a while ago when I was having stinging symptoms and have been lingering ever since!

I'm 46 and have probably been in peri for at least 5/6 years...had handful of hot flushes, night sweats, bad bouts of insomnia (for which I was given other medication), mood swings, hair loss, low libido, joint aches, repeated stinging/ UTIs etc....

Thought I was managing to get through it, but four months ago I was starting to feel completely overwhelmed and unable to cope with life - not in a 'depressed/down' way, but like I completely lost my ability to cope and all my confidence in what I was doing. I even stopped driving, which I have always loved.  I also realised that I've been struggling for some time with memory problems, finding words and horrendous brain fog.

I did have Covid and related issues over the last couple of months, so had put it down to Covid brain fog, but three months of recovery from Covid, I'm remembering how awful my brain fog and emotions were before. I also started having panic attacks and never had those before.

Saw a private consultant last week and on 2 pumps of Oestrogen gel (she said I can start on 1 if I prefer) and 12 day progesterone tablets as a break. I'm also having another horrendous period at present, which really doesn't help.

So I started 5 days ago on Oestrogel. I know it's early days and I have really high hopes for the gel, but it's making me feel really drugged and sleepy. My brain fog wasn't this bad last week. It feels like I'm trying to walk through porridge. I'm taking it on a morning and have now dropped down from 2 pumps to 1.

Anyone else experiencing a bumpy start or have any advice? Have emailed my consultant but now heard back yet.

[Uptick]

Hi NinaRina, welcome to the forum. During perimenopause, oestrogen levels can fluctuate a lot and some very high levels can occur. Perhaps adding more oestrogen during these peaks could exacerbate symptoms. It may take some time for your body to go through this phase. What is the brand of the progesterone pills and how are you taking them?

[NinaRina]

Hi Uptick and thanks for the reply! I have been given Ultrogestan but haven't started on those yet. I've got about 2-3 weeks of the oestrogen gel to go first. Yes, that's interesting what you say about maybe having too much in my system. I'm debating whether to go down to half a pump, which probably seems like nothing at all, to see if starting even lower makes an improvement.

[Uptick]

Hi NinaRina, you're welcome. Try to stay on the same dose for at least 3 months. Keep us posted.

[nicjan75]

Hi hope things are starting to get a little better . I too have not adapted too well to the estrogen gel . I have a mirena and I was asked to start with 2 pumps of the gel but I found it a bit too much . My pmdd specialist wanted me to increase to 4 pumps but I told her I was struggling with 2 . I’ve been pregnant 4 times and each time suffered with hypermisis gravadium which I believe is common with too much estrogen in pregnancy ? So I’m thinking can I not tolerate it ? But I also can’t tolerate the mood swings, anxiety , hot flushes so I’m going to try give the gel another go . As you said maybe just 1 pump and work my way up ! How are you coping ? X

[CLKD]

'walk through porridge' : a bit like wading through treacle ?  Awful.

Do U keep a mood/food/symptom diary?  Hormonal fluctuations can cause brain fog, beyound the going into another room and 4getting ........

1 pump and work your way up after 2-3 weeks?  It can take a while to adjust especially if your hormones are joining in! Let us know how you get on?

[VictoryV]

Hi and welcome!

I had hypermisis gravadium too. I didn’t put on an ounce of weight in pregnancy. I couldn’t adjust to birth control pills or injections either so I was very concerned about HRT. I’ve been on low, medium and high dose estrogen and tried gel, patches and tablets, I’ve not had even a twinge of nausea and I’m on month 10 now.
Utrogestan has been interesting but tolerable!
Hopefully you’ll be ok, give it time.☀️

[Kat36]

I’m sorry you’re having a bumpy ride. I too am at the start of a new regime. I had a horrific start back in Jan which ended after success weeks when I ripped  the patch off.  I’m hanging in there at   the minute with a evorel 25 and utrogestan 100 a day but it’s hard. The utrogestan makes my brain feel asleep…I’ve never felt so out of it in my life.  I’m hoping things get better as my body adapts. My doc said to increase from evorel 25 to 50 after a month. I’m not sure at this point that I’m ready for that. I’m sorry I can’t offer too much in the way of advice by wanted you to know you’re not alone