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[Frazzleme]

Hello I’m new to hrt. I’m 40 and have been having peri symptoms for a couple of years now. I had an appt with a private clinic and have been put on HRT. I have a few questions if people wouldn’t mind giving their opinions/experience?

I started a month ago on evorel 50 and utrogestan 200mg days 15/26 I haven’t got to taking utrogestan yet as the dr said to have 6 weeks oestrogen only and then start.

My initial preference was the gel but it wasn’t in stock.

I was warned that I may feel super jittery and get headaches and palpitations but I didn’t get anything like this does this mean the patches weren’t doing much? What I did experience on the patches was an overwhelming exhaustion I had to go to bed about 8pm a couple of evenings is this to be expected or a sign it was having an effect?
I thought I started to notice a calmer feeling in me and less oohing and ahh as I got up from the sofa!

But it was only a slight improvement. Then I heard the gel was back in stock so I asked if I could try that it was prescribed and I’ve had it for a week now and I don’t think it is doing anything!

I have zero side effects and feel the same as I did before any of this super cranky. My period is due any day could this be why? Or should the gel he able to overide this?

Basically in my round about way what I’m asking is

Does a lack of side effect like jittery ness etc when starting mean my dose was too low on the patch?

Does my lack of seeing any difference on the gel mean it isn’t working?

Should I go back in the patches as I seemed to notice a little difference or stick with gel as it’s my period week and that maybe influencing things?

Anyone else tried both and what was your experiences?

Thank you

 

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Frazzleme. Welcome to the forum. Not everybody has side effects from HRT and if they do they will not have the same side effects. I have never felt jittery as a result of HRT.

I know some doctors prescribe 50 oestrogen to start with but I was prescribed 25 and was glad as it allowed my body time to adjust. I wonder if the 50 is a bit strong for you to begin with which may be why you are feeling so tired. The calmer feeling and less body aches is very positive.

With HRT they say to give it 3 months to know if it suits. I know you tried the first one for less so maybe your body did not have time to get used to it.

[joziel]

How many pumps of gel are you on?

I think a week is probably a bit soon to judge it on. They usually say to give it 12 weeks before you can tell. I know it is tempting to rush in and increase sooner, but take it from me, you can end up in a mess. More is not always better and if you accidentally take more than you need the side effects can be just as bad or worse than too little...

A lack of jitteryness doesn't mean anything and may even mean you are on the right dose for you. I didn't have jitters on a low dose when I first started - and then everything went crazy when I accidentally went too high and I got jitters.

I would not keep switching back and forth between gel and patches every week because there can be a big difference in terms of how you absorb different products - and you are not going to be able to judge with just a week or so on each...

[Frazzleme]

Thank you both.

I think you made a lot of good points. I need to be patient and wait and see! Maybe I should have given the patches more time! I’m on two pumps of gel. Which I believe is the usual starting dose, it may be that I do need more but I probably should wait until my 3 month review to see if I need to change the dose.

I’ve just been feeling so bad for so long I don’t want to waste time if something isn’t working!

At this point I feel the patches were doing something and I haven’t noticed anything from the gel so do I persevere for another 2 months on the gel or just go back in the patches?

How long did other people take to notice a difference on the gel I’m just suprised as most of tue stuff I’ve read seems to favour the gel and lots of women seemed to notice an instant difference!

[joziel]

There are different rates of absorption for some women on the gel and the patches and it can vary a lot. So it's impossible to say.

If you switch back, you really should remain on that patch for a full 8 weeks at the very minimum.

[Pippa52]

hiya - the patches I found personally I absorbed too much too fast on the first day and then it petered out before day 3 or 4.  However everyone is different and it is a matter of persevering till you find what suits you which is,  I totally understand it is so frustrating and a total minefield.   I have swopped from patches to the gel which I was always on originally. It really is a matter of what suits you best but I totally understand how long it can be finding out sometimes and how frustrating it is as I have been on a similar journey and am still searching for my correct level - time and patience I was told   Grrrrr.   Hope so much things work out for you very soon xx

[Floo36]

From my own experience it’s low and fluctuating Estrogen that makes me jittery, panicky, shaky and once you get your levels up it should help to even it all out.