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[Actif8ed]

Hello I’m new here 
I had a hysterectomy and BSO 28 years ago at the age of 26 due to endometriosis and have been on HRT patches ever since. Two years ago, age 51, I started waking at 3am with hot flushes and getting lots of tendon and ligament injuries from no trauma. A year ago my GP agreed to increase my Estraderm MX patches from 75 to 100mcg.  A year on and I’ve had more non-traumatic injuries than ever in my life, my flushes have reduced to roughly twice a week and I have bad fatigue.  Last week my GP said to try Oestrogel 4 pumps. OMG this stuff has made me severely ill in 1 week with agonising joint pains, severe anxiety and panic attacks and cold sweats. I have been totally incapacitated on it!

My GP refuses to do bloods saying they are inaccurate for women on HRT and I’ve never seen a specialist.

So my question is related to long term HRT use and and at what point does the body need less Oestrogen rather than more (could my symptoms be related to too much oestrogen?) I’m now 53 and really concerned after reading papers that suggest Oestrogen is beneficial for bones and muscles but can cause breakdown of tendons and ligaments.

Has anyone else got experience of long term HRT use and adjusting doses as you age?  My GP isn’t supportive and I don’t know where to turn and am scared at what is happening to my body over the past 2 years.

[Perinowpost]

Hi Actif8ed

I don’t have long term experience of hrt. I have been on it 10 years since 47 1/2 when my peri symptoms became bad. I just want to say though it looks as though gel isn’t suiting you. I can’t answer your other questions either but I do practice yoga and have found it very beneficial for the body re flexibility, and for the mind. I do feel an average dose of hrt is better in the long run as we age, but that is only because my body doesn’t respond well to high doses of oestrogen.

Hopefully someone will be along who can answer your post more specifically x

[Alice]

Hi Actif8ted,
My situation isn't as extreme as yours but when I switched from gel to patches I got horrible spiralling anxiety, became really highly strung and got an incapacitating foot injury from having my running shoes slightly too tightly laced.
Over the following year I had my patch dose increased a couple of times and felt incrementally a bit better each time, so I obviously wasn't absorbing the patches (estradot) as well. Now I'm back on gel and gradually (I hope) getting back to how I was.
My point is, could it be that you're actually not absorbing the gel very well and the symptoms you're now getting are from low oestrogen?
Of course it's hard to tell if your GP refuses to give you blood tests. Would they refer you to a menopause clinic?

[Actif8ed]

I am now 36 hours since I last applied the gel and the pain and bone instability has improved quite a bit.  I will try 1 pump before bed and see how I am tomorrow.  I never expected to experience menopausal symptoms having been on HRT for so long! I do meditate and exercise every day but avoid stretching as I've always been very hypermobile.  Thanks for your reply.