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[shoppingqueen]

Hello ladies
I’m just wanting to know if anyone is using 4 pumps at 54. I used 3 for 18 months a while ago and it controlled symptoms although still achey and tired. I’ve bounced around a bit with the shortage drama and back to 3 pumps but having the night sweats and flushing and dizziness still.
I’ve no idea if I post or still peri but it seems I’ve had a recent (last 6-12 month) climb in symptoms again. I thought I was over all this but it seems not.
Is anyone in the same boat and needing 4?
My readings at 3 were about 400-500. I know this means little unless post meno.
I’m debating doing 3.5 for a few weeks first.
I thought we needed less as we got older?
Any thoughts would be appreciated although I know everyone will be busy with the preps for next week x

[Dotty]

I'm on 4 pumps and i'm 58. x

[sheila99]

I'm not altogether sure if needing less is true or an old wives tale (though I'm sure you need less if you had some to time without it). I'm 62 and on 4 pumps equivalent (100 patch), I've tried reducing several times and every time I do my symptoms return. I had a late meno though, started hrt at 57 when mostly regular. IIWY I'd increase, I really don't see the point in suffering when you don't have to.

[shoppingqueen]

Dotty and Sheila99

Thank you both so much! This really helps. I think this was my worry as whether I’d be over egging it, but suffering I am. I’ll get on and increase 🤞 I’m glad you’ve both found the dosage that works and I can see now I’ve a way to go yet.
I do have a friend who is in her seventies and on HRT as she also gets symptoms when trying to reduce. What a journey this is!
Thanks again- very grateful xx

[DottyD68]

Hi shoppingqueen,

I've been on HRT for 18 months now, am 54 and use 4 pumps.

I was Peri when I started a sequi regime with gel and utrogestan and it improved a lot of symptoms. I had a big hiccup in August when (because I'd been on it for a year) GP tried to change me to conti with a lower dosage patch whilst I was recovering from Covid. I fell off a cliff and have been all over the place since then. Back to sequi with 4 pumps of gel on advice of another GP in september and still trying to settle symptoms that had returned as a result of the attempted change.

GP indicated in september that I should be looking to reduce dosage as I continue through menopause journey. I didn't probe that viewpoint at the time but will be doing in January in my next review (if I can get an appointment). Our Surgery has notified patients not to contact them before the new year unless it is an emergency so I expect there will be a backlog of routine appointments then.

[shoppingqueen]

Hi DottyD68

Thank you so much 😊

That’s great to hear you are on 4 too! It seems crazy your GP changed you to patch when you could have done the Conti on gel. I was advised this when prescribed utrogestan as 100mg every day. It didn’t suit me though so I’m on Provera. I was going to do sequi but it’s 10mg for 14 days so I’m going to try Conti with 5 daily for now.
It beggars belief the doctor switched things when trying to get over Covid. Are you recovered from that now? It’s true, isn’t it, that a shift from one HRT to another wreaks havoc. I was the same with the gel shortage- all under control then a rollercoaster on patches and now struggling to get back where I was!
I do hope things settle for you and those symptoms go 🤞 and you get that check up. Mine is don’t through the practice pharmacist. She’s lovely but does seem unsure of dosages and practically freaked when I said a 75 patch wouldn’t be enough and I wanted 100. She said 50 only at my age. So many mixed messages from these people, as was the case with your GPs seems so sensible of the other to get you back to
4 pumps of gel.
What are your remaining symptoms if you don’t mind my asking xx

[DottyD68]

Hi shoppingqueen,

Thank you for your reply.

In hindsight I have been peri-menopausal for 8 years, although I didn't know it for a long while. I have white-coat syndrome but despite that I must have had an appointment every month for 2-3 years with different symptoms. Once I realised it was the peri-menopause I tried to battle through it with various supplements, nutrition etc. Ive always been fit and sporty so exercise is something I've always felt the benefit of both physically and mentally. However I reached a point when my anxiety levels were so high (I have never had anxiety) and muscle pain so bad I decided to give HRT a try and it really helped. I wish I had started it earlier.

Having escaped Covid for over 2 years I got it really bad in August. I pretty much slept for a month and had no energy. I began to think there was something really wrong with me and I felt very low. It took about 12 weeks to finally feel better however as a result of reappearing symptoms during this time my health anxiety got worse. I forensically examine myself everyday  which is ridiculous and then stress if I find anything thinking it could be terminal. My poor husband has to put up with this on a daily basis

I have developed allergies/sensitivities to unindentied foods especially on my tongue. I have a heightened sensitivity to chemical smells, especially perfumes, air fresheners and scented candles/oil diffusers. All these sensitivities may or may not present themselves at different times of the month so it's trial and error which makes me anxious because I never know when they will be triggered due to fluctuating hormones.

As part of the anxiety I have had palpatations off and on during the last 8 years. They had pretty much disappeared when I initially settled on HRT but have re-appeared since the attempted HRT change. Infact the past 2 or 3 days have been quite bad which i find very disconcerting. It doesn't help that getting a GP appointment is almost impossible and that increases my anxiety. So at these times I have to revert to meditation, Exercise, thinking logically, reading menopause matters and repeating my mantra "It will pass" X

[discogirl]

hi

im 57 post meno and im on 4 pumps x

[shoppingqueen]

DottyD68

Thank you so much for your reply! I hear you with the health anxiety, anxiety spikes and the checking in on yourself daily. It was the same for me with repeated doctor visits etc with various symptoms. I think there must be a note in there Re hypochondria etc, but it is so disconcerting when your body seems to be throwing things at you daily that it’s hard not to worry. I empathise fully as it’s the same with me, too! You do feel you’re  inhabiting someone else’s body and not feeling yourself is unsettling, isn’t it?
I wonder if the Covid infection also unsettled your hormones? I felt this happened for me. I’m glad you’re recovered. It’s taking a long time for many. It was the same for me and I’m sure it triggered a swell in anxiety, too.
I’m glad you are finding relief with the meditation and exercise. I do the same, although I can’t do what I used to unfortunately. I’m building up slowly. One day at a time and it’s funny you mention ‘this, too, shall pass’. I used that mantra daily when I first was thrown into peri and my world and body turned upside down (46 then) and you’ve reminded me to go back to that. It’s such a reassuring phrase and the truth is it will, won’t it?
I hope you can find some strategies for the next week or so. I’m the same in that I don’t like it when we can’t access doctors. I used to have terrible problems at weekends and I’m sure this was fuelled by anxiety around that. You are not alone!
I’ll be keeping fingers crossed you are ok and that the 4 pumps gets a grip on symptoms xx

[shoppingqueen]

hi

im 57 post meno and im on 4 pumps x

How is it going on the 4 pumps? I hope you’re doing well and have control of symptoms? X

[discogirl]

so far so good shopping queen.

however ive realised what suits one lady doesnt suit another. and it requires time and patience x

[shoppingqueen]

so far so good shopping queen.

however ive realised what suits one lady doesnt suit another. and it requires time and patience x

🙌🙌 I’m so pleased- that’s great news! Onwards and upwards. Fingers crossed it works for me, too! Nothing to lose, but to try.
I remember you were the same as me and not absorbing patches. Brilliant news Discogirl! Glad you’re doing ok xx

[DottyD68]

Hi again Shoppingqueen,

I hadn't initially linked the covid effect and the resurgence of menopause symptoms,  but the 2nd GP I spoke to seemed totally shocked that I had been advised to change HRT during that time. She told me to go back to my original regime to let me recover from covid and let things settle hormone wise. She said that Covid is known to affect the menstrual cycle/hormones which I can well believe.

Like everyone else, I have had other stressful stuff going on during all this. Amongst other things I became the main carer for my mum during Covid. I quickly realised things weren't right and she got diagnosed with Alzheimers. Caring for her has been the hardest thing I've ever experienced. She is now in a care home and most of this year has been spent clearing our family home of 50+ years and selling it. So add that into the mix and it doesn't help with all those horrible symptoms. Never a dull moment.

One day at a time is the way to play it and I'm hopeful things will settle again.

Thanks again for your kind messages of support.
Sleep tight x

[shoppingqueen]

DottyD68

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had this and about your mum. I’ve come to realise too that this hormonal change comes for us at a time when we step into caring roles for our parents. I’ve had a similar experience with my mum’s health issues. It’s very, very stressful, upsetting and I think the feelings of grief are difficult to manage as we see their lives radically change from the strong women we knew. It’s heartbreaking. I’m so sorry  you’ve had to go through this and the selling of the beloved family home.
I struggle with it all if I’m honest. Like you, I need to think one day at a time.
Hearing your story puts my worries and anxieties about my mum
into perspective and knowing you’re not alone in this helps. She’s due a ‘risk to life’ operation in January and I’m beside myself with worry. And I wonder why my hormones are all over the place! I find my stress tolerance has completely deserted me now after years of coping with a lot!
 
Thank you Dotty for your kindness too. I’ll remember one day at a time and this will pass xx

[DottyD68]

Hi again shoppingqueen.

Thanks again for your empathetic reply. It is so timely.

Today I had arranged for a family xmas get-together of my lovely big family (who live away - I live the closest) in a local restaurant with mum, close to her care home. This is the 1st xmas she has been in a carehome and, after nearly a year of being settled, for the last month or so she has been demanding to go "home" (to the house that has been sold  !).

She used to be the hub of the family and loves loves loves her family parties which used to be in our family home. She now calls me her "admin" which I take as a compliment, although I would prefer her to see me to be as her daughter. I try and do all the things she used to (xmas table presents, family get-togethers etc) to keep things going for her as she would like and she seems to be aware that I'm acting on her behalf. Due to her condition she is quite cocky and takes all the credit for the organisation of these things which is fine. But it's so sad. My brothers are really wonderful but dont have the same connection/understanding about the situation/relationship and tell me to "chill out". I know they mean well but Im trying to maintain the standards she always held high to keep her self-respect. Today i made sure the carehome dressed her in a smart xmassy outfit I'd left for her and I was so proud of her when she turned up with one of my brothers.

 I suppose what I'm trying to say is that we find ourselves in a pressurised situation to protect others, which drains us, at a time that we need to be looking after ourselves. I do worry sometimes that I will just pop, especially after the last 3 years!

I wish you and your mum well with her operation. I know it's hard, but try not to worry, because it's out of your control. Maybe that's why we worry? She knows she is loved and she is so lucky to have you. But you also need to look after yourself.

Sending positive thoughts and wishes. Let me know how it goes in January. Night night X