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[JoP]

Hi
I need some advice please. I have been on HRT since October last year. I saw a private specialist at the beginning of March and she changed my medication. I am on Estradot 100mg and she advised taking Utrogestan 100mg continuously vaginally. I am 51 and was spotting constantly. This stopped the spotting.  She also recommended I have a blood test for testosterone which I did. My next appt with her is at the beginning of June but my symptoms seem the be getting worse. Symptoms such as severe anxiety, anger, tearfulness. Lack of confidence. Lack of motivation. I have a high pressured job and I even went to see my boss this week to step down from my position and give it all up. I just feel at the end of my tether. And I’m considering stopping the HRT altogether or carry on in the hope it will get better. I just want the old me back. Just unsure what to do for the best.  Whether anyone else is feeling that it isn’t working? I don't want to stop it and be a hundred times worse than I am now tho xx any help appreciated.

[ToriiJ]

Hi, I’m sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. I’m hoping someone will be along to offer you some advice but just wanted to offer my solidarity. I’m not sure whether to stop HRT either, it’s all so confusing.

This forum has been a lifesaver to me, all the advice and wisdom has been far more than I could ever hope to get from my GP!

I hope you find the answers and just wanted to let you know you’re not alone x

[JoP]

Thanks so much. That means a lot xx

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Jo. I am sorry to hear you are feeling this way. I am wondering if the 100 estradot may be too high for you. Did you feel any benefit while you increased to the 100?

There is also the possibility you are feeling low and anxious due to the ultrogestan as some women do seem to feel this way on it

[JoP]

Hello Jo. I am sorry to hear you are feeling this way. I am wondering if the 100 estradot may be too high for you. Did you feel any benefit while you increased to the 100?

There is also the possibility you are feeling low and anxious due to the ultrogestan as some women do seem to feel this way on it

Hi
Thanks for your reply. The only time I actually felt better was in the first two to three months of starting the HRT. Then in January I went back to square one. The patch was increased from 50 to 75 but no change. It was then increased to 100 at the beginning of March.
To be perfectly honest I have felt worse than ever since the beginning of this year.
I’ve also developed problems with my breathing like I can’t catch my breath. Not sure whether it is all related.
Also not sure whether I have given enough time to let things work.
I just don’t know what to do for the best really.
Jo

[Flossieteacake]

I am just wondering if the dose of 100 may be too much for you.

So sorry to hear you have felt poorly for a while. You mention trouble with your breathing. Is it possible you have asthma? Have you ever had covid as the trouble with the breathing may be long covid.

I can understand your dilemma. I know it can take time to find a HRT that suits so it could be you are not on the right one for you. If you have other things going on such as long covid then this will be making you feel unwell too.

[Julesie]

There is also the Mirena Coil that delivers into the immediate area and bypasses the stomach.

Most women stop HRT due to the progesterone part either patch or by ingestion and it's the latter that can cause the most problems. I can't do either product due to progesterone resistance/endometriosis and it was Utrogestan in particular that caused the most horrible gastro upset, PMDD and stroke like symptoms.

If the stomach is already a problem due to  IBS for instance or lack of acid production from Omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors there can be a B12 and iron deficiency as they both need an acid environment to be metabolised.

In fact, there is a new product called Gina, an oestrogen gel that is used transvaginally with an applicator so the market is changing as more women are becoming resistant to HRT absorption via patch or gel.

Breathing problems on HRT must be taken to a GP or menopause consultant ASAP. You may be progesterone resistant in conjunction with estrogen dominance.

[Betsy123]

JoP I have the same issue with catching breath. I do think its caused  by the progesterone. I have tried using it vaginally on alternative nights as prescribed off licence however still had the breathing episodes.  This led on to panic attacks for me which were dreadful. I'm currently trying oestragen only for 4 weeks, as advised by a nurse in AnE to see if the anxiety subsides. So far I do find it's made it slightly easier. I am awaiting an appointment with the menapause clinic which I hope is soon as I understand progesterone is necessary to protect the womb.
I was fine on sequi for 2 years although had the same issues when I tried to go back to that.  It seems to be the balance in both maybe.  Please keep updating and I will do the same, hope you feel better soon as I know the feeling of just wanting to quit it all.

[Mary G]

JoP, I think you probably need to consider switching to a different HRT regime rather than ditching it entirely.

We have more women on here with Utrogestan problems than any other medication.  It really isn't well tolerated, probably because most women take too high a dose in one hit.   You could try using 1 x 100mg vaginally every other day and see if you have any improvement.  If not, you could switch to a different form of progesterone.

Have you always used Estradot?  I would be inclined to switch to Oestrogel because it absorbs well and it's dose flexible which is very important.  I found patches gave me an unstable dose of oestrogen because they didn't stick properly.

Breathing difficulties and not being able to catch your breath is another symptom that comes up on here a lot.   Sometimes it's caused by a sudden hit of oestrogen or hormone instability.

Sorry to hear that it's affected your work.   What type of HRT did you take before?

[JoP]

JoP I have the same issue with catching breath. I do think its caused  by the progesterone. I have tried using it vaginally on alternative nights as prescribed off licence however still had the breathing episodes.  This led on to panic attacks for me which were dreadful. I'm currently trying oestragen only for 4 weeks, as advised by a nurse in AnE to see if the anxiety subsides. So far I do find it's made it slightly easier. I am awaiting an appointment with the menapause clinic which I hope is soon as I understand progesterone is necessary to protect the womb.
I was fine on sequi for 2 years although had the same issues when I tried to go back to that.  It seems to be the balance in both maybe.  Please keep updating and I will do the same, hope you feel better soon as I know the feeling of just wanting to quit it all.

Hi Betsy123.
Thanks for replying. I feel I may make another appt at the menopause clinic.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
There really is some good advice on here and it does make you feel like you aren’t alone x
Will keep you updated. Please make sure you do too. Hope you feel better soon too
Thanks again x

[JoP]

JoP, I think you probably need to consider switching to a different HRT regime rather than ditching it entirely.

We have more women on here with Utrogestan problems than any other medication.  It really isn't well tolerated, probably because most women take too high a dose in one hit.   You could try using 1 x 100mg vaginally every other day and see if you have any improvement.  If not, you could switch to a different form of progesterone.

Have you always used Estradot?  I would be inclined to switch to Oestrogel because it absorbs well and it's dose flexible which is very important.  I found patches gave me an unstable dose of oestrogen because they didn't stick properly.

Breathing difficulties and not being able to catch your breath is another symptom that comes up on here a lot.   Sometimes it's caused by a sudden hit of oestrogen or hormone instability.

Sorry to hear that it's affected your work.   What type of HRT did you take before?

Hi Mary
Before the Estradot. I was on Evorel first 50 and then 75. I will try the utrogestan every other day and see how I go.
I am also considering going to see another specialist. Since I asked to be referred my GP surgery seem to have washed their hands of me. Every time o contact them they say speak to your specialist 🙄
I will keep you updated. But thanks so much for your advice xx

[Peanut31]

Hi

I started HRT back in June last year and decided to stop it early January as I just couldn’t take the anxiety, l loss my confidence, even driving became a major issue, and my body hangs ups were magnified as I gained weight.

The final straw was when I spoke to my son who’s at university as he did an exam and felt he didn’t do well, after the call I got it into my head he was going to do something stupid and had what I can only describe as a panic attack (something I have never experienced before, may thoughts were dark and no positive thoughts could counteract them.

Once I stopped HRT,  I felt so much better, but I will say I do need a kind of boost with my moods as although the anxiety has stopped and I’m not anxious anymore,  I don’t feel great.

At first i felt great.

I spoke with my menopause clinic and they said to try progesterone vaginally and take 100mg 14 days on 14 days off and go back to 2 pumps of oestrogen.

As I am peri menopausal I don’t know if I need 2 pumps and wonder if this didn’t help either.

I have not started HRT again and to be honest those dark thought have frightened me, and I don’t want to go back to them.

Best wishes
Peanut31