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[Peanut1109]

Please can someone help me? I am on 4 pumps of HRT Gel and 100mg progesterone tablet daily, my nipples have been painful for 2 weeks now - fully erect and verging on dark purple, they are that sore. Its really painful and distracting - its all i can think about, plus the fact that you can see them nearly all the time. They arent just sore, they are painful, painful to touch, painful when i move - even painful when i am sitting doing nothing.

Is there anything i can do? Im wearing a soft un-wired bra but its not helping, ill try anything, just please can someone help me 

[CLKD]

R U using every night? I would drop the amount of gel ....... how long have U been using 4?  Does the nipple pain coincide with the increase?

MayB go back to 2 for a few nights then increase gradually?

Also take some pain relief. 

[Peanut1109]

I started on 1 pump a day and the tablet, last week my DR upped it to 4 and the tablet. I told her about all the things that were happening but she didnt seem interested.

They just dont seem right, painfully swollen, dark purple and red hot T_T

[CLKD]

How long were U on 1 pump and how did U feel?

Why did your GP think it OK to jump from 1 HRT dose to 4 ...........

What R your periods doing?  I would go back to the 1 for at least 7 days then increase on every 3rd night to 2.  MayB keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress.

U can also put the product names into the search box on the forum and read any threads that pop up.

[sheila99]

Did you go straight from 1 pump to 4? Can you tell us when you increased and by how much? Sore boobs are usually from too much oestrogen or from too big an increase. If they're hot and inflamed perhaps infection or mastitis? I think this would be unusual though, more likely to be oestrogen related imo.

[Peanut1109]

i increased from 1 to 4 last Wednesday. i have been on the gel since middle of October - i was supposed to increase to 2 pumps a day, but because of the mood swings i hadnt. i told the DR this and she said she wanted me to increase up to 4 straight away.

I think im going to go back to 1 and build up from there. They were painful before but nothing like they are now

[CLKD]

Too much too soon - mayB check your prescription with the pharmacist?

Go back to 1 and see how you feel.  Why did U increase anyway?  Your GP needs educating!

[sheila99]

That is a huge increase, I'm not surprised you're suffering. I agree it's sensible to go back to 1 pump. The normal advice is to stay on a dose for 3 months as that's how long it to work for some symptoms. Flushes usually go within a couple of weeks but my anxiety and insomnia took the full 3 months. It's best to increase slowly and given your boobs we're already sore perhaps half a pump at a time would be better than one. What symptoms do you still have? I would be a bit sceptical about her knowledge of meno, I don't know any other doctor who advise such a big increase.

[Peanut1109]

The only symptom i was having previous was vaginal dryness and pain with sex. I am 40 and have never had any form of hormone treatment before and i have never started my periods. The GP was adamant that i would be fine, but her advice was that because i have been so long with no hormones, it was going to take me longer to adjust. She said she needed me to go up to 4 immediately and that she would review after a few months. Ive just put a request in via my GPS office to see someone else about it.

Now, i have the pain in my boobs, mood swings, bloating  and nausea. I know its important i get the hormones, but right now i feel a lot worse off for it. Oh and i have awful migraines, which i thought co-incided with what my brain was thinking should be a period (nearly a full week of migraines every month/ 2 months) they have come back with avengance - but she said the estrogen would solve them.

Im so fed up, i know i am not alone with what im going through, but i dont have a big support network

[CLKD]

If U went to the GP what was the discussion?  Did U mention your dry vagina?

Your GP should have prescribed appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment immediately.  No need for blood tests or examinations. I would ring the Surgery in the morning 2 ask for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic as your GP doesn't seem to understand that gentle increase is important. 

[Peanut1109]

The appointment was after a particularly traumatising smear, the nurses made me an appointment with the GP for the next day. She did bloods and they showed i had nearly zero estrogen in my system, so from there she prescribed me the gel, tablet and a pessary for the vaginal atrophy.
I didnt get on with the pessary - but the gel helped with that anyway, so i dont use them.I booked back in last week to explain how i was feeling mood swings etc and thats when she upped it. I spoke to my mum because i found it weird and she agreed.
i have submitted an appointment request so hopefully i can get seen by someone tomorrow and if she tells me to carry on i will be asking to see someone else - or at least be referred to a specialist

[CLKD]

What bothers you about the pessary?  Eventually you may/not require more VA treatment.  Some manage with HRT others need more localised insertion to 'get to the point' of the dryness ;-).

let us know how you get on

[Banjo1973]

Sorry you're having such an awful time Peanut.

I agree with all the others on here, that jump is ludicrous.

The best thing about oestrogel is that you can adjust it by half a pump and see how you go.

For a GP to quadruple your dose is horrific - but when we're in a vulnerable place sometimes we just accept what the GP says.

Please keep us updated, you have a support network on here xxx

[Peanut1109]

Thank you so much, i feel better knowing that i have people who understand and are supportive!

I have an appointment Monday 9a.m, so hopefuly will get some good news

As for the pessary - im not sure if i was having a reaction to it, but my whole area was burning and tingling after using it, so i stopped

[CLKD]

Some times when the area is dry and sore there may be irritation.  Occasionally it's a reaction to the fillers or packaging rather than the active ingredient.

Let us know how you get on.?