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[Mrslolad]

Hello ladies. I was wondering if anyone on here struggles with the estrogen part of hrt?

I’ve been on hrt for 18 months and it’s been a nightmare. During this time I have maybe one or two months where I am ok and then it all goes south again.

It’s almost as though the estrogen builds up in my system and then it’s too much. I also always feel better during the progesterone phase.

I’d love to hear from /chat to anyone who has/is experiencing the same. I feel like I’m losing my life to peri and can’t understand why hrt doesn’t work for me.

Thank you in advance

( I’ll just clarify that I have allowed the three month settling down period with each type )
X

[CLKD]

Morning.  Do U require HRT?  Think back to why you decided to trial it, which symptoms were you hoping to ease.

U could give yourself a break of 3 months to see whether your hormones have evened out.  Perhaps put the product names into the search box to read the threads?  Make notes.

[Mrslolad]

Thank you for responding. As I’m only 43 I’ve been assuming I need the hormones. I started E&P on the same day initially and had an easing of all of my many symptoms. So it’s hard to know what which hormone made me feel better.  But, looking over my journey it seems as though the E builds up and then I feel ill again and get swapped onto something else and then the whole process repeats itself.

I had searched but hadn’t found anything that sort of felt the same as my journey. Hence the post.

[AngelaH]

Hello Mrslolad,

I am in the same boat, I can’t take estrogen more than 2 days it makes me ill. Doctors call that estrogen sensitivity, but when I try to find any information what is actually means, I can’t. I think Drs use this just to name something what they don’t know themselves. When I was in peri I had estrogen dominance with all usual for that condition symptoms, so I was successfully treated with progesterone only.  Now I am postmeno and I have low estrogen symptoms, blood test shows 34, which is extremely low. I tried everything estrogen patches, gel, spray and Gina for VA, everything makes me ill, I have symptoms like too much estrogen, but it can’t be possible because my own estrogen level so low. Doctors can’t explain that and they don’t know what to do, just offer non HRT medication to treat 1 or 2 symptoms. So sorry can’t really help you with that, but I am interested in other women with estrogen sensitivity experience too.

[Mrslolad]

Gosh that sounds tough. Have you tried estriol creams. I believe estriol is weaker than estradiol so it may be better?

In my case I def think I’m leaning towards ‘too much estrogen’  ergo estrogen dominance.  It’s so bizarre. I’ve taken my patch off today because I was feeling so ill I just couldn’t take it anymore.  I guess I’m going to have to trial and error a bit more to find out which hormone I really need. 😩

[sheila99]

Can you tell us some more  of your history? What we're your symptoms initially? What dose of what hrt have you been on & for how long, which symptoms have gone, which remain and what is worse now than it was pre hrt? I'm wondering if you have too much. Hrt won't control your own hormones  in the way bcp does so you'll still have your own peaks and troughs, so you're pretty much guaranteed too have too much or too little of something at some point in your cycle. Sometimes a combined bcp is successful in early peri, is this something you've tried? Have you had any blood tests? What was it that lead you to conclude you were low in oestrogen?
 You may be right about the build up. Some of my symptoms took 3 months to go (anxiety and insomnia) so presumably they needed a build up of oestrogen.

[AngelaH]

Gosh that sounds tough. Have you tried estriol creams. I believe estriol is weaker than estradiol so it may be better?

In my case I def think I’m leaning towards ‘too much estrogen’  ergo estrogen dominance.  It’s so bizarre. I’ve taken my patch off today because I was feeling so ill I just couldn’t take it anymore.  I guess I’m going to have to trial and error a bit more to find out which hormone I really need. 😩

I haven’t tried, I was advised by meno specialist to try synthetic, I would like to see if I will have the same reaction. Probably my body doesn’t like body identical? You are still in 40s have you try synthetic?

I have similar symptoms like too much estrogen, but I know exactly with 34 is not the case.

[Mrslolad]

Can you tell us some more  of your history? What we're your symptoms initially? What dose of what hrt have you been on & for how long, which symptoms have gone, which remain and what is worse now than it was pre hrt? I'm wondering if you have too much. Hrt won't control your own hormones  in the way bcp does so you'll still have your own peaks and troughs, so you're pretty much guaranteed too have too much or too little of something at some point in your cycle. Sometimes a combined bcp is successful in early peri, is this something you've tried? Have you had any blood tests? What was it that lead you to conclude you were low in oestrogen?
 You may be right about the build up. Some of my symptoms took 3 months to go (anxiety and insomnia) so presumably they needed a build up of oestrogen.

My initial symptoms were fatigue, anxiety, nausea, hot and cold sweats, extreme joint pain, irregular periods and hair breakage.

I was told my bloods were fine by my gp but the private doctor I saw put me on hrt. I started on a 50 patch and cyclical p and things got better. But after 3 months symptoms came back so my patch was increased. This was awful and wrecked my MH so I dropped back down to the 50 and had a few good months before catching Covid and symptoms reappeared.

I was then put on two pumps of gel. Again, had a few good months and then started to feel ill again. Dose was increased and I continued to feel ill so was put back on patches. Same thing happened again so we tried sandrena which was horrible.

I was put back on patches in Nov as the doc thought the slow release might be better. Things got better but now, as I’ve hit the 3 month mark I am feeling so ill that I’ve taken the patch off.

I had bloods in Jan and my E was 500 odd but my P was 6. Doc said this was normal.

I keep a journal and going back over everything it definitely feels like the E builds up in my system and I have a brief good period and then I just feel sick all over again.

[Mrslolad]

Gosh that sounds tough. Have you tried estriol creams. I believe estriol is weaker than estradiol so it may be better?

In my case I def think I’m leaning towards ‘too much estrogen’  ergo estrogen dominance.  It’s so bizarre. I’ve taken my patch off today because I was feeling so ill I just couldn’t take it anymore.  I guess I’m going to have to trial and error a bit more to find out which hormone I really need. 😩

I haven’t tried, I was advised by meno specialist to try synthetic, I would like to see if I will have the same reaction. Probably my body doesn’t like body identical? You are still in 40s have you try synthetic?

I have similar symptoms like too much estrogen, but I know exactly with 34 is not the case.

I haven’t tried anything other than what has been prescribed. So Evorel, Oestrogel and Sandrena.  All have resulted in the same issues.

[CLKD]

Aaahhh the Covid connection which is known to have affected womens hormone levels and there is research being done.  U may find out more on-line.

As for adding hormones when on 50 then adding to 75 - it's a huge jump!  Many find that their bodies rebel and quite rightly.  Your GP should have advised increasing in increments but what do GPs know about the effects?  Blood tests are reliably un-reliable, a menopause specialist should be working on symptoms and any effects: helpful or not: on a particular HRT regime.

How were you during your periods?  It mayB that HRT is over-riding your hormones . 

[Mrslolad]

Aaahhh the Covid connection which is known to have affected womens hormone levels and there is research being done.  U may find out more on-line.

As for adding hormones when on 50 then adding to 75 - it's a huge jump!  Many find that their bodies rebel and quite rightly.  Your GP should have advised increasing in increments but what do GPs know about the effects?  Blood tests are reliably un-reliable, a menopause specialist should be working on symptoms and any effects: helpful or not: on a particular HRT regime.

How were you during your periods?  It mayB that HRT is over-riding your hormones .

Covid is an interesting one isn’t it? Especially as my peri symptoms came on after having my first booster.

Periods- pre hrt they were coming every two-3 weeks after being a 29 day cycle girl my whole life. Since hrt they vary between 28-39 days. The laonger cycles def seem to coincide with when I’m feeling ill on the E.

I think the flat dose of E and the jumping in such big increments isn’t a good thing. But all docs have just ‘pooh poohed’ my concerns.  I was willing to bow to their knowledge but after 18 months of feeling horrendous I can’t help but feel that these levels of E aren’t working for me