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[Sgoddard]

Hi, this is my first post. I am 44 and started Estradot 50s with Mirena coil on 16th April.  After about 5 days I started getting a lot of pressure in my legs and my veins look really obvious. I felt really jittery and anxious. I was scared I was going to burst a vein or something, so I lowered the dose (I cut the patch in half). I saw a different doctor, and she agreed I should carry on with the half patch for now. Has anyone else experienced anything like this, and if so did it improve as you got used to the HRT? My peri symptoms are all still happening with half a patch, I'm worried I won't be able to increase the dose in future....

[CLKD]

Hi.     it may take a while for the body to adjust to replacement therapy.  What did the GP think was the cause of the 'pressure'?

Is there anything in the leaflet in the box?  Hopefully some1 will be along with advice.

[Sgoddard]

Thanks for responding!

The GP agreed, it seems to be the dilation effect from the estradiol. I have some quite visable veins in my legs that seem to be getting stretched too much 

The patient leaflet for the Estradot says 1 in 1000 people can get 'tingling in the hands and feet'. This is the nearest to my symptoms, but mine were worse than just tingling.

[CLKD]

MayB keep a mood/food/symptom diary to work from?

It's the Trial and Error that is so tiring.

[Flyeagle3366]

Hello from the U.S. I'd probably get a 2nd opinion if you can rather quickly. I've been on Estradiol patch lowest dose 0.025 & Micronized Progesterone USP capsule vaginally inserted at bedtime for 11 months. At month 6 I started having lower calf pain & cramps very severe. Fast forward to month 11 & I have constant severe bilateral leg tightness, stiffness, pressure, pins & needles pain, foot pain, muscle cramps & spasms, weakness & heaviness in legs top to bottom!! My menopause specialist says it's not the HRT but I disagree because I've had no injuries & HRT is the only thing different. Then she tells me to go to the emergency room to rule out deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. She then tells me to get a work up for vascular disease, orthopedic to rule out back & nerve issues, possible neurological issues, etc. My primary care says it's the HRT & that it's fibromyalgia. I'm going next week for another opinion from a top rated private functional doctor in my area. I believe it's from the HRT in my case. Estradiol & Progesterone can both cause these symptoms. I'm NOT on synthetic estrogen or synthetic progestins either. HRT can create blood vessels to dilate & cause vascular issues especially in perimenopausal women when we still have some hormones anyway. Please get another opinion. I'm stopping all HRT until we figure out what's going on. Also, Mirena coil & all synthetic birth control has higher risk for your type of symptoms & much more. It's not safe to continue if your veins are looking like that as it's a sign of vascular disease & you don't want to develop deep vein thrombosis.

[Sgoddard]

Thank you for replying Flyeagle3366!
I'm so sorry to hear of your bad experience, I hope you get things sorted out. Please let us know how you get on. It seems quite a rare problem, so it is good to share your experience.

Since I halved my Estradot patch my veins have calmed right down. I am taking this seriously, will be reviewed in a few weeks with a private GP who is menopause sympathetic.

I am so worried this will mean my HRT options will be very limited in future. I have Osteoporosis and various other health issues that would benefit from the hormones. But obviously this will be a no go if it cause venous insufficiency 

Best wishes 

[sheila99]

Jittery and anxious are symptoms of too much oestrogen so it's good you reduced. You're only 44 so you're probably producing a fair amount of oestrogen yourself too (assuminv you aren't in early meno). I wouldn't worry about it yet. You're still able to take hrt and it's quite possible as your body gets used to this you'll be able to tolerate more, also as your own supply diminishes. I would wait awhile then try increasing the size of the patch little by little. I think they recommend 50mcg for osteoporosis, with your own supply added you may be getting an equivalent amount.

[Sgoddard]

Thanks Sheila, I really hope you are right!

I'm just worried that if I stay on it I will cause long term damage to my veins, even if I feel OK 

It seems to be such a rare problem. I have a few dodgy looking leg veins, but nothing that bad. I haven't had children - I assume most women who go on HRT will have had babies, and pregnancy is well-known to cause varicose veins. So I would have thought my veins would be in a better state than most women starting HRT.

[rferdi]

Hi Sgoddard,
Did your leg veins get better, I hope you found the cause of the problem? I may be in a very similar situation as you now with my leg veins and HRT. Would love an update if you read this
Thank you x

[FiftyFifty]

Hello from the U.S. I'd probably get a 2nd opinion if you can rather quickly. I've been on Estradiol patch lowest dose 0.025 & Micronized Progesterone USP capsule vaginally inserted at bedtime for 11 months. At month 6 I started having lower calf pain & cramps very severe. Fast forward to month 11 & I have constant severe bilateral leg tightness, stiffness, pressure, pins & needles pain, foot pain, muscle cramps & spasms, weakness & heaviness in legs top to bottom!! My menopause specialist says it's not the HRT but I disagree because I've had no injuries & HRT is the only thing different. Then she tells me to go to the emergency room to rule out deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. She then tells me to get a work up for vascular disease, orthopedic to rule out back & nerve issues, possible neurological issues, etc. My primary care says it's the HRT & that it's fibromyalgia. I'm going next week for another opinion from a top rated private functional doctor in my area. I believe it's from the HRT in my case. Estradiol & Progesterone can both cause these symptoms. I'm NOT on synthetic estrogen or synthetic progestins either. HRT can create blood vessels to dilate & cause vascular issues especially in perimenopausal women when we still have some hormones anyway. Please get another opinion. I'm stopping all HRT until we figure out what's going on. Also, Mirena coil & all synthetic birth control has higher risk for your type of symptoms & much more. It's not safe to continue if your veins are looking like that as it's a sign of vascular disease & you don't want to develop deep vein thrombosis.

Thank you, this is so relevant to me and I wish I'd found this thread sooner. (I searched for an answer on my laptop and this didn't come up, it only came up on my phone)  I'd love to know how you got on after stopping hrt. I've been on it nearly 3 months but was lowering (the already low) Oestrogel. I didn't know the Utrogestan could cause this too. I'm stopping now and hoping my veins don't get any worse.

Thanks again.