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[Moonstone]

Hi.  I've just joined so thought I'd pop in here to introduce myself
I'm about 2yrs into the beginning of peri-meno. A month ago started Evorel and Gepretrix - 2 weeks of Progesterone and 2 weeks off.
I've had several issues since starting this and am currently reducing the Evorel patch (by cutting it in half) to wean off it. Have already stopped the Progesterone on day 5 of the 2nd month. I am hugely concerned it's causing me seizure-like episodes. I've had 3 so far and numerous secondary episodes of erratic/fast heartbeat and lightheadedness.
I am truly frightened at the moment, and I'm not someone who gets frightened.. especially about medical things.
I did see a GP the first time the episodes happened: she doesn't think it's anything to do with HRT - has never seen or heard of anything like it before. She advised me to go to A&E the next time it happened. I did on the 3rd episode but was treated so badly, basically the Dr in A&E told me I was a woman of a certain age (51) and going through meno and all this was due to that and all in my head.
I worry about coming off HRT, so I'm going to reduce the patch over the next couple weeks by half each time I change it. I hope that won't cause any other issues on top of what I already have.
Am hoping there will be some nuggets of wisdom here to do with alternative options as perhaps that would be best for me.

[jaypo]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
What were your seizures like exactly? Erratic heartbeat and palpitations are par for the course in menopause.
Disgusting behaviour from A&E and somewhat patronising too 

[Moonstone]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
What were your seizures like exactly? Erratic heartbeat and palpitations are par for the course in menopause.
Disgusting behaviour from A&E and somewhat patronising too 

Hi Jaypo. Thank you
The episodes are always at night (about 3 hours after the Progesterone pills).  I get fidgetty, my arms and legs stop working (ataxia), I can't raise them up, can't walk etc. My speech slurs as if drunk (I don't drink), I 'phase' out.. I go blank and my husband can't get a reaction from me.  I also lose memory of the event.  It's very frightening. The other issues with erratic heart etc I wonder maybe anxiety attacks (never had one before this trip to A&E), so I think the issue with these seizure-like events has caused me anxiety which is showing itself now
Its these events that my GP says she's never heard of in relation to HRt or meno. 

[jaypo]

Personally,I'd be going back to the Dr,you need to be referred to a specialist. Panic attacks can cause all sorts of symptoms,they can mimic heart attacks and all sorts.
Can't advise on the HRT as I've never been on it but it sounds as if it's the culprit,don't let it run on my lovely x

[CLKD]

Your GP should be referring you to a specialist,  not simply saying that she 'isn't aware'.   . That, as well as the treatment in A&E, are deplorable and need reporting to the Secretary of State for Health in the new government.  Also a note to the Practice Manager, the British Menopause Society and your local MP.

PHEW!  I am tamping   

Keeping a note of your symptoms/food intake etc. will give U an idea of what to discuss at your appts..   I would be phoning the Hospital to see which Dept I would need to be referred to!

[Moonstone]

Hi.  I thought I would update this thread in case it helps anyone else in the future.

I have determined that my reactions to the progesterone, Gepretix, was anaphylactic shock.

I am allergic to all nuts, and although I had read the PIL of Gepretix.. I totally missed one line on there stating do not take this medication if allergic to peanuts or soy lecithin.  My previous anaphylactic attacks have been due to touching an allergen (eating a nut etc), so the reaction was on the skin and throat. This is very different as the allergen (peanut), was ingested and the capsule is time release. So the reaction is not on the skin but inside, in the stomach, and this maybe goes to the blood stream, and (for me at least), went through the blood-brain-barrier so caused the neurological symptoms.

So, I start my search again now to see if there are other forms of progesterone I can take.   This site is a wealth of information!

[CLKD]

Interesting!  Shows how carefully 1 has to read packets etc..   Is the warning in bold print as in foodstuffs?

How R U feeling now?

[jaypo]

You'd think something THAT important would be in very big letters 

[CLKD]

Get that info onto your medical records and mayB treat yourself to an SOS bracelet and necklace to put those details into.  I have SOS because I am a body donor  - SOS recognised World Wide.

There are also SOS detail tabs to put into trainers/cycling shoes and helmets so that if an athlete is unconscious all the details are there.

I'm also allergic to Penicillin - apparently