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[Tez]

Hi everyone,
I took my first day of Livial last week, only half a tablet, and within 20 mins my stomach was gurgling, and within 30 mins I had severe diarrhoea which lasted 3-4 hours. I also had non stop belching during the same time.  I felt very unwell to the point of nearly calling an ambulance, as I felt extremely unwell and was thinking I may have been having some kind of allergic reaction.  Just wondering if anyone else has had similar experience on the first day, and if this is possibly a normal reaction for some people?

I had decided not to ever have one of these tablets again, however, that night I fell asleep (without even realising it) when sitting on my bed, and slept for 12 hours, in the most amazing, enjoyable, restful sleep I had had in years. Then, this next day since having the tablet, I felt AMAZING!! I felt so young, bright, clear headed, energetic, happy, and what I remember to be ‘normal’!  I felt so good, without it being overwhelming, that it has made me reconsider trying the tablets again, however I am still very cautious after the initial reaction I had, where something seemed to be seriously wrong.

I have scrolled through as many Livial threads on this site that I have been able to find so far, and while some talk about ongoing gastric troubles with stomach pain etc, I have seen none that fit the issues I was having, as a first day experience.  If anyone can share any insight, or have experienced the same, I’d love to know.  Haven’t been game to have another tablet since, as of yet.

Note: Post menopause (just).

[CLKD]

Morning.  How awful.  Your body was rejecting something!

R U able to remember your last bleed, 12 months ago or further?

I would avoid anything that I believed was causing such a reaction!

[Tez]

Yes, me too, and thanks for your reply. It was quite concerning…however, the thought of never feeling the fantastic I did the day after, again, is playing on my mind. (I sound like someone who’s just taken drugs for the first time lol).  But at the end of the day, I guess I will always be too scared after that first reaction. Unless, of course, I find out it’s happened to lots of people and it subsides.  But if it’s some kind of allergic reaction or such, then I guess I’m doomed to never feel great again, lol.  Very odd to be so unwell initially, but then fantastic the following day. It’s left me in such confusion! Two extremes!

I have been back to the doctor, and she had never heard anyone having this type of reaction.  So glad I didn’t take the full tablet!

Bleeds…last one was just over 12 months ago, and in the 12 months before that, I had only had one random bleed after 10 months of nothing. 

[SundayGirl]

Do you have any intolerances to anything? Just asking as the symptoms you had are extremely similar to lactose intolerance.

[Tez]

No lactose intolerances that I am aware of. My doctor asked me if I was lactose intolerant, as she also thought it sounded like that, to which I replied no, not that I know of!  From my google search, I also thought it sounds like lactose intolerance, but I have never had any issues with milk or cheeses, and I have had other medications in the past which also had lactose as an ingredient. So oddly, despite perfectly fitting the symptoms, I don’t think it could be it.  Unless 3 months of using Estrogel has somehow created a new intolerance in me…but again, still no issue with milk or anything else.

[Tez]

And I’ll just add, I had stopped taking the Estrogel, in order to take the Livial.  Wasn’t taking both at the same time.

[CLKD]

I would go in to speak to a Pharmacist, ask them if they are able to check adverse reactions. 

[Tez]

Good idea. Will do.

[CLKD]

Let us know!

this can be reported on the Yellow Card system too. 

[flo69]

I had stomach issues the second time I took tibolone but not the first time. Tibolone isn't used directly by your body, everything from tibolone is metabolised first into natural molecules that the body uses to stop the menopause symptoms.

I don't think that would happen inside 20 minutes, but I may be wrong.

I'd say it's a reaction to a filler, try a different brand next time?

I've been on tibolone since 2023 with some initial stomach issues, now resolved.
In 2022 I had no side effects whatsoever for the 8 months I took it that year, but was forced to take a break by the GP.

I'd really recommend you try it for a few days. It does indeed make you feel "normal" in a way I'd close to forgotten about.

I think we all want to feel normal again, that's a good HRT reaction.

[CLKD]

Feeling normal would be great !  Hormones however  I felt ill during my menstruation years, I think 1 week out of 4 I was OK.  Otherwise it was background feeling of unwellness.

How R we this. morning?

[CLKD]

I will add: 10 mins B4 each bleed I would have to 'dash' to the loo even when. a period wasn't due!  As well as nausea, huge clots [any1 who suggests we lose a teaspoonful of blood wants their head putting down the loo  ], excruciating pains  . As well as B4 a bleed I would be intensely thirsty!

[Tez]

Thanks flo69.  Yes, I feel it was a reaction to something, perhaps a filler, rather than a general side effect.  I guess I’m more particularly concerned, as one of the reasons I was trying Livial, is that I had severe reactions to the Prometrium (the body identical natural progesterone we get here in Australia).  I tried that for a few nights, but it wasn’t safe to keep going. I had severe diarrhoea within the hour (even if I used vaginally), very fast heart rate, very weak pulse, no circulation, and would become extremely cold and shaking, weak, unable to stand up…it was like I was having some sort of shock response.  So there was no question, I could not take it.  Which meant, I couldn’t keep using the the Estrogel.  Now this response was far more severe than the Livial, as the Livial really only gave me the diarrhoea, and none of the other frightening responses.  But because it was similar to the beginning of the progesterone responses, it left me worried I was going to have another shock response. Hence…all my questions and hesitations.

The interesting thing however, despite Prometrium and Livial being completely different medications, my research has found that they are both made from the same plant…the wild yam plant/mexican yam plant. So I’m concerned I may have an allergy to the yam plant, lol.  However, if side effects from Livial may just be some stomach issues that may not even last, then I’m happy to trial it through.  The Prometrium has left me cautious about this though.

After all that….I haven’t tried it again yet, as….I did end up having some serious trouble with the Estrogel before I stopped it, in that it was great for first month, I was a new person, but then I started having some episodes of blurry vision, and slurred speech…the last one my son actually thought I may have been having a stroke. As did I actually.  It lasted a few mins and then I was ok.  I felt these episodes were related to the Estrogel, so I trialled a couple of days without… no episodes, started the Estrogel up again, episodes returned within 48 hours.  So after the last episode, I decided that was it, never having the Estrogel again.  It’s been gee, must be nearly 2 weeks now, no Estrogel and no blurry vision episodes!  So at the second, I’m enjoying feeling “safe” and having a rest from everything.  Still keen to try the Livial again, just being super hesitant atm. 

[Tez]

Sorry to hear that CLKD, and I agree on your thoughts re the teaspoon claims!  I guess I was pretty lucky, I barely had any problems with periods.  The worst I could say, is that a day or two beforehand, I would feel just “a little bit blah”, and at the worst I might have gotten almost teary if I was feeling “fat”, and would feel, sorry for myself for a day… and that was my very worst, my whole life. So you would think, I wouldn’t have such a bad reaction to natural progesterone, but I do.  Apart from the physical reactions I described in above reply to flo69, it also gave me severe depression…like really baaaaad.

Haven’t been to the chemist to check on adverse reactions re Livial, yet, only because, I really can’t be bothered yet, and have little energy again, being off all hrt and just slugging it out with nothing! Just my general menopause lack of motivation…. Sigh

[flo69]

I think Livial is completely synthetic with any yams being harmed, I just checked the wiki page and it doesn't say  but I'm fairly sure, anyone else know?

When you start taking it every day it should give you that energy you are after, it enhances testosterone production (instead of shutting it down like harsher progestins do).