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[sookie252]

Hello

I am forty and in the Peri stage. Complete psycho and all over the place.

Doctor started me on the patches and all was going well been on them 4 months but finding using the conti patches a killer and feeling back to square one on them.

She suggested using a whole patch. So it was my time to use my 1st whole 50 patch and my god I've felt awful, tight chest, palpatations, sore head, crippling anxiety and feeling low!

Will this pass or is this too much oestrogen for me just now? Literally only had it on a day but I feel like I'm dying 😭

[CLKD]

Morning.     It is usual for GPs to suggest upping HRT doses without considering the effects!  All at once may over-ride your own hormones and may also be 'too much' at once.

What R your periods up to?  Which dose has helped until now?  Some find that cutting patches so they use a whole and a bit of a dose ....... depending on which regime has been suggested.  Others have kept on the same dose but added a little extra every i.e. 3rd night.

Do U keep a mood/food/symptom diary and do you feel supported by your GP?  There are options of dedicated menopause clinics - not Gynaes - so getting onto a waiting list mayB an idea, the appt can be cancelled if necessary if U feel better.

Do U need to work?  get yourself into the shade and rest, this will pass ....... personally I would miss a couple of doses to let my body settle, I"m sure some1 will be along with better advice ;-)

[sookie252]

Forgot to mention I was on half a patch 🙈 fine with the oestrogen only one but not great on the conti with both hormones

[KaraShannon]

Forgot to mention I was on half a patch 🙈 fine with the oestrogen only one but not great on the conti with both hormones

This is me, I have some undesirable symptoms on the conti patch but doctor said 'in theory' this doesn't happen, so I suppose it doesn't and it's in my head (sarcasm)

You are a lot younger than me though and shouldn't have to put up with conti causing these problems, I expect someone more experienced with hrt treatments will respond, but my first impression is you are sensitive to the progesterone in the conti patch (norehisterone). 

When I first started on evorel sequi I liked the conti patches more, they seemed to free up energy in me.  Now they do the opposite.  I think that's as a result of my oestrogen dropping over the last few years.  Maybe it was too high at the start and so the conti patch balanced me out better.  I don't know.  Now I am better on the estradiol only patches. 

If you cannot get on with conti at all there are other options but I don't think there are patch options for any other progesterone.  There is a tablet (Utrogestan) which can be taken orally or vaginally.  I'm going to give that another go soon as I need to increase my oestrogen and will need more progesterone to balance it. 

You'll get there, it's not fair to be dealing with this at 40 but once you have the treatment that works for you I think you'll feel better, it's a bit of trial and error at first.

[sookie252]

I'm thinking the progesterone but I wonder if maybe I could keep my half patch of 50 and try full on the conti. If that fails I'll go back. I've been sensitive to hormones my whole life. Even my own ones.

I think I may have PMDD but blood tests showed my hormones in the peri direction so was willing to try anything at this point to feel normal. I've took my full patch off today and honestly feel a bit calmer will resume with my half tomorrow.

Im aware my period is due now so this also is why I'm in psychotic mode. As I've just changed my patch on Sunday from the half conti to full 50.

I think the 50 is still to much oestrogen I know I should stick with it but genuinely had the worst night sweating all night and thinking he world was ending.

Honestly hate hormones they are ruining my life just now.

[sheila99]

If you feel bad on the conti patches you'd be better with the oestrogen only patches and a separate progestogen, usually utrogeston as it's body identical. Some people just don't tolerate norethisterone well. You should have the same dose of oestrogen all the time.

[sookie252]

Yeah I am thinking along these lines but I think I have to follow what the doctor suggests to try and if fails goes back. Not sure was a fight of a few years to get this far until I met a lovely lady doctor who completely sympathised and listened! She's been amazing. I guess it's all trial and error!

My partner thinks I'm crazy I'm sure he just doesn't understand.

[bombsh3ll]

You don't have to follow what anyone suggests - it is your health and your choice.

I would simply go back, explain in a confident and assertive manner that the combined patches are not meeting your needs, and you would prefer to use separate estrogen only patches with body identical micronised progesterone.

If your doctor has a problem with this, they clearly lack the skill set to effectively manage menopause anyway, and the best thing you can do is find someone willing to partner with you to work out the most suitable treatment option for you as an individual.

Whilst combined patches can offer convenience, they contain a fixed low dose of estrogen and a progestin known to be quite harsh in terms of side effect profile.

You may be pleasantly surprised and find she is happy to help.

[0132sarah]

Hi I am very sensitive to progesterone, jsut got back fro the GP and have been given the evorel patches (oestrogen only). I have the progesterone tablets, they are so much better. Much more similar to the body's progesterone we create naturally.

Wheres the combined patches are more likely to have side effects as the progesterone is more synthesised. If you are sensitive to progesterone I strongly recommend the tablet form. Very safe, and keep the Oestrogen as a patch or the gel. Whichever suits you better and absorbs well.

The gel is great, only downside is it takes forever to dry and I admit I am an impatient person.

I hope this helps

[0132sarah]

Hi I am very sensitive to progesterone, jsut got back fro the GP and have been given the evorel patches (oestrogen only). I have the progesterone tablets, they are so much better. Much more similar to the body's progesterone we create naturally.

Wheres the combined patches are more likely to have side effects as the progesterone is more synthesised. If you are sensitive to progesterone I strongly recommend the tablet form. Very safe, and keep the Oestrogen as a patch or the gel. Whichever suits you better and absorbs well.

The gel is great, only downside is it takes forever to dry and I admit I am an impatient person.

I hope this helps

[flo69]

I've been sensitive to hormones my whole life. Even my own ones. I think I may have PMDD

Honestly hate hormones they are ruining my life just now.

When I read those words I think that is very like me.

I'm on tibolone, I highly recommend it. It just removes the crazy and gives you energy to do things again without stressing. Your GP might argue that it is meant for post menopausal ladies, so you can point out all HRT is meant for post meno ladies, it's given to women in peri regardless.

Tibolone is no different except it's banned in the US for doping athletes, that shouldn't mean women must suffer, but it certainly denies millions a really good effective medicine.

I believe it is your human right to be given a medicine that will work, keep trying them, it's hell, but you'll find the one for you.

[Booroo]

Forgot to mention I was on half a patch 🙈 fine with the oestrogen only one but not great on the conti with both hormones

This is me, I have some undesirable symptoms on the conti patch but doctor said 'in theory' this doesn't happen, so I suppose it doesn't and it's in my head (sarcasm)

You are a lot younger than me though and shouldn't have to put up with conti causing these problems, I expect someone more experienced with hrt treatments will respond, but my first impression is you are sensitive to the progesterone in the conti patch (norehisterone). 

When I first started on evorel sequi I liked the conti patches more, they seemed to free up energy in me.  Now they do the opposite.  I think that's as a result of my oestrogen dropping over the last few years.  Maybe it was too high at the start and so the conti patch balanced me out better.  I don't know.  Now I am better on the estradiol only patches. 

If you cannot get on with conti at all there are other options but I don't think there are patch options for any other progesterone.  There is a tablet (Utrogestan) which can be taken orally or vaginally.  I'm going to give that another go soon as I need to increase my oestrogen and will need more progesterone to balance it. 

You'll get there, it's not fair to be dealing with this at 40 but once you have the treatment that works for you I think you'll feel better, it's a bit of trial and error at first.

Femseven conti is different as same progesterone as the mirena

[bombsh3ll]

The thing is with femseven you would be expected to keep one patch on for a WEEK.

Good luck with that!

I agree tibolone is a good option for the progestogen intolerant.

The androgen component also makes it a great threefer!

However you would need to say that you were postmenopausal.

It is in no way medically unsafe if still menstruating, although it would be unwise to conceive on it, this practice is simply based on outdated beliefs about sequential HRT producing a regular bleed pattern.