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Author Topic: Can't take HRT. What else?  (Read 339 times)

CrispyChick

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Can't take HRT. What else?
« on: August 22, 2025, 10:08:49 AM »

Right ladies.

I'm on cerazette (75mg desogestral) to control my horrific peri cycle. I'm hoping I've finally supressed, as my FSH was 4.5.

However, it's leaning me with very low E - pain in my joints and my neck. Hot flushes. Low mood.

So I tried very low dose HRT. Started on 1/4 conti patch. Then upped to half on Mon. It really helps the pain etc.

But boom Ive triggered two of my reactive symptoms which always trigger when I move my hormones. It's crazy. But I'm now in a lot of severe abdominal pain (nothing structurally wrong - be een thoroughly checked before). My feeling is I have MCAS (mast cell issues).

So. I intend to see someone that specialises in HRT in people with MCAS.

But, in the meantime I've had to stop the HRT as previous experience has taught me that I have to stop the offending item for my abdomen pain to calm. Gutted.

Just the actual of changing hormones makes me feel very poorly. So I'm back to weeks of reset again, plus back to low E symptoms.

What else can I try to help my low E stuff???? Primarily the pain in my wrists, back, neck and shoulders?

Many thanks.
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dangermouse

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Re: Can't take HRT. What else?
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2025, 04:03:11 PM »

Hi Crispy,

It wouldn’t be endometriosis would it? Oestrogen would definitely make that pain worse and not sure how it’s tested for - although I know you’ve had endless tests.

I’ve not yet had the pleasure of low oestrogen symptoms but, presumably, you being similar to me in always reacting badly to estradiol, means the same would happen with phytoestrogens, which would be another way to raise your oestrogen level.

Im guessing antihistamines don’t help either?
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CrispyChick

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Re: Can't take HRT. What else?
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2025, 04:09:42 PM »

Thanks DD.

Nope. Defo not endo. It's exactly the same reaction I get to adding in natural P.  The levels or quantities seem irrelevant. I just get triggering reactions.

Alongside all that, I also get horrifically ill as I add in or remove E or P. I do t know what it is. Noone can help me. So I think I'll put hrt to bed. I need stability more than I need anything else. This adding in, reaction, removing cycle needs to end.

X
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Konijntje

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Re: Can't take HRT. What else?
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2025, 06:01:41 PM »

Don’t you think it might be the progestin in the patch instead of the estrogen. I’m newer here, but I have seen you trying mainly combined products and not just estrogen. I could of course be mistaken.

Since you seem to be sort of stable on cerazette, I think it could be worth a try just adding a low dose of estrogen once you feel a bit better. So not upping the cerazette while adding estrogen and definitely not adding another progestin. Maybe you have tried adding estrogen only once you were stable on everything else already, but if you haven’t, I would advice to try, just to know for sure. Personally, I found lenzetto give me a more even delivery than a patch, but I think that is different for everyone (I also get a skin reaction from patches, which could explain the uneven delivery).

Just disregard if you already tried or just don’t want to try anything else.
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CrispyChick

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Re: Can't take HRT. What else?
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2025, 06:19:36 PM »

Thank you Koni

I go appreciate your suggestion. I did actually buy E only patches and quickly swap out to them on wed night. But unfortunately once I've triggered, I've triggered. The only way back is to remove the offending item.

I actually spent a good 18 months trying all versions of natural progesterone - utrogestan, cyclogest, crams, troches - always the same reaction. I dont actually think it's anything to do with the actual hormone or their levels.

That said, I do take your point. My mood was all over the place with 1/4 conti patch and that may well have been the progestin.

If I'm ever stable enough, and in desperate need of E, I certainly will only try E alone if I try again.

Thanks for the info on lenxetto. Useful to know. X
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Konijntje

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Re: Can't take HRT. What else?
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2025, 06:30:30 PM »

I’m by no means doing well myself, since I’m progesterone intolerant. Having done E only for a short period, I do know that estrogen helps most of my symptoms. So, that keeps me trying and I’m doing a bit better now on my Drovelis trial, so I think I will find something that will suit me eventually.

I don’t have your reactive symptoms, I can only imagine how frustrating those must be in the journey to get this right.
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