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[Ioanasisea]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading this forum for a while and I would like to share my story and ask for some advice about dosage of HRT (due to ongoing issues I have).

When I gave birth to my son 2 years ago the doctors discovered that I had quite advanced cervical cancer. I went through a lot of radiation and chemo resulting in me entering Menopause at 35 years old, 3 months after giving birth (still in pregnancy hormones), and in a single week (after my 10th radiation session killed my ovaries).

Menopause was not kind to me, I have had very aggressive intrusive thoughts, insomnia, hot flushes, depression and anxiety.

About one year after my cancer therapy I Started HRT (I was only allowed to start then to ensure it didn't interfere with my cancer treatment)

I currently take 2,5 mg of Sandrena estrogen transdermal (applied 1,5 mg in the morning (0900) and 1 mg in the afternoon (1300)), 200 mg of oral progesterone (nightime) and a 2,5 mg of Testosterone 1% concentration (0900).

I am having a very hard time still with insomnia, anxiety (3 hours after I apply oestrogen) and hot flushes. I wake up every night between 0100 and 0300 with a surge of energy and have a lot of difficulty going back to sleep. I don't have hot flushes every night when I wake up, but the waking up is consistent.

I don't know if I am taking too much or too little HRT because the side-effects are so similar.

I started with 1 mg of estrogen a day in the first year and since 6 months I increased the dose to 2,5mg. I raised the dose because the hot flushes were too extreme.

I know that it also matters where I apply the cream, I used to do it on my thighs but I switched to my stomach because I wanted a slower absorption to not get an Estrogen high.

I am not on any other medication although I was taking Lorazepam during the cancer treatment.

If anyone has advice on:
- dosage
- time of application
- other recommendations

I would sincerely appreciate your thoughts as I would really like to improve my situation, it is just too difficult.

[bombsh3ll]

I an so sorry for what you have been through.

Women in young surgical menopause typically require higher doses of hormone therapy than the doses given to those experiencing natural menopause at the appropriate age.

Unfortunately this doesn't always happen, and they get the same treatment as grandma.

I would try to see a menopause specialist if you can.

Also is there a reason you are on gel when oral is generally perfectly safe for someone your age?

It is much more reliable and for multiple reasons easier to get a therapeutic dose.

[CLKD]

Welcome. 
There is also the Daisy web-site to browse. 

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use, to keep a chart on progress. 

Browse round.  Make notes.

[Ioanasisea]

Women in young surgical menopause typically require higher doses of hormone therapy than the doses given to those experiencing natural menopause at the appropriate age.

Also is there a reason you are on gel when oral is generally perfectly safe for someone your age?

It is much more reliable and for multiple reasons easier to get a therapeutic dose.

Thank you so much for your reply. I haven't been offered pills but will look into them.

Do you have a recommendation for a Menopause specialist? I have been receiving treatment through the public healthcare system but it has been very erratic and not sufficiently data led to provide any useful steps forward.

Thank you again 

[Ioanasisea]

Welcome. 
There is also the Daisy web-site to browse. 

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use, to keep a chart on progress. 

Browse round.  Make notes.

thank you - is this the Daisy website? https://www.daisynetwork.org/

It seems useful, I will have a look.

[CLKD]

That's the 1.  Browse round, make notes ;-) and let us know how you get on.  Deciding which symptom U would like to ease first might be one way of tackling the way 2 go.