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Thank you CLKD.  No I didn't have fluid retention during menstrual cycles. Yes I have seen several GPs, a gynaecologis, a specialist menopause clinic GP and an endocronologist during my journey trying to get help.  They have all said they have not experienced a client who appears so sensitive to hrt, nor who has experienced fluid retention like this.  The fluid retention when I've tried hrt ends up being everywhere in my body but in particular - feet and ankles, knees, hands and arms.  Regarding the joint pain I now have, voltarin combined with panadol helps a bit to ease the discomfort but not enough to ease the overall fatigue from the discomfort. Plus I can't take voltarin long term. Yes I have had several blood tests in the last 5 years to check all key parameters including thyroid and vit d. Everything comes back normal. 
I seem to be destined to live a life a shadow of my former self as nothing seems to work. It's debilitating.  I'm not on this forum to be doom and gloom though.  I just hoped there might be someone else out there who has been super sensitive to hrt and experienced bad fluid retention on it, and has maybe found something that helps. 

Hi Carebear 
I just wanted to reply quickly before going off to bed. Has your GP checked your vitaminD level? I ask because the symptoms of muscle cramps, anxiety and especially the feeling that your legs might buckle and your arms feeling strange were something I experienced and were due to a really low VitD level. You usually have to ask for a check as it's not included in the normal blood test. It made such a difference to me once I was prescribed a high dose for ten weeks.

Taz x

Hey, sorry you're going through this right now. Perimenopause is already challenging, and the added depression is no joke. I went through something similar after getting sick. My therapist suggested trying CBD to help with my mood, and it's made a big difference.

I think if id left it any longer it would have been beyond saving.

Mine was untreated for 12 agonising years. So just to encourage you all, consultant said it is entirely possible to restore your vagina/vulva to its original state pre Menopause. Said it will take time and obviously if there is shrinkage/loss of tissue etc, that will not come back. But with the x7 estradiol she expects me to be pain free and with all the other related symptoms diminished/diminishing in around 6-12 months.
So it can be done no matter how severe.

How can it be restored to its original state if there is loss of tissue, which there is with atrophy? Did she mean only those women who act before there is shrinkage can return to their original physical state?

I think if id left it any longer it would have been beyond saving.

Mine was untreated for 12 agonising years. So just to encourage you all, consultant said it is entirely possible to restore your vagina/vulva to its original state pre Menopause. Said it will take time and obviously if there is shrinkage/loss of tissue etc, that will not come back. But with the x7 estradiol she expects me to be pain free and with all the other related symptoms diminished/diminishing in around 6-12 months.
So it can be done no matter how severe.

Just Google: GSM BSSM
and PWHCF - then vaginal oestrogen comparison table. She told me to sign in as health care professional as its the only way to view it. I've done so.
First website is the best.

I am going down the route of bathing in gel. Partly because my Newson GP prescribed me 10 pumps and I got my NHS GP to approve that. If I now want to switch product I have to pay for another Newson appointment and then convince NHS GP to change prescription. Plus who knows if that will work any better or require further tinkering. Maybe I should just pay for it all myself until I get the product and amount sorted....expensive. But for now I'm stuck essentially bathing in gel...

Abc123, I hear you there. I gave up too and I'm with Newson Health who have me on 10 pumps of gel. My NHS GP is happy to prescribe it with the letter from my Newson doctor so at least I don't need to pay for the meds, just the appointments once a year. Well, it might need to be more than once a year as I probably need to go up from my 10 pumps... (10 pumps has me at 430pmol and I still have some night time symptoms.)

Yes! Are they worse in the evenings and at night? Mine are.

I think tingly feet are the same 'thing' as my inner tremors but they are the inner tremors dialled right down so it just feels like a tingling.

280pmol is pretty low. I know your NHS GP will tell you that anything over 250 is great but 3 different Newson Health doctors have told me that most women need to be between 400-600pmol for symptom control and some need even higher.

I'm on 10 pumps of gel now, just to get 430pmol...    And I need to go higher.

I had most of that and after remarking on her observations making me feel like a freak, the GP said it's normal. It's only through reading some experiences on here that I sorted some treatment out and after 8 months things have improved. I think if id left it any longer it would have been beyond saving.