Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Dawncam on September 01, 2016, 01:33:54 PM
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I've recently changed from oestrogel to estradot 75. Whilst I had joint pain on gel my hands seem to be getting worse on patch. Sleep is really bad too. Any ideas?
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Over the counter Pain relief?
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For sleeping?
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Do you know what's wrong with your hands to cause the pain?
Taz x
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Hi Taz - no, it's just joint pain in the finger joints and knuckles. I did have bad neck, shoulder and elbow pain too but that seems to have diminished somewhat since starting patches. My post utrogestan bleed just started so that may be related and also related to bad sleeping/night sweats?
Just trying to get a balance - not
easy! Dxx
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I wouldn't have thought that gel and patches would have a differential effect on joints of the body re pain etc? The progesterone withdrawal is very likely to have some effect on the body, which will be different for different women - due to the reversal of the physiological changes which occur when we take high doses of progesterone. Not sure about joints specifically though :-\
Hurdity x
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Thank you for replies. Suppose I'll just wait it out and see what happens.
Dxx
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As oestrogen levels drop off the muscles can become lax = aches and pains. Hence my suggestion of OTC Pain relief. Some pain relief can relax a person enough to get good quality sleep.
You could ask a pharmacist if the regime is likely to cause aches and pains and could also speak with a physio. for advice i.e. cold/hot water treatment: 1 had 2 bowls of water, one with cold the other with hot water and one soaks the hands/wrists for a few moments in each. A warm towel after 10 mins. is nice to dry with.
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Thank you CLKD - I've come to the conclusion after a year of gel then patches then gel then patches that transdermal is not the route for me. I've tried to make it work but didn't have these symptoms on tablets, just bad prog symptoms due to combi tabs. Just found myself in floods of tears coupled with hands aching, night sweats and little sleep it's not a great way to live. I'm going back to consultant to see if I can try oestrogen in tablet form.
Dxx
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I would say you need to find out what is causing your painful hands. Although aches and pains can be part of menopause I really think that painful knuckles and joints need to be checked out. Are your vitamin D levels ok by the way?
Taz x
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Hi Taz - yes, they were fine last time they were checked. I really think it's linked to transdermal oestrogen or possibly utrogestan. Joint aches started about a month after I started oestrogel and night sweats and bad sleep have been coming back since beg of year.
Dxx
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It sounds like arthritis. Are your fingers very stiff on a morning? Are they swollen? You could try putting your hands in a sink filled with warm water in the mornings, see if that helps at all. I think it's easy to always put medical problems down to hormones and the menopause but some things are bound to occur alongside this. I would go to your GP about your sore hands.
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Thanks megamind - it may well be arthritis but the other symptoms still need to be addressed. Will speak to GP.
Thank you for advice on warm water.
Dxx
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Thank you so much menomale - that's interesting because my aching joints have only really started since I stopped a conti regime. Although prog intolerant, I can just about manage utrogestan V route and wonder if that, conti, might help. Will ask GP.
As an aside, you're on an interesting hrt regime - was that prescribed in the uk?
Dxx
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I find that I get pins and needles more often in the hands/arms as I sleep face down ::). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be bothersome during The Change that is definitely related to hormones.
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Thanks again CLKD - I'll mention all of this at next GP visit.
Dxx
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Thank you menomale - that's exactly the conclusion I've come to. I'd like to try E in tablet and utro Conti V route. I've really tried hard with transdermal but seem to have a brilliant 1st week then it's like the dose tapers off and I'm getting low with symptom breakthrough. Maybe just the way I metabolise it. I'll start V route Conti today with gel and keep a diary. Seeing GP on Monday but they're not keen to change prescription without consultant agreeing. Understandable really. Thank you again for your thoughts.
Dxx
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Menomale - do you find the dhea useful and is your E transdermal?
Dx
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I would say you need to find out what is causing your painful hands. Although aches and pains can be part of menopause I really think that painful knuckles and joints need to be checked out. Are your vitamin D levels ok by the way?
Taz x
I totally agree with Taz - please don't put everything down to the menopause or a change in meds.
Cazi x
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Thank you Cazikins - I'll check everything out at next doc visit.
Dxx
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Menomale - do you find you have less prog symptoms with lotion?
Dxx
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Don't know if it's coincidence or luck but started utro again yesterday and hands are much better, as is sleep. Maybe Conti V route is the answer for balance? Anyone else found symptoms are eased with Conti utro?
Dxx
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Oh wow! That's fantastic! Could be the E kicking in too. Personally I found the gel, at the beginning, kicked in really quickly, certainly within a week, but I'd already been taking it in tablet form so not completely new like you. Think I'll give DHEA a try though. I've seen other ladies post about it so it must help somehow.
Good luck with your protocol, hope it's a smooth and hassle free one.
Dxx
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Ooh, not good menomale - I'm sure once everything starts working properly you'll feel better. Just did quick research on DHEA and it's not something I'd try before speaking to a specialist anyway. I hope it keeps working for you.
Dxx
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Hi, I'm new here, I too have bad hands, mainly when I wake in the morning, once I shake them around it goes, I was tested for carpal tunnel syndrome, got it mildly apparently, but my knee joints and hands are so stiff since I started the flushes a year ago, had blood test and menopause so now on hrt, it's just so strange, hoping that hrt helps x
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Hi I'm new to this forum, but was interested in your post re aching joints. I had back ache for over a year and recent knuckle pain in my right hand on waking and sometimes through the day. After finally starting HRT Elleste duet 1mg, I realised after 2 days on the oestrogen no more back pain and no more aching knuckles! This continued until around day 5 on the progesterone tablets then the aching returned. Day 2 back on oestrogen guess what no pains again!
I went back to the GP yesterday due to not sleeping well and getting up several times to go to toilet, also towards end of progesterone low mood again! She's told me to persevere and allow the oestrogen to get into my system but has said maybe I need to try a different type as the progesterone (norethisterone) may not agree with me. I've been looking up about femoston. Has anyone tried this with good results if Elleste not working?
I've got to say this is the best forum I've come across and it's so good to know I'm not a complete bad tempered bitch fruit loop without reason. As for my poor long suffering bf, the man deserves a meddle, for two weeks of every month I warn him I'll kill him if he tries to touch me!! Not much better on the progesterone cycle but really hoping all will kick in soon or a different hrt will be better for me.
Just out of interest prior to HRT I was using black cohosh and St. John's wort, both excellent for alleiving hot flushes, night sweats, but not so good for my mood swings and no libido. If it wasn't for those two symptoms I wouldn't be on HRT.
Good luck to all in here....it's a journey, a nightmare journey actually sometimes but glad I'm not alone on it.
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:welcomemm: Optimist - if you do a search for Elleste here you will see how others have fared and if anyone has needed to alter their regime.
Browse round!
As oestrogen levels drop off so muscles apparently become lax = aches and pains ::)