Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Finecitygirl on November 08, 2016, 07:54:01 AM
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Oh, what a find! The forum is just what I need! I'm 59 reasonably fit and healthy and been on Evoral Conti for around two years without too many problems, (apart from gradual weight gain!). I was put on EC due to terrible (3 day long) headaches and sweats. Last week, I started with a terrible, terrible, headache again (similar feel to the ones I used to have before EC) which got worse and worse, until I started being sick (thought it was just a bug and took to my bed for three days!) on 3rd day I started to feel better and could eat something, then I renewed my patch. Only a few hours later, the headache was back with vengeance and I started to feel queasy again from the terrible headache. Then I realised it must be something to do with the patch.
I found this site and because its virtually impossible to get an appointment at my Drs within a week (as I work full time!) I decided to take the drastic step of just cutting my patch in half. After a couple of hours, my head stopped throbbing and the sickness receded. So now I know it's the patch, but, I don't understand why?
I'm battling to get a Dr's appointment, but I see a different Dr every time I visit the surgery and I know they won't have as much expert knowledge as people on this forum. I've already decided I'm going to ask to be referred to a menopause clinic ( no idea if we even have one here, in Sussex) but my question is...advise for next steps please? Ideally, I'd like to stop taking HRT, but, how do I know when it's the right time to do this and what should the process be? Are there any side effects I should be warned of? Many thanks for any help offered.
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:welcomemm:
Huge welcome from me Finecitygirl, another Good Old Sussex By The Sea Girl ;D ;D.
My doctors surgery is pretty much the same as yours as regards to getting an appt & seeing the same doctor, but after doing a lot of research on here over the past 10 years OMG!!!.... I pretty much get what I ask for & if it doesn't work then I try something else.
I so wanted to come off HRT but the symptoms were just too awful when I tried cold turkey, so over the space of about 6 - 9 months I went from a medium dose to low, then down to Ultra Low Dose.
I am on ultra low dose Femoston & take 1 every other day. it keeps the flushes at bay & I can function.
It depends if you are in West or East Sussex but here is a link that will tell you your nearest Menopause Clinic (you just have to put in your postcode) - I'd have to go over to Hants for my nearest one.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php
I hope you get some help & let us know how you get on.
Cazikins x
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Hi and welcome to MM Finecitygirl
I'm 60 and have used HRT on and off for nearly 25 years due to a premature menopause. I came off HRT over 4 months ago - I simply stopped and got a week of bleeding and so far been coping OK. Some prefer to try to reduce HRT slowly but I have tried this and frankly it doesn't make a difference. The side effects may be the return of meno symptoms but this will vary from women to women.
The headaches you describe are exactly what I suffer from - I get them less when on HRT but they are truly a nuisance. I would see what treatment you can get for the headaches - there are various treatments and it may be worth pursuing this. My headaches can last 24-72 hours and progesterone in HRT can make these worse so perhaps coming off HRT is a good option at your age - if for no other reason than to see how you feel without it.
I have found some extra magnesium(in spray form) seems to help the headaches but they seem to strike for no real reason - I wish I could find the trigger.
Seeing a specialist gynae or menop clinic is a good idea to discuss your options. AS cazikins has said, trying an ultra low dose of HRT could be worth trying. DG x