Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: moonbeam121167 on June 22, 2017, 03:24:25 PM
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Hi last Friday I took the advise of my lovely GP and changed my HRT from 100mcg Estradot patch to 2mg progynova but this last few days God I am feeling terrible, sickness, no get up and go, feeling really miserable and god so very tired, just can not concentrate at all, and now getting big spots on my face and wanting to eat all the time, is this suppose to happen and will I need to be patient cause I just assumed as I was taking one form of HRT the new one would just be ok, sorry to be a pain but need some advice please :'( :'(
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Hi moonbeam
Sorry to hear you feeling unwell on changing.
Just wondering why you changed from patch to tablet? From what I see on here, it can take time for the estrogen to find its way into your system when changing mode of delivery so maybe a bit early yet if you only a week along.
I only ask why patch to pill because I changed from pill to patch as I have gastric problems IBS etc and wasn't sure I was absorbing enough estrogen through stomach. It's a recent change this week and am adjusting myself- feel like I have a whoosh of estrogen at moment and not coping with my new prog as zonked out. I'm taking prog orally in first instance but will change to a combined sequi patch if it doesn't suit, especially in light of IBS.
Am sure someone more experienced will be along shortly to help out.
Are you only on estrogen am assuming you had hysterectomy?? And what's your history with HRT so far?
SQ xx
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SQ
changed from patch to pill cause for 1 the patch was not sticking, i tried cleaning the area with surgical spirits, I changed batches I tried everything for months but still they would not stick and for 2 this last few months felt it wasnt working as effective, the consultant at the hospital said to up my patch to 2 x 100mcg instead of 1 but I still had the issue of them sticking and he said try anywhere on my body except for the boobs but still no they would not stick, my GP suggested to try the pills for a few months to see how it goes, yes I have had a total hysterectomy at the end of 2012 and was on Estradot patch really ever since and been doing well but I notice this last 6 months or so things started to taking a nose dive, I put on lots of weight. I also have stomach issues for which I am on Lanszoprazole also take prozac. Started the pills on the 17th June, so its only been 6 days and was wondering how long if any does it take to work.
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moonbeam, were you using generic patches? They are known for sticking problems. I only use the brand name and they stick very well. My doctor said most of his patients come back after using the generics and switch to brand name as they generics are not made as well and don't stick as well as the brand name patches. The extra expense is worth it. Just a thought.
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I'd be really interested to hear how you get on. I'm currently considering swapping from patches to gel. I'm really struggling to get the Evorel patches to stick due to excessive sweating.
I would agree that it will take a while for the tablet form to build up in your system.
Just out of interest, did you GP say that 2mg is equal to 100mg patch?
Good luck.
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I was using Estradot 100mcg with a little testogel and prozac and for the last few years been ok but as I said this last maybe 6 months or more just finding things slipping back, and well sticking they just would not stick at all and thats when I had enough and went to my GP and she said just give the pills a go and if you feel they dont work you can go back on the patches, so I thought I give it a go but just wondering if I need to give them a chance to work :)
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Hi moonbeam
Thanks for replying! When I started my tablet HRT premique,my first preparation after having had awful meno symptoms, the hot flushes stopped within a week but it was more of a gradual day on day improvement on other symptoms such as insomnia, dizziness etc I'd say three weeks in I was starting to gradually feel more together. I was on this for 18 months until it was discontinued and then moved on to kliofem- I felt rubbish for the first week on that and then again a gradual improvement in second week as my body got used to new prep ( I'd gone from conjugated horse estrogen to estsradiol and the progesterone was also different in both so no wonder!) By the end if first month with kliofem it got as good as it was going to get in hindsight, but I did the three months before deciding it was not for me and not as effective as previous premique, but as this was no longer available decided to try something else.
Sorry for the long story- I think what I'm trying to say is give it time if you can bear it! One suggestion I read was to write down how you feel today then come back to it next week and see if things are improved. I'm tempted to do this myself as I know improvements can be subtle at first and I get into a panic something is not working and want to stop it immediately. I still have some kliofem left and believe me, I've been tempted a few times to rip off the patch and pop a tablet! But am going to persevere as I know it hadn't been great for me. However, I do think tablet form is way easier and you don't have to constantly be checking your patch is still there. Think that preoccupation keeps your mind on your symptoms whereas one tablet and it's done for the day. You can forget about it.
Mis71mum, I think 2mg tablets are the highest you can get- this is what I had with kliofem so my doc put me in 75 patch to start with. I can creep up to 100 or 125 from here. It's difficult to find a direct conversion on line as I looked, some put 2mg tabs at 50 patch!
Also, Moonbeam , my patches are not sticking. First one applied on Tuesday peeled halfway off today so applied a second which despite carefully applying, looked like it wasn't having contact fully with skin. I applied a third to different area! That's femseven so three of my four patches, a month's supply, gone in under a week. Emailed doc to request estradot as heard good things about stickability, but not for you?? Yikes, I might end up with gel or returning to tablets at this rate :(
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SQ
I was fine with Estradot for a few years and not sure why this last 6 months or so I have been having problems but just could not deal with it much longer thats why I take GP advice and give the pills a go for a few months, its been a week today since starting them so I guess I just need to give them a chance to work but thought as I have been using a form of HRT that it would be sort of instant, but still feeling not with it, very very tired could sleep all the time and my head feels very heavy just feeling not right, I hope the patch works for you as for loads on here it does :) but for some reason it just stopped for me >:(
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Hi moonbeam
If the patches worked well what about trying another patch brand or oestrogel or sandrena if the tablets don't work. The tablet will take a couple of weeks to get into your system.
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Yes hard to get a conversion of the differing HRT's.
I tried Femostan at 2mg and found it very heavy and made me feel like I was tired and wired and in another world. 75mg patch has also made me feel a bit like that too.
From what I've read 100mg patch would override your cycle but don't think 2mg patch would.
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Hi Mis71mum
I was on 2mg tablet and out on 75 patch- I've only done 6 days but cut patch down to approx 50 today as just felt instinctively it was too much- felt v heady and spaced. am guessing I wasn't absorbing the tabs that well as have IBS acid issues, so maybe 75 transdermal has thrown my system completely. Or estrogen and prog balance out of whack.
Who knows? a difficult business for us all! Xx
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Evening all,
just over a month taking the pill form of HRT and I am having bad dizzy spells and craving for cakes, the dizzy spells are very bothersome, GP thinks its Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and I am using some sort of pills but they dont work, was wondering if by any chance it is the oral HRT thats causing the problem, anyone suffering the same issues, I am very tempted to go back to the patches, any advice :)
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Hi sorry to hear you feeling terrible, I'm no professional but they are other tablets and things to try. What about the gel maybe? Xxx
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I know I was on the patches for years but this last maybe 6 months they just kept falling off, and the pills are ok but the breakouts dizziness and sweet cravings are awfull and am not really sure if its just a coincidence or the pill and am not sure how long to give them, I have been on them now for about 6 1/2 weeks so maybe need to give them more time ..
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Evening all
been on these pills now for nearly 3 months and sometimes I feel ok but there are times where I have real bad mood swings, extremely tired, last night went to bed a 9pm got up at 10am next day and I also had a sleep for a few hours in the afternoon, I have itchy skin, the spots are not too bad no more, my stomach is playing up again , is it cause I am having too much estrogen or not enough , what are the symptoms of either, or is it cause my body is still getting use to the change of HRT, I am sorry that I keep bother you but I am sure my GP thinks I am nuts ;D
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Hi
I've been interested to see how you were getting on- my doctor said by three months you'll pretty much know if it's going to work for you and likely it'll be as good as it gets by then. This is my benchmark for saying yes or no to something, although you might remember I switched from tabs to patches and only managed a week and a half. My skin could not cope with them constant itching under the patch, that's if they stuck, and it was a constant reminder of my menopause so moved back to tablets.
What is the progesterone in the tablets you are using? Am guessing it's estradiol with a prog? Maybe another progesterone will be better in a different prep. What other tablets have you tried and did you have success with any?
SQ xxx
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Shoppingqueen thanks for taking an interest :), I am on not on progesterone as I had a total hysterectomy at 2012, I thought by now I would see some sort of improvement but this last week feeling blurrrr, I am also on Prozac and using testosterone but not every day maybe every other, was wondering if it could be the testosterone thats causing the mood swings, just so fed up want to be or feel normal, tired of feeling irritable, moody, fed up of feeling sick and this week feeling bloaty and god tired I could sleep all the time, I dont want to go back to my GP cause I am convinced she thinks I am being a bit of a hypochondriac, dont want to mess around with stuff all the time either :'( :'(
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Hi moonbeam,
Of course, sorry I think you'd said! So, you only on the estradiol is it the higher 2mg?? It's just that this would be in most preparations so I can imagine only alternative is to try gel maybe? Could be absorption? I've no experience of testosterone gel but hopefully someone with experience will be along- could you drop it then review in a couple of weeks?
I totally relate to how you are feeling about wanting to feel normal, or at least close to normal and about sticking to something. I've been sick of it all to my back teeth in my recent blip- and blip is a bit of a euphemism for being in the pit of despair and thus jumping from one thing to another too quickly and being thoroughly impatient with it all! Desperate even. However, I've realised I need time to adjust or I'll run out of options if I keep burning things off too quickly. It'll be a no to patches for me but I'm not ruling out gel in future.
Be interesting to see what other members suggest!
Ps yes, I also know what you mean re doctors- in my last consultation I could hear her sigh as she said 'and is there anything else we can help you with?' With 'that tone' of voice and the stress on 'else' Gulp. I was bloody mortified and have vowed to try and stay away from the doctors for as long as humanly possible. I was so embarrassed 😩 felt a right hypochondriac! Awful. And what made it worse is she's a fantastic GP... been a patient there a long time.
SQ xx
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I think I've finally found my regime
Oestrogel and Tostran gel (daily)
Amitriptyline for my back (daily)
I don't want this phase to end, it's probably the best I've felt in 5 years. Not perfect but almost as I used to be
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Hi moonbeam - I remember that you came off tablets before because of stomach problems and therefore this (stomach/digestive problems) can result in variability in absorption which could lead to some variation in dosage and if you are especially sensitive to this might account for some side effects.
What dosage of testosterone are you taking and which brand - and also how long have you been taking it?
It is important to be consistent in whichever regime you are using.
If you have bad dizzy spells that are not due to low blood sugar or similar (that you can recognise) I would keep a diary ( of food, symptoms and medications) for a while to see if there is a pattern, and if necessary visit your doc. Don't be fobbed off with hypochondria- you are still trying to achieve the best hormonal solution after your hysterectomy and ovary removal and it is important for you to get this right - and also to distnguish betweemn other possible health problems too.
Hurdity x
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Hurdity
thanks for replying yes I did come off the pills cause of my stomach but the patches just was not sticking at all even by using surgical spirits , I was using a pea size blob of testigel every other day but I stopped the testosterone a few days ago but still about 3/4 of the way through the day I get really moody headaches and extremely tired, do I need to give time for the Testigel to get out of my system but I do think the 2mg pill is not enough for me especially as I was using 100mcg patch for years, I am so confused, all I want is to feel sort of normal again, have a GP appointment tomorrow but dont hold much hope, wish I could afford to go private but cant, sick of messing around can you please help
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Well went to GP and she wont swap me back to the patch she said she only prescribe them to fat ladies, she has referred me back to meno clinic , I asked to come off Prozac as it doesnt help my headaches or neck pain, she believes my symptoms have nothing to do with my HRT or hormones , I said to her I am not stressed or nothing just cheesed off about my neck pain and headaches but more so how I cant get the HRT right, so now I have got to wait till I see them again >:( :( >:( :( :'(
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Hi everyone
I have been on the pills now for nearly 3 months and being honest feeling pretty good, have come off Prozac as well, I am on Amitrypline instead of hopeful touch wood they will help, stop coco cola for a month and it has helped my stomach alot not drinking it, I dont eat butter no more, feeling good, the only issue I have is the weight I dont diet but dont eat alot of rubbish but still feel fat, cant seemed to loss weight just feel I am gaining it, any advice plz ;D