Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Jean50 on November 26, 2017, 07:57:57 AM
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Good Morning
I am age 50 peri. Symptoms for going on HRT. Low mood, anxiety, dryness below, no sex drive. Been on Femoston 1/10 for 3 months now, no improvement in sex drive, dryness, little improvement in anxiety/ low mood, seem to feel low more days than I feel happy. Not sure if it is worth trying gel or patches?? Which is the best to ask my Gp for?? I don't know if I bring on my low mood anxiety with being worried about taking HRT I seem to be on a wheel going round and round, thank you
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Morning Jean50 :)
Have you been back to the GP for a review visit of how you are getting on? It's a good idea to have a follow up chat when starting new medication, as it does sometimes need tweaking - HRT can be like that.
It comes down to personal preference really, I have found the dose is more consistent using patches as I absorbed the gel too quickly. Definitely trial and error a lot of the time. Good luck on your HRT journey :D
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Hi Jean50 - one of the side effects of oral HRT can be decreased libido (due to its effect on increasing a compound known as SHBG for short) so this route is not ideal if your libido is already low. I have only ever used patches but others prefer gel. It is a matter of preference and which you absorb better. Gel needs to be taken with a separate progestogen, as can patches, but there are also combi patches eg Evorel sequi or Femseven. Have a look at what other types there are under Treatment above (top pale green banner).
If you have dryness then you may also need Vagifem or estriol cream - many women require both (local oestrogen and systemic = full HRT) to feel comfortable. Also listed above! Worrying will only make things worse so do try to look upon taking HRT as a positive step you are taking to improve your health and try not to dwell on the risks (which are small) and side effects - which all have to be listed and can make the products seem daunting!
Let us know what you decide, and hope you manage to sort out a regime that works for you soon :)
Hurdity x
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Good Afternoon
Thank you Salad & Hurdity for your reply
I have booked an appointment with my GP for next Tuesday, I am going to ask about going on patches, I think the tablets are bringing on PMS Symptons, I will ask for Femseven Sequi, but after looking at the green banner Femoston 1/10 what I currently take is classed as low dose and the Femseven is classed as Medium does 50mcg so not sure if he will give me them. But can only ask, I will let you know how I get on. thank you ladies for taking the time to anwer my question.xx
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Hi jean I prefer hrt patch and I take testogel for low libido and muscle tone I am also having a problem with palpitations as I think I am on conti 50and need 75 as I also believed every other week , I think a matter of trial errror and we all individual
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Hi Jean50
The combi patches don't come in low dose but considering they are the standard post-menopausal dose also for women of any age then I can't see the doc refusing unless you have a medical reason only to be permitted a very low dose? Otherwise - it is your right to choose the HRT type you feel appropriate ( with your doc) and if you have good reasons for choosing transdermal (absorbed straight into the bloodstream and does not have to be metabolised by the liver), then your wishes should be respected - in an area where there are many preparations to choose from. I have only ever used transdermal HRT from the start.
Hurdity x
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Thank you Hurdity & Joanne
Hurdity could I ask, do you think I should ask for a different Patch than Femseven, I really don't know enough to make a decision with only being on HRT for 3 months, I value your advise (to be honest over my GP), should I try a lower dose Patch and seperate pill first??Thank you
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Hi Jean50 - sorry no-one answered your question!
It's really a question of trying out different types yourself based on what you think you'd like and how you've reacted to other types, then giving it 3 months to see how you get on. No-one can say what's best for you - although at certain ages and stages and with certain health conditions one treatment might be preferable over another.
How did you get on at the doctors? Do let us know the outcome and more to the point how you fare on any new treatment. I do hope your appointment went well and that you feel better soon :)
Hurdity x
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Hurdity
Thank you for your reply, I'm afraid my appointment is next Tuesday so will let you know next week how I get on x
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Ah - OK - well now there is a bit more time then I can answer a bit more! Why not try the Femseven and see how you get on? The thing is there are lots of women out there happily taking or using all the different types of HRT and never come on here because they are fine so you tend to read the horror stories. As you will be using a sequi HRT (as you are peri-menopausal) then you will be able to tell whether you are OK with the progestogen on the second two weeks. The first one I tried ( more than 10 years ago!) I didn't get on with and have been on separate patch and progesterone ever since. It also partly depends on convenience and how you feel eg using a patch/gel and separate prog. If your mood is still low then hopefully the increased oestrogen will help :)
Hurdity x
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Hi Hurdity
I though I would reply, my Gp has not been in work for sometime since my post infact, I did see a Locum Dr but she did not want to change my HRT as she said that would be down to my own GP, I do have an appointment this coming Wednesday, since I last posted I still have more low mood days than good days, also please can I ask I finished my third month ( a week ago) and I have not had a bleed? is this something to be concerned about, I am 8 days into 4th month and I find that I am crying this week alot, so confused about HRT (should I come off it and see if I feel better without) sorry for sounding so soft in head but am really confused. thank you
on Femeston 1/10 just started 4th month
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Perhaps you need a higher dose of the Femoston if the low dose is not taking care of your symptoms x
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Hi again Jean50
One thing I'm not clear about is what your periods were doing before you started HRT - you say you are peri but how often were your periods ie cycle length and were they heavy, light etc? This will determine approx where you are in menopause. It sounds to me like it just isn't a high enough dose as I mentioned before - especially if it's been a long time since your last natural period? The lack of bleed means there isn't any lining building up which implies to me you must have been skipping periods otherwise your own hormones would have kicked in and you might have expected some bleeding. It is a very low dose.
As Dotty - says! Femoston does come as 2/10 so you could ask to try that before changing to a patch if you prefer? PMS symptoms are normal when you start the combi tabs and also for a few days after you stop them ( until the prog has cleared from your system) - but the main thing is you should feel better for most of the rest fo the time - not worse or still low!
Do also ask for some vaginal oestrogen - in addition to the systemic HRT ( the tabelets) as mentioned before.
Good luck with your appt and keep us updated :)
Hurdity x
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;) Thank you ladies for your reply. Prior to going on HRT my periods came every month but started coming closer together and lighter but I never missed one. 1st & 2nd month on Femeston 1/10 I had a bleed 3 days into new month, but nothing this month and 8 days into pack. I think I want to try the patches as I still have no sex drive ( poor hubby) so I was hoping a different progesterone might help xx
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Hi Ladies, one more question before I see GP on Wednesday. By Friday I will have finished the 2 weeks of estrogen tablets on Femoston 1/10, if he gives me Femseven patches on Friday should I carry on with Femoston Progesterone & estrogen pills for 2 weeks or should I go on to the patches?? Thank you.
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Jean50 - do look back at what I said about tablet HRT and libido.
To answer your Q - if he gives you the new patches then you could go straight onto the combi Femseven patches - the important thing is to take the progestogen part during the right phase. You may notice a difference changing from tablet to patch in terms of oestrogen dose and depending on how you absorb the hormone from the different methods - so your body will possibly have some adjustments to make.
On second thoughts though - depending on how you normally feel on the second phase of the tablets - perhaps finish the course of tablets - only because it is Christmas at the weekend and you don't want to cope with any additional (albeit temporary - hopefully) sdie effects from changing the delivery method of the oestrogen?
Good luck and let us know how you get on :)
Hurdity x
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Hurdity can you advise me please been on different hrt tablets for 2.5 yrs before being peri had periods regular as clockwork then three monthly then other symptoms ie night sweats anxiety low mood no sex drive took a break from hrt for 4 months tried acupuncture didnt work been on femoston 2/10 for 4 months its been awful by day 10 of oestrogen i cant sleep (not that i ever seem to sleep ) my scalp eczema starts pmt symptoms cant bear any kind of physical contact anxiety palpitations. Then i startprogesterone the moods are worse last month by day 5 went to gp in desperation she said the tablets were working cos im not having hot flushes !!!!! Could have killed her as id not slept in days was feeling so desperate ! I asked to be changed to patches she insisted i had a thyroid test ( forgot also couldnt keep legs still at night and burning feet ) . The day after i saw her i had some spotting so maybe explains feelings ! Had thyroid test and was normal so had phone app with het she agreed to give patches and am picking them up today. However this month on progesterone was feeling so awful by day 5 didnt take it on friday and after meeting other half for a few drinks in local i lost the plot when we got home said awful things told him didnt love or want him etc ! On sat i started bleeding and still am not spotting a proper period quite painful and breasts are really painful and swollen in fact feel swollen all over havent taken any pills since thursday . Should i let this period finish before starting the patches cos maybe a good period will help ? Dont know what to do for the best anymore sick of trying to analise myself .
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Hi Hurdity
Went to GP yesterday he has given me Femseven sequi patches, I am going to finish off the Femoston packet like you said, I have started a period on the 2nd week of estrogen ( which I can only assume is my natural cycle like you said might happen). Thank you for advice appreciate it. Hopefully will get back to break through bleed on patches xx
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Advice please just finish 2nd week of progesterone and been having bleed for 3 days, I have not taken my estrogen and progesterone one tonight with having a period, should I take nothing for the next 2 weeks and then start on the patches. As my own period has kicked in.
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Hi, I have not taken the progesterone & estrogen tablets for this month and I actually feel good, after next week I will be due to start a fresh month should I just start on the patches?