Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Emm225 on April 15, 2020, 02:06:50 PM

Title: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 15, 2020, 02:06:50 PM
So . I have taken the plunge and started the above medication.  Started about 5 days ago and have had a "heavy" head most of the time...like a lingering hangover head (and haven't had any alcohol!)

Is this a normal side effect, and will it go? The doctor gave me the prescription but didn't discuss it at all...and now I am not sure if I can phone to discuss...she gave it me pre Covid Lockdown and I dithered about deciding whether to take it or now as was anxious/catrastophysing anyway (hormones) and was worried about cancer and other risks. 

Any advice very gratefully received...and incidentally haven't had periods for 15 years due to Mirena , now removed, and presume I will have to suffer them now?
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Anaise on April 15, 2020, 03:14:35 PM
I used to get aura migranes (amongst other side effects) from Estrogel so I stopped taking it. I would give it a little while Emm it may settle. :)
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Anaise on April 15, 2020, 04:30:51 PM
I was only on Estrogen so it was definitely that causing my headaches. It also caused hair loss, palpitations and gastric problems (GERD).
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 15, 2020, 05:22:31 PM
Thank you...I presume I will have to stick with it for a bit.  I have had migraines for the past few years...definitely hormonal as my mum got them at this stage in life too.  I am having horrendous hot sweats too...if anything worse than before I started!
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Rhiner on April 16, 2020, 08:51:51 AM
Dear Emm225,
Yes I too had slight headache when first started Utrogestan (and itching) this did indeed settle.
I started on the oestrogen first before starting the Utrogestan, so that I could see what effect, if any, either one had.
You could also build yourself up gradually with the Utrogestan and take every alternate day for say a week to gradually acclimatise to it, esp as 25ug is a low dose .
Ho;e this helps,
Rhiner
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 17, 2020, 11:00:34 AM
Pleased to say bad heads have lifted altho I feel sooooo tired...and that's not like me. Hoping this will lift too..and am fighting it, still got to get in my hours exercise be it walk run or cycle!
I am a bit wary of messing with it as am wary of taking it anyway...scared of the big C risks.  And yes, I know, plenty of people take and are fine.  But people also have inoculations against whooping cough and don't get it...I've had it twice (once recently..awful!) and have operations and are fine (got nasty infection and had to go back in!) break bones and heal in 6 weeks (mine took 5 months before it even started....doctor kept asking if I was diabetic or a smoker...no to either...ever!) ..so feel a bit wary of medical stuff!
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Sammiejane on April 18, 2020, 11:52:18 PM
hi anaise

am i correct in that you had surgical menopause ? did you have ovaries out !

i?m trying combined gel and P even though had hysterectomy as like you had same issue with gel on its own . the progesterone is deco helping but ifs just this watery discharge damp feeling yet it the only reason i started hrt and in over a year hasn't improved much .

are you still on hrt ? have you tied patches ?
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 19, 2020, 07:59:52 AM
Might mention the alternate use to doctor once I can see her...asked for a repeat prescription but was told I need to talk to her on the phone as it is my first month of being on HRT.  What is better about the dosage you mentioned, the alternate day use?
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Sammiejane on April 19, 2020, 09:31:53 AM
hi stellajane

i?m currently on 2 pumps 100mg utro daily orally

i feel ok but felt i was getting a bit to much progesterone so tried alternate nights but the night i didn't take it the next day had few hot flushes and then taking then not felt dips in my mood already after few days when there's no progesterone would it be better to up the estrogen half pump instead i am obsorbing it better on my arms then thighs although don't feel the difference really and when i don't take progesterone i have flushes so maybe two pumps isn't enough without P to control symtoms i don't need progesterone as had hysterectomy but couldn't handle estrogen on its own well the gel anyway so just wondered as saw your post saying that 100 mg utro is standard dose for low medium high estrogen so should i try 2.5 see how i feel , i?m frustrated because i started hrt and ovestin for this dampness i was getting and they suspected VA with having no hrt for 4 yrs but do be honest in a year and half it not improved that much and am still getting it on and off especially since adding in progesterone and feel since starting hrt i?m yet to feel great yes flushes are diminished but never had them bad and as if gone 4 yrs hrt free they had virtually gone , but on top my mood has been all over the place hair loss 50 percent and relationship ended i will try 2.5 pumps i think see how i go if dosent work then i?m done with the gel and will try something else and if that dosent work then i?ll stop can't cope with it no more
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 19, 2020, 04:22:33 PM
Yes, as the headaches have gone I was going to leave it at least a month.  Hot sweats may have subsided a little although still bothering me, hopefully will subside more....I never thought I'd get them this much and it's been a huge and unwelcome surprise after having the coil removed!
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Anaise on April 19, 2020, 06:16:59 PM
hi anaise

am i correct in that you had surgical menopause ? did you have ovaries out !

i?m trying combined gel and P even though had hysterectomy as like you had same issue with gel on its own . the progesterone is deco helping but ifs just this watery discharge damp feeling yet it the only reason i started hrt and in over a year hasn't improved much .

are you still on hrt ? have you tied patches ?

Hi, yes a surgical menopause, the only HRT I'm in at the moment is Intrarosa. Estrogel caused too many side effects.
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Sammiejane on April 20, 2020, 12:37:14 PM
hi anaise

so u have no ovaries ?

what age were you put into surgical menopause. x

have you seen regrowth on your hair since stopping the gel or is not growing back x

i've lost so much the gel and P is now becoming and issues tummy cramps watery discharge sore bits down below dispite ovestin hair shedding is better not like it was but only 10 weeks although feels thinner it like the gel has cause thinning scalp hair

did you try any patches that you found you got in with x
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Babibell on April 20, 2020, 03:13:14 PM
Hi ladies I'm Jo I'm new to the forum. I've been on oestrogel and uterogestan and androfeme for 2 years and always had migraines but now they are becoming ridiculous I get one every other day, I'm feeling sick and dizzy too. Due to bad anxiety my dr (Harley Street) upped the estrogel to 3-4 pumps so I wonder if it's that? My estrogen she said is in the 800s now which I'm told is high. it's a catch 22.. anxiety or migraine I really don't know what to do. Btw I'm still in Peri but I'm on daily uterogestan 100mg a night.
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Babibell on April 20, 2020, 07:05:40 PM
Oh really? I?ll try from tonight I?ll try anything now!  ;D
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 21, 2020, 07:59:48 AM
Is it safe to take them this way? (no evidence of causing problems/atrophy, cervical cancer etc?
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Hurdity on April 21, 2020, 08:33:15 AM
Hi Emm225. They are manufactured to be used either vaginally or orally and much higher doses are used (and licensed in UK) vaginally for fertility. I htink it's 600 mg per day. It's just an anomaly that they are not licesned to be used vaginally in UK for HRT. I've just said this on another thread. I did a post on this which I think I will now bump as you're the second person! Good luck :)

Hurdity x
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 21, 2020, 01:55:31 PM
Thank you, I will have a look.  I do feel tired on it, am glad I am working from home at the moment as not sure I could stand a full travel and work day!
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 21, 2020, 02:01:24 PM
just had a quick look...to be honest my doctor hasn't really discussed it with me, just gave me a prescription. I am not sure even if I am supposed to take a break...think I need to talk to her.  I haven't had periods for years as had the Mirena in, and not had one since it was removed for medical reasons (unexplained spotting and bleeding)  Had various scans etc and womb lining is thin, and haven't had any sort of show since it was removed before xmas
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 23, 2020, 06:23:13 AM
Stupid question re the taking the tablet vaginally, as it were, do you have a special tablet inserter as it were ...I know I have had tablets to be taken like this before and they come with a little syringe type thing to make sure they "go up" properly!
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Babibell on April 23, 2020, 12:28:42 PM
So I've not taken my uterogestan for 3 nights and I feel like a fog been lifted! I thought I'd take a small break then try vaginally and maybe less days ..cut the estrogel to 2.5 too as I was worried. Hope anxiety doesn't come back but time will tell.
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Hurdity on April 24, 2020, 06:35:30 PM
Stupid question re the taking the tablet vaginally, as it were, do you have a special tablet inserter as it were ...I know I have had tablets to be taken like this before and they come with a little syringe type thing to make sure they "go up" properly!

No just poke 'em up as far as they go with your fingers!

Hurdity x
Title: Re: headaches with utrogestan 100 and estradot 25mb - new to HRT, is this normal?!
Post by: Emm225 on April 25, 2020, 08:33:06 AM
 ;D