Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: devonlass on June 02, 2022, 07:50:21 PM
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Hi ladies well after trying various HRT for a couple of years I have given it a good go but its never made me feel that better so am going to stop .I work in a pharmacy and have so many patients telling me it makes them feel wonderful but not me i known its not for everyone just wondered if anyone has had the same experience xx
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Hello devonlass. I think we are all different and you need to do what is right for you. I personally have not found a progesterone I can tolerate and still waiting to find one. I do not feel wonderful on HRT at all. Oestrogen helps with my itchy skin and joint pain but I have other side effects. I think the media tend to only report on famous people who say they feel amazing.
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Sadly it doesn’t always work well for every woman and I’m sorry that’s the case for you. Mostly we hear about when it does well. In forums like these you’ll see more range and more of the women who have trouble with it or at least at the beginning. It’s working for me after changing method.
If there are any symptoms you have you think you might be able to alleviate even a little with some advice here then do ask, there are other things that can help some women.
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Hello devonlass
I began taking HRT in 2013, three years after my last period and I still haven't found the magic formula!
I took a complete break in 2019 and some of the symptoms that were under control came back. My main issues are the emotional ones and I have been told by every medic that I have encountered that HRT is not so good with this aspect of the menopause. My latest prescription is for Sandrena gel but I have noticed breast tenderness and now bleeding so I have had to reduce my oestrogen dose. I am beyond tired and frustrated with it all!
I am so envious of those women who do well on HRT but I wonder if the benefits will last for them? There are plenty of ladies here who have noticed their symptoms returning and have needed to re think their dose and delivery method. Perhaps the menopause is more of a moving target than we thought?
I hope you do well without HRT and please keep us updated on your progress.
Wishing you well.
K.
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What are your symptoms? Most (all?) meno symptoms can have other causes so it's possible there's something else that should be investigated. Have you tried sequi or have you always been on conti?
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Hi Devonlass I feel the same way as you
I have been on HRT in tablet form (sequential) for around 3 years and have tried a few different types but settled on Novofem
I have had very bad PMT type symptoms before each bleed and also gained a lot of weight
I still have hot flushes at night too
I recently spoke with my GP who has prescribed Oestrogel and progesterone tablets but the Oestrogel is not in stock so I’m just going to stop altogether now I think and see how I get on
It may be that I forgot how awful I felt before the tablets but I’m now in a position where my symptoms are not being controlled by the HRT anyway and I’m having a monthly bleed that I may not need to have naturally so going to try without
Good luck to you - wonder if there is a support post on here for people stopping HRT?
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I am sorry to hear the HRT hasn't worked for you. You have certainly given it a good go and it's made you feel this way.
I think I may be in the same boat as you. I doubt I will give it as long as you though!
I only started in February and was prescribed the gel which I was delighted about. I had such high hopes especially after hearing and reading all the positive news and comments. I was very much looking forward to getting over the night sweats and having a full nights undisturbed sleep.
A few months on and still little change and I'm on the patches now. I'm about to increase the dose so maybe something will change but I'm not putting my hopes up. I will probably give it a few more months tops.
It is quite a mixed picture from what I see now. For many it has worked wonders but there has also been many side effects.
I think overall, you do what you think is suitable for you. Just think, no more hassle having to chase around pharmacies for supplies ;D
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Hi Devon,
Yes I echo what you say re HRT. It’s not working for me either.
I started on gel and worked up from one pump to four. Absorption level was 88 on four pumps! Plus a ton of symptoms remained.
Next the patch, at various doses. 75 worked the best, but bleeding was awful on them ( post menopause). So I dropped to 50, symptoms returned.
Then oral, great for 10 weeks, then mega bladder issues. Oestrogen dropped hugely.
Had a Mirena fitted this week. Back on 75 patch and all symptoms have returned again!
So, as I type and with work looming, I’m wondering what the hell do do next. The 100 patch does zero for me, except make me more irritable ( if that’s even possible!)
I think Kathleen has hit the nail on the head. Menopause is a shit of a moving target. You are lucky if you hit the symptoms with your chosen product and dose at that time.
If I could get the bladder issues under control, without systemic HRT, I would give up HRT today. I don’t think enough is highlighted around the fact that like any medication, it just may not work in the way we want for everyone
Best of luck.
X
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I feel like this! I restarted in February for hot flushes, sweats, extreme anxiety, bladder issues. From the get go there were supply issues so had to swap from Oestrogel to Sandrena. Flushes, sweats and anxiety all improved, but now horrendous breast tenderness and continuous spotting. Also soreness down below! Bladder issues no better. Asked to drop down to 500mcg Sandrena - is that the issue? (I've had a Mirena since November and the spotting was just settling when I started HRT) -but that's not available. Oestrogel now in stock and I have a spare pump. Tempted to go back to that and use one pump instead of two. No HRT has worked for me -tried off and on for 7 years. I'm in a new job and so miserable. I'm still peri. My husband has been so supportive but I think he's now sick of it. I'm so fed up of wearing pads and feeling like my life isn't my own. Thinking of dropping to one pump of Oestrogel today but scared how I will feel and still getting used to my new job. Plus I share an office with an overbearing Mansplainer. :'(
Sorry to vent! X
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Hugs for you Skylark 🌸🌸
If it’s any consolation, when I started my current job, I had just hit menopause too. I’ve been juggling hormonal shit, work, family, house, living miles from parents for years now and it’s hard!
Do you use vagifem? Ovestin cream? You need to use local Oestrogen down there daily. I’ve got the bladder issues back too and it’s horrible.
You need to pick a product and a dose and try to stick with it for as long as you can I think. Have you tried the patches? They give a more consistent supply of hormone and might be better for the breast tenderness? Star flower or Effamol is good I think?
Give the oestrogel another go i would ?
Hope you feel better soon x
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Sorry that things haven't worked for you. I tried tibolone which made me bleed post meno, which scared me as I'm such an anxious person. Now I just use local oestrogen which I can't do without.Heard good things on here from use of testosterone but I don't seem to be able to face changing anything these days. I've found the menopause to be a miserable time. Good luck to you x
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Suzysunday and Nas, so sorry you're struggling too! I've used one pump of Oestrogel today and hoping for the best. I'm using vagifem for bladder issues but I just seem to have become sore and itchy so worry it's either that or Sandrena. Would a cream be better? I'm feeling so miserable tonight. :( xx
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I find ovestin cream really good for bladder issues. I use it alternate nights. X
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Just re read posts on this thread and feel so fed up for you all. When my atrophy hit a few years ago I was devastated. I never knew such things were in store with the menopause. The ovestin is great but it took a couple of years to get the bladder feeling okay. I don't use systemic hrt as I said, but I think I should feel better than I do.
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Hi,
The Dygesterone in Femoston is as breast friendly as utro . they have a low dose conti and sequi in this type . These are options if you want to try in the future. Also drinking, smoking and being over weight carry more risks. Our risk of heart attack rises to that of men once we reach menopause.
Best wishes PMXX
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It’s a truly awful time and I’m terrified what it’s doing to me. I have horrific physical and emotional symptoms. Whatever I try doesn’t work, my body doesn’t seem to absorb anything, I’m peri so can’t prove anything with bloods because I fluctuate wildly. I’ve not tried livial yet. I’ve tried oral estradiol, zumenon and elleste solo, Premarin, estrogel, Sandrena, Everol patch , Estradot patch, femoston, estradiol implant. Also using daily vagifem and blissel but still have bladder issues.
I feel for us all that are suffering and existing unable to work or even leave the house. I just never imagined that Estrogen deficiency could do this, it’s cruel. What do women like me do that don’t seem to absorb anything?
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Hi I dont know what do to I'm so fed up at mo it all started last year about June were I had tooth ache caught an infection when I had my tooth out and a ear infection started to get pains in face but even though my infection cleared up I was still getting pains in face an pressure and feeling dry mouth then pains in neck arm joints wierd feeling in head and hot flushes and all I wanted to do was cry had to take time off work which I've never hardly been off work before anyway booked in to ae few times bloods were always ok they looked at me as if I was some sort of nutter was stillgetting all these symptoms finally I got an appt with gp and decided these symptoms were down to menapause as he done bloods to check my hormones and said I was definitely starting my menapause put me on hrt I tried
2 lots of different hrt for the first 2 month felt worse to the point I lost my saliva then tried oestrogel 2 pumps and utrogestan felt like I still wasn't going to get better felt like my life was over but a few weeks into it my saliva came back and except for a few aches and pains my facial pain pressure in nose and tingling stopped and I started to feel like my old self again for a good 5mths now this month slowly but surely my my facial problems have came back but this time my teeth are hurting feeling sensitive. I had a ct scan which came back clear and now waiting to see dentist to rule anything out . Ct consultant said if dentist doent find anything wrong with teeth it could be neuralgia anyway I've also seen gp again had blood test and a ecg as I was also getting palpitations and feeling wierd in head again and my blood pressure was high waiting on results but I'm down as a routine telephone appt which I've got to wait for a few weeks so I'm assuming it cant be that urgent maybe I need a higher dose or a change of hrt i dont know but all i can say I'm scared fed up i starting to think my life is over i used to be so happy and very sociable person now I cant plan anything as some days I feel worse than others . Sometimes I just dont feel like going out as these wierd feeling I've got are driving me insane sorry to go on abit but just had to write down how I feel and get it off my chest fell like I'm going to lose everything my life my friends my husband as I think he's starting to get fed up too just wish it would stop 🙁
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Floo no luck with the implant? I've just had one 3 weeks ago. Nothing much happening had high hopes
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I'm so utterly fed up tonight I feel like I can't cope. I wish I hadn't started HRT. I'm constantly spotting now whereas the Mirena might have settled by now. I just feel like going cold turkey. I'd rather the anxiety, the flushes, the sweats, the everything. I have no life like this.
X
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Skylark, is the Mirena causing the spotting do you think?
You are on such a low dose gel, that it can’t be that causing the issues ?
What about having the Mirena out and trying femeston Conti? The progesterone in FC is quite gentle and the Oestrogen quite low in dose.
Hugs for all those who are suffering, it’s hell on earth and very lonely.
Floo, have tried no HRT ? If so, do you feel better or worse?
Maybe give your body a break? Have you ever tried CBD oil for menopause? A good quality oil could help balance the body a little? Natural remedies?
Xx
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Hi Nas. I don't think it's the Mirena because I had stopped spotting for over a month when I started the HRT. I have just cut down from Sandrena 1mg to one pump of Oestrogel. Changing HRT can't have helped but that's thanks to the shortage. I felt the oestrogen might be too high as my breasts were so sore. Cutting down seems to have helped. Unfortunately taking the Mirena out isn't an option as it was recommended by gynae because I had some thickening of my womb lining and had had a polyp.
So I feel stuck! X
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Oh right.
I thought the Mirena was meant to stop or reduce bleeding or spotting though? This is in fact one of the reasons why I had one fitted the other week. How long after you had yours fitted, did you stop spotting/ bleeding? I’ve had a bit of spotting today, but specialist says it’s normal until it settles down?
Mmm, it’s a tough one skylark, mainly because you are on such a low dose of Oestrogen anyway. Have you tried the patch, spray or oral ? I wonder if you would do better on one of those instead?
I think if the Mirena doesn’t work out for me, it’s coming out and I’m going to reduce down, until no HRT. Seriously, there’s only so much a person can take, trying to fathom out how to balance hormones!
Xx
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Yes, that was my hope, Nas. And I believe it had until I introduced the Sandrena 1mg which was equivalent to two pumps of Oestrogel. Hence why I have reduced. So fed up with this.
X
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How long has the Mirena been in? I think spotting in the first 6 months is to be expected, so even if it had stopped for a month, if you are still within the first 6 months, I wouldn't be concerned about that...
Plus if you did have a thicker than usual lining, perhaps it is just continuing to do its job in thinning that at the moment with the spotting and when it has achieved that, the spotting will stop...?
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Sazzle42115, no my implant hanse worked. Did you have yours done on the NHS or privately. I wonder if they get the implants from the same supplier and wonder if there's a faulty batch or something? Where did they insert it, and can you feel it because sometimes if they are too shallow they may not work especially if a poor absorber?
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Hi joziel,
I've had it from November, so was 6 months in early May. I stopped spotting at about 4 months but introduced HRT just after. Fine for a couple of weeks, then a very light period, sore breasts, mood swings, headache, etc., then unfortunately the Oestrogel was out of stock so was put on Sandrena. Now back on Oestrogel. Been unsettled since!
X
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Oh that sucks a bit. But I think, when you start HRT, you are supposed to give THAT 6 months too. So unfortunately you've had two lots of 6 months ;D If you started HRT in May, then November is when you would expect everything to have settled by for sure...