Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Bandango42 on September 27, 2022, 10:53:06 AM

Title: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Bandango42 on September 27, 2022, 10:53:06 AM
Hi all

I wonder if anyone could advise please? Was on evorel 25 & 200mg of utrogestan for 4 months and although it stopped some physical symptoms, it didn't help with with anxiety or low mood at all. Spoke to my gp at the beginning of September and he advised an increase to evorel 50. I have now been on 50 patches for about 2.5 weeks and I feel worse if anything. I know you have to give it time to settle but is this normal? Since I started taking this months utrogestan (5 days ago) I can't stop crying, my sex drive has completely disappeared, I want to end my relationship etc. Putting that down to pms but I haven't suffered like this before a period for years. Didn't feel like this on the 25 patches, the low mood was constant and manageable but it seems since last week I've become somewhat insane! Any advice would be appreciated TIA x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Flossieteacake on September 27, 2022, 11:02:06 AM
I really am sorry you have had this reaction. I wonder if going up by 12.5 rather then the whole 25 would help? This would mean cutting a bit of your patch off.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Emzib0b on September 27, 2022, 12:34:35 PM
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been feeling so terrible. I second Flossieteacake’s suggestion of trying 37.5mcg. I started off on Evorel 25 in April. Like you it helped a lot of the physical symptoms but I was still struggling with my mood and brain fog. At my HRT review in July the GP and I agreed to try 1.5 of the 25mcg patches. I had a bit of an adjustment period (more mood swings and tender breasts) but after a couple of weeks my moods began to improve (and the breast tenderness went away). Could you ask your GP if they would prescribe a box of 25’s so you could try this dose for a while? I hope you feel better soon x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Kathleen on September 27, 2022, 08:42:13 PM
Hello ladies.

I have gradually been reducing my Sandrena gel and I am down from three 100 mcg sachets to one and in the last few days I have only used one half of a sachet. Most of my Meno symptoms have passed but my moods  remain very changeable. My sleep has been fine for ages but last night, on half a patch I hardly slept so I am even more emotional today!

Bandango - You have my sympathy and I also worry about my sanity at times! You have been given some good advice from Flossieteacake and Emzib0b and I hope that you soon find a regime that suits you.

Take care ladies.

K.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Marchlove on September 27, 2022, 09:23:17 PM
Kathleen, I wonder if your sweet spot might be between 1/2 a sachet and 1.

Perhaps it’s a feel out thing for you now? x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Bandango42 on September 28, 2022, 06:15:23 AM
Hi ladies

Many thanks for replying. I could increase slowly as suggested, would that help do you think? I'm just trying to understand why I feel like this. I thought increasing oestrogen would make me feel better not worse, and why does it make me feel worse? This whole perimenopause is a minefield and I feel like I have a new, different symptom every day ☹️ I want to feel normal and happy again, I guess I thought hrt would be a wonder drug and its been anything but x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Flossieteacake on September 28, 2022, 07:50:56 AM
Hi ladies

Many thanks for replying. I could increase slowly as suggested, would that help do you think? I'm just trying to understand why I feel like this. I thought increasing oestrogen would make me feel better not worse, and why does it make me feel worse? This whole perimenopause is a minefield and I feel like I have a new, different symptom every day ☹️ I want to feel normal and happy again, I guess I thought hrt would be a wonder drug and its been anything but x

It could be your body needs to adapt to the oestrogen in smaller doses. I would try the half patch as it will not do any harm. Some people do need less oestrogen then others too.

HRT is touted as a wonder drug by celebrities who claim they feel amazing on it but I have found a very different story from the members on here.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Bandango42 on September 28, 2022, 08:29:53 AM
Thanks Flossieteacake. I agree about celebrities. Although my mum's periods stopped when she was 40, she had no other symptoms of menopause, her GP prescribed the highest dose of hrt available at the time (this was in the 80's) and she said she felt like superwoman until she stopped taking it 20 years later. She feels bad for me that I'm going through this and can offer no advice as it was a completely different story for her. I'm learning that every woman is different and her experience is quite rare xx
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Flossieteacake on September 28, 2022, 08:58:04 AM
Thanks Flossieteacake. I agree about celebrities. Although my mum's periods stopped when she was 40, she had no other symptoms of menopause, her GP prescribed the highest dose of hrt available at the time (this was in the 80's) and she said she felt like superwoman until she stopped taking it 20 years later. She feels bad for me that I'm going through this and can offer no advice as it was a completely different story for her. I'm learning that every woman is different and her experience is quite rare xx

That is very true, we are all different and will have different experiences. Although your mum cannot offer you advice please use this forum. I do not have anybody I can talk to about this other then the forum. It can feel very lonely.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: discogirl on September 28, 2022, 09:14:17 AM
You have given me such help flossieteacake, I'm so glad you're on this forum xxx
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Flossieteacake on September 28, 2022, 10:37:04 AM
You have given me such help flossieteacake, I'm so glad you're on this forum xxx

Oh thank you so much. I am really touched you said this.  :)
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: discogirl on September 28, 2022, 11:34:36 AM
It's true as it is for other ladies who have helped me xxx
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish on increased oestrogen
Post by: Floo36 on September 28, 2022, 12:44:43 PM
It may also be that you are not on a high enough dose of estrogen.  Are you still peri because if you are your own Estrogen has maybe dropped lower.  It is very much trial and error and I’m still trying after 3 1/2 years of HRT but peri for 9-10. 

Perhaps like the others have said increase by half a patch and see how you go, you can always increase again, we are all so different in how we respond its mind blowing.

Good luck