Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Madeline on February 12, 2023, 11:24:19 AM
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Hi folks..
Ok Im really just not doing well on hrt. I have been on it 2 years now. aged 50 and bloods showing post meno now even though I had a bleed 6 months ago.
Usually 2 pumps oestragel and utrogeston 11 days pm vaginally 1 tablet only 100mg.
I am very sensitive to all drugs this I know, and I am intolerant to progesterone, even my own progesterone (bring out a rash on my body every month)
SO main reasons for going on it-
Waking at 4 every night (insomina)
Hot flushes- but not sweats.
Crippling anxiety- constantly worrying about nothing
Big stomach bloat, irregular periods
Very emotional- feeling like Im going crazy and everyone else around me thought it too.
So HRT fixed all these things along with joint aches which I didnt realise were menopause caused.
BUTTTT no 2 years on, I am not peri anymore and bloods and doc have said Im post meno.
I have felt like my symptoms have been creeping back in so decided to up my oestrogel gel to 3 pumps instead of 2 . I did this for 4 days and became a over emotional wreck with an appetite of a starved person :o . I could NOT stop eating... :o
So today I have decided after alot of towing and throwing with HRT, 2 years later and possibly post meno to stop HRT.
Yesterday I took only 1 pump of oestragel, I will do the same today.
My sleep was erratic last night but not too bad.
My ferocious appetite has gone thank goodness, I have gained 1 stone since starting HRT mostly up a cup size, hips and tum so do not want to gain anymore. ;D
My main reason for trying to quit HRT tbh is progesterone, I feel so so bad on it, depressed angry, really I become a horrible person. The kids leave their shoes/clothes thrown on the ground, usually Id pick them up but during these 11 days of progesterone I would go through them for a shortcut, ??? I just don't want to be this person.
So I'm just wondering if there is ANYONE out there like me that gave it up and how it worked out for them.
love to allxx
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If you decide you can't live without hrt you could use a 6 week cycle which gives you more time without progesterone. It's what I do. And perhaps 2.5 pumps might have been your optimum dose.
There's no way I'm stopping HRT, every time I try to reduce my symptoms return. From previous reports on here some people are fine and others find all there symptoms return. I hope you'll be OK.
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Hi blood tests won’t show you are post meno, especially when you’re on hrt .
The only way to know if you need hrt is to stop taking it and see what happens. x
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If you decide you can't live without hrt you could use a 6 week cycle which gives you more time without progesterone. It's what I do. And perhaps 2.5 pumps might have been your optimum dose.
There's no way I'm stopping HRT, every time I try to reduce my symptoms return. From previous reports on here some people are fine and others find all there symptoms return. I hope you'll be OK.
Thank sheila99. That's interesting 6 week cycle. I must look into that. I have mentioned to my Meno Consult about a hysterectomy but she wasnt adverse to. I just cannot stomach that hormone.
I will monitor myself over the next few weeks and see how I go..thank you for you reply. xxx
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Hi blood tests won’t show you are post meno, especially when you’re on hrt .
The only way to know if you need hrt is to stop taking it and see what happens. x
Thanks for your reply dotty.
I'm not sure he just said my bloods were 127 and usually post meno would be 133.
I have only had 1 period in a year so hopefully I'm getting close.
Its a minefield isn't it...
xxx
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You are not out of peri-menopause yet. We are advised to go at least 12 months without a bleed = menopause. However, Nature as well as medication can cause intermittent periods. Once you had a bleed 6 months ago, you need to start counting from 1 ::)
Many are sensitive to progesterone. A hysterectomy is major surgery and you may well need HRT after .......... however. Have a lookC at 'hystersisters' support group? Let us know how you get on. We are at an age when we don't want to feel ill but to be able to Get On!
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You are not out of peri-menopause yet. We are advised to go at least 12 months without a bleed = menopause. However, Nature as well as medication can cause intermittent periods. Once you had a bleed 6 months ago, you need to start counting from 1 ::)
Many are sensitive to progesterone. A hysterectomy is major surgery and you may well need HRT after .......... however. Have a lookC at 'hystersisters' support group? Let us know how you get on. We are at an age when we don't want to feel ill but to be able to Get On!
Thank you CLKD I will google hystersisters, the joys of getting old xxx
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Hi Madeline. Do you mean you've only had one bleed in the last year on a sequi regime? If so did you used to get regular withdrawal bleeds?
I agree with Dotty that you have no way of knowing where you are in menopause unless you stop HRT to see what happens. This is not something I'd like to do as, like Sheila, each time I've stopped (reluctantly) symptoms have returned.
Taz x
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Also, the dose of progesterone might not be sufficient to allow a bleed - in which case the lining might be getting too thick, though in this case you would possibly get erratic breakthrough bleeding. Difficult to say. I understand about not liking progesterone! I am on a long cycle - have been on a 6 week cycle for some years but I do take the licensed progesterone dose ie 12 days of 200 mg (vaginally) and even so my lining is thickening.... Hope you manage to sort this out soon
Hurdity x
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You can't tell if you are into menopause ! Blood tests won't be accurate enough. Medics can advise but they aren't often correct as each lady is different.
MayB keeping a mood/food/symptom diary would be of use. Let us know how you get on.
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'alternatives' may ease symptoms initially but are not recommended for long term use, especially if 1 is taking prescribed medications. They are not recommended by NICE.
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thank you girls for taking the time to response to me.
One of you asked if I have end of cycle bleed on progesterone no I don't bleed at all. I am due to get a scan trans vag one this month. This is my 2nd scan as i cant stomach 200 mg utrogeston every month.
I will look into the tibolone poppytoast, thanks.
I am on 1 pump of oestragel atm and tg am feeling ok apart from extreme tiredness. It will be interesting if my symptoms return.
thank you all again xxx
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Hi girls,
Just thought I would come on and let you know how I am feeling after stopping HRT. I found it hard to find these posts as when people successfully stop HRT they don't tend to return to forums.
So It took probably 2 weeks for the intense brainfog I had since stopping hrt to go but I can honestly say it was the BEST thing I have ever done in stopping.
I feel like me again. An older me but me again, ......Happy!! I was constantly wired and tired on hrt.
Its only being off it I realise what a witch I was on it. Intolerant to everything in my life even my kids. Everything irritated me, no matter how hard I tried to be happy, I just cldnt lift this anxious on the edge feeling I had all the time. I thought I felt my worst on progesterone but now being off it I can see I actually felt bad all the time.
None of my symptoms have come back so far, I'm aware that could change but for now I'll take it .
So my advise is if you are unsure to stay or go, come off all hormones and see where your body is at, you might be surprised and you can always return to HRT if you feel worse off it.
Best of luck to you all x
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Thank you for this update Madeline. It is so good to hear you are feeling happy again. :)
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I'm so glad it's worked for you, long may it continue. It just shows how different we all are, I was the intolerant witch before I started hrt, definitely more laid back now I'm on it.
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Hi sheila 99,
I'm so happy you are in a good place and feeling better on it. x
For me Before I went on it I was suffering awful awful anxiety, and basically all the symptoms, insomina, hot flushes etc etc. When I went on hrt within 2 days it dramatically helped me. I was so grateful.
But as times went on I could see it cured some problems but was causing others and even month was a case of trying to balance my hormones which was a constant battle.
I'm glad I stopped as it gave me a chance o see where my body was at, and at the minute I am better off without it. Of course I'm under no illusion that that could change next month but I do feel now, I would try alterative medicine than returning back to HRT.
To be honest it kinda felt like my body just wasn't accepting these artificial hormones. x
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Thank you for this update Madeline. It is so good to hear you are feeling happy again. :)
Thank you flossieteacake. Yes Thank god. How are you feeling these days?
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Glad you're feeling fine for now Madeline and I hope it lasts.
Just to say that when I last stopped HRT about 12 years ago, it took 3 months for symptoms to return so I restarted and stayed on it - but if you are properly post-menopausal, you may be one of the lucky women whose symptoms do not return!
Fingers crossed!
Hurdity x
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Thank you hurdity x
Yes I've read that a few times, the 3months mark seems to be the point of return of symptoms.
I'm holding tight ;D. For now I'll just enjoy what I have and take it from there.
Ill keep you updated with an honest update girls as I know a few of you are in the same boat as me.
xx
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Hello Madeline
Thank you for taking the time to update the forum.
I am so pleased that you have done well in coming off HRT and I am sure that will be a comfort to other ladies who want to give it a try.
I have been post meno for a long time and a few years ago I decided that HRT wasn't helping as much as I hoped so over the course of six months I reduced the gel and then stopped altogether. After about two weeks I noticed a return of night sweats and flushes and signs of VA but these were all fairly mild. I would have persisted but I found the emotional symptoms very troubling and eventually I decided to try HRT again.
Recently I have experimented with a low dose which I find controls all the physical symptoms and although still emotional I think I am seeing some improvement. My point is that HRT may not be an all or nothing treatment and if things do get difficult a low or very low dose may be all you need.
I am seeing a Consultant soon and he is a big fan of 'less is more' and claims great success with his patients, some using very low doses on alternate days.
I hope things continue to go well and take care.
K.
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Enjoy this time whilst you feel well. U may never need HRT if your hormones have evened out.
Let us know how you get on!
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Hello Madeline
Thank you for taking the time to update the forum.
I am so pleased that you have done well in coming off HRT and I am sure that will be a comfort to other ladies who want to give it a try.
I have been post meno for a long time and a few years ago I decided that HRT wasn't helping as much as I hoped so over the course of six months I reduced the gel and then stopped altogether. After about two weeks I noticed a return of night sweats and flushes and signs of VA but these were all fairly mild. I would have persisted but I found the emotional symptoms very troubling and eventually I decided to try HRT again.
Recently I have experimented with a low dose which I find controls all the physical symptoms and although still emotional I think I am seeing some improvement. My point is that HRT may not be an all or nothing treatment and if things do get difficult a low or very low dose may be all you need.
I am seeing a Consultant soon and he is a big fan of 'less is more' and claims great success with his patients, some using very low doses on alternate days.
I hope things continue to go well and take care.
K.
hi kathleen,
Well isn't that interesting. I'm so glad that you have the physical symptoms under control with this method . They sound like a great consultant, willing to try different things with you. I've tried 2 consultants and they just say take more, take more. With regards to the emotional symptoms, Its so hard when you just don't feel in control of your emotions . Meno plays havoc with our heads doesn't it. :'(. there is a natural herbal tablet called Saffron. Check it out. Viridan do one with no binders or fillers in it. Its supposed to be a natural anti depressant. I have it here on standby haha.
I hope things keep improving for you kathleen, and thank you for that information, I might be back onto you for more xx
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Enjoy this time whilst you feel well. U may never need HRT if your hormones have evened out.
Let us know how you get on!
Thank you CLKD, please god xx