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[prestige]

Hello Ladies

I just wanted some advice. I have been prescribed Utrogestan(100mg daily)/Estrogel HRT (one pump daily). I have only been on it for a week, so I know its still very early days. I seem to have developed alot of bloating and lower dull back pain, which I have never experianced before.

I just wanted to know if this is a common side effect?
 

[Pinkjan4288]

I'm on double what you are and haven't had that side effect.

[Fairywoods]

Hi Pinkjan,  I've had bloating and low back pain.

I'm on sequential, Oestrogel 2 pumps and Utrogestan 200mg for 12 nights (I'm 52 and was having very erratic periods sometimes 3 months apart, so that's why I'm on sequential at the moment as I'm not post menopausal yet).  I think the bloating is due to the Oestrogen and the back pain only appears when on the Utro part of my cycle.

I've only been on HRT for approaching 4 months, the bloating has only been a problem this month, I'm thinking maybe it's the Oestrogel as occasionally I have tried 2.5 pumps this month as I was having the odd night sweat again and maybe 2.5 is too much for me.  The Utrogestan has been making me increasingly tired over the 12 nights I take it, so I've actually tried reducing the Utro to 100mg vaginally this month (in theory you absorb more vaginally and it's meant to help with the tiredness side effect) and I also reduced the Oestrogel to 1 pump last night as I was worried about reducing the Utro so thought I should also reduce the Oestrogel to 'balance' the 100mg Utro (but no idea if that was a good idea) and here I am awake since 3am!

It seems to be trial and error and for me the side effects have settled down the longer I've been on it except for the overwhelming tiredness on the Utro phase, which is why I am experimenting a bit with the dose this month - I was on the verge of stopping altogether.

I did have really bad water retention in my legs this month and I definitely think that was due to taking too much Oestrogel as that was on the Oestrogel only part of my cycle.  On the plus side, my night sweats have mostly disappeared and my sleeping was much improved!

So I guess I'm saying, expect side effects but hopefully they should diminish over the first three months.  I'm quite a newbie at all of this, but that's my experience so far.

[Fairywoods]

Sorry!  My post was in reply to Prestige, the OP!!  Blame it on being awake since 3am 

[Turkish delight]

Hia,

I had terrific bloating that climaxed on week 3 of starting bhrt(I'm only on week 6 now)but it's subsided now thank goodness.
I read that both hormones can contribute to bloating, which has been my experience. It was gradually bloating and on Oestrogel, then bam when I added the Utrogestan it got to epic proportions  If you drop the word bloating in the search box above you'll see a ton of posts on it.

Wonder whether you back pain is partly due to the bloating pushing out in all directions, not just your tummy.
Hopefully it will settle, as mine has all but gone. It does effect us mentally as well as the obv physical effects. No one wants to be walking around with a bouncing belly like farther Christmas, trust me I know, hang in there, it could just be a temp side effect.

TD

[prestige]

Thank you ladies for your words of wisdom.

I have to admit I'm so sick of this stupid menopause If it's not one thing it's another!

I'm afraid I didn't take the Utrogestran last night and Estrogel this morning. My lower back pain was really bad and I had a lot of pelvic pain.

I have an appointment with another GP this afternoon, as I'm really petrified about these side effects.

Sometimes I feel I'm just losing the plot and I would do anything to go back to the happy go lucky gal I used to be

[jefner]

Hi, how did you get on with your appointment and what did GP say?  I am terrified too.    I am getting a little lower back ache and also cramping in my abdomen like I am coming on but I am not because i am post meno.  Also having loose stools. 

[prestige]

Hi Jefner

Yes I just saw a locum doctor. She was very through and examined by my stomach and back area. She asked me for a urine sample to be sent away, in case of a UTI.
However, we both agreed these were not the classic symptoms but she just wanted to cover all areas. She also asked me to discontinue the hrt and to get a blood test.


The earliest I could get a blood test is Tuesday afternoon, so I will be feeling slightly worried all weekend

[prestige]

Many thanks Stellajane for your comments.You are probably right in that I'm probably stressing of nothing. However, I have never experienced this type of bloating before and my back pain is really uncomfortable. The locum doctor looked it up in her book and said back pain was not a side effect of the progesterone in the Utrogestan?? She did also admit that she was not really a menopause specialist.

It does not stop my health anxiety going through the roof

[prestige]

Stellajane - thank you for being the voice of reason.
I'm a bit of an emotional wobbley jelly at the moment

xx