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[Marsal7878]

Hi
I've recently been put on progesterone 100mg and 2 pumps of oestrogen due to going to the doctors with heart palpitations.  I didn't really have any other perimenopause symptoms that were troublesome. Since starting on the hrt I've suffered with terrible anxiety worse than I've ever had before and just feeling really ill pains, dizziness, sickness, loss of appetite, blurry vision, stomach ache, acid reflux you name it i seemed to get it. Im just not feeling right. I went back to my doctor who just keeps telling me it's anxiety! I now think it could be down to starting the hrt that's making me feel so ill. Has anyone else experience this. I've decided as I didn't go to the doctors with perimenopause symptoms to stop the hrt. Only the last few days ive seen some improvement at times. How long before the hrt is out of my system? Has anyone stopped taking it and felt better?
Thanks for reading

[CeCe]

Hello,

I can agree with everything you have written. I felt so unwell on HRT and it was probably too early in my peri menopause to start, although I was 52 at the time.

What were your periods like before you started HRT? If they were heavy and frequent it’s a sign your progesterone was going awol first. If your periods were scant and becoming few and far between then your oestrogen was dropping. Sadly our hormones don’t sync with the rate they decline.

For me, my periods were very heavy and frequent and adding in extra oestrogen gave me all the symptoms you described, especially using oestrogel. It improved slightly when I changed to a lower dose patch, but I still only felt well during the prigesterone part of the cycle. My specialist put me onto continuous progesterone to help, but that induced some very irregular heavy  bleeding, so in the end I decided to stop all HRT. I had persevered for over 2 years before I quit.

I have been off HRT for about 8 months now. It took about 3 weeks to feel normal again.  Better than normal actually. I improved my diet and exercise regime and life is good again. I won’t say that I will never go back on HRT again, but I will wait until I start getting hot flushes/night sweats and other symptoms of my oestrogen levels decreasing.

I hope you continue to improve without the HRT. It’s not for everyone and it might just be too much, too soon for you. There are plenty of natural options to consider. Adding phytoestrogens to your diet, magnesium (will help with the heart palpitations and anxiety) and a good omega 3 supplement will help.

Good luck and let us know how you are getting on.

[sheila99]

Palpitations can be a meno symptom (and also a symptom of too much oestrogen) but can be heart related too so perhaps that could be investigated. Sorry I'm not answering your question (I don't know the answer) but you can use a sequi regime even in meno. Usually problems are caused by progesterone and by having an oestrogen only time it will show you if the oestrogen is helping. If it is you can then try other progestin such as cyclogest or provera which may suit you better.

[Marsal7878]

Thank you so much for answering
I just feel like the hrt isn't actually helping! Or maybe the progesterone is making me ill. Can progesterone make you feel unwell and more anxious? X

[Marsal7878]

Cece
Thank you so much that is music to my ears I really do think that it just isn't the right time. I don't have periods as I'm still on the pill which also has 75mg of progesterone in it!! Thank you so much for answering. I'm only 45 so I do think it's too early right now! Hopefully it won't take long to feel normal again as I've only been on it 8 weeks! Ive stopped it straight away which im not sure if i should of or not but as I've not been on it for years thought it would be OK. I think it's also caused gerd which isn't making me feel great either.
Thanks again I really appreciate it and gives me great comfort. All the best

[discogirl]

Hi Marsal7878

I started hrt last August but really dont feel as though its helped me much.

When I used to take utrogestan it made me feel so anxious so I swopped to cyclogest and i seem to tolerate it better.

[Marsal7878]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. It really helps knowing I'm not the only one going through this and that I've made the right decision to stop it. I'd never say never again it's just not right right now!
Thank you so much for replying to me 😘

[discogirl]

Hi Marsal7878

Im actually reducing my gel with a view to come off hrt.

Good luck with it all xx

[Marsal7878]

Is that because it's not agreeing with you? Or have you gone through the menopause? It's all very conflicting isn't it I thought this gel was going to be the answer to all my prayers yet I've never felt so ill for so long in my life before. I can't wait to feel well again hoping it won't take long! Thanks for replying

[discogirl]

Well I had gone through menopause I had my last period 2018 and was fine but in 2020 i lost a load of weight and as post meno ladies get their estrogen from fat cells my hormones crashed so i went on hrt.

But it hasnt helped really to be honest xx

[Marsal7878]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that hope it gets sorted soon 😊
Sending best wishes

[Jillyboo]

If the HRT you get prescribed right from the start is the continuous type (ie where you take oestrogen and progesterone every day) you'll never actually have a chance to discover how oestrogen on its own might improve your symptoms.

In my own case I feel absolutely great on Oestrogel alone but struggle with Utrogestan (any progesterone in fact) either orally or vaginally so to minimise exposure I've had to remain on a sequential regime which means having a monthly withdrawal bleed.

We're all so different. It's never a case of "just take this and you'll feel better" more a case of testing different things out and eventually (hopefully) finding out what works for you - which may be no HRT at all!