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[Wobbles]

Hello Jaypo - Thanks for your response. It's interesting about the sweats because if that's the case it does make me wonder what the point of HRT is 

If all the symptoms I've had are just my own hormones coming through and not a result of the HRT then I feel a bit flummoxed why I'm taking it. Most women are taking some form in order to feel better and I haven't had that experience. That's not necessarily the HRT but it does suggest that my prescription was just doled out. I wanted to feel better particularly in my moods and I just don't 

[Sparrow]

Hi Wobbles, I have never taken HRT and although I had a long and unpleasant peri I genuinely feel pretty well now.  Once my periods stopped everything seemed to settle except for a short spell two years post.

I think the meno has left me more temperature sensitive, both hot and cold, but no more flushes. Touch wood. 

[Kathleen]

Hello Wobbles and welcome to the forum.

I often wonder why I'm bothering to use HRT. I've had a range of symptoms over the last six years but by far the worst has been the anxiety and mood swings which have persisted now matter what regime I'm on. I wonder if HRT only really works if you take a high dose that matches the oestrogen we had when we were menstruating? I can see how that would be an attractive option for younger women but I tried to tough it out until I was 57 and was advised to always keep my HRT as low as possible.

No one takes HRT expecting to. feel worse or just horrible in a different way but for some of us that is the reality.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Wobbles]

Hi Kathleen,

Yes, it's a bit strange really. I do wonder sometimes if I should have gone on HRT at all. Apparently it can take up to three months or more to be out of your system. If my own hormones are coming through I shouldn't notice it going anyway. I'm not sure I want to be on such a high dose that my moods are altered because it's not a guarantee that they'll be altered in a good way!

x

[Wobbles]

Hi Jaypo - thanks for the heads up about the sweats. I can cope with them returning if they only occur in the early hours. They were originally happening at 2am, then, 3am then on the hour but I managed to mitigate the next day tiredness by going to bed really early. The weather last year didn't help either.

[Kathleen]

Hello again Wobbles.

I  also wonder if I did the right thing in starting HRT but at the time I was desperate for some relief.

My periods suddenly stopped at age 54 never to return and although I had many symptoms I thought I'd be able to tough it out. At age 57 my jitters became intense and lasted all day but weirdly always stopping at about 9pm every night when I would feel really good until bedtime.  After six months of this scenario I had had enough so I approached my GP and began taking HRT. The thing is one of my earlier symptoms was constant headaches and this followed a similar pattern in that I woke up with a headache that lasted all day but would always resolve about 9pm and begin again the next day. I wasn't using HRT at the time and after six months the headaches stopped and have not returned. I sometimes wonder if six months is the natural duration for some symptoms and perhaps if I'd waited a little longer my jitters would also have resolved. Who knows?

I wish we had more science to inform us about the menopause so we could make better decisions about how to navigate this time in our lives. We live in hope!

Take care.

K.

[Sammiejane]

Hi

Have posted a couple of times on here but I need advice

I currently take estrogel 2 pumps no progesterone as no uterus and no ovaries.

Since taking estrogen hrt I am experiencing hair loss receding hairline all the way around my head worse behind ears and nape of neck.

My menopause believe this is due to low estrogen levels however as I had my total hysterectomy 5 yr ago and have only been taking Hrt 6 months I never had hair loss before when I would of been at my worst it's only since taking Hrt it's sheds on the floor in shower when I brush etc although has slowed a bit but still happening.

If I change to a patch will it have same effect as it's still estrogen or do you think it could be caused by estrogen dominance and the ratio to progesterone ?

Please help it's driving me crazy blood work all normal so I know it's hormonal ?
Thank u

[Dancinggirl]

Sammiejane - I doubt your hair loss has anything to do with the oestrogen. Changing from gel to patch won't make any difference. Have you had your thyroid function checked recently?
There are many reasons for hair loss e.g. stress, chemotherapy and sometimes hormone imbalance. Have you had your oestrogen levels tested to see if you are achieving the right level of oestrogen? Anxiety can certainly have a big effect on hair and skin. I knew someone who had terrible hair loss whenever she was stressed.   
The oestrogen dominance theory is used by alternative therapists as a reason to give progesterone creams (really not a good idea).  When in the peri menopause, hormone levels can fluctuate greatly so this can mean too little progesterone is being produced to ensure the womb lining sheds properly and the lack of progesterone will often result in erratic and/or heavy problematic bleeding.

Blood tests won't necessarily show the underlining cause of your hair loss and unless your oestrogen levels are very low then hormones are unlikely to be the cause.  Has your doctor told you the problem is to do with your hormones or given you any indication what the cause might be?  You probably need to see a specialist dermatologist. DG x

[Sammiejane]

Hi dancing girl

Yes blood work all normal and thyroid normal according to blood results

My Estrogen and testosterone were back in March 2019  - Estrogen 195 and testosterone 0.8

I had my hormones retested in June 2019 - Estrogen has gone to 104 and testosterone 0.6 so even lower .

Although I think the bonus of the levels going lower is that I no longer have huge mood swings or aniexty attacks but this could just be my body being used to it .

When I read the leaflet of side effects all the Estrogen sure either state hair loss or unwanted hair growth but I wondered if I swapped the gel to a patch maybe hair loss would stop I don't think judging by my levels that the gel is obsorbing as they have gone lower. And I struggled to increase to 3 pumps as hair loss worse and mood fluctuations were impossible to function day to day . Vaginal symtoms have improved hence my reason in the first place corn starting hrt however this could also Be down to the Ovestin that I take .

I just don't know what to do as with having no ovaries   ? My meno clinic said I could take progesterone it wont cause me any Harm but is not necessary.

Your advice is welcome on what patch and if you have had hair loss ?

[alisonf]

Hi. This is my first time posting on here. I've just booked up a blood test to measure hormone levels.(I'm 51).  I have been taken Zumenon 1mg for quite a while now. I'm thinking I am somewhere in the menopause as mentally I'm a mess at the moment! 

[Jari]

Hello Alison and Welcome!

Have your periods stopped yet? If so, how long ago?

What is zumenon? X

[Shrirrell]

Hi. Im new to this and just joined. First of all i would like to say hi.  I  have just been put on kliovance.. ive been taking for 22 days and feel ok in myself less anxious and less tearful. But i have been bleeding for last 10 days. First five were large dark clots last five been normal blood.. is this normal?? Has anyone else suffered with this ?

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome Shrirrell

How old are you?  When did you have your last natural period.  It is quite normal to have some bleeding and spotting in the first 6 months on any continuous HRT.  Many women choose to stick with a sequential HRT, even in post menopause, and put up with regular monthly bleeds to avoid progesterone side effects and erratic bleeding.  If you are feeling good so far, then I'd continue and hopefully the bleeding will subside.  If it doesn't then you may need to get this checked ( sometimes polyps or fibroids are present but these are rarely serious).  If bleeding doesn't confiture to be a problems adn you want a non bleed HRt regime , then having a Mirena fitted is often the best alternative.  I had a Mirena in post menopause and used Oestrogel alongside and this was the best HRT regime I ever had.  Keep us posted. DG x

[Ziggy]

I haven't posted on here for nearly 10 years because I have been an HRT success story. In 2009 I started getting menopause symptoms, night sweats, hot flushes, painful joints, hair loss, depression, the works. My gynaecologist put me on HRT (oestrogen patches and progesterone pills) and I started to feel better in a week, had no side effects  and haven't looked back. My gynaecologist said I could stay on it as long as I wanted and so did my GP. Ten years on and I have a new GP who will not continue to prescribe HRT for me.I can't afford to get it privately from the consultant so I agreed to trying to get off it but only if I was weaned off it slowly. So far I've gone from 75 micrograms to 50 and then I was supposed to go to 40 but due to the national shortage of HRT my pharmacist couldn't get it so I had to go onto 37.5 instead. For the last 2 weeks I've started to get occasional night sweats and today I've had hot flushes. I suppose as the HRT dose gets lower and finally finishes I'll be chucked back into menopausal symptoms and my life will be miserable again. I'm really worried. Anyway I just wanted to post to say that HRT can be brilliant, it's just the coming off it bit that can be rubbish.

[Dotty]

Hi Ziggy the new guidelines are that you can stay on hrt for as long as you need it. There is no need to stop taking it x