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Original poster

Is anyone up please? Feel ill / very odd, not sure what to do

18 replies

52andblue · 03/10/2021 02:34

I'm 53 and last month I started taking Eveorel Sequi combi HRT patch.
The first few days I felt very odd - banging headaches, ached like I'd been hit by a bus, skin felt too tight / bruised and palpitations. I read the packet & it said these were common side effects so I continued. I had an extremely heavy bleed on week 2 (should have been week 4)
.
I have just started the next box of patches but I've got it even worse.
My skin feels 'thin' (broke when I used a bath lily earlier) & my lower legs / upper arms in particular hurt / feel tight. Chest racing / tight etc.
The only other meds I am on is that I'm having Iron transfusions atm for extremely low iron but I felt almost like this last month before that, it's almost like bad menopause symptoms but much worse (aching, brain fog, racing heart, panicky etc)

Maybe I should just take the patch off?

OP posts:

Silkieschickens · 03/10/2021 02:40

I would be tempted to take it off and see if things improve and contact GP or 111 for advice. Though I have no medical training but when I have had back side effects in past doctor has said to stop medication and then they review alternatives.

Pinkstegosaurus · 03/10/2021 02:43

I’m up! I’m going to be rubbish and say that I don’t have any experience with HRT patches but didn’t want your post to go unanswered when you’re worried in the small hours. Does the packaging say to stop taking the medication if the side effects last longer than a certain amount of time? I’d probably stop taking any medication if it was making me feel worse, but again, I’m unfamiliar with what you’re on. Is it worth calling 111 for reassurance or getting an out of hours appointment for tomorrow morning?

immersivereader · 03/10/2021 02:43

Take it off and call 111

Hope you feel better soon

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Menopause Women's health

Percypigg · 03/10/2021 02:44

I would agree with the pp. Remove the patch and call 111. It sounds so painful. I hope you manage to get some rest.

immersivereader · 03/10/2021 02:47

Quickly googled iron/hrt and it may be too much iron as they now add iron to HRT. But I'm no expert, I just checked online

Original poster

52andblue · 03/10/2021 02:50

I was having a rough time re menopause so I don't want to give up on potential treatment too quick.. But I feel like I've got an elephant sitting on my chest & that is a new thing for me. My lower legs feel weird and my upper arms feel like they might burst. My head is pounding.

I've sole care for two teens with SN so I can't 'go down' (that is why i started the treatment in the 1st place) i wondered if it was the iron but I don't think it is (mind, I was not given any paperwork about that or anything to look out for after / side effects so who knows?)

OP posts:

Original poster

52andblue · 03/10/2021 02:51

My iron was mega low at 7 ugs/L so I've had the 1st of 2 transfusions

OP posts:

immersivereader · 03/10/2021 02:53

Please call 111, they will advise. Do you have high blood pressure

Silkieschickens · 03/10/2021 02:56

If you feel like you have an elephant on your chest you need to call 111 now for help.

Original poster

52andblue · 03/10/2021 03:01

No= blood pressure slightly low if anything.
Taken when I had my iron transfer on Thurs and all fine.
Worried about calling 111 in case i have to go in. I know it sounds stupid, but I've no one to sit with teens (who might not wake up but might) and I don't want to worry them If Im just having a panic attack or something.
Sorry don't mena to ask for advice & wilfully ignore.
I think I'll take ti off and try to make some tea and see if I feel better.

OP posts:

lifehappened · 03/10/2021 03:11

Bless you. I'm awake too, feel crap but wanted to give you another comment to read to take your mind off it. Sounds scary but will def just be short term so try not to panic. Try sitting up and deep breathing, cliche i know but I've had something similar and that helped me

octoberfarm · 03/10/2021 03:14

Also didn't want to read and run. Sorry you're feeling so poorly, it's horrible when you're in sole charge of loved ones and it's the wee hours of the morning. I completely understand your reluctance to call 111 but it might be better to call and need to get checked out than not call, you get worse and it be whole lot more stressful/worrying for your teens. It sounds like you're keeping everyone above water but you can only do that if you're safe and well too. I really hope you feel better soon

SpidersAreShitheads · 03/10/2021 03:17

How are you feeling now OP? In particular, how is your chest feeling?

You don't have to follow 111 advice, you can defer going in until morning if you aren't able to now and it's not an emergency. But just be very certain about that chest pain. Better to be checked unnecessarily than regret not going to the hospital in time.

Original poster

52andblue · 03/10/2021 03:34

I came down stairs to get laptop and am sitting quietly drinking a hot chocolate (just saw a mouse in the kitchen - bugger...). My chest /arms /legs doen't feel quite so tight now but Ive got a BANGING HEADACHE ive had past exp with panic attacks & it doesnt feel llke that so I think its to do with the HRT hormones (which seem to be making it worse?)
Worried if I speak to GP she'll just take me off them as I had to plead for 2 years to try them. Ooof.

OP posts:

Maskless · 03/10/2021 03:50

I'd deffo take off the patch.

No tea, coffee, hot chocolate as they contain cocoa, tannin and caffeine which will make palpitations worse and stop you sleeping.

Drink lots of water (helps cure a headache). If you want something different, fruit tea or milk.

Sit in front of a fan and do diaphrammatic deep, slow breathing (helps cure headache).

Paracetamol.

Kalms or valerian etc to stay calm and sleepy

Also phone night doctor.

Anything gets worse dial 999.

Original poster

52andblue · 03/10/2021 03:58

@Maskless
there isn't any night doctor here. can't get through to day doctor either.
but I will take the rest of you very sensible advice, thank you.

thank you everyone who replied it is very kind. I'm going to try @maskless' suggestions and see if I can get some sleep.
I'll need to speak to the GP at some point though as it was like this last month and I can't have a week like this each month and look after kids properly, I just can't.

OP posts:

Eechuffingnuff · 03/10/2021 05:19

Was it an iron infusion that you had? They made me feel awful for about 5 days, with me calling the ooh gp in day 3 for the extreme headache. He recommended dissolvable aspirin for it (or ordinary aspirin crushed up)

Original poster

52andblue · 03/10/2021 11:27

@Eechuffingnuff
Yes. I got back to sleep at about 5am and have only just surfaced (thank god i've got teens not toddlers, they are still asleep too!) I just googled poss side effects of IV iron (was given NO info by GP or hosp) and it seems that you can get chest pain, joint pain, crashing headache etc all of which I had 2 days after the tx which fits, timing wise. Also learned that you are supposed to stop oral iron after IV for a week (I'm on max of 3 x day and was told to 'carry on with any / all your usual meds, arily as I left though they did not take me through any sort of form just did BP, pulse and temp).. I'm still not sure if it was the iron or it's the HRT patches (or a combi) but it was not fun last night (chest pain felt a bit scary) so I was glad of support here x

OP posts:

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