I didn't realise HRT would feel like such a shot in the dark

[JillyLooper]

I know I'm very lucky to have it available. But I hadn't realised it was just so much trial and error. I'm in probable perimenopause, and different symptoms come and go horribly whether I'm on HRT or not. Don't know whether to up or lower the dose at any time. The same signs can be related to too high or too low of different hormones. No one can tell me much to guide, apart from "try it". It's mayhem. Anyone else feel the same?

I've not tried it yet but without a profile of what your uses too I can't see how they can match it. I have mild pcos and more testosterone for instance my fiend is very oestrogen heavy

isn't that what most health problems are like?
Trial & error?
Ask around how people got over plantar fascitis, and every single person will tell a different story.

You need to revisit the doctor if you have no improvement

It is always going to be tricky as womens hormones are so up and down on even a daily basis and much more so in perimenopause. I haven't started HRT yet and trying to work out if I should or not as I don't want to overdo the hormones and my symptoms currently aren't bad. It's difficult to manage.

Am having the same issue. Finding it a nightmare at the moment. I can't figure out whether I need more or less oestrogen. Its so hard to know as obviously our own bodies hormones all over place so sometimes I probably have too much and sometimes too little.

Yes. And then you find something that works and then a few months later your hormones change and it stops working again. Constant trial and error.

I hated it. I wasn't allowed it until I was post menopausal but was still forced onto sequential, the progesterone stage was so bad I gave up on it entirely.

Never took it and never needed it. My sisters and I have all avoided taking it and have made sure we are healthy in every way in diet and exercise etc.

What does this have to do with the OP?

Yes, and I really disliked and frankly resented that aspect of it. Being continually told to 'try' this or that by HCPs. How about you tell me what the evidence says?!

Of course there isn't any, because women's issues.

This post makes it sound like HRT is something bad or to be avoided if possible. It's not!

No but there’s a balance. After years of there being no real awareness or treatment of menopause symptoms we are all being told that getting onto HRT will improve things. When for the OP and others it isn’t that straightforward.

OP did you ever take the contraceptive pill? I’ve always found them a bit trial and error. Eg. ‘Oh yes sorry you’ve been bleeding constantly for 3 months, maybe give it another 3 months and see what happens’. I don’t really see why HRT would be much different in terms of finding a dose and a brand that suits you.

PP was right that nobody has a baseline of what their hormones levels were like before to inform what the best dose is for them when they want HRT.

Anecdotally, my friends using a mirena coil for the progesterone have fared better than those taking it orally but that might just be because people who tolerate a mirena coil well adapt to HRT better. Not sure but might be worth considering.

Oh it’s such a ballache isn’t it? I really had no idea. I’m slathering myself in huge quantities of sticky gel that takes hours to dry and my oestrogen is still barely detectable and I feel like shit. Felt even worse on the patches. Peri sucks.

I know! I think I assumed it just regulated your hormones but it seems it's not the case

Argh. I am going to get my Mirena removed due to bloatimg and weight gain after 5 years. It seems you can't win. I understand OP. I feel like I am not tolerating HRT anymore. I am bloated and tired.

Thanks all for understanding. Progesterone initially helped me a lot with sleep. But last night it just made me feel nauseous and bloated all night, and my boobs hurt, and today I feel appalling. But I think I'm worse without it in general?
It's all just so hard.

I’m on the Mirena and I prefer it as it’s a low dose continuously, rather than tablets so many days of the month. And it’s stopped my periods.

I don’t see HRT as a cure all. I still take supplements for symptoms.

Have you tried any supplements or lifestyle changes?

I hear you. Following several years of bleeding issues whilst on it I have now stopped (gradually) and actually a lot of my peri symptoms have gone. The very oddest night sweats after alcohol. Bleeding stopped (from a fortnightly heavy cycle to 45 days and counting this cycle). It was a life saver (Bleeding aside) for 3-4 years though. Felt godawful before I took it. But it was also 3-4 years of tweaking the bloody dose every which way to vaguely hope the bleeding stopped.

For me, it was an arrow to the heart.
I was really sceptical as I'd struggled with oral contraception and the Mirena coil (spotting every day for 9 months and then a fortnight every month, bad headaches but, most critically, just being slightly depressed all the time and really anxious around the time of my period) so I little hope for HRT. It was amazing. Within a month, I felt so much better. I am now 18 months in and only in the last couple of weeks have I begun to think that I might need to tweak my original prescription as some symptoms are coming back but I am also conscious I have been drinking a bit more frequently recently due to a few events so will go back to my usual habits and see if that has an impact.
Nonetheless, I feel that there should be much more testing in women's health so that these things can be more targeted

I take an A-Z supplement frequently and an Omega 3 supplement in between and want to stay off HRT as I just can't be bothered with the hassle of it. I can have symptoms of peri (age 49) that last a week but then i don't have them again for a couple of months, or they come and go over a couple of months and then disappear altogether. I haven't had a period for about 6 weeks now though which is fantastic, can't wait for them to stop.

I haven’t taken any hrt and after 6 months my flushes went. I’m now 2 years post meno and I feel great. I use vaginal oestrogen twice a week.
I really make an effort to eat well, prioritise sleep, walk every day. For the last 6 months I’ve done Intermittent fasting too and feel great. I know others symptoms are more severe but just wanted to say it’s not bad for everyone.

Just for some balance to the thread, I am still taking the very first HRT I tried, it has worked fine for 10 years. (I had early menopause).

I do take supplements as well and made lifestyle changes though.