To give up on HRT?

[desperadoandrubbish]

I started HRT last November. Suffering with anxiety, night time waking, hot flushes, restless legs. Initially on Estrogen patch 25 with progesterone on days 14 -28. Felt no difference so moved to Estrogen patch 50. Felt better for a short time then anxiety came back with a vengeance so doctor prescribed estrogen patch 75. I’ve been on it around a month now and feel pretty rubbish. I’m waking every night and feel anxious a lot of the time.
I’ve given up alcohol and caffeine, exercise regularly and eat well. I just don’t know what more I can do. Is this it now? Am I just getting old and need to accept this?

I started evorel patches and like you the results were dubious, but I was switched to estrogel ( they couldnt get hold of evorel 75 patches at the time) and I've never looked back, they were a huge improvement. Apparently some people dont absorb the patches very well. I think you should ask to try a gel or cream format instead? There are a few options including estrogel.

If you're like this on HRT, you'll be ten times worse off it.

I had to come off a couple of years ago and my sleep and anxiety is much, much worse than it has ever been.

Keep trying different ones, you'll eventually get the right one.

Try the gel of the spray.

Thanks that’s interesting, I had no idea some people don’t absorb the oestrogen from patches.
I’m also bleeding a lot and during the progesterone part of the HRT (days 24-28) when I thought the bleeding should come after that. I think this is also when I’m feeling particularly rubbish.
I just want to feel like the old me.

I gave up on it because whilst it resolved the mental health issues I was having it caused other symptoms that I just couldn’t live with (migraine). It doesn’t suit everyone.

Why patches? I took the tablets and they were brilliant

@JinglingHellsBells that’s really helpful thank you. I am taking Utrogestan 100 mg x 2 which I take at bedtime. I have just read the packet leaflet and it does say take for 12 days whereas my GP has said 14 days so I think I’ll cut it to that. And also try taking vaginally too.

You might need to try a few different preps

If you're like this on HRT, you'll be ten times worse off it
Not forcibly. My experience was the sane than OP. My best times were right after I stopped hrt. Then the issues camelback until I tried antidepressants. Sorted out the anxiety and everything else got better too.

HRT doesn't work for everyone.

YANBU as you might actually have Anxiety.....
We are not walking wombs you know, just because you are of a certain age it doesn’t automatically follow that feeling anxious has to be menopause related. It might have been, but HRT isn’t helping so it must be something else causing you to feel so rubbish.

@EmpressCixi I have wondered that. All I can say is that it started about 1 and a half years ago and I never suffered with anxiety or sleep problems before that. Also stated getting palpitations at that time. But could have been triggered by lockdown etc and everything that came with that.

Don't give up on it. HRT has been a lifesaver after struggling for a year without it.

I no longer have joint pain, brain fog, anxiety, hot flushes or problems sleeping.

Have other conditions (eg hyper/hypothyroidism) been ruled out?

@crispinglovershighkick yes I’ve recently had blood done because of the palpitations- all normal.

@crispinglovershighkick that’s brilliant, I think if I could just sleep I’d feel a million times better.

Yes definitely ask GP to try gel, or tablets. Absorption via patches for some can be a bit hit and miss.

desperadoandrubbish
I wad wondering what decision you made?

I have started oestrogel and utrogestan and have been feeling rough on the latter

I am thinking of quitting too!

I have contacted the GP today, they never returned my call, so 🤷‍♀️