To think HRT isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?

[HaggardRagingTired]

Ok I’m only 8 days in to the systemic HRT, and 15 days into the low dose vaginal oestrogen. I know it takes a while to see the benefits but so far all that’s happened is:

1. the rage is BAD. I had bad rage a few years ago when I started peri but took natural supplements which curbed that. I’ve stopped taking the supplements as I was thinking it’s a bit pointless taking both, and now I’m cranky as hell. Angry driver, losing it with teenage child for no reason, I was pretty zen before.

2. a new crop of acne, mostly on my chin and a lovely one on my cheek.

3. not a period (haven’t had one since May), but a persistent trickle of brown sludge type stuff for a the last few days 🤢.

And the main things that I worried about - fatigue, joint pain etc, as bad as ever, but I wouldn’t expect them to have changed much. I thought long and hard about HRT as I am worried about the increased cancer risk, but was feeling so shitty I eventually thought it has to be worth a try.

But now I feel just as shitty but with new types of shittiness added too. What gives?

I have actually been sleeping better (according to my Apple Watch), more deep sleep anyway. But still feel just as achy and knackered.

so are you not taking Oestrogen? That’s the main thing that solves most of the peri symptoms - acne, hot flushes, brain fog, insomnia etc. I’m hoping I’ve misread - but you absolutely need to take Oestrogen to see improvements.

I found the side effects worse than my menopause symptoms, the main one being brain fog. That seems to have gone anyway, think it was low B12 rather than low oestrogen.

Largely since my periods stopped and I'm not taking any contraception or HRT and I've lost weight with Mounjaro at 51 I feel actually the best I have since before I had children at 29. Unless an issue with bone density or something else develops, I don't really want to take HRT.

Sorry yes I am, I have the oestrogen spray as well as the low dose vaginal oestrogen.

It can be trial and error to get the right type and dose. I couldn't cope with some types of progesterone nor the 2wk on off routine, I ended up on combined patches. Stick it out for a bit longer. The first thing I noticed improve was my finger joints.

@HaggardRagingTired thanks for your kind message. The treatment hasn't been easy but the NHS has been amazing for me. Assuming surgeon says he got it all out then will next be radiotherapy to get through. Would be nice if after that things could start to feel more like they were before. I don't know.

Thanks and all the best to you with whatever you go with for HRT. Think it's more of a complicated minefield than it was ten years ago

ok great, it worked wonders for my chin acne - took 3-5 weeks though. And insomnia and hot flushes. So many benefits…rescued from slow drowning.

good luck, hope it works well. And do increase the dose as needed until it works well for you. I started at 2 pumps of gel now at 3.5!

That’s great, glad you’re feeling so good. I really hoped I’d get through without it but my brain had basically given up on functioning, and the hot flushes were horrible. My B12 levels are good and I’m taking iron gummies as my iron was still in the normal range but on the low side.

Slow drowning is an excellent description, thank you, the doctor said just to start on one spray and then we’ll review after 2 months.

It takes quite a few weeks to even start to begin to feel better. The discharge/cramps will go for you in a few months - if they don't then see the GP.

HRT I got bigger boobs, sore like they did before a period too and my adult acne came back but I can sleep. Blessed sleep! I couldn't sleep at all and it wasn't due to the hot flushes, just would go to bed and ping, wide awake. No difference in aches and pains, or even really brain fog but sleep helps with all of those things.

My mum got breast cancer on combo HRT. She was on it over 10 years, I don't think the link had been really proven back then. So I hope to get myself into a position soon enough to come off it in a couple of years where it doesn't matter if am a zombie in the daytime through lack of sleep. That will give me about 5-6 years on HRT.

I’m also hoping I get some kind of sex drive back, that left the building a while back. I go through the motions but I really could happily go without forevermore. And I love the bones of DP and fancy him a lot, so it’s not that.

I’ve always had crap skin but had recently given up dairy as I suspected that was causing it, and just before I started HRT my skin was pretty clear, now it’s definitely not. Annoyingly I didn’t really have enough time to fully test my dairy theory before HRT, so I may be depriving myself of cheese for nothing (maybe that’s why I’m cranky).

Yeah, me too. I remember begging the gynae to take it out, he really didn't want to! It was awful. I do also remember a few weeks later, when the hormones must've all returned to normal being in the garden and suddenly just felt at peace and all calm, something the coil had taken away. Horrible medicine.

Fair play, no cheese make anyone cranky!!

I had clear skin once hit the menopause, finally (hormonal cystic acne started in my 30's) but HRT deffo caused it to come back. Hopefully though once your body adjusts, it may go?