Hrt. Trying to find the right one. Elleste problems.

[Tennyson1]

I started night sweats a few months ago and I've missed three periods now. I'm 48 years old, fit, slim and healthy. But because the night sweats were so uncomfortable and keeping me awake at night the doctor put me on ugrogestan 100 tablets and oestrogen. That was pretty good except that I didn't have a period, I think I tried that for two or three months. Then, because I wanted my periods again I tried the Elleste 1mg but was still having night sweats. Then they tried me with the 2mg and suddenly everything is quite revolting, with the Elleste I've put on weight (9lb over two weeks) and I've never put on weight before. My lower back is aching, my urine is darker and you know that line that you have from your tummy button to your pelvic region that goes darker when you're pregnant? Well, that's gone darker. I'm not pregnant. I'm off to see the doctor tomorrow but I'd love to research something else before I go, can anyone else think of any thing else that could potentially suit me?

If you are still very much in peri (which you are having only missed 3 periods - they could come and go with gaps like this for years...) you def need a sequential type of HRT- progestogen only half the month.

How much Utrogestan were you taking? You should have been taking 200mgs x 10 to 12 days every month. (Some drs allow 10 days a month if you have side effects with it, others stick to the 12 days as shown on the patient info leaflet.)

If you were taking 100mgs daily, that is a continuous regime - not suitable in peri. If you were taking 100mgs for half the month, that's not enough. So something wasn't right there!

What kind of estrogen were you using? Pills or patches?

Dark urine and increase in weight sounds like fluid retention.

Have you tried Oestrogel? An estrogen gel you rub on your upper arms. You can start with one pump which is 0.75mgs, and work up to 4 (3mgs) if necessary.

Then all you need do is add in the Utrogestan for 12 days each month.

Hello Polly, thank you very much for that. I was taking utrogestan 100mg 1 a day for days 1 to 25, then I had a three day break. Over the whole 28 days I was using oestrogen, two pumps a day.

Oh Polly, is that Utrogestan vaginally? I was taking 100mg orally. Hope I've managed to reply to your comment in the correct way (I've replied twice).

My own experience, which I'm basing this on, is that you are not ready for continuous HRT which is what 25 days a month are. This is only suitable for women who have not had a natural period for at least 12 months or who are over age 54.

You would not expect a bleed with that amount of Utrogestan because it will be stopping the lining building up. The reason for 25 days/ out of 28 is just in case there is anything to come away.

If you google 'continuous HRT regime' you will find the info about who it's suitable for. Not you!

menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

Progesterone does raise the body temperature (in our fertile life) so I think you are simply using too much in ratio to the estrogen which is why you are still hot and sweaty.

It's amazing how many GPs don't seem to understand the basics of sequential and continuous HRT and who both are for!

100mgs Utrogestan= for daily use (or 25 days / out of 28)
200mgs Utrogestan = 12 days a month.
This is on the patient leaflet.

I still use sequi even 10 yrs post meno because I didn't get on at all well with Utrogestan daily. I tried it and felt very tired.

Thank you so much for your information and getting me to investigate and think further. So, I shall read up about it in a while, but you suggest 200mg of utrogestan (orally or vaginally?) and go back to the oestrogen gel! It's a bit of a bugger getting this right and thank you once again.

It's up to you where you put it
Vaginally is sometimes better as there can be fewer side effects. But it can also make some women have irritable bladders, so best to see what suits you. Good luck!