Novice seeking patches and progesterone advice...

[Callimanco]

I wonder if anyone can help?

I just picked up my first prescription of patches (estradot 50) and progesterone (utrogestan 100). I am almost 50, having irregular very light bleeds (but always had light periods, never any problems) and been prescribed HRT with symptoms:
Occasional flushes
Joint pain
Bad pmt
Brain zaps at night
Weight gain
Tiredness
Lack of libido
Irregular bleeds
Very vivid disturbing dreams
Used to get night sweats and palpitations but those have improved since I went low carb.

Having scared myself by reading the insert (am overweight) I am wondering when to start with patches. I have to take progesterone on days 14-28. Currently on day 16, but the cycle before was only 11 days and the one before that was 52! Should I start tomorrow with patch plus progesterone, or wait until my next bleed and then start on day 1?

Hope you get advice. My periods have stopped (I'm 54) so I just started using straight away - after taking yonks to find a pharmacist that had it.
Strongly recommend you put a call in to GP.

It helped with all those symptoms, by the way. Best wishes.

Thanks Bellini!
Having read the insert I feel like I will drop dead within minutes of I put one on 😟

No. Try not to worry. It takes a wee while to kick in but you will feel better. I can't remember my last night sweats. Or indeed day time hot flushes. My brain fog - which has starting to become a real problem with my work - suddenly seemed to ease.

Thanks for your kindness Bellini.
It feels like a step into accepting my age. It's harder than I thought it would be.