HRT -making me ravenous...

[DeliaOwens]

Hello, I was recently changed from patch (Evorel Conti) to HRT tablet (Femoston) purely because of supply issues. (I am not near a big city or town and relatively rural. My GP, while lovely, is very old school and does not seem to grasp the variations in HRT treatment. I pushed to have patches in the first instance)
Two things, I have had a bleed for first time in 18months since changing to tablet a month ago (pamphlet says to expect a bleed) please tell me if this is normal and ok? Additionally, I am craving bread and carbs...if I keep eating, I may put on a stone by Christmas. Is this a known side effect of Femoston and is there a version of HRT that won't make me crave carbs?

I'm on Femoston and changed from another brand of tablet, also due to supply issues.

I have not found increased hunger as a side effect personally.

Re the bleeding I've always bled monthly with the HRT tablets as they are sequential HRT. I had quite a significant bleed when I first started HRT tablets but this settled by the next month.

Hi OP. I'm fairly new to HRT as only just started Evorel Sequi a week ago. My GP was aware of supply issues so spoke to the pharmacist about the current situation. He said that as long as it was prescribed in time (as in not the day before your current supply runs out) he was generally able to get his hands on most of the Evorel products now. If his pharmacy didnt have them in, he could usually source from a higher one across town and get them sent through within a day or two - or I could go and collect.

If you were ok on Evorel patches and are low experiencing problems since changing to tablets, I'd say that's a darned good reason to ring the GP and see if they can switch you back. May be worth popping to your local pharmacy and asking pharmacist direct what their first hand experience is of the current supply issues.

Best of luck!

@slidingdrawers @FrolickingLemon thanks to you both.
My pharmacist has told me he is still having supply issues (he is not part of a big brand chain) but I will check again as last checked at end of August. Good tip!

My gut tells me to wait until end Oct to see if this change in appetite is a short term thing. Or, maybe I am clutching at straws. I honestly have never felt so compelled to eat before so wondered if it was the hormone surge/change that was driving this as nothing else has changed in my life. I never ever had to curb my eating and was never on a diet in my life.

Nothing really helpful to add if there is a supply issue other than asking for gel and Utrogestan. Assume you are on a continuous regime- 2 hormones daily in each tablet? The progesterone in femoston is closer to our own so it could be making you a bit PMs-y and wanting carbs etc.

But- you don't have to give into cravings:)
Maybe work on how to deal with the cravings- distraction stuff and eating other more healthy/ low calorie foods?

it's only your hand lifting the food to your mouth :)

@JinglingHellsBells yes, I know I am in control of this consumption and it has only been with me for a month so all is not yet lost. However, I have never ever ever had to curb my eating before. I have an extremely healthy diet, lots of fruit and veg, proper portion sizes. My Firm sent me on one of the biennial executive health screening and I was told I'm in superb shape and bloods etc in very healthy range. No action points or concerns noted to me or on the report.

This craving is more than a longing. My stomach is like a flashing Belisha beacon beckoning for food. If I don't eat I get, what I can only explain as heartburn type pain and only bread (or gloopy porridge) seems to fix. So, whilst I realise a strong association is not a proof of causation, it is the single change in my life that is possibly the reason for this sudden and extreme change.

Shameless bumping. Hoping for tips/tricks/suggestions.

I have been on femoston hrt for about 3 months and although it has helped with nights sweats etc I am waking up in the morning with extremely sore swollen fingers.has anyone else had this?also I'm always hungry and I think it's the hrt