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Menopause

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Original poster

Started Evorel Conti today - feeling nervous

34 replies

yellowtomato · 23/06/2021 12:05

Hello
My main problem is brain fog, waking early and not being able to get to sleep and joint pain. Also anxiety but not sure if that is other causes.....
I've been diagnosed Evorel Conti which I've started today.....the patient leaflet of all the side effects gave me a panic and google is making it worse.....I feel very nervous about what might happen now. Seems like I could end up with much worse problems than I have now..
Please let me know your positive stories of how HRT changed your life (for the better!) or what I should look out for.....I'm 48....
Thank you.........

OP posts:

junipertree2 · 23/06/2021 20:43

Have your periods stopped OP?

48 is quite young to be given Conti. Usually given to women who have had a year without periods.

I take it for 2 wks every month as part of my sequential HRT. It's fine! I don't even react badly to the progesterone.

I wouldn't say that it causes any more side effects than contraception, and the patches have no stroke/clot risk as far as I am aware, unlike the pill or oral HRT.

Do check with your GP if you are on the right regime as some can be a bit clueless...

Original poster

yellowtomato · 24/06/2021 17:26

Thanks for the reassurance. It's been about 18 months since I had a bleed, still have signs of ovulation though. I am just desperate to not have such a fog brain.

OP posts:

junipertree2 · 24/06/2021 17:35

Oh okay. The Evorel did help with my anxiety (and rage). If the progesterone element works well for you, it is quite calming!

Chesneyhawkes1 · 24/06/2021 17:36

I'm 42 and have been on the everol conti patches for almost a year.

They stopped the hot flushes within 48 hours. I feel the same as I did before menopause now except I still wake up earlier than I used to. But I am sleeping better.

I love them! No bad side effects for me at all

Original poster

yellowtomato · 29/06/2021 12:38

Thank you, sounds good. I'm a week in now and I think I'm feeling a bit better, slightly less jumpy and a bit clearer headed. Thank goodness for that.

OP posts:

FictionalCharacter · 29/06/2021 12:45

That’s what I’m on. Stopped the severe hot flushes very quickly. No side effects.

Please don’t let the patient info leaflet worry you. They have to tell you about even very rare side effects. The vast majority of us will get no side effects at all.

Original poster

yellowtomato · 30/06/2021 14:46

Thank you. I think I am feeling a bit better difficult to say for sure. I did miss a v important appointment today though (which would have been very unusual for me before brain fog)

I guess I'll see, it's only been a week.

OP posts:

Espirito · 30/06/2021 15:31

It's great OP. I'm the same age as you, and have been on it together with a progesterone tablet for cycle days 15-28 for about 6 months. Before that I was on Evorel Sequi which was also great, but ended up needing the higher hormone dose.
Can't comment on brain fog; mine is bad due to other reasons (chemotherapy caused an early menopause) but for energy levels, hot flushes and aching joints, Evorel Sequi and then Cont have made a huge difference to me, with fewer side effects that I used to get from the pill or Mirena.
Good luck, I hope it helps you too.

mibbelucieachwell · 01/07/2021 19:09

I had tablets first which gave me an absolute rage. Except when I was feeling tearful. I persevered for about a fortnight then changed to Everol Conti patches.

Instantly fab. Like pls hot flushes stopped literally overnight.

junipertree2 · 01/07/2021 20:15

@mibbelucieachwell

I had tablets first which gave me an absolute rage. Except when I was feeling tearful. I persevered for about a fortnight then changed to Everol Conti patches.

Instantly fab. Like pls hot flushes stopped literally overnight.

The tablets are not for everyone. They seem to reach for those when they have shortages. They only gave me erratic relief and bloody terrible constipation and wind!

LizzieSiddal · 02/07/2021 08:38

I’ve been on these patches for 3 months, hot flushes gone, brain fog much improved and my sleep has gone from waking for around 2 hours around 3am every night, to sleeping right through- I feel like a different person and wish I’d started them years ago!

TheHoneyBadger · 02/07/2021 13:02

@FictionalCharacter

That’s what I’m on. Stopped the severe hot flushes very quickly. No side effects.

Please don’t let the patient info leaflet worry you. They have to tell you about even very rare side effects. The vast majority of us will get no side effects at all.

Oh my god! That is music to my ears!

I'm starting on the patches (2 weeks on oestrogen only and 2 weeks on combined as I still have periods) today when I pick them up from the chemist.

I have a whole raft of other symptoms but I've been putting up with the hot flushes getting worse and worse for years and can't stand it anymore. I can handle standing at the front of a class not being able to remember the word for 'chair', I can handle urine leakage, I can even just about handle aches and pains and insomnia but the whole pouring with sweat with my heart pounding and feeling like I'm going to have a panic attack in front of 30 kids or anyone in fact is hideous.

I've been trying not to get my hopes up but yours and a few others posts on this thread have been so good to hear.

TheHoneyBadger · 02/07/2021 13:04

I'm only 45 by the way but have been suffering for years with worsening perimenopause symptoms. Finally bit the bullet, armed myself with nice guidelines and got them prescribed on Wednesday.

TheHoneyBadger · 02/07/2021 13:05

Sorry to hijack OP but hope we can keep each other updated on how it's going.

Original poster

yellowtomato · 02/07/2021 13:31

Hey Badger, don't worry, not a hijack, glad you found reassurance.

I've been on mine 10 days now. Hot flushes haven't been a problem, it's mainly brain fog, not feeling able get anything done and sadness. I think I'm a bit more with it but did lose my travel card yesterday........never done that in 30 years. And I have no idea what happened.....ho hum

OP posts:

TheHoneyBadger · 02/07/2021 13:41

Apparently it can take a few months for them to really improve things - hope you start to see some improvements.

I identify with the sadness - I've a history of depression but this is different to that - it feels more like when I was pregnant and had a really easy cry response to twee adverts or a sentimental scene in a movie itms? My depression was definitely peaking through in recent years and I have had to change meds but I feel like the ones I'm on are working and it's not depression now but just this very labile emotional response. I cry as if someone I loved just died or something over very small stimuli.

I would imagine things like mood and cognitive function improvements are a slower process. Crossing everything you start to see some improvements.

TheHoneyBadger · 02/07/2021 13:42

If I could wish for them to achieve three things it would be:
-hot flushes
-bladder
-make it easier to lose weight and build muscle again

Grassynoel · 04/07/2021 19:58

Hi ladies, I've been prescribed these and am picking them up tomorrow. When do you start applying the patches? I'm on day 15 of a generally 21 day cycle so I'm clueless. Do I take the Conti regardless for the two weeks first, then the Estrodot?

Thank you and sorry to hijack.x

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 04/07/2021 20:03

Hello!

Started Evorel Conti last week - maybe was imagining this but when I put the first patch on, it felt as if there was a rush which I can only explain as having a cannula in your arm and then they start the drip.

Not sure I understand the hierarchy of patches, but so far so good.

TheHoneyBadger · 04/07/2021 20:26

Ok this will sound crazy but 48hrs in I suddenly started thinking about sex and the possibility of dating [confusing] It has literally been the thing furthest from my mind for over 2 years now.

junipertree2 · 04/07/2021 20:46

@Grassynoel

Thank you and sorry to hijack.x

It's not at all clear from the instructions, but I surmise that you should start applying the patches from your first pack of Sequi, i.e the oestrogen-only patches, when your period starts? This would mimic your natural cycle, when your oestrogen levels start to rise from Day 1 of your cycle. I certainly wouldn't take the Conti first as you would be left with excess oestrogen patches. I would wait until bleeding comes as normal.

TheHoneyBadger · 04/07/2021 20:58

I think if your periods are irregular you can start taking them whenever. If you are still having regular periods you are advised to start them within the first 5 days of your cycle. My opinion (not a doctor) is that you could start taking them whenever as long as you don't mind that your cycle might be thrown off but it would settle down again.

Grassynoel · 05/07/2021 21:53

Thank you ladies. I forgot to say, I get bad migraines on day 1 and 2 of my period so I worry about gleefully slapping on a patch of oestrogen when it's spiking on those days. What do you think? If I start the Conti now, would that make that spike less dramatic.

I'm sorry if I'm not making sense.

Summer776 · 06/07/2021 12:42

I get hormonal migraine every month too and the patches make no difference to them, unfortunately. I have Sumatrapin 50mg for them.

brab · 18/12/2021 23:09

Hi yellowtomato Just wondering how you’re getting on with the Evorel Conti patches?

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