Coming off HRT

[BooseysMom]

Hi, I've been on Oestrogel and Utrogesten for 3 months and thought my symptoms were improving but they don't seem to be any more. I've never had hot flushes but I have crippling all over aching. I desperately want to get fit and re-start exercising but have zero energy. I'm depressed and snappy. Work is a nightmare. I have a constant burning feeling down below too which hasn't improved with the HRT. I've told the gp and she sent me to have BP checked and it's high but not worryingly so. I've been monitoring it for a week. My symptoms are always worse mid cycle to when the period starts.
Has anyone else had this?
Now for the last 2 days I have been having splitting headaches. I looked this up on the leaflet and it says to stop taking Utrogesten immediately if you get sudden migraine type headaches so I have now stopped the HRT as of yesterday.
I would like to know if anyone has had these problems and whether they stopped HRT as a result.
Thanks x

Hello and sorry to hear you're having problems. I also started HRT three months ago and experienced a dramatic improvement in my symptoms after just a few weeks, however, like you I'm now really struggling with the two weeks I'm taking Utrogestan. I've had a review and upped the estrogen dosage (from 100mg patches to 150mg) so hoping this helps. Also keeping in mind that it's still early days and overall I am feeling better than I was pre-HRT (albeit the second two weeks of my cycle are pretty awful - mostly due to low mood). I know Utrogestan can also be taken vaginally so wondering if that might be an option as I've heard it reduces side effects, although I'm not sure which ones.

No doubt someone with more knowledge than me will be along shortly, but I would ask your GP to review your dosage and keep in mind the long term benefits of HRT (e.g. in relation to Osteoporosis, dementia, heart disease) as well as the relief from everyday symptoms.

@Moomin37.. thank you for replying. I'm exactly the same in that the 2nd two weeks of my cycle are awful and I dread it. I spent all weekend in bed last month which sounds lovely but was horrible!
I told the gp about the burning sensation I keep getting and got no solution to it. I also said about the general achiness and jelly feelings I get in my legs and was told to up the gel to 4 pumps a day. I find it doesn't really help.
I'm trying to be positive but due to the headaches and high bp, I have come off it.
Good luck with the patches

Just saw this today. I'm only just starting to explore HRT but I have found topical oestrogen cream really helpful. I've written about my pelvic pain in a couple of my recent posts. My GP was no help but (private) pelvic floor physio has improved things a lot. Don't just put up with the pain as there may be something that could help.

I was on Everol - the first month was good, hot flushes went and I was sleeping well. Didn't notice any other improvements. However by the end of the second month I had horrendous lower back pain,. especially in the morning and when driving. Am really disappointed as I have been suffering from joint pain, back included and was hoping the patches would help with this.

It does say 1in 10 have back pain as a side effect - has anyone else experienced this ?

HRG never worked for me. I've tried 4 different regime, two for 4 months and each time it just got worse with each week and the most relief I've had was when I stopped it!

Like you, I didn't have issues with hot flushes, but had very poor quality sleep (as per my name!) and that affected me badly in the same way you describe it.

I don't have any solution sadly, but it certainly has got better for me, and whereas most women who struggle do so once their period has stopped for a year, it was for me the time things started to get better. What's helped th doing a CBT course, and reassessing how I dealt with it all, very much like you do with a chronic condition.The worse enemy of the menopause for me is stress.

Saying that, it is worth considering another HRT as some women do bad on one but much better on another regime.

Hi op having simular issuses ad in sore ,itchty virgina , not thrush or std, I tested .so bad I've scratched it I'll bleed .
Seeing my Dr in couple of weeks .so fed up may come off it .