Help! HRT day 1

[Ella15]

Started oestrogel & utrogestan only last night. For background I'm 46, periods bang on 28 days still, no hot flashes yet but exhaustion, low mood and a little light rage . Was so excited to start this combo thinking I'd get more energy and be able to shift the stone I'd put on over last year. I'm a lightweight - get drunk on a glass of wine and have had no stronger drugs in my lifetime than the occasional short course of antibiotics, not even the pill. Last night I administered 2 pumps of gel in my mid thighs and one 100mg tablet and today I feel utterly out of body. Really not with it in online work meetings (wfh) a weird pain in my groin which is now radiating down the inside of my right leg and a feeling that my period is about to start (explode) any min but my last period ended last week. My lower abdomen feels so heavy. Am I intolerant to the ingredients (is that even a thing?)? Did you have any weird & wonderful symptoms from the get-go? Did you persevere and then start feeling the benefits? Should I not even entertain another dose tonight given a busy day at work tomorrow? Gah! What to do??

It isn't the gel that's making you feel spaced out, it's the progesterone.. they don't call it the sleepy hormone for nothing! A lot of women can't cope with utogestan orally so take it vaginally but as far as I know (I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along and clarify) a gp won't advise this it tends to only be advice of gyne and meno specialists.
It can take a good three months to get used to a HRT regime but if you can't stick it out then maybe tell to your doc about doses or alternatives like a combined patch.

Oestrogel is often prescribed as start with one pump and increase if necessary, so you could do that. Are you introducing the Utrogestan to fit with your existing cycle?

I'm similar to you and the stick on patch have much fewer side effects. Also easier to manage. Id try give them a go.

I've just been prescribed the same and I have regular periods. I was told to start the gel (1 pump only) on the day my period arrives and then take the progesterone from day 13. That's quite a heavy dose of hormones if you starting with all that straight away?

Arghh @izzy2076 the GP did seem a bit unsure when I asked her about when I should start. She was scanning info online and said yeah just start anytime you want. Hmm shall I hold off now then and then start back off on day next period arrives? Have I already started messing with my hormones & cycle by just taking one dose?

Sorry to span you @izzy2076 but I just saw this online: 'You take Utrogestan either two capsules every day on days 15 to 26, or one capsule every day on days 1 to 25' Are you taking two capsules daily from day 13? My GP said one capsule per day from 1-25 (starting day 1 anytime) then a five day break.

As you still have your own cycle, you need the cyclic dosage of Utrogestan. Scroll down on this page:

www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

Gah! Thank you for sharing that link @SparklingLime. I need to synchronise it with my current cycle then. No wonder I felt weird today introducing a batch of hormones at the wrong time . I'm not going to continue tonight but start again from day my next period arrives. Really appreciate everyone's help

@Ella15 Do not worry! I've used this for years (see a consultant) and you are using it wrongly. Sorry!

If you have periods, you need to cyclic regime. That is 2 capsules for 12 days each month.

The 1 capsule a day is for post menopause women.

There are two ways you can start.

1 Today is the 1st so you could start Utrogestan today and keep to the 1st (and eventually after a few months your own natural cycle will tie in with it.)

2 OR you might prefer to wait till the middle of your own cycle (day 15-ish) and choose that date t o start Utrogestan.

In the meantime, use the gel. But as Pps have said, start with 1 pump for a week or two and see how that feels, then increase gradually to 2 pumps. You can get half a dose out of the container by just not pressing the plunger right down.

Hi!

My GP was unsure of when I needed to start too and think she must have googled it! I would personally do 1 x pump initially and start the progesterone on day 15 in line with your own cycle. I don't think it's a disaster if you don't start the gel on day 1 but I think you need to wait the two weeks until the progesterone

Now I'm totally confused! I've been told to take 1 capsule! (100mg) of the progesterone!

@izzy2076

Now I'm totally confused! I've been told to take 1 capsule! (100mg) of the progesterone!

@izzy2076

The 100mgs dose is for women who do not have periods at all and have not had one for a year or more.

That dose is 100mgs every day. (Consultants are now suggesting that rather than having a 3-day break each 28 days which is only there to allow a bleed if the lining isn't thin.)

For women with periods, the dose is 200mgs per 28-30 day cycle.
You take it on the same day each month so either the 1st (easy to remember) or the middle of your cycle (but it's better to choose a date because eventually your own cycles will be irregular.)

• 200mgs x 12 days per 28-30 day cycle.

@JinglingHellsBells

* 200mgs x 12 days per 28-30 day cycle.

Just read the box. You are correct except my capsules are 200 mg rather than 2 x 100. Phew!!

@JinglingHellsBells THANK YOU! So just to double check, cos my brain is fried today, I do one pump of the gel tonight and each night from hereon in and then restart the progesterone on my current cycles day 15 for 12 days. Does that sound right? And will my period likely just appear as normal on its usual day 28 (which I then class as day 1 again)? Sorry for treating you like my own private consultant when you're just kindly passing on your wisdom from your own experience!

[quote Ella15]@JinglingHellsBells THANK YOU! So just to double check, cos my brain is fried today, I do one pump of the gel tonight and each night from hereon in and then restart the progesterone on my current cycles day 15 for 12 days. Does that sound right? And will my period likely just appear as normal on its usual day 28 (which I then class as day 1 again)? Sorry for treating you like my own private consultant when you're just kindly passing on your wisdom from your own experience! [/quote]
In a word, YES.

Your period ought to appear as normal.

Don't worry if it doesn't - just stick to the same pattern each month.

@JinglingHellsBells a big thank you for being so kind to help. Feel a lot more hopeful now