Starting HRT tomorrow, any tips?

[elephantstrong]

GP has run bloods and scans and now agreed to give me HRT for my mixed peri menopausal symptoms.

Ive gel oestrogen and utrogestan tablets. Since I'm stopping my cerazette the GP has advised I start the oestrogen gel tomorrow, and then wait a couple of weeks before starting the 12 days of utrogestan.

I'm a bit wary of periods returning as those always made me feel crap, but willing to try a new approach to the whole hormone drama to deal with a multitude of increasingly irritating and fatiguing side effects of perimenopause.

Any tips?

I've been on Sandrena (oestrogen gel) and Utrogestan for nearly two months now. I take Sandrena every day, and Utrogestan for the first 12 days of each calendar month as I am 48 and my Dr said to have breaks so the uterine lining doesn't build up too much. However, I am not having periods at all in the progesterone-free days. I've not had one since June!

I think I've been perimenopausal for quite a few years now as I was having hot flushes, odd weight gain, flooding periods, etc. The Drs didn't believe me at first and said I was too young but this past year I had such dreadful times with hot flushes I told them I couldn't cope anymore. They tested my oestrogen levels (finally!) and found they were rock-bottom.

The gel and pills have worked really well in containing my hot flushes and giving me more energy. The flushes are creeping back again now a little (nowhere near as bad as before) so I am going to see if I can increase the oestrogen a little bit. I am very sensitive to hormones and couldn't get on with the contraceptive pill (plus had oestrogen-caused migraines) but have been fine on this. Hope it helps you.

Thanks for sharing your experience, really useful to know what might happen.

I'm on day 3 of the gel today, the GP said to wait 2 weeks then do the utrogestan days as I've come straight off the progesterone only pill, so it lets any bleed from the change of meds settle first.

Really hope I can avoid periods, it was the best thing about the cerazette.

I don't get hot flushes but I have a lot of small but menopausal signs like aching joints, brain fog, insomnia, dry eyes, fatigue, headaches, etc. Adding together they make me feel half myself most days.

Elephantstrong which Estrogel do you have
Estrogel or Oestrogel ?

Oestrogel

Is there a difference?

I started on Estrogel 12 weeks ago & after picking up my latest prescription noticed that the packaging has changed & after looking at other forums I came across this

Oh that's interesting. I've nothing to compare it to, and I know the GP won't change it until I've tried this one fully, but it's useful to know there might be a difference.

Is this being mentioned at all on the menopause websites or Dr Newsom or anywhere I can show the GP another GP's views?

Yes it’s been mentioned on menopause matters , menopause support as well as face book
I believe that it’s being looked into . Some women feel that since their packaging changed their symptoms have returned the question is has just the labelling changed or the ingredients as well 🙈
Have you also got Oestrogel ?

Ot sorry you did say Oestrogel

The bottles are the same apart from the labels

I have the middle of those three packages.

I'll make sure I read up when it's due for renewal.

I had an issue with cerazette and cerelle when on the POP. Cerazette worked great, but cerelle led to lots of break through bleeding. Even though they were technically the same drug.

The GP added a note that said give me cerazette onto the repeat prescription.

Maybe they'll do the same for this? Or is it in short supply?