About to start HRT

[PeriChristmas]

Well I've finally convinced my doctor to give me a prescription.
She said to start on day 1 of my cycle. So waiting for that now. Will be another 3 weeks.

Anyone else at the start of trying HRT & want to compare notes?

My God, I am feeling so low 😔

Started on Estraderm 50 patches 14 days ago, felt very anxious and hyper so cut them in half on day 10. Having a call with my GP tomorrow. Due to start 14 days of tablets tonight, but I feel awful, really low mood with no motivation. For anything...

Should I go back to the 50's??

@wildthingsinthenight let us know how you go!

@badgerread

My God, I am feeling so low 😔

Started on Estraderm 50 patches 14 days ago, felt very anxious and hyper so cut them in half on day 10. Having a call with my GP tomorrow. Due to start 14 days of tablets tonight, but I feel awful, really low mood with no motivation. For anything...

Should I go back to the 50's??

I guess it might take a while to settle? Good to try a lower dose. Did GP suggest cutting them in 1/2?

Or perhaps you could ask to try another product after a while?

Let us know how you go with your GP @badgerread

@badgerread

My God, I am feeling so low 😔

Started on Estraderm 50 patches 14 days ago, felt very anxious and hyper so cut them in half on day 10. Having a call with my GP tomorrow. Due to start 14 days of tablets tonight, but I feel awful, really low mood with no motivation. For anything...

Should I go back to the 50's??

@badgerread The mood will be from lack of estrogen. Please don't sut the patches. There are 2 kinds - one is a matrix, the other is a reservoir. I don't know what Estraderm is, but if it's a reservoir you may have lost all of the hormone in it by cutting it.

It's VERY early days- no one can really judge after 2 weeks.

Yes they do say to give it 3 months to see how it settles.

@LifeInAHamsterWheel
Did any (or all) of you have to have a mammogram before starting on HRT?

I did - because my mother had breast cancer. I live in France, not sure if it is common practice in the UK. HRT is not as widely prescribed here.

So. I took your advice jingling and removed my cut patch last night and put a fresh one on, took my two tablets (day 14) and woke up this morning feeling like a new woman! Best I've felt in days, all motivated and everything 😃

Can I join? I have a video consultation with Newson Health in a couple of weeks after no joy with my crap GP. It’s £££ so I am really hoping it will sort me out!

However, I’ve had two trips to the breast clinic recently (cysts only, which I think are actually being caused by my hormonal changes). This isn’t going to stop them from prescribing HRT, is it?

I’m terrified this is going to be a waste of money.

@BoPeeple

Can I join? I have a video consultation with Newson Health in a couple of weeks after no joy with my crap GP. It’s £££ so I am really hoping it will sort me out!

However, I’ve had two trips to the breast clinic recently (cysts only, which I think are actually being caused by my hormonal changes). This isn’t going to stop them from prescribing HRT, is it?

I’m terrified this is going to be a waste of money.

Did you ask to speak to a different doctor @BoPeeple ?

Oh can I join? I just started HRT this week. I am on oestrogel (two pumps) and utrogestan one pill a day - interested to see there are different ways of taking this. I had an endometrial ablation a few years ago so haven't had regular periods since or much bleeding at all so I guess I was out on the one a day because of this. The leaflet says the one a day should be days 1-25 though but I've just been told to do them every day, anyone know anything about that?

I got it really easily - just phoned my go, spoke to the practice nurse who is a menopause specialist, and she prescribed them after hearing my symptoms. No face to face, no BP checks or blood checks or anything at all. Not sure what to make of that, but I'm pleased to be on them as for ages my sleep has been abysmal, sweats and flushes and pain, lots of anxiety and mood swings. Hot flushes all through the day every half hour or more, feel like I'm being boiled from inside. I'm 50 in December.

Really hope the effects start to kick in soon. Thank you for this thread!

@Madhairday

Oh can I join? I just started HRT this week. I am on oestrogel (two pumps) and utrogestan one pill a day - interested to see there are different ways of taking this. I had an endometrial ablation a few years ago so haven't had regular periods since or much bleeding at all so I guess I was out on the one a day because of this. The leaflet says the one a day should be days 1-25 though but I've just been told to do them every day, anyone know anything about that?

I got it really easily - just phoned my go, spoke to the practice nurse who is a menopause specialist, and she prescribed them after hearing my symptoms. No face to face, no BP checks or blood checks or anything at all. Not sure what to make of that, but I'm pleased to be on them as for ages my sleep has been abysmal, sweats and flushes and pain, lots of anxiety and mood swings. Hot flushes all through the day every half hour or more, feel like I'm being boiled from inside. I'm 50 in December.

Really hope the effects start to kick in soon. Thank you for this thread!

My GP prescribed 1 a day then the practice pharmacist changed it to 2 x on days 12-26.

I'm also very confused by this and would love it if someone could enlighten me 🙏🙏🙏

@PeriChristmas Unless your periods have stopped for 12 months or more, you use sequential HRT.
That means it's on a cycle like a normal 'period' cycle.
So it's 2 x 100mgs for 12 days per month. You can start anytime - like the 1st of the month- or if your cycles are regular, take the first one to coincide with your own mid-cycle.

If you are post menopause, you take 1 x 100mg a day. This is called continuous combined HRT.

I know the leaflet says for 25 days but many drs (DR Louise Newson covers this on her website) say take it daily. The 3-day gap was only there to give a bleed it if was going to happen, but it's so rare when taking continuous HRT.

@wildthingsinthenight it's not down to personal choice if you still have periods- you need 200mgs to keep the lining thin and stop odd bleeding.
You take 2 at once- so no different remembering that to taking one!

@PeriChristmas

I haven’t bothered to speak to another GP as there really isn’t a doctor I rate at my practice any more. They don’t have a menopause specialist and it became clear quite early on that I know more about it than she does, just from a bit of research. So I’ve bypassed and gone straight for a private appointment.

I can’t really afford it though and part of me is thinking of cancelling and trying again through my GP, but I also want this sorted ASAP as I feel miserable and it takes a month to even get an appointment.

I just have no faith that they know what they’re doing

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@PeriChristmas Unless your periods have stopped for 12 months or more, you use sequential HRT.
That means it's on a cycle like a normal 'period' cycle.
So it's 2 x 100mgs for 12 days per month. You can start anytime - like the 1st of the month- or if your cycles are regular, take the first one to coincide with your own mid-cycle.

If you are post menopause, you take 1 x 100mg a day. This is called continuous combined HRT.

I know the leaflet says for 25 days but many drs (DR Louise Newson covers this on her website) say take it daily. The 3-day gap was only there to give a bleed it if was going to happen, but it's so rare when taking continuous HRT.[/quote]
@JinglingHellsBells
Thank you for explaining this. I have been struggling to understand why my gynaecologist prescribed me Utrogestan for 14 days only, it doesn't make sense as I haven't had a period for 4 years so should surely be taking it daily with the Estreva gel with no break?

@samthebordercollie Yes, 1 daily should be okay unless for example that doesn't suit you (I had a permanent migraine using it daily.)
It's also usually 12 days not 14 for a cyclic regime.

You must be outside the UK as the only gels here are Oestrogel and Sandrena.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@samthebordercollie Yes, 1 daily should be okay unless for example that doesn't suit you (I had a permanent migraine using it daily.)
It's also usually 12 days not 14 for a cyclic regime.

You must be outside the UK as the only gels here are Oestrogel and Sandrena.[/quote]
Yes, I'm in France, well spotted 😉. Can I ask another question, if I take Utrogestan as you do for 12 days, is it necessary to have a few day off of the Estreva to bleed? I don't really want to start bleeding again after so long without a period, but I'd prefer not to take Utrogestan daily.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@wildthingsinthenight it's not down to personal choice if you still have periods- you need 200mgs to keep the lining thin and stop odd bleeding.
You take 2 at once- so no different remembering that to taking one![/quote]
Ok sorry

Sent too soon
Sorry @JinglingHellsBells I misunderstood

Can I ask another question, if I take Utrogestan as you do for 12 days, is it necessary to have a few day off of the Estreva to bleed?

No. You use estrogen 365 days a year.

It's a bit weird your Dr hasn't explained.

When I first started to use Utrogestan from my gynae, he was full of praise for how, in France, it was used a lot compared to the UK.

Thanks for the explanation of the 1 Vs 2 a day. I haven't had a period in over a year so I guess that's why I've been put on the 1.
Those who've been on it a while, how long did it take before you saw any positive effects? It's my 5th day on it today.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@PeriChristmas Unless your periods have stopped for 12 months or more, you use sequential HRT.
That means it's on a cycle like a normal 'period' cycle.
So it's 2 x 100mgs for 12 days per month. You can start anytime - like the 1st of the month- or if your cycles are regular, take the first one to coincide with your own mid-cycle.

If you are post menopause, you take 1 x 100mg a day. This is called continuous combined HRT.

I know the leaflet says for 25 days but many drs (DR Louise Newson covers this on her website) say take it daily. The 3-day gap was only there to give a bleed it if was going to happen, but it's so rare when taking continuous HRT.[/quote]
@JinglingHellsBells Great thank you so much for the explanation!

So when I was told 14 days, i think that's because I said I had a 28 day cycle. Does it make much difference taking it for or 14?

I wonder why there is all of this confusion over Utrogestan?
are drs not explaining it at the time they prescribe?

The leaflet sets out the regime.
It says use 12 days.

It doesn't matter how long your own cycle is @PeriChristmas

As long as you use 12 days within a calendar month, that's fine.

@JinglingHellsBells
You are a lot more helpful than my doctor!
I've just re-read my prescription, it is Utrogestan 100 for 12 days, not 14. It is from day 14 to day 26. Estreva for 26 days. With a few days off. But as I'm so far into the menopause shouldn't that be 2 x Utrogestan 100 for 12 days? With no time off for Estreva? Apologies for all the questions 😳