HRT: wow! What a difference

[izzy2076]

I have only been on it a month and I honestly feel it's changed my life.

Tinnitus: gone. PMT:gone. Sleep is better and no anxiety. I have a lot on my plate at the moment but feel able to cope. The energy is amazing and I feel almost high. Almost too energised and a bit too 'full on' and slightly manic.

Will the effects start to fall off eventually or am I going to feel this well forever?!

I take it Fenston Conti is the same as Evorel Conti?

JustSinginInTheRain We have a family history of breast cancer. My Mum first had it when she was 48. I'm 49. My sister and I had our family medical history looked at and had some counselling with a breast cancer care nurse. That was back in 2018. It was advised then that we don't take HRT. However, I believe the research has been looked at again, it was flawed, and the NICE guidelines have been updated regarding the risk. I've just been prescribed HRT - I'm happy that the risk is minimal compared to the benefits.

There is some info here, in the 6th article, if you scroll down.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/topics/existing-conditions?page=2

@HateJudgmentalPeople

I take it Fenston Conti is the same as Evorel Conti?

Femeston conti is in tablet form. Everol conti are patches. They both contain progesterone but different types. And different levels of estrogen are available in femoston conti. This table is useful:

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/hrt-the-different-ingredients-brands-and-strengths-available

@izzy2076

Had a rocky start with the utrogestan and felt like shit

Izzy, when did it improve for you with Utrogestan? I'm similar to you, finding the oestrogen patches amazing - my sleep (which was awful) is massively improved, brain fog gone, anxiety alleviated - literally like I've found myself again.

But, the Utrogestan brings back some of these symptoms, albeit not as bad.

So it's like 2 good - great! - weeks & then 2 kinda-miserable ones. I'm on Utrogestan for the latter half of my cycle (200 mg) rather than the lower dosage daily.

I was doing well (been on them since 3/9/21) but I’ve been awake all night for nothing now! Thankfully I have no work today!

@MoragsEyebrows

Same for me, OP.

After nearly a year of hot sweats, sleeplessness, anxiety and generally feeling terrible and not myself, I started Evorel sequi patches and within 48 hours felt myself again.

Amazing!

Likewise! I couldn’t remember the last time I enjoyed a good night’s sleep before using these patches. I wish I’d started HRT years ago but like so many others I was in denial.

The sleep! I'd got so used to being unable to sleep because I'd get under the covers, overheat, remove blanket or duvet, cool down sweatily, freeze, replace, nod off, overheat, repeat...

Now it's just worry that keeps me awake at nights, rather than physical inability to maintain a settled temperature.

Me too, OP! I was on everol sequi patches but the progesterone ones were causing extreme bloating and mood swings so I was moved on to oestrogel and utrogestan a couple of months ago. The first month of utrogestan was a but rough but the second was great! Actually felt better than just with the oestrogen. The only ongoing issue is the bloating when I take it. I have fibroids too which doesn’t help but I’m sick of people asking me if I’m pregnant :( anyone else get this?

Thanks so much for that information Herman as was not sure whether I could even ask for HRT. I will discuss with GP as advice seems to have changed.

[quote alloutofcareunits]@HemanOrSheRa I'm on Femiston conti 0.5/2.5 and it's fantastic for me! It's the only one I've tried, been on it for about 5 years now - life changing! Hope it works for you [/quote]
I have literally just been prescribed this today so fingers crossed for me

I've been perimenopausal for around 12 months. The anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, hot flushes, night sweats, anger issues are just awful and I really feel for my family. I have contacted my GP, but they're still not doing face to face consultations (that's a whole other thread!) and I've had a text to say that someone will contact me to discuss this further on 8 October!! Is there any over the counter medication I can take until I've spoken to my GP? I need to get out of this awful funk I'm in. It's really dragging me down

Just spoken to my GP who said it's likely that all the symptoms I have are pms? I've never suffered like this before, the last 5 months have been hell and my regular 28 day cycle of the last 25 years is now all over the place, most recently 20 days! Im going In for blood tests soon, this was a phone consultation.
She's suggested anti depressants or the pill, neither of which I consider preferable options. Has anyone had a similar experience with their gp and can offer any advice please?

@OKBobble hope you get the same results as I have 🤞🏻

@juicy0

Just spoken to my GP who said it's likely that all the symptoms I have are pms? I've never suffered like this before, the last 5 months have been hell and my regular 28 day cycle of the last 25 years is now all over the place, most recently 20 days! Im going In for blood tests soon, this was a phone consultation. She's suggested anti depressants or the pill, neither of which I consider preferable options. Has anyone had a similar experience with their gp and can offer any advice please?

You are being heavily fobbed off! So many of us women on MN know the Peri and the Meno better than the GP, blood tests are useless because twice my bloods have came back normal and I am in the perimenoupause.

Try to book another doctor and ask for the one that deals with the menopause or get back there and don’t be fobbed off, even mention the this thread, say all the women that are going through the same thing have been given HRT, nobody knows your own body like yourself.

It’s so frustrating that menopause happens to every women alive yet so many GPs are clueless.

I’m angry on your behalf.

@juicy0 my GP initially told me it was pms and offered antidepressants. I think she was under the impression that it can only be peri if there are hot flushes (which I don't have). But I'd done my research and was insistent and convinced her to prescribe me a pill that was recommended on here for perimenopausal women who also need contraception.
Read the NICE guidelines, read the Menopause Doctor website and fact sheets, and then go back and ask again.

[quote WhereAreWeNow]@juicy0 my GP initially told me it was pms and offered antidepressants. I think she was under the impression that it can only be peri if there are hot flushes (which I don't have). But I'd done my research and was insistent and convinced her to prescribe me a pill that was recommended on here for perimenopausal women who also need contraception.
Read the NICE guidelines, read the Menopause Doctor website and fact sheets, and then go back and ask again.[/quote]
If they won’t give you when you ask then be prepared to dig your heels in and insist, sometimes that’s what is needed.

Meant to add that in response and an add on of what the pp before me thought.

@juicy0

Just spoken to my GP who said it's likely that all the symptoms I have are pms? I've never suffered like this before, the last 5 months have been hell and my regular 28 day cycle of the last 25 years is now all over the place, most recently 20 days! Im going In for blood tests soon, this was a phone consultation. She's suggested anti depressants or the pill, neither of which I consider preferable options. Has anyone had a similar experience with their gp and can offer any advice please?

How old are you? These are the current NICE guidelines. Perimenopause is very much like constant PMS, for me anyway. I think that's one of the reasons it's so bloody awful. Most women who have children hit peri when their DC are teens. I know my poor partner has been tearing his hair out with me and DS (now 16) these last couple of years. It's hormones a go go here!

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/recommendations

This website is excellent for up to date info. The Balance App linked to the website is free and very good too. Lots of info there.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

Thank you all for your support, I'll definitely go back and challenge because I can't go on like this every month. I asked what the blood tests would show and she said it would show whether I am post menopause or not 🤷‍♀️ I'm sure I'm not post menopause as I'm still getting periods heavier and more frequent than before. I'm 44 and my DC are 20 and 16. I don't require a contraceptive so I don't need to take that into account.

Should I be asking for HRT as an alternative to antidepressants or the pill?

Agree @HemanOrSheRa - perimenopause does feel like permanent and ever worsening PMS combined with the heaviest and most painful periods. It's awful.

[quote EarringsandLipstick]@izzy2076

Had a rocky start with the utrogestan and felt like shit

Izzy, when did it improve for you with Utrogestan? I'm similar to you, finding the oestrogen patches amazing - my sleep (which was awful) is massively improved, brain fog gone, anxiety alleviated - literally like I've found myself again.

But, the Utrogestan brings back some of these symptoms, albeit not as bad.

So it's like 2 good - great! - weeks & then 2 kinda-miserable ones. I'm on Utrogestan for the latter half of my cycle (200 mg) rather than the lower dosage daily. [/quote]
I had a bad start with the utrogestan as I was taking it on a full stomach which apparently multiplies the effects.

I had two days of horrific symptoms: anxiety and weeping and then started on an empty stomach and the fog lifted. I ended feeling quite buzzy on it and slept really well. I have just finished that part of the cycle and think I now have it progesterone withdrawal as my sleep is now shit and I'm back to raging! I am about to start my period though.

I had two days of horrific symptoms

Oh. Just 2 days. Feck it. I'm in my second cycle & still finding it problematic.

Yes, you are meant to take it at night. I do this but still am experiencing side effects. Let's see...I'm due back to my GP in a few weeks, can review then.

I'm so heartened to read so many positive stories about HRT! I'm 47 and have been on the progesterone only pill for some years now so I don't have periods and have no idea if they've 'changed' since I last had them. I don't get hot flushes but I am having night sweats and insomnia and I feel like I'm in a fog pretty much all the time. It's exhausting. I don't have vaginal dryness, but I've noticed I get thrush a lot in the last few years - is that a symptom?? Libido has also taken a battering and my joint and muscle pain is off the scale.

I have an appointment with my GP this afternoon and hoping she'll prescribe something for me. I really don't want a mirena coil fitted, I had one years ago and didn't like it at all, so am hoping for some other combination of hormone delivery.

Fingers crossed...

Also, is needing to wee throughout the night a symptom?! I never used to have to get up to wee but now I'm up twice a night - on top of overheating and general insomnia