Idiot Question - Starting HRT

[Notonthestairs]

I thought I understood the instructions but I'm so bloody tired I cant think straight!

I've been prescribed 2 pumps of Oestrogel daily and 200mg Utrogestan for 12 days from day 16 of period cycle.

My last period started on Wednesday 27th. I started Oestrogel on Saturday 6th November - so day 11 of my period cycle.

So Day 16 of my period cycle is this Thursday.

Now I am suddenly wondering if it should be on Day 16 of starting Oestrogel. The literature seems to be written from the perspective that I've started the gel on Day one of my period cycle which I didn't.

So do I start progesterone on Day 16 of Period Cycle or Day 16 after starting gel?

I hope that makes some kind of sense!

I’m pretty sure it would be day 16 of your period. I was told to start mine on day 15 of my cycle.

Thank you! I think I've just over thought it to the point of being ridiculous!

It's so confusing isn't it? I'd say day 16 of your cycle too. Because you are trying to mimic a 28 day cycle with the HRT and it's better to do that in line with your own cycle. I'm coming to the end of my first HRT cycle, I got myself in a right state overthinking it!

How has your first cycle been?

I think I'm a bit overexcited - I've had to wait several months whilst I had some other issues sorted out. In the meantime my insomnia and anxiety have really ramped up.

Notonthestairs Pretty good. I am already on citalopram for depression/anxiety. I'm taking femoston on a 3 month trial so different HRT to you. It's 2 weeks of estrogen only, 2 weeks of estrogen+progesterone. All the body aches, joint and bone pain, shoulder, neck and jaw tension went within a week of starting it. Hot flushes are less and I feel less hot generally. I'm still having some night sweats though. I know what you mean about feeling overexcited - I felt a bit like that for a few days (probably in the second week?) but then started the estrogen+progesterone tablets and it wore off. Having said that, I've felt such crashing fatigue with peri meno for so long, I don't know if that 'overexcited' feeling is just me feeling normal . I can't remember!

Oh! Meant to add - I believe progesterone has a relaxing/calming effect so you might feel better when you start your tablets. Could you try maybe 1 and a bit pumps of gel on your next cycle? See if that helps?

Thanks for the tip about when to take the progesterone tablet.
I completely recognise the aches and pains - especially my shoulders and jaw. My energy levels are dreadful. I feel like a shadow of myself - and that contributes to my anxiety.

Notonthestairs I hope things improve for you. The shoulder/neck/jaw pain and tension is just bloody awful, especially if you suffer with anxiety. Shoulders bunched, jaw clenched is my natural position. It's an exhausting vicious cycle which is bad enough let alone throwing perimenopause into the mix.