Please recommend the best HRT for me.

[RosieSun]

I’m a regular poster but have name changed as I have never started a thread and nervous about this. I’d be glad of advice.
I have my 2nd GP appointment the day after tomorrow for menopausal symptoms, where I am expecting to be prescribed HRT. I suspect I have been peri for 4 years, but I didn’t realize, as my symptoms accumulated gradually as follows:
20lb weight gain; hair thinning; tiredness; vertigo; mild hot flushes; stress incontinence ; back ache and stiffness; low mood; general rage and now high anxiety with frequent chest soreness and shortness of breath. The anxiety is dreadful and the worse symptom by far. I am on the mini-pill, married but no sex life to speak of, but I want this to change once I’ve sorted myself out.
I stopped the mini pill at the start of the year when I wanted to check if I was menopausal. I had no periods for 4 months, then the heaviest two of my life (could barely leave house some days) and so I went back on the mini pill.
I have read up on HRT and I think I would like gels/patches but I got the impression at my first appointment that they were going to give me a combined pill instead, which will be disappointing if true. I don’t want a mirena coil fitted as I had one before and encountered problems with its removal.
My bloods have been taken twice with FSH readings of 72 and 70.
Until all this my health was good. I am 47, a bit overweight (BMI 26/27), diet not bad. I don’t smoke and gave up alcohol in the summer as I was feeling so lousy. I had covid in Sept 2020 and I thought I had long covid before reading up on the menopause.

Sorry for the long post, just trying to jot down any significant factors. If anyone reading this is has experience of HRT and can recommend a prescription for me that would be great. (I have read many websites, including Louise Newson’s.)

Can I join you all? Had a phone appointment with GP today - hoping to pick up my 1st log if Evorel patches tonight/tomorrow and get started...

Oops - sorry about the typos- must learn to proof read before I post!

Hi @putthehamsterbackinitscage. Absolutely, we would love you to join! Feel free to tell us about how peri/menopause is going for you, or not if you don’t wish to. Good to have you with us either way. Some of us are going to give weekly updates on Thursdays as a starter.

Would be really interested to know what dose packages you have all been prescribed? I've been given evorel sequi 50 and am wishing I'd started at 25. Feel very spotty and boobs tender and much fuller after only 3 weeks!

I have oestrogen gel and urogestan tablets. I’m 42. I was given a choice between gel and patch for the oestrogen.

I have Evorel Sequi 50. I stuck the first patch on last night and I'll try to monitor day by day to track any changes and side effects.

I've probably been in peri for at least 3 - 4 years but only really became more aware in the last year or so as periods became heavier, more frequent (23-25 days reduced to around 14 - 18 days) and then became much lighter and much less frequent (50 days +).

The biggest issues for me have been sleep related, hot flushes mostly at night, very snappy / rage at minor things, and work - no confidence, unable to concentrate, forgetting things - I changed job as I felt I was in the wrong job, but I now feel similar in my new role at least some of the time so I'm hoping to get some of my energy and enthusiasm back.

I was worried about the patches falling off, especially as I only have a month's worth.

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Hi @RavenT. I’ve been given evorel sequi. (Evorel 50 & Everol conti patches).
@IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble. I’m not sure if on this thread or another under ‘menopause’ but another poster was told by their GP not to use covers to hold the patches on, as they thought the adhesive cover might absorb the hormones from the patch. Might be worth further investigation!

@RosieSun thanks I did some research and it seemed like the clear ones were fine, I'll do some more checking.

Oooh - I'm so glad to have found this thread!

I've been prescribed the Evorel Sequi 50&Conti, and have just stuck my first patch on!

Will be great to share experiences and progress with those in the same boat

Hi everyone & welcome @Luckingfovely!
Well, first week down, about to apply patch no3. I can report…..nada change so far. Slightly spotty chin and possibly mild cramp-like twinges in lower abdomen occasionally, nothing else of note. I do feel a little more positive and less anxious today, but I think that’s because a. I started back at work and it was bad, but not as bad as I’d expected. &b. I joined a slimming club tonight, (Well it is New Year!). I did this after much humming and hawing so I think I’m just relieved I’ve made a decision. The reality of what I’ve done will kick in tomorrow with the hunger I’m sure.
How has everyone else got on this week with their patches (or otherwise?). Would be lovely to hear - good or bad, even the weeny little changes .

That is good news sticky stuff ok @IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble.

Welcome @ putthehamsterbackinitscage. I totally get the rage issue! I have daily inner rage which I try to contain. Is the new job better than the last?

I have had a good week, although not sure if that is psychological as I know I have the patch on or if it's actually the patch. Like you I applied patch 3 yesterday.

I definitely have had much better nights sleeping and less night sweats, they've not gone but I have had the odd couple this week rather than a couple a night. Still had some insomnia but a lot going on with DD that is keeping my mind going I think.

Same with the itching that was driving me mad, not gone but notably less that it was.

My mood had definitely improved despite being back at work and on a diet but again may well be psychological. Will be interesting to see if that is sustained.

Not changed the brain fog or the backache, I need to give it a bit longer for the other symptoms I think.

Not had any adverse reaction to the patches at all, had a stinking headache after putting patch 2 on but think that was just coincidence as have been fine since patch 3.

All in all a positive week and I am pleased.

The only downside is as mentioned before the patches start to peel off on me quite quickly. Tried warming up my hand and holding on for longer yesterday so will see.I have been putting mine on my thighs at the top, where's everyone putting theirs, I might change next time if this one peels.

Shame you haven't seen any benefits yet @RosieSun but am sure it's different for everyone. Fingers crossed for week 2.

Hi @. IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble. That’s great you are noticing improvements already, especially your sleep. I’m feeling quite good today actually. I’m embracing the new diet -I even did supermarket shop before work this morning full of healthy foods and then actually worked very hard at my job, cooked a healthy dinner and went for an icy walk. Busy day!
I’ve been putting patches on front of my thighs. They are sticking fine but I have chubby thighs so they aren’t having to survive a steep curve or anything…😂. I’ve been warming the patches first and putting them on bathed, shaved skin, using surgical spirit first as recommended on this thread.
I actually really do feel far more positive today, and as if the elephant sitting on my chest all holidays is lifting. Time will tell! TBH I wasn’t expecting anything much in the first month. I told myself if I could just do it without horrible side effects it would be a good start. Enjoy Friday night.

I'm so glad a few of you are feeling a little better, or at least no bad side effects.

May I ask a question to do with coils? I had a Mirena maybe 12 years ago, and felt it affected my mental health really badly. Had it removed and have had a copper coil for the last ten years.

My Dr is now advising to replace the coil with a Mirena and then have the solo patch. (I've just started on the Evorel combi).

Would love any thoughts on wherever this is a good idea - or not? And big txs for any advice!

New job is actually similar role, different company and I think it should overall be better as the company seems to be better, more supportive but also more expectations around performance so I'm hoping hrt will get me back on track ....

So , I'm now in my 2nd patch, sticking them on the outside top of thigh - alternating which leg gets each patch - they're sticking on as I've followed the tips about dry skin, warming the patches etc although they are picking up fluff off my clothes around the very outside edge which has taken a scrub to get off where the 1st patch was.

I think there's an element of placebo effect as I have been more positive this week but not sure there's much of a difference yet otherwise, and no bad side effects either.

@Luckingfovely my thoughts on mirena would be to avoid for now if you felt it had negative effects on your mental health.

I had the depo injection years ago - decided never again as it definitely made me more snappy and low mood but then had to wait for it to clear from my body as there's no way to reverse. And so I decided I wanted gels or patches for hrt - easy to stop / remove if needed.

It's great to hear that @RosieSun and @IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble are seeing some improvements already ... fingers crossed I can report the same in a week or 2

Hi @Luckingfovely. I don’t want another Mirena either. It might not have been due to it, but I wasn’t very happy for months after having mine put in (years ago) and was frequently weepy, with endless spotting too. It might have just been coincidence. Also, it was terrible getting it removed (they couldn’t find it!), which totally put me off. I think it’s good for many people, and doctors are I think keen on it as it’s very effective & efficient, not really needing any attention for 5 years.

Hi @putthehamsterbackinitscage. I am feeling positive today again and less anxious but really can’t tell if the patch or blessed bloody relief that Christmas is passed. The patches have been leaving big marks of sticky lint on my legs but I’m too lazy to scrub them off. I’m going to end up looking like a patchwork quilt.

Sorry to ask this, but how is everyone's boobs? Within a week mine were climbing out my bra and have remained that way. Tbh they have always done this on any hormonal contraception I've taken, but this has been the most noticeable and so quickly too. At times I've wanted to rip the patch off because of it.

Also my hormonal migraines have been no better. I'm on my final patch and feel very crampy and have had a terrible headache today.

The good news is I've slept better. And I think I've felt less anxious.

It's not easy is it, having to weigh the pros and cons!

My hormonal migraines have gone I think. I used to have them three days a month. Then I got loads last April and a few over the summer, my last period was July. I got bad headaches the first week of the gel and one needed a triptan to shift it, but since then nothing.

Boobs seem the same, but are now an F, they've pretty much increased a cup size every decade of my life, so it's not unexpected.

@RavenT. I’ve no change in that department (though bigger ones would be nice to try and give me a bit of shape now my waist is a tree trunk!). That’s a shame you have headaches. Try and persevere, imagine final week of the 4 week patch cycle will be the worst of if?

@Luckingfovely that's what I'm on (mirena + estrogen patches) and it's working well for me.

@WhereAreWeNow so good to hear that it's working for you

I think I've fallen into the trap of talking to too many people about this stuff - only in general, not specifics - and it's ended up confusing me more. Of course there's always going to be good and bad experiences, but I guess we all have to do what feels right for us, and our bodies.

Hi. How is everyone doing? This is end of week 2 for me, so about to move from oestrogen only to combined hormone patches. I do feel I’m getting on better. I had a dreadful night Tuesday waking with racing heart and anxiety several times, and exhausted from it yesterday. Today I feel on a more even keel. I’m definitely calmer (there was a lot of scope for improvement there..lol). Also I really don’t think my back and bones are as sore and stiff. This is very promising. I still don’t know how much of my Dec apex of stress was caused by Christmas though, so this self observation is highly unscientific!
Do log on folks and share how you are doing. I’d love to hear - from those on the thread and anyone reading new to HRT.

I'm about 8 weeks in and feeling much calmer overall. Almost serene. Also joints aren't creaking so much. Still have insomnia though, hoping that will ease too!