Don’t know where to turn

[Queenie24]

Hi hoping somebody can help, I am 41 and had peri menopause symptoms for quite a few years now but always told to young to try anything and basically suck it up until last Easter when finally the doctors finally offered me HRT woohoo or so I thought. After trying several different regimes finding some that work and then not available. I’ve given up. I’m on antidepressants. 3 sachets of gel and then tablets for 2 weeks and now as night sweats still happening they put me on blood pressure tablets that are meant to help. I asked for a review of all my medication as I’m still having terrible night sweats, sleep is terrible and keep getting heart palpitations along with dry skin and spots with thinning hair.. The low mood has improved although this all gets me down some days, my Brian dog has improved and joints are not aching so much. Well I asked for a reviews and was pleased to get an appointment but then to find out it was with a locum who had to keep going and asking another doctor what to give and that’s when I can put with the blood pressure tablets, antibiotics, shampoo and cream for my itchy head. Instead of reducing down im now on 4 more prescriptions.
I just don’t know what to do anymore so just stopped the hrt and now I’m worried I’ve done the wrong thing and just don’t know where to turn anymore.

Are the blood pressure tablets controlling your blood pressure -- what is your BP now?

My blood pressure is fine apparently it is meant to help with night sweats.

Oh @Queenie24 you poor thing.

What dose is your gel? The Sandrena sachets come in 0.5mgs and 1mgs. I'd assume as you are young that you are on a highish dose BUT something makes me wonder if you are? 3 x 1mgs sachets would be a daily dose of 3mgs estrogen.

If you are on 0.5 mgs, (x3 sachets) that may be too low for someone your age as it's only 1.5mgs daily.

I don't know if you can ask to be referred to a menopause specialist on the NHS as you are very young to suffer like this.

What a specialist might do is allow you to use estrogen-only for a good few weeks, to get the dose right and relieve symptoms. (When I was in peri I used a long 3-monthly cycle, with estrogen only for 10 weeks - with a specialist dr.)

The other option for young women is a birth control Pill which is almost the same as HRT but higher estrogen- one is called Qlaira.

There will be an answer to all you are experiencing but you may have to access a specialist either on the NHS or privately if that is an option for you.

The sachets are 0.5 and I was told I could not have any higher.

I think I will try and speak to the doctors again they just don’t seem that bothered really. I suppose they are so busy that just see me as somebody moaning.

@Queenie24

The sachets are 0.5 and I was told I could not have any higher.

I think I will try and speak to the doctors again they just don’t seem that bothered really. I suppose they are so busy that just see me as somebody moaning.

Oh dear!

1.5mgs is not a lot for someone your age.

Hard to believe that the drs aren't aware of this.

If you used Oestrogel which is the same but in a pump, you can use 4 squirts which is 3mgs.

I am in my 60s and am on the same dose as you ( 1.5mgs.)

The starting dose for most HRT is 1mg estrogen a day. Women on this forum who are your age are often using a much higher dose.

It's obvious from all your symptoms that you need more.

It’s all getting me down now so I’m going to try again with the doctors. It just seems to be one thing after another and no light at the end.