Help! I think HRT is making me worse.

[Dawnpri]

I have been on various hrt for eight months now, first Conti patches and then estrogen patches and Utrogestan. My patches have been increased more and more so I am now up to 250 but I am feeling more and more ill. I am burning up all the time, which causes my chest to feel like there is an internal pressure. I also have unbearable anxiety. I am absolutely desperate and my gp doesn’t know what to do. The menopause clinic just told me to stick with it but I don’t feel safe any more. Has anyone else got much worse on hrt? I am even starting to wonder if I’m intolerant to the estrogen itself, as I’m using the utrogestan vaginally and I’m told that shouldn’t be affecting me. Things seem to get worse each time the patches are increased. I would be so grateful to hear from anyone who has experienced similar.

The main symptom was burning up for hours at a time, to the point where I ended up in a&e. The anxiety has only got bad since starting the Utrogestan. Thank you for your thoughts though. I def need a major rethink!

I don't get the feeling you are that keen on trying a holistic approach where you look at other things, apart from HRT.

You need to consider all the other things like diet, exercise and ways to control anxiety. Exercise and diet can help control hot flushes or 'burning' if that is what you have.

If you aren't getting on with patches and Utrogestan, you could try Femoston (tablets) which are the most body-identical type of tablet form.

It’s not that I’m not keen to try other approaches but I have limitations with things like exercise because I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This has also been hampering my healthy diet a bit as well because cooking has become less easy recently. I do what I can when I can basically.
Thanks for the tip about Femoston though.

I suffer with Fibromyalgia and I am (medically untrained as I am) convinced this is part of the hormonal imbalances that I suffer from.
In your shoes I would be researching alternative methods of managing menopause. Not homeopathic, swerve and avoid on those.
But stuff like Black Cohosh.

Yes, I agree with you. In fact the neurologist I saw said that women with cfs have more severe menopause. Which is just damn unfair all round!! Do let me know if you have found anything in particular that works for you. I’m already doing meditation type things but hadn’t really considered things like black cohosh at this point.

Well it's early days and I have just started taking it but my blood sugar levels are already improving (I have been testing them using a blood sugar monitor finger prick thing):

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0847P5H98?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I decided to give it a try after reading a thread on Diabetes UK on how to combat neuropathy symptoms,

I get tingling feet a lot despite my HBA1C's alway coming back as within normal range.

I also take a very large dose of vitamin D on a daily basis and I try and also take probiotics as well.

@Dawnpri

Yes, I agree with you. In fact the neurologist I saw said that women with cfs have more severe menopause. Which is just damn unfair all round!! Do let me know if you have found anything in particular that works for you. I’m already doing meditation type things but hadn’t really considered things like black cohosh at this point.

I'd not put your faith in Black Cohosh. It has side effects too and the guidance is it's not for long term use as it can cause liver problems.

The Royal College of Gynaecologists have looked at all alternative remedies and the research on them. BC may help a bit for some women. If you want to try herbs, google the topic and read the real science. not just anecdotal experiences, as it's all very individual.
No harm trying them, but certainly they don't offer bone protection, heart protection, and all the benefits of estrogen.

www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/complementaryalternative-therapies-menopausal-women/ Alternative options- medical research .

@ArabellaStrange

Well it's early days and I have just started taking it but my blood sugar levels are already improving (I have been testing them using a blood sugar monitor finger prick thing):

]]

I decided to give it a try after reading a thread on Diabetes UK on how to combat neuropathy symptoms,

I get tingling feet a lot despite my HBA1C's alway coming back as within normal range.

I also take a very large dose of vitamin D on a daily basis and I try and also take probiotics as well.

That’s really interesting. I have some neuropathy symptoms so will have a look at the Diabetes Uk website. I do take Vit D but it certainly wouldn’t do me any harm to take some probiotics. Many thanks.

My link didn't post the stuff I have just started taking is

@ArabellaStrange

My link didn't post the stuff I have just started taking is

@ArabellaStrange You might be interested to know that there is some emerging research and science (by Kings College London) showing that using supplements like pro-biotics and pre-biotics are actually harmful to the gut. Using artificial probiotics can cause an imbalance. It's far better to eat the foods (they are listed on that image you posted) rather than popping a pill.

AHA isn't a probiotic and why would I stop taking something that seems to be regulating my blood sugar levels?

Seems like a better plan than going in something like Metformin which side effects include:

Very common – affecting over 1 in 10 people taking Metformin
Disturbance to the gut
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite

Common – affecting between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people taking Metformin
Taste disturbance, usually a metallic taste

Very rare – affecting under 1 in 10,000 people taking Metformin
Elevated levels of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis)
Decreased absorption of vitamin B12 during long-term use
Skin reactions such as rash, itching or flushing

Surely the best way to stop blood sugar spikes is to change lifestyle- exercise and food?

Seems better to eat the foods listed rather than taking a supplement.

Gut health is a lot more complicated than it seems. As i said, there is a lot of science behind this now- maybe look at the Zoe app ( joinzoe.com) which discusses the best way to eat to control your blood sugar.

joinzoe.com/

It's not available yet in the UK as a personalised program but you can get a lot of info from the site and email newsletters.

I have over a course of a few weeks been measuring my blood glucose levels. They don't just spike upwards they also drop to levels that would have me in a coma if I was a diabetic.
I have definitively identified that bread spikes it upwards but pastry doesn't? That makes no sense.
I appreciate your concern but will carry on with my current method of trying get my blood sugar regulated.
I also work in a diabetes related field and have previously followed low GI eating plans. I lost weight and my periods regulated but I was in a position back then (studying so less intensive routine) to be able to take the time to eat in this way. Now that I work full-time I don't have the ability to do this.

The reason pastry doesn’t spike your blood sugar in the same way is because it contains much more fat.
There’s a book called Pure, White and Deadly which I would recommend. It’s not a new book , it was ahead of it’s time, but it’s quite an eye opener.

Yes but eating bread with peanut butter should show a similar effect and it doesn't.
Also the low blood sugar levels? As demonstrated below

The two are not the same. Peanut butter is about 20% carbs

@ArabellaStrange I guess this is all getting away from the original post about menopause :)

I appreciate what you are saying, but if your blood sugar drops so low, have you seen your GP and had any tests? It's not 'normal' to monitor glucose levels so often, unless someone is diagnosed with a metabolic syndrome that means they have to do this.

I really would advise you not to mess around with supplements (they are all just marketed to make the companies money) as they generally do more harm than good by creating an imbalance. If you can get those acids by eating spinach and meat etc, eat the food and get the fibre and the vitamins and minerals that are in it too.

And, seriously, if your BS is dropping to a coma level, you need to see a consultant.

Unsurprisingly I have discussed this with a GP and I am booked in for a fasting blood test to be done alongside hormonal tests that need to be done in line with my next menstruation. Since there were fifty days between my last two, I don't know when that will be.
And I am well aware that supplements are, in the same way pharmaceuticals are, produced to ensure a profit for the capitalist overlords that we live under.

It's good you are having a fasting blood test. I 'm not sure of the value of constantly monitoring your b sugar as it will rise and fall depending on what you have eaten. There is a difference between supplements that are promoted via the media and prescribed medication. Anyway, this isn't about meno any more, so all the best with your search for some answers and better health :)

Purely being nosey @JinglingHellsBells I see you giving advice on the menopause board, do you mind me asking what qualifies you to do so? I don't mean that in a negative way, just wondering if you are a GP or consultant or just very clued up?

I was similarly at the 250 dose btw. The most I've ever been able to argue up to is 75, and GP has unilaterally recently dropped it down to 25. I have no ovaries after surgery; so I'm not happy.

Oh that’s interesting. How did you find the 250 dose? And was it the gp that then said you had to go down to 75? It’s difficult if you haven’t got a clued up gp

Sorry, I expressed myself badly. I'll say that again ...

I was similarly shocked at reading about your 250 dose. The most I've ever been able to argue up to is 75, and GP has unilaterally recently dropped it down to 25.

Sorry for the emoji-based confusion!

That really does seem like an extremely high dose. I think given the burning up feelings you have, you might need to cut down and gradually experiment, as pp says. It's what I'm doing, even if I have to fund a private prescription. Every woman is different.