Has anyone come off HRT & felt better?

[HoliHormonalTigerlilly]

I've been in it 6 months.
Initially it was really amazing & got rid of my aches & pains overnight.
Mood swings much improved too.
But despite increasing oestrogen for the last couple of months, i feel symptoms creeping back.
I'm anxious.
Pains are back.
And I'm hugely bloated with very sore breasts on the progesterone, despite taking vaginally.
I'm 46 and peri. Still have regular periods.
I'm wondering about stopping to see how it feels.

Are you using an oestrogel pump? There have been problems with this recently as there have been changes to the way it has been made and some people are finding it less efficient (thinking I may be one of them) you can switch to a different one - have a look at Jane Pangbourne's page on FB - HRT truth collective, I found it really helpful, lots of advice and support on there.

No am on lenzetto

I'm just so bored of thinking about it. To be honest & I HATE the progesterone part.
Not getting a coil.
I'm interested to see what the difference might be if I come off it.
I mean you can always go back on it again right? ! 🤷‍♀️

I’ve seen several threads on here recently of women feeling the need to up their dose as it doesn’t seem to be working.

@190190tnt

Are you using an oestrogel pump? There have been problems with this recently as there have been changes to the way it has been made and some people are finding it less efficient (thinking I may be one of them) you can switch to a different one - have a look at Jane Pangbourne's page on FB - HRT truth collective, I found it really helpful, lots of advice and support on there.

This is simply not true. I have been reading this for years every time the packaging changes. @190190tnt A friend of mine has emailed Besins throughout all of this and they assure everyone that the formula has not changed.

Quality control in pharma is really strict. They can't just change formula.

I've also discussed it with my menopause consultant and he agrees it's nothing to do with any change in the product.

I've used Oestrogel for almost 14 years. In that time there have been several packaging changes - shape of pump, colour of labels, type of boxes etc. The ingredients on the label are the same. I've never noticed any difference at all.

@HoliHormonalTigerlilly Yes, of course you can stop. BUT it's worth trying lifestyle stuff as well. HRT can't do it all. If it's joint pain, see if yoga or exercise helps. If you could afford it, I'd suggest you see a consultant and work through various options that are not available via a GP. For example, longer cycles where the progesterone phase is once every 6 weeks, or longer, or reducing the number of days you use it per month. If you are still having regular periods, you should be producing a good amount of your natural progesterone each month anyway. The other option is the Pill - there are a couple of types suggested for young women in peri (that's you) and they might suit you better.

Can't give any advice but I feel the same. Sitting here hot and anxious after another terrible nights sleep, and that's after upping my dose.

@JinglingHellsBells The other option is the Pill - there are a couple of types suggested for young women in peri (that's you) and they might suit you better

Do you mean to replace the progesterone or all HRT?

@Summerhillsquare

Can't give any advice but I feel the same. Sitting here hot and anxious after another terrible nights sleep, and that's after upping my dose.

I keep waking up at 5am 😴😩

[quote HoliHormonalTigerlilly]**@JinglingHellsBells* The other option is the Pill - there are a couple of types suggested for young women in peri (that's you) and they might suit you better*

Do you mean to replace the progesterone or all HRT? [/quote]
To replace the HRT.

There is an OCP called Qlaira which is offered as HRT for young women. The estrogen in it is body identical rather than synthetic. It's a combined pill so it also has a progestogen in it. There is also another Pill but I can't recall the name - something slightly odd, starting with X or Z!

Honestly, I can't state this enough, that there are many other options available if you are able to see a specialist who is not tied to NHS prescribing regimes. When I started HRT I was on a long cycle of 10 weeks of estrogen-only followed by the progestogen days. This reduced the side effects. There are also many other types of progestogen you can be offered such as the mini pill, (progesterone only) in a higher dose, if Utrogestan doesn't suit.

You can't get this from your GP as they aren't knowledgeable enough, and can't usually prescribe off-licence. But options are available.

My usual time is 3am. Although lately its been 1.30am and again at 5.

I took hrt for a year then stopped. Was 48 when I stopped. I feel much better, much more like myself, without it.

I’m thinking of stopping HRT. I started when I was about 51 (now 56) and ended up on Femoston Conti 0.5mg/2.5mg which suited me and I felt well.
Then I moved to Spain where Femoston isn’t available, so the best my GP could offer was Progynova 1mg and Dimetrio 2mg, which hasn’t had such good results. There are frequently supply issues and I’ve had to substitute Dimetrio for Zafril, and I’ve also had Qlaira contraceptive (mentioned up thread) which was awful and caused me to bleed heavily. I saw a gynaecologist who said that they don’t recommend HRT for more than a year or so, and that I should stop.
I’m just so fed up with chopping and changing meds, not really being sure if they’re actually doing anything as I’m struggling with awful anxiety and depression, no hot flushes or vaginal dryness, which isn’t an issue as my libido is non-existent.
Would be interested to hear from anyone else in Spain facing similar problems?

Forgot to mention that due to supply issues I’ve now been prescribed Ceciliana contraceptive. I’m sure this isn’t really suitable, which is why I’m thinking of giving up.

@Orchid18

I’m thinking of stopping HRT. I started when I was about 51 (now 56) and ended up on Femoston Conti 0.5mg/2.5mg which suited me and I felt well. Then I moved to Spain where Femoston isn’t available, so the best my GP could offer was Progynova 1mg and Dimetrio 2mg, which hasn’t had such good results. There are frequently supply issues and I’ve had to substitute Dimetrio for Zafril, and I’ve also had Qlaira contraceptive (mentioned up thread) which was awful and caused me to bleed heavily. I saw a gynaecologist who said that they don’t recommend HRT for more than a year or so, and that I should stop. I’m just so fed up with chopping and changing meds, not really being sure if they’re actually doing anything as I’m struggling with awful anxiety and depression, no hot flushes or vaginal dryness, which isn’t an issue as my libido is non-existent. Would be interested to hear from anyone else in Spain facing similar problems?

Hrt for no more than a year? Who is this dinosaur??

Seriously that is very bad advice and medicine!

In the UK there is no limit on use.
Many women (me included) are on it long term (me for bone health and other things.)

You can stay on it for life. My dr (specialist) has women still on it in their 80s and 90s.

I don't understand the supply issues. Here in the UK women are sometimes going to Spain to buy it over the counter when there are supply issues here. You can evidently buy it OTC in Spain.

If you are suffering with symptoms as you say then you clearly need HRT and you are only 56. Many women don't even start hrt till that age.

You need another dr who is up to date.

Jingling this is Spain, they still think there’s a link to cancers, and it seems that Spanish women don’t take HRT. I live in a little rural village and we have one female GP.
Yes I think you can get Oestrogen patches OTC, but I need progesterone too as I haven’t had a hysterectomy. I know when there was a shortage in UK women were buying patches here whilst pon holiday.
I’m now considering trying to get a private consultation in UK.

Hi Holi, HRT isn''t for everyone and not everyone suits Utrogestan/Prometrium, even if taken vaginally.

How about changing to a combined patch that can be used sequentially? Other than that an oral form of HRT might be something to consider.

I think the reference to Oestrogel is more in relation to many women being given Oestrodose instead. Supposed to be exaclty the same thing, same manufacturer but dfferent (the latter being a parrallel import). There's lots of info online about this. That said they're pretty much out of stock currently and those taking it moved to Sandrena gel instead (although not all GPs have this included on their drug formularly which has caused more issues).

@Orchid18

Jingling this is Spain, they still think there’s a link to cancers, and it seems that Spanish women don’t take HRT. I live in a little rural village and we have one female GP. Yes I think you can get Oestrogen patches OTC, but I need progesterone too as I haven’t had a hysterectomy. I know when there was a shortage in UK women were buying patches here whilst pon holiday. I’m now considering trying to get a private consultation in UK.

Would you consider a coil for progesterone ? That way you wouldn’t have to keep getting a prescription for it.

I've come off it and feel much better. That said, I didn't have any symptoms really apart from insomnia.

I have lost 4kg, the constant headaches have stopped and I feel great. I was still having regular periods. I have sorted out the insomnia with melatonin instead.

I will go back on it at some stage, but will need to really carefully consider what is right for me. I feel fine now. I'm 51 so probably don't have that long to go with periods.

GeneLovesJezebel the thought of a coil makes me shudder. I had planned on staying registered with my UK GP and coming back as necessary, but unfortunately Covid scuppered that plan, so when my meds ran out I had to see the Spanish GP who really isn’t much use.

@Orchid18 many specialists are doing video consultations now because of Covid but also as a new way of working. I've had several such video calls with mine although I prefer to see him, when it's possible.

@itsnotdeep

I've come off it and feel much better. That said, I didn't have any symptoms really apart from insomnia.

I have lost 4kg, the constant headaches have stopped and I feel great. I was still having regular periods. I have sorted out the insomnia with melatonin instead.

I will go back on it at some stage, but will need to really carefully consider what is right for me. I feel fine now. I'm 51 so probably don't have that long to go with periods.

Where are you getting your melatonin from? And how much do you take?

@over50andfab

Hi Holi, HRT isn''t for everyone and not everyone suits Utrogestan/Prometrium, even if taken vaginally.

How about changing to a combined patch that can be used sequentially? Other than that an oral form of HRT might be something to consider.

I think the reference to Oestrogel is more in relation to many women being given Oestrodose instead. Supposed to be exaclty the same thing, same manufacturer but dfferent (the latter being a parrallel import). There's lots of info online about this. That said they're pretty much out of stock currently and those taking it moved to Sandrena gel instead (although not all GPs have this included on their drug formularly which has caused more issues).

I'm on the Lenzetto spray & like the delivery method. Wondering if i can get progesterone patches only? Instead of the utrogestan.... but keep the spray 🤔

@Orchid18

GeneLovesJezebel the thought of a coil makes me shudder. I had planned on staying registered with my UK GP and coming back as necessary, but unfortunately Covid scuppered that plan, so when my meds ran out I had to see the Spanish GP who really isn’t much use.

Oh god me too! 🙈🙈🙈

A friend got some for me from the US @HoliHormonalTigerlilly, but there's a thread here with some useful places and recommendations. I did hear that drs here will sometimes prescribe melatonin, so I'm going to try that. I take 10mg as that thread and others recommend 10mg.

Would you mind letting me know how your journey has since March? I am feeling aweful and not sure wether to stop. 🥲