Can anyone relate to or help with this?

[Guardsman18]

Hi

I started hrt 3 weeks ago. To say I feel like shit is an understatement! I was just wondering if this is a normal settling in period or should I go back to my GP?

I'm 60 and feel dreadful. I am tired, itchy, miserable, achy (that's not new though) and feel sick.

I'd be grateful for any advice. Thank you

I can't relate to it as I felt fine when I started (bit of nausea after applying gel but got round that by splitting the dose over the day.)

Maybe if you tell everyone what you are using and how much the dose is?

And what 'feeling shit' feels like to you. Itchy- where? Sick- when?

Thanks for replying. My post was a bit vague. Sandrena 1 mg daily and Utrogestan (?) 100 mg nightly.

Feeling shit to me is just not really caring about doing anything and yet last week was different. Nothing earth shattering to most but it was great for me. Walking the dog, meeting people for a chat.

This week, I have been sick 9 pm ish one night and then felt ill last night so went to bed 9.30 pm. I also feel dizzy sometimes.

I came off AD's at the beginning of the year as there was a problem with my prescription so I attribute my being able to cry more easily to that. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong - all this self diagnosis. I can live with the crying (I think) as it's not out of control if that makes sense.

To be honest I was a bit scared last night as I felt so ill. I did eat late though.

Can I ask that as I understand it 1 mg of gel is quite a low dose, might it be of benefit to split it?

I appreciate this so much.

Oh and the itchyness is my face

I think maybe you are right- dividing the dose am and pm is worth a try. I started with gel and then divided one dose ( which is 0.75mgs) into 2, so very little, for around 2 weeks then increased a bit.

It may be that daily Utrogestan doesn't suit you but give it a bit longer. It didn't suit me so I carried on using it on a cycle which I'd done of years (almost unheard of for women my age but my consultant was ok with it, to avoid the headaches etc I got taking it daily.) This does mean I have a 'period' which I hate but it's the lesser of 2 evils.

If you don't get on with Utrogestan you could try a combined patch which has a different progestin in it.

But, I'd pesevere f abit longer if you can as Utrogestan is safer.

Thank you so much for this information. I really appreciate it. I don't want to give up yet as it's so soon.

Given that the Utrogestan didn't suit you at first, did you try anything else or change to using it on a cycle?

It was the other way round.

I started HRT years ago and used Norethisterone on a cycle (that's the main progestin in patches and a lot of tablets.)

I asked to swap to Utrogestan when it appeared to be safer than synthetic versions.
I've used it for around 8 years now. Always on a cycle except for a 3-week trial of daily when I suffered migraines every day with it.

On Norethisterone I had more PMS type symptoms on a cycle as it's much stronger.

I haven't taken HRT yet.
I'm post menopausal according to my bloods.
I have all symptoms you describe .
I have dealt with my symptoms by

Increasing my antidepressant from 20 mg to 40 mg hoping to revert to 20 mg in summer.
Anti histamine daily for itching including vaginal itching.
Over counter gel for lubrication to deal with vaginal dryness
Ibrufen for aches and pains.
Vit d and iron supplements.

I just wish I could find something to help with excessive sweating in my groin area.

My friends all went hrt route and have found it trial and error to get the one that suits them best.

Hello Guardsmen I'm the same age, same HRT and been taking it just over 4 weeks now. I have felt the nasty side effects the same as you; especially the migraines. It is the utrogestan causing the trouble for me. I've been experimenting and have started taking it vaginally every other night. Last night I put the gel on at the same time as inserting the utrogestan. Its very early days, but apart from the usual effects of lack of sleep, those very nasty side effects were not apparent. I will very gradually increase the utrogestan (100mg) to every night. Its the only way I am able to cope with it. I hope this helps and good luck. Don't give up!

Sorry, it was JinglingHellsBells that had migraines