Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Menopause

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Started HRT yesterday.

78 replies

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/07/2022 07:00

How long is it likely to be till I stop mainlining chocolate and generally acting like a psychopath? Or does that just continue?

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 08/07/2022 21:38

I believe you can get your coil changed if you go to a sexual health clinic and say it’s for contraception. But you must say it’s for contraception, they won’t do it if you say it’s for HRT.

Nospringchix · 08/07/2022 21:40

Hi pritipatelsmaker hope you don't mind me jumping in. The gel provides the oestrogen only. You would need separate progesterone. This would be either tablets called utrogestan for part of the month ( I think it's for 12 days a month).
The other alternative for progesterone would be the mirena coil.
Hope you get sorted, peri is a nightmare at times.

Caaarrrl · 08/07/2022 22:08

KangarooKenny · 08/07/2022 21:38

I believe you can get your coil changed if you go to a sexual health clinic and say it’s for contraception. But you must say it’s for contraception, they won’t do it if you say it’s for HRT.

Unfortunately it didn't work saying it was for contraception! The woman on the phone was quite rude and said my age (48) meant that they wouldn't do it. So I just need to wait for GP to have an appointment available.

KangarooKenny · 09/07/2022 06:48

Caaarrrl · 08/07/2022 22:08

Unfortunately it didn't work saying it was for contraception! The woman on the phone was quite rude and said my age (48) meant that they wouldn't do it. So I just need to wait for GP to have an appointment available.

Show quote history

So age discrimination then.

Afterfire · 09/07/2022 08:00

I am 41 and didn’t want the coil as part of my HRT so I take the mini pill instead if that’s an option instead for anyone. I take the mini pill, 100mg utrogestan daily continuously and 3 pumps of oestrogel. I don’t have any periods or bleeding whatsoever ever which is what I wanted - I’d already been on the mini pill for 8 years when I started HRT and didn’t want to stop taking it.

heartchakra · 09/07/2022 08:03

About three weeks

isthismylifenow · 10/07/2022 08:50

Hi OP, I'm following the threads as I have just started this week. I'm on day 3. I (think) I'm feeling less tearful, but yesterday afternoon I just had this tiredness wave hit me like a bus and I had to go lie down. Which is odd for me as I don't day time sleep ever.

I'm not in the UK, and I am on combined tablet (estradiol/progesterone) , I wasn't offered the patch or gel so I don't know why not, or anything about them. But it seems everyone else here seems to be using them over the pills. I'm finding that a bit odd as it's my gynecologist who prescribed them. Now I'm thinking perhaps they are best for starting out and change later?

But i am jumping I here as although I'm not expecting the world in 3 days, I am also wondering if I will see a big change one day or if it's a more gradual thing.

Original poster
PritiPatelsMaker · 10/07/2022 10:40

I was on Day 3 yesterday @isthismylifenow abs OMG I wey

OP posts:
Original poster
PritiPatelsMaker · 10/07/2022 10:41

Sorry I picked the DDog up and must have hit send Blush

I just know exactly what you mean about the tiredness. Hope we both have a more energetic day today Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
PritiPatelsMaker · 15/07/2022 07:26

So it's been a week and my sleep has settled again and the psychopathic tendencies have diminished a little. Feeling a bit more like my old self Wink

OP posts:
Titsflyingsouth · 15/07/2022 07:56

Started feeling slightly better after 3 weeks and felt back to normal by 6 weeks. It was a game-changer!

Titsflyingsouth · 15/07/2022 07:57

The bloody brain fog though! I'm surprised I can string a sentence together most days.

The brain fog is the only symptom HRT hasn't nailed tbh. Still find myself forgetting words all the time...

Whitehorsegirl · 15/07/2022 08:30

Started combined HRT 3 weeks ago on the lowest available dose as GP wanted to minimise risk if possible.

Felt better almost immediately: hot flushes and night sweats disappeared within a couple of days and energy got back up really quickly as well.

A tiny bit of brain fog remains now and then but apart from that I am feeling, and look, so much better.

I had reached a point where I was depressed all the time, had no energy and could barely function. I feel like a completely new person!!

adriftabroad · 15/07/2022 09:05

Almost instantly, I was 45. 3 x Gel daily and utrogestan 200mg (vaginally) 12 times a month.

Did my research and I buy it OTC in Spain.(Dinosaur doctor said I was too young and needed antidepressants and I couldn[t argue in Spanish. I was just too tired)

Feel great, never had a hot flush, just such apathy/anxiety/tiredness/sleep problems. I also aged very quickly, suddenly. I just felt odd, old and ill. All confidence was gone. I cried about anything or everything, even if I wasn[t the least bit sad.

All of the above solved with HRT and skin/hair/nails never been better! Plus my bones will be strong. Libido back!

Never liked chocolate. I loved wine, can[t drink it now as I get acid reflux. I just drink vodka! I am too skinny, unattractively skinny, but any weight I put on goes straight on my waist. So I am the same weight, but I don[t like my new shape one bit. I eat very healthily, I crave fish cheese and salads now. Gone off bread/pasta/cakes etc. So that must be a good thing.

The food tastes changing and weight distribution are the only issues menopause didn[t solve. But lots of them are down to just ageing, I suppose.

I just feel myself again and I am so grateful for that. I wanted to carry on being a good mama. Especially approaching teenage years.😀

Good luck OP.

adriftabroad · 15/07/2022 09:08

*food issues/weight distribution only thing HRT did not solve Smile

isthismylifenow · 15/07/2022 13:14

PritiPatelsMaker · 15/07/2022 07:26

So it's been a week and my sleep has settled again and the psychopathic tendencies have diminished a little. Feeling a bit more like my old self Wink

I am glad to hear this. We started the same day.

I am not sure of my progress tbh. I cannot see any positives so far. In fact I had some pretty intrusive thoughts this week which is not the norm for me. Admittedly I am not taking them for hot flushes etc, but more for mood stabilizing. I have been trying to keep myself busy, but there has definitely not been a lightbulb moment of things feeling better.

I am on the sequential pill and haven't begun the progesterone part as yet, so maybe that will make a difference. I will keep going, and give it the time I should.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 15/07/2022 13:22

Haha, I felt better within a few days but didn't stop being Godzilla for about a month.

isthismylifenow · 21/07/2022 07:58

@PritiPatelsMaker just checking in to see how you have been doing, we are two weeks in now....

When I last posted I was pretty down in the dumps I have to be honest. I am on the sequential pill so my first 11 days was only estrogen, and the progesterone part of the the pill I start two nights ago. So, yesterday I belly laughed at something. Only after thinking about it, I can't remember when last I found something so funny to laugh that much about. I think I am coming through the other side..... Maybe the progesterone has made a huge difference, maybe I just needed the couple of weeks for something to happen.

But now I am thinking I have been really down for a lot longer than I thought I had been, isn't it bad when you can't remember when you properly laughed at something.

funnelfanjo · 21/07/2022 15:27

I'm 10 days into Everel Conti patches. I'm 52 and post-menopausal.

My brain fog started to clear within 12 hours, and I'm coping with my workload a lot better in my job. I've stopped feeling so old and creaky and stiff and I've stopped making those "oof" noises when getting up and down! Sleeping like a log again, and feeling much clearer and awake in the mornings. Not a noticeable change in libido yet, but not so dry any more so that's a positive and enjoyable benefit, and its still early days. Chin hairs growing slower - I've always had PCOS and when younger was on Microgynon which helped enormously for the hairiness, so if this helps that too then that's another benefit. My hot flushes weren't debilitating, more like random glows, but they've also reduced in frequency.

In short, I'm feeling more like "me" in my late thirties, just with a lot more belly fat and grey hair. Altogether it's a positive early experience of the patches, and if the impact stays just here then I'd be happy to stay on them indefinitely. Fingers crossed.

zzzexhaustedzzz · 23/07/2022 13:02

6 months in and-
lost weight (I had chonked out a lot, I thought due to lockdown but meno aswell)
brain fog gone
loads more energy
libido good
joints stopped aching (knees)
sleeping like normal (sleep was difficult ever since peri symptoms began)
less emotional
less headaches and stomach aches (daily ibuprofen and Rennies)
no hideous periods (mine had gone down to a long one every 6months, but a private GP I saw online due to NHS craziness said I could go straight onto continuous HRT)
I actually feel better than I did before peri menopause, because I am not on a cycle of sometimes out of control hormones.

RestingMurderousFace · 23/07/2022 13:14

Took a few weeks before I started to feel the benefits. My sleep was still shite though until I upped my Oestrogel to 3 pumps, sleeping like a lazy teen now. 👏🏼

RudsyFarmer · 23/07/2022 13:50

I’m on the second half of my cycle now and have been taking the progesterone. It’s interesting how a weird stray hair I had on my boob has disappeared 😂

RudsyFarmer · 23/07/2022 13:51

funnelfanjo · 21/07/2022 15:27

I'm 10 days into Everel Conti patches. I'm 52 and post-menopausal.

My brain fog started to clear within 12 hours, and I'm coping with my workload a lot better in my job. I've stopped feeling so old and creaky and stiff and I've stopped making those "oof" noises when getting up and down! Sleeping like a log again, and feeling much clearer and awake in the mornings. Not a noticeable change in libido yet, but not so dry any more so that's a positive and enjoyable benefit, and its still early days. Chin hairs growing slower - I've always had PCOS and when younger was on Microgynon which helped enormously for the hairiness, so if this helps that too then that's another benefit. My hot flushes weren't debilitating, more like random glows, but they've also reduced in frequency.

In short, I'm feeling more like "me" in my late thirties, just with a lot more belly fat and grey hair. Altogether it's a positive early experience of the patches, and if the impact stays just here then I'd be happy to stay on them indefinitely. Fingers crossed.

Same!!! I love the stuff abd can’t stop talking about it 🤣

jbee1979 · 28/07/2022 21:51

funnelfanjo · 21/07/2022 15:27

I'm 10 days into Everel Conti patches. I'm 52 and post-menopausal.

My brain fog started to clear within 12 hours, and I'm coping with my workload a lot better in my job. I've stopped feeling so old and creaky and stiff and I've stopped making those "oof" noises when getting up and down! Sleeping like a log again, and feeling much clearer and awake in the mornings. Not a noticeable change in libido yet, but not so dry any more so that's a positive and enjoyable benefit, and its still early days. Chin hairs growing slower - I've always had PCOS and when younger was on Microgynon which helped enormously for the hairiness, so if this helps that too then that's another benefit. My hot flushes weren't debilitating, more like random glows, but they've also reduced in frequency.

In short, I'm feeling more like "me" in my late thirties, just with a lot more belly fat and grey hair. Altogether it's a positive early experience of the patches, and if the impact stays just here then I'd be happy to stay on them indefinitely. Fingers crossed.

I love your post, I'm 3 days in and I've been feeling a bit more like myself, but I didn't trust it was the patch, I thought it might be the power of suggestion, that I've made an effort to be better, so I will be better, and I'm not looking down a dark hole anymore. Reading your post makes me think it's not just "all in the mind" and that I did something positive and I should keep on looking after myself, like the sky is the limit! Thank you ❤️

MoonlightMedicine · 28/07/2022 22:03

I'm on my second week and definitely feeling so much better than I have done in years.

Swipe left for the next trending thread