Starting HRT today. What to expect?

[ErmineAndPearls]

I’m going to the pharmacist today to pick up my prescription. What can I expect in the early days of taking it? Did you experience side effects and are there still supply problems? Symptoms that I would really like to see improve (even if it takes a while) include fatigue and brain fog, but really, the list is long. I know I’m going on continuous combined HRT (Elleste Duet).

I started about a week ago. Sleep has been a bit erratic but that could be the heat. I feel like the brain fog is actually starting to clear now though.

How are you getting on?

Can I ask you both what you thought about the breast cancer link when you chose to go on it ? I’m speaking to my GP today but I’m really torn about it,

The breast cancer risk was massively overstated and the body identical hormones now available are also safer.

I think the effects of starting HRT differ based on how deficient in oestrogen you are. For 2 friends they felt the effects within a week (a few days in one case). For me it was a slow improvement over 3 months.

Can I ask you both what you thought about the breast cancer link when you chose to go on it ? I’m speaking to my GP today but I’m really torn about it,

I think the benefits for me massively outweighs the rather small risk of Breast Cancer.

I had cramps for a while after starting but I can now sleep through the night more or less. Hot flushes improved and I've just felt better and better in myself. Had to change from Lenzetto to patches due to supply and within 4 days my sleep was disrupted again and I started being paranoid and weird. Upped to the bigger dose patch and feel brand new again!

Oh my gosh. Been on it two months now, felt so much better within days, sharper brain, better sleep, more optimistic outlook, bags of energy. Slight breast tenderness, GP said this would go eventually, but she did say to keep on checking the breasts. This is sensible anyway.
Supply has been poor, estrodot patches are nowhere to be found, so I need bigger patches. GP keeps list of what is currently available in the area.
It is due to these boards that I sought out HRT at my advanced age (60)
It's been a game changer. Go for it OP 😌

That's such good news hoochy

Thank you, all. Really encouraged by some of your responses. I have actually only started taking it today - I was scheduled to go on holiday and my prescription took longer than I thought it would. If I could see a lifting of the brain fog and an increase in energy, that would be amazing, so fingers crossed.

I've been on it for a couple of years. it sorted out my hot flushes, but I still have brain fog. Other than the cessation of the flushes, I felt the same on or off HRT.