am I on TOO MUCH estrogen?

[HeraldicBlazoning]

Started off on 25 mcg in January 2022, then up to 50 mcg and about 6 weeks ago increased it to 75 mcg because I thought i needed it.

Since then my sleep has got worse, I'm feeling nauseous more, the anxiety is back (although not as badly) and I'm just not feeling right. I have come to the conclusion that I think I might be on too much HRT? Is that a "thing"?

No major changes on 75 patch. Feel Im not absorbing it maybe. 3 mths on it. Sleep good at start then the same again. Trial and error I think

The gel is such a pita though. In winter sometimes I just want to throw on warm clothes but have to linger for ages waiting for it to try.

Interesting that it might be the better option absorption wise

I've spoken to my Dr today, he's increased my patches to 100mcg as there are no 75's anywhere, but I've now got to have Evorelle as the Estradots aren't in stock - Lord knows how big that patch is going to be, it'll be like an iPhone screen protector!

@CaramelMach it all seems to be v individual from reading forums etc. it was my Gp friend who said that.

I had a review recently and my own Gp said that patches seem to be better for women with hormonal migraines as they're a more consistent supply. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A friend prefers gel though.

I prefer patches as I've other meds to remember plus my young boys hanging around me in the mornings. I can't see it being practical!

I'm now staying on this patch for a while longer to see how I am and experimenting a bit with where I place it. I think my patch is better below panty line, just above c section scar. Not sure it's as good on my hips. But that's just me!

I'm on thyroxine and not sure if all that is ok at the moment or I actually need more oestrogen (hot flushes and insomnia can come with too much thyroxine) but Gp is testing both, the latter to check absorption. Not had an issue before though.

Or you need more. Worth asking to check. I feel I've been chasing my oestrogen levels ever since I started hrt over a year ago!

I started 50 Estradot in October (post hysterectomy). Sleep was horrendous but mental health better than it has been for years. Consultant upped me to 75 and it was like I’d fallen down a black hole. Felt so low. Was snappy. Lasted just over a week and I’ve gone back to 50 patches.

Sleep is still awful but apparently progesterone is good for that so I am on a mission to see if that will help. I also enquired about a blood test as theoretically my levels would be the same all of the time but was told no. Seems mad really. I am looking at going to a private specialist as I’m not the most patient of people!

Thanks warrior. See what he says. Expensive back and forth to doctors.. anyway will see

I tried patches for 5 or 6 months, stopped using them when I had day long bleeding 3 times a week. I'm putting up with flushes and not good sleep. I do not want periods again after 5 years of none

Same here @Softpebbles I had a hysterectomy in August, my sleep has not been great since, although wasn't great before. I asked my GP today about testing my estrogen levels as I have a yearly thyroid blood test for my Thyroxine medication. It's due now, so thought if they're taking the blood anyway, might as well check my estrogen levels, Dr said no, its not accurate? I said it must be, I have no ovaries, I'm not producing any estrogen of my own, it's all patch. My levels were 756 pre hysterectomy, which was too high apparently, so I'd just like to know what they are now. I'll get it done privately I think.

Yes that's not right rina. At least in my area. My Gp keeps testing both at the same time at the drop of a hat. I was querying if on too much thyroxine at last review and she said she'd check oestrogen too (not sure which is creating current symptoms.) they do it to check absorption.

I did see in a meno fb group that a few women who've had total hysterectomies have asked for utrogestan and been given it. Might be worth asking on menopause matters.

And my Gp said when in hrt it's a flat level of oestrogen - and I've not had a hysterectomy.

Could you ask for referral back to the hospital?

I think you do flat level @WarriorN once you've reached menopause but I was still in peri, so my own estrogen was being erratically produced and would at various times top up what I was getting through the patch - hence the 756 result. Interestingly, when I spoke to Newsome Health, way back when, they told me to have the private hormone blood test on the last day of my patch, not when I'd just put on a new one? Make of that what you will, I thought it was a constant, stable transdermal dose, that information made me think otherwise.

@Rina66 I was august too!

I asked for the Utrogeston yesterday, went prepared with all of the information. Felt like I wasted their time and mine. Felt quite cross to be honest.

I think what is utterly galling, is that if you see a menopause specialist privately they'll give you everything, estrogen in any form you would like, progesterone, testosterone, local estrogen - so is that because they're better informed, not worried about costs or something else? They are all doctors, wanting the best for their patients, so why is the NHS so obstructive in certain postcodes?

I don't understand it and it's absolutely appalling. Especially with hysterectomies. A friend down south who had a full hysterectomy has had to go private in order to get both tests and testosterone as well as an appropriate level of oestrogen. It really shouldn't be like that.

I do know that my Gp is a Gp practice frequented by many other gps too. I do wonder if that's driven forward better awareness . Though, theres also barely any meno consultants in the NE so maybe the gps have had to skill up? Lots of my friends who are gps seem to have done recent training.

I did query exactly that Rina as I thought and think I'm still in peri but bleeds became barely there before hrt (and then when on 50 patches last year) and I was constantly exhausted and aching and flushing all over. I wondered if hormones fluctuate and if it mattered when the test was. She said not 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm not sure if I want/ need testosterone (some days I think I do and a private test was well below range) but i outright asked if she would prescribe it. She said she has, it's roughly 50/50 whether women find it helpful in her experience. She offered to test that too (!!?! I only asked for a thyroid test!) She said she could go slightly higher on oestrogen if needed (I'm on 100 patches.) but I want to give everything a while longer yet.