Evorel Conti - severe fatigue

[whatisthatnoise]

Has anyone else used these and experienced extreme fatigue?
My tiredness is off the scale, yet I still can't sleep at night. I can barely function and it's started since increasing the patches from half (as advised by GP) to a whole one.
I have some other health issues that could possibly cause me to feel like a zombie but this fatigue is a whole new thing and I think it's too much of a coincidence.
I wanted to see what other peoples experience was before throwing in the towel

I'm on those and haven't noticed any more fatigue than normal.

Thanks @Northernsoullover
I read that norethisterone can cause tiredness and wondered if it was that. I'm new to this whole hrt thing and it's like a minefield

I am on evorel sequi and this has conti patches as part of the cycle. I feel hideous on them and plan to change my hrt. I have been through two cycles now and it makes me depressed in weeks 3 and 4. I am the same, can't sleep at night, want to doze as soon as I have had dinner. Headaches, anxiety, fatigue. Not interested in anything that I am usually excited to do like gigs or seeing friends. To me it's not sustainable and I would take back the eternal periods I was having as a trade for this new experience! Though the patches fixed that instantly which I love! I am optimistic that there is another product out there that will suit better as I feel so much better on the other patches in the cycle. Def worth speaking to your doc about! Good luck.

I've been on them 2 years. My sleep was rubbish but I don't think that's down to them.

Just menopause and shift work.

They are the only hrt I've tried though, so maybe there is something better.

I also have testosterone too. So that will be helping 🤞🏼

I am 56. Menopause at 51, with no adverse perimenopause symptoms (i.e. fatigue, mood imbalance, bloating, sleep disturbance, hot flushes, night sweats). I was not taking hormonal contraceptives (i.e. this did not affect/modify menopausal symptoms).
I had COVID in Feb 2020 (before lockdown), recovered, with no post viral symptoms, no 'Long COVID'.
One week, post Astra Zeneca COVID vaccine, however, I developed night sweats, cortisol 'spikes' and disrupted sleep. This continued and no matter what type of exercise I did -mostly walking (5-15km per day outside), yoga etc, the night sweats, cortisol spikes continued. Despite this, I could still concentrate on detailed information/reading/scrutinising data/documents, but just felt permanently as if I was not, for a better word 'grounded', i.e. as if I was 'hovering' as a result of a mild nervous state.

Fast forward to Aug 2022. I elected to undertake a 14 day trial membership at a local gym. Did a few indoor classes - zumba/dance style and Vinyasa flow and also swam every day in an outdoor pool. Although I felt fitter and more toned, improved posture, I was permanently 'wired', i.e. akin to a permanent mild panic attack/poor attention. I contacted GP and despite my having stated that I am sensitive to synthetic progestogen, hence could never take contraceptive pill, she prescribed Evorel Conti.

I am just finishing a 3 month pack (2 patches per week), and feel dreadful. Yes, the night sweats, cortisol spikes stopped, but the torpor, brain fog and now incessant fatigue has replaced it.
I am going to contact GP this week and suggest this, (again), as I mentioned this when we first spoke, but she just ignored me and sent my automated prescription to a local pharmacist.

The suggested alternative from another doctor, who specialises in Menopause is that an oestrogen patch, alongside micronised progesterone (known as Utrogestan) is the preferred choice for those who have had side-effects from hormones in the past.
In the event that you cannot obtain an NHS prescription, in your area, I understand that Superdrug and Boots have an online GP and prescription service for these items.

For further insights and free webinars, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, hosts webinars with Q&A, on a variety of topics, many on menopause/women's health.
All webinars are recorded and are available to view on demand on You Tube.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cbc-wellness-campaign-more-about-the-menopausereprise-tickets-387493231687

https://www.youtube.com/c/CambridgeBiomedicalCampus

@Quantumreality1 - I’ve just posted about possibly taking Evorel (Conti) which GP prescribed for me last year and which I never took.

I’m tempted to start them but can’t bear the thought of greater fatigue.

Are you on Utrogestan too now? How has that been?

I'm on evorel conti and have been for about 18 months. I already suffer from fatigue anyway and haven't noticed any worsening of it. In fact, the patches have stopped my night sweats and I mostly sleep all night now which has been amazing.
there are so many potential causes of fatigue, I wouldn't necessarily assume it's the patches without investigating other things first. Can you get a blood test to check for the usual suspects - anaemia, vitamin deficiencies etc?

Its the sleep that I would love to sort so glad to hear it’s helped yours.

@Maggiethecat the fatigue was absolutely awful for me so they changed my patches to oestrogel and utrogestan.
I've had an absolutely hideous time over the last few weeks on that though. Depression, anxiety, very dark thoughts that were so bad my family wouldn't leave me alone for worry of what I might do. I'm convinced it's the hrt as I'm a really positive person and always in a good place mentally, so I have gone completely cold turkey and stopped it and already feel a bit better.
I'm glad that some people think hrt is the wonder drug type thing but for me, it's caused nothing but trouble.
I have an appointment with a mhp next week but I genuinely believe how I've felt recently is down to the medication and I'd rather be tired than not wanting to be here anymore.
I think it's all a bit of trial and error really but the sudden push of hrt in the media has made people think it's the cure all.
I hope you manage to sort something out that works for you x

Ps can highly recommend the this works sleep bath oil and rubbing some massage oil in too. Might be a coincidence but I slept like a baby after using it!

@whatisthatnoise - sorry that you’ve had such a rough time. I hope your mhp will be able to help get you what you need.

There’s clearly no one size fits all and while some may have an easy ride there seems a bit of trial and error for others.

I am on the second day of the patch. Last night’s sleep was rubbish, no surprise.
I’ll see how I get on but I can’t imagine suffering worse than what I am now for too long.

Same here.. I have the worst fatigue I’ve ever experienced since starting the patches couple of months ago.. no energy or motivation to do anything and all over body aches.. decided to stop couple days ago .. I went to doctor for blood tests and everything is normal so I’m assuming it is the evorel . I changed to them from another tablet form of hrt which I didn’t feel was working but since the patches have had this whole new set of symptoms .. bones ache all day and I’m constantly falling asleep..

Been on them for 4 months now and they have helped with the sleep so will continue.
I realise though that there’s a lot of trial error for some women.