HRT newbie. Just ordered. What now?

[Mezmer]

So last night at about 4.30am after reading another thread about the marvels of HRT, I got online and ended ordering Estradot 50 patches / Utrogestan capsules Sequential HRT from Superdrug.

Didn’t really know what I was doing but after years of insomnia and tiredness I had enough and decided to take action.

the doctor has since ‘approved’ my request based on my answers to the questions asked of me. Then I parted with a few quid for three months supply.

they are ready for me to pick up next week.

Thing is I don’t really know what I’m doing as haven’t really researched it. I understand I stick on the patch twice a week and pop a pill.

will it take time to work? When ppl are saying it’s bloody marvellous, in what way?

I am 50 and have been managing my symptoms but I know HRT is good for osteoporosis which is a big plus and I really really need help with sleep.

I have been waking in the early hours for years (since peri started) and it’s not getting any better. I really hope this sorts it.

i can’t remember how I felt before peri kicked in as it’s been so long so no idea who I am without menopause symptoms. So I’d love to hear what your before and after stories are of taking what I have ordered please so I know what to expect. Good and bad.

many thanks

Are you still having periods?

All the fact sheets on the Newson site (now balance) are useful as are the fact sheets on the BMS. Newsons book is good too.

I've been told it's better to start the oestrogen first so you can judge effects. If you find it too stimulating, patches can be cut down ir in half for a few weeks. (There's 25 and 37.5 strengths.)

I would see your Gp and let them know. You were completely entitled to this via the nhs and they will need to review you in 3 months.

It can take a full 3 months or more sometimes though some notice immediate effects. (I did with pain.)

If the utro is causing issues take same dose vaginally.

Scrub area for patch well in shower before application- make sure v dry. Hold on with warm hand (I have to use wrist!) for a bit.

I had had switch every three days for a while but seem to be more balanced now. Can do 3/4 or 3.5 days for a h week.

Side effects from utro are reduced if taken 2 hrs after food or vaginally. (It's absorbed more with food - some women are told to do this deliberately to help sleep, others find they're too sensitive.)

I can now tolerate utro orally.

I found this sheet useful

www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/3548/taking-utrogestan-patient-information-leaflet.pdf

I have a progesterone coil and oestrogen gel ( started with patches, but, gosh, they are sticky, takes ages of scrubbing to get them sticky, after a few days mucky, gel off. Plus visually they look horrible.
But the HRT got rid of my insomnia ( like you, waking early hours and not able to get to sleep again) and vaginal atrophy.

Why can’t you get HRT from your GP?

I started oestrogen gel and on day 3 I woke up bleeding, so be aware of that.

Going to GP is best. I just had a one year review from the nurse. They have to check blood pressure etc. she actually told me useful stuff I did not know. Like the need to keep active to avoid blood clots.

See if your gp practice has a nurse trained in hrt, mine has who knows more than the drs! Highly recommend seeing someone

I didn’t know you could get HRT on nhs! I thought you had to pay. That’s good news. I guess I could get started on what I have, see how it goes and then go in and see the nurse from a more informed standpoint.

I am a bit miffed with them to be honest as I was in front of a doctor about 18 months ago in a bit of a state. It should have been obvious that i was struggling and HRT dhoukd have been mentioned. But all I got was folic acid and the usual lecture about lifestyle, which has always been very good (exercise, water, clean eating, avoid alcohol). That’s why I didn’t think nhs did HRT.

Yes I am. Very light and getting further apart. They are annoying me. Symptoms like breast tenderness last for weeks and the flow never really gets going so I have light bleeding for ten days or so. I would prefer five days of heavy bleeding so they are out of the way and I can just move on but its so drawn out and annoying. This is a recent thing. I have had long spells (3 months or so) of no bleeding and then a normal period for about a year. The light version has kicked in in the last six months or so.

so, all over the place is probably the best way to describe things.

‘But the HRT got rid of my insomnia ( like you, waking early hours and not able to get to sleep again) and vaginal atrophy.’

if I get just this out of it then it’ll be worth it!

So what I gather with the sequential HRT I have ordered is that I’ll always wear an oestrogen patch and then take the progesterone 12 days out of every four weeks in addition to the patch.

Yes that's what you do but I would potentially cancel and go via your Gp. As pp say, other health checks are needed at times for monitoring. Also may be cheaper.

If there is a gluey residue left when you remove a patch, just rub it with baby oil.

I got my eostrogen patches on the NHS, following a gp phone consultation.
This was the second time of me trying to get it from the gp, previously gp was very anti it. Different gp this time and also I think the nhs has caught up with the latest thinking on hrt.

You do have to ask for it, they don't seem to like suggesting HRT.

Like you my main issue was sleep problems that were getting worse. Sleep has improved massively.

Have you had a BP check before you started it OP ?

i had checks done at my gym and everything tip top. That was about two months ago. Not had an issue with BP and feel very well in self apart from insomnia and lots of vivid dreaming. I will have it done though when I eventually get to the docs and have sworn to get a smear test too at same time.