more hrt? different hrt? or something else altogether?

[mattcockhand]

So Ive been on Hrt for over a year- 25everol patches and 100g utrogeston. Im 57 so period less for a long time. the 50 patch made me really bloated and didnt like the gel.
it has always seemed enough to keep a lid on things and keep me on an even keel. but for about the last 6 months I have a real feeling of not being bothered about anything. Dh asks if I want to go out for lunch or dinner - no,not really. do I want to g9 shopping, cinema? Nope, cant be arsed. Im wondering if I might be depressed, but I dont have anything to be depressed about. everything is just too much effort & I just want to be on my own. my sleep is also atrocious at the moment. i wake around 3 every morning for at least an hour. then i take either a nytol, paracetemol or nurofen to get back to sleep. so i am permanently shattered.
I do all the right things - diet, exercise, sleep hygiene..... but I cant work out what I need t9 do to make myself feel better.
any ideas please? x

You probably need to increase your hrt. 25 is a low dose, so maybe up to 50?

If it's any consolation, I feel dreadful too. Lack of sleep is killing me! X

That's sounds like me op. I don't want to go away for the weekend or go out for dinner.

Actually I'm so tired I just go and lie on the bed whenever i can. That said I sleep very well when I get to bed at night as I'm just so exhausted.

But I just started HRT so I'm hoping that I get some benefits from it soon. I'm on 50 patches.

I have also considered if I'm depressed, but I would really not want to take ADs.

You’re on a super low dose of oestrogen. Before looking to anything else I would definitely try and increase that.

That sounds just like me, but without the sleep thing. Trying to eat properly and take exercise but motivation rock bottom and can't see the point in anything. I'm on 50 patches and 100mg Utrogestan and wondering if I need to increase the patch dose (did try it before as GP gave me the wrong dose when I switched from gel to patches but, like you, had a lot of bloating - and also some bleeding).

Wonder if estrogen levels dip after a while and dose needs to be increased? Currently trying to sort this out with GP and it's taking forever - quite despondent about the whole thing.

I agree that you need to increase your oestrogen.
You are on a very low dose.
I am 57 and did not get relief for all my symptoms until I went up to 4 pumps of estrogel. I am now on a 100 mg Estrodot patch.
I don’t know why GPs prescribe such low doses tbh.

thanks all. In my lovely GPs defense, I did ask for the lowest dose to start with! Think Ill see if I can get an appt.......

I was the same - fine on 25 for years but then gradually realised I'd lost all interest in everything. Swopped up to 50s, swopped mirena for utrogeston, all sorted.

then added testosterone!

That is such a low dose! I am on 75 and still sometimes just can't be bothered to do things. Vitamin B12 is good for that, but I would persevere with a higher dose of HRT.

That's interesting @LadyGardenersQuestionTime - trying to get my GP to prescribe testosterone currently but she's very reluctant. Has listed all the potential side effects and offered me ADs as an alternative, which I've refused. Maybe I need to look into increasing my dose of patches.

@stringbean Testosterone has transformed my libido; I think it's also helped my energy levels. No obvious negative side effects at all - maybe a few more chin hairs but nothing a good pair of tweezers can't deal with. But the only thing they are likely to prescribe it for is libido, you do have to mention that quite heavily. How AD will help with libido I really don't know.

Thanks @LadyGardenersQuestionTime - this is the reason I originally requested it from my GP, but have also had unusually low mood (although that's much more recent), so I think that's why she suggested ADs. I originally contacted the GP about it in early November, but has taken so long to get an appointment and not confident she will prescribe it. Emphasis was very much on the side effects so it's very reassuring to hear it's worked for others. Am thinking I will look for something privately as getting nowhere. Just want to feel like myself again.

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime how did testosterone help, bar libido?

If it helps op I had to go up by small increments of patches. Half a 25 for a several weeks.

@WarriorN it’s hard to say, but I think it’s helped my focus and energy. I haven’t put on muscle.

Thanks, I'm glad it's helping. Focus would be welcome here!