HRT cry for help

[Jinglebell2020]

Bleeding or breakthrough bleeding is erratic, lasts ages, painful and PMT is horrendous. Although some peri symptoms have gotten better, the palpitations and night sweats mainly, the itching, brain fog and rage is pretty much the same.
I don’t bleed when expected after taking utrogestan for the 12 nights, I’m cramping with nothing to show for it and due to start taking it again on 22nd. When I do bleed it’s light, often brown and stringy and lasts about a week. Before HRT I was regular, medium to heavy and lasted approx 5 days. A year down the line I feel I haven’t improved and infact I fear HRT was not the right move. I’m awaiting ultrasound scan results this week as I had a bleed only 2 weeks after the previous and it was extremely heavy and had clots, so very unlike the breakthrough bleeding I have been having. Been tracking it on Balance and usually around 7-10 days after i finish my 12 nights of utrogestan I bleed. Today is 13 days since I finished and no bleed but I feel PMS and bloated and rubbish.

I’ve tried googling, reading forums like this I’ve read Davinas menopausing book, I’ve searched Louise Newson website, I’ve spoken to pharmacists and haven’t found evidence of anyone else experiencing this and wether or not it’s normal or to be explored. GP only referred me for scan cause I kept phoning asking for help and kept being dismissed with answers like “ keep taking it and see how you are next month”. Every month is the same. My mental health is affected and I actually feel like I just want to run away as I don’t have the strength to deal with anything right now. I feel lost and can’t find any answers. I fear I’m sitting here, I’m taking HRT (Estradot 50 & Utrogestan) and I’m damaging my lining and running the risk of cancer. I feel like I’m losing my mind and don’t know where else to turn.

I’ve searched and read posts here but none post about bleeding 7-14 days after stopping utrogestan and it being normal. All I find is you should bleed 3-5 days later. I’m not. Am I right to be concerned? Have I sat on it for too long and I’ve done damage to my insides??

help please
can I just rip my patch off and go back to how I was before?

This sounds shit, I'm so sorry OP. I didn't get on with hrt for the first 3 months but then it settled down for me. If you're a year in, it does sound like it might not be right for you.

I'm far from an expert but would different kinds/ strengths be worth looking into?

I'm sorry I don't have any actual advice but I really hope you start feeling better soon and can get something sorted longer term.

How old are you and where were you before you started hrt @Jinglebell2020

Were you having regular periods?

Up to 25% of women don't bleed on sequential hrt, or they bleed now and then, some months.

It sounds as if your own cycles are breaking through and not being controlled by hrt. Or your own cycles are just overriding the hrt cycle.

This can happen. One reason for the late bleed is that you are having too little estrogen compared to progesterone and the lining is staying thin. If you are in peri you might be ovulating and producing your own progesterone as well.

I'd say you have a couple of choices

Take hrt on a 3-month cycle, if your own periods are irregular (this is often a good way for women 50+ whose periods are more or less over.)

Swap to another type like a combined patch (with Norethisterone in it) or tablet form like Femoston.

Sadly, most gps are dishing out Utrogestan as if it suits everyone and it doesn't. It used to be rarely prescribed even just a few years ago. It's become 'fashionable' as it seems safer long term re. breast cancer, but for women will be on hrt for under 5 years, it's not so relevant.

I appreciate you feel fed up but it may be that you can sort this pretty quickly by trying other types.

@JinglingSpringbells
thanks for the reply it’s really appreciated.
im 42, nearly 43. Started HRT last April for Perimenopause. Periods were regular and medium to heavy flow and almost always painful. GP initially prescribed antidepressants but I don’t need them so after many appointments and literally crying in the consultation room she said I could try hrt.

Palpitations and anxiety symptoms have been relieved but itchyness, brain fog and rage is the same and insomnia comes and goes. Sweats are I’d say slightly improved at times.

Still no bleed today but I’m so hormonal and had a breaks down and cry at work over something that would normally not be an issue I feel so deflated.

I’ll get ultrasound results on Thursday.

I did wonder if I need 75 or 100 Estradot but the information online is so vast and contradictory I don’t know what to believe. I will be making another GP appointment after I get my results cos I can’t go on like this.