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Menopause

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Original poster

HRT cold turkey!

10 replies

BooseysMom · 09/07/2023 16:00

Posting this again as had no response on the Weaning off HRT thread and I'm really at my wits end!! Thanks..

I want to get off HRT! I have had my dose increased and been on Evorel 75 and Utrogesten. This is the second month. Previously i was on Evorel 50 for 3 months. I feel horrible most of the time. It has done nothing to help with the constant muscle aching. I have gained weight and have tender swollen breasts. I also have a non stop increase in sexual desire which ought to be good but I feel so angry and depressed and I hate my DH so much I just wish he would bugger off!!! So should I just stop everything now? I ripped off my patch in desperation, then was stressed i would crash and my symptoms would rocket! I'm 51.
Please please can anyone help me?!
Thanks

OP posts:
Runaround50 · 09/07/2023 16:25

Can you wean yourself off slowly to avoid the crash? 50/25/ nothing?

I'm in a similar situation. I'm In a shit load of pain ( abdominal) with a fibroid and menopause symptoms. Poop clue what to do!!

Could you try a different type of HRT instead?

Original poster
BooseysMom · 09/07/2023 16:34

Runaround50 · 09/07/2023 16:25

Can you wean yourself off slowly to avoid the crash? 50/25/ nothing?

I'm in a similar situation. I'm In a shit load of pain ( abdominal) with a fibroid and menopause symptoms. Poop clue what to do!!

Could you try a different type of HRT instead?

Thanks so much for replying! Well the Evorel 50 wasn't working after a few weeks so they upped it to 75 and it has steadily got worse and worse. Another thread mentioned cutting the patch in half..maybe I could do that. Or as you say, try another type of HRT.
Hope you get yourself sorted too!

OP posts:
Runaround50 · 09/07/2023 16:40

I would try a different hrt.
There is the gel, spray and tablet form.

It's a real minefield unfortunately and can take a while to get to where you want to be.

Runaround50 · 09/07/2023 16:41

What are your key symptoms?

Original poster
BooseysMom · 10/07/2023 06:31

Runaround50 · 09/07/2023 16:40

I would try a different hrt.
There is the gel, spray and tablet form.

It's a real minefield unfortunately and can take a while to get to where you want to be.

Thanks for your advice. I have tried Oestrogel and it did nothing. Yes it really is a minefield!

OP posts:
Original poster
BooseysMom · 10/07/2023 06:34

Runaround50 · 09/07/2023 16:41

What are your key symptoms?

Well, mostly aching all over, burning feelings down below and mood swings, with the run-up to the period absolutely vile! I think I should have steered clear from HRT and gone for a coil instead. I'm going to have to ask the gp about having one fitted. I just wish the periods would bugger off then I wouldn't have to do anything!!
Thanks again 😊

OP posts:
Moredarkchocolateplease · 10/07/2023 08:44

Hi OP, I felt abysmal for the first few months of HRT, this is what helped me:

Increasing my patch to 100mcg

Stopping using utrogestan orally. I first switched to vaginal for a few months which reduced symptoms (much less boob swelling for example) and now I've gone to the mirena.

All my horrendous mood symptoms such as hating my DH were down to the utrogestan.

All the vago motor symptoms disappeared with the increase in oestrogen.

The vaginal problems are still grim, but Oestrogen cream Ovestin is helping a lot.

Next stop testosterone.

I'm in month seven. No more swollen breasts, no more flooding periods. No more night sweats. I sleep for 7-8 hours without waking up for a wee. Go hours between wees in the daytime.

It is worth persevering.

Iwantcakeeveryday · 10/07/2023 09:05

Do you feel much worse than before you started? 5 months feels like a long time, but it took me proabbly over 6 months to get the dose and type of HRt that suited me right, and now almost two years later I wouldn't be without it. I started with gel. I went to patches, 50 then 75 and that was too much so I came down to 50. I take utrogestan daily as its been over a year and I didn't feel at all well on days without it, and I also take testosterone. It can be hard to get right but you need a good doctor that is monitoring you well. That questionnaire they do should tell you what's improving or if you are improving at all.

Original poster
BooseysMom · 11/07/2023 03:59

Moredarkchocolateplease · 10/07/2023 08:44

Hi OP, I felt abysmal for the first few months of HRT, this is what helped me:

Increasing my patch to 100mcg

Stopping using utrogestan orally. I first switched to vaginal for a few months which reduced symptoms (much less boob swelling for example) and now I've gone to the mirena.

All my horrendous mood symptoms such as hating my DH were down to the utrogestan.

All the vago motor symptoms disappeared with the increase in oestrogen.

The vaginal problems are still grim, but Oestrogen cream Ovestin is helping a lot.

Next stop testosterone.

I'm in month seven. No more swollen breasts, no more flooding periods. No more night sweats. I sleep for 7-8 hours without waking up for a wee. Go hours between wees in the daytime.

It is worth persevering.

Hi, thank you so much for this.🙂I'm phoning the GP tomorrow so will suggest all this, or completely come off everything. I have a feeling they won't prescribe testosterone.

Glad your symptoms are sorted.

OP posts:
Original poster
BooseysMom · 11/07/2023 04:04

Iwantcakeeveryday · 10/07/2023 09:05

Do you feel much worse than before you started? 5 months feels like a long time, but it took me proabbly over 6 months to get the dose and type of HRt that suited me right, and now almost two years later I wouldn't be without it. I started with gel. I went to patches, 50 then 75 and that was too much so I came down to 50. I take utrogestan daily as its been over a year and I didn't feel at all well on days without it, and I also take testosterone. It can be hard to get right but you need a good doctor that is monitoring you well. That questionnaire they do should tell you what's improving or if you are improving at all.

Thanks for your post. I definitely feel way worse than without it. I just want out! The thing is I have to think which symptoms are down to the menopause and which are caused by the HRT?

The patches being increased are what's tipped things over the edge but the 50s weren't helping at all, and now I feel like I can't cope on a daily basis. I've given it about a year now. I think I'll phone the gp tomorrow and go through it all, but that patch is definitely coming off and staying off!

Thanks again.

OP posts:
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