I have had so much advice here in the past and now I need more! I am realising that proceeding with perimenopause/menopause and HRT is like small babies. Once one phase is done, a new one starts...
Background:
47, on HRT for 2 years (Sandrena oestrogen gel plus Utrogestan days 15-26).
Good points
Stopped my visual migraines that occurred in 2nd half of cycle starting for the first time in my life when I was 45, I can sleep again, no weird inexplicable physical anxiety that was occurring a lot at night, feel more alert and on the ball, no joint pain, energy and motivation to exercise, reduced hair loss, reduced acne, less irritable and angry.
Bad points
Now, there is nothing so bad that I would go stop HRT...but...
ARGH the weight gain. Depressing. I eat well, I track on MFP, I weight train 3-5x per week, I cycle. But still I'm stuck at a good 20lbs above a happy, healthy weight (and I don't have skinny standards). The withdrawal bleeds are really unpredictable. Apart from timing (my periods were regular) they were unpredictable in heaviness and duration before starting HRT. Now, I stop the utrogestan, I wait. I might get 6-8 days after stopping before my period arrives. There are fits and starts, false starts. Then I might get a sudden super heavy day -so bad I can't go out- then that's it. Other times I get the heavy day followed by a full 4/5 days of normal period. But always later than expected.
I did read that if it takes more than 4 or 5 days for your period to arrive after stopping utrogestan, you should move to continuous. Anyone know if this is true?
Will making a change to continuous HRT make the weight gain (and massive insatiable appetite) better or worse?
Are there better regimes for women prone to weight gain like me? (I have mild PCOS type symptoms and really did best with Dianette/Yasmin type OCPs when that was part of my life).
Thank you!