HRT help!

[K80LTL]

Long time reader of this board and have found all the information shared by users so helpful so hoping someone can offer some advice.

I started HRT 4 weeks ago after approx 18 months of progressively worsening peri symptoms. I'm 43 and have had roughly 3 periods in the last 12 months. The doctor advised oestrogen patches (50 micrograms) and continuous progesterone capsules (100 micrograms)

Some of the physical symptoms eased within a few days e.g the hot flashes, headaches, joint aches etc BUT I feel dreadful mentally, I can't stop crying, I'm having panic attacks almost daily, I have no energy and no desire to anything at all, I've never felt so low.

I'm just looking for a bit of advice from anyone else who may have found themselves in this position-my doctor wants me to persist for another couple of months but I'm just not sure I can! I don't know whether to stop altogether or whether this is normal and will pass once my body gets used to the medication.

Can I ask why you were put on continuous HRT instead of sequential. Usually if you are still having periods you take 200 progesterone.
have you only felt low since starting HRT?. It may be the progesterone? It can take
your body a while to get used to it. There are all different types of HRT so I wouldn’t just give up if it’s not right, it might just need tweaking.
it is worth getting the balance app loads of useful info on Peri and HRT .

Thank you for replying, the doctor suggested I tried continuous because I'd only had a couple of periods in the past 12 months. I've never felt low mood like this before starting HRT, I know it's early days I suppose I'm just looking for reassurance that it will hopefully get better!

It will be the Utrogestan.
It's infamous for causing low mood in some women. And worse of course if you're taking it daily.

If it doesn't settle in another week or two, I'd suggest you go back and maybe use some other form of progesterone. You can be prescribed Norethisterone tablets alongside a patch, or a combined patch (estrogen +Norethisterone) or the Mirena coil with your patch.

OR you can take HRT tablets, like Femoston (estrogen and progesterone) which are suitable unless you have clotting issues.

You are very young and might need a 75mcg patch as young women have higher estrogen anyway(or should have at 43.)

If your GP isn't able to help, ask for a referral to a meno gynae, or if you can afford it pay for a private one.

Hi OP, are you sensitive to medication in general?
I definitely am. I went on HRT even though I didn't have any severe symptoms. My doctor, who is great, said that I had "nothing to lose" by trying it. I realised after 10 days that I was feeling agoraphobic, tearful, would have drunk alcohol if I could have left the house (recovering alcoholic of many years). It was only then that it clicked that HRT could be the culprit - called my doctor and she advised I stop at once. I haven't looked back and this was about 18 months ago - but to be fair I wasn't really experiencing symptoms, well, until I took HRT.

@JinglingSpringbells thank you that's really helpful information. I've spoken with my GP today and she would like me to persist for another couple of weeks so I will see how I get on

@Thewalrusandthecarpenter I'm not usually sensitive to medication although I've been very fortunate enough to never really have anything other than the odd course of antibiotics here and there. It's interesting to hear others experiences of this though