Perimenopausal, 46, started HRT more than a year and a half ago and have gradually increased the dose as symptoms returned - mainly to try and tackle low mood, low-level anxiety, palpitations, lack of libido (which has not improved on any dose).
I moved from 75mg patches to 100mg patches in July after noticing palpitations returning and other mood/anxiety symptoms creeping back. I also take Provera in tablet form and Estriol for vaginal dryness.
But now I'm worried that the dose may be too high - I have had very frequent headaches since moving up to 100, breast pain/tenderness (in fact I'm going to the breast clinic this week to check for cysts), I think I'm putting on weight although my diet/exercise hasn't changed much, and my mood is all over the place, especially during the second half of each cycle.
I'm fairly sure there's a pattern emerging that during the 2 weeks of progesterone my mood just plunges and I'm feeling increasingly low and negative, lacking motivation and a bit hopeless if I'm honest. But perhaps that's because that's when oestrogen is lowest? So do I need even more?? I think I've stuck with 100mg for now because I've been hoping it might at some point help with libido, but I'm beginning to think it's not having much effect anyway...
Today I just feel quite weary and beaten by the whole menopause thing. If taking too much oestrogen mimics the symptoms of not getting enough, how are you supposed to know when you're at the right dose??
I'm due to see the GP again in a couple of weeks but I have a box of 75mg patches left, and I'm wondering if I should just switch back down to these to see if it reduces the extremes of symptoms and emotions I'm experiencing, perhaps at the end of this week when I'm due to have a period and start a new cycle. I'm not sure if that's a good idea without checking with the GP first?