Feel completely zonked out. Day 2 Utrogestran.

[moderationincludingmoderation]

I’m on day 2 of taking Utrogestran (200mg) , after 14 days of Oestrogel (2 pumps, daily) and I feel completely zonked, and have a head ache. Had a wierd sleep, with the return of a heart palpitations and sweats (haven’t had that since starting and even for a while before). I feel almost like I’m hungover.
Could it be the Utrogestran?
Should I try the vaginal method?

@moderationincludingmoderation thats how it made me feel too. Like I was walking through treacle every day and hungover and sleepy.

I tried vaginal but no difference so I switched to the mirena which has been amazing for me.

I feel like this on 2 Utrogestan. I think it's quite common. It sounds as if you're newly on them so I wouldn't change anything yet. Most side effects subside after time so you may find you tolerate them better as time goes on. I do use mine vaginally with my GP's knowledge but I wouldn't switch so early on. To be on the safe side I'd carry on then see your GP if the side effects are intolerable and continue.

Thanks all. I’ll give it more time. All the Drs I’ve seen have recommended Mirena and I am thinking about it but I’ve had some health issues in the vaginal area which I’m only just finally getting over and am nervous of any physical interventions down there!
Does anyone ever go down to one pump of oestrogel and 100mg of Utrogestran? Out of interest. My Oestrogen and Progesterone levels are not super low but my egg supply/FSH (?) and symptoms showed I’m in Peri. So wondering if I’d be better on lower doses…

The lowest Oestrogel dose I used was 2 pumps and I think this is the starting dose. 1 pump is super low and may not work for you but everyone is different.

It's 99% likely it's Utrogestan.

Many drs would suggest you try to keep going because your body may get used to it (they'd suggest at least one complete cycle) but if you find it impossible, use it vaginally. And 12 days are enough. The 14 days was only suggested to GPs to tell women to 'simplify' the timings (14 days on/off.) The patient leaflet says 12 days.

My own experience (used it for about 11 years) is that neither route is side-effect free. I still get some of the symptoms you describe using it vaginally (feeling hot at night, vivid dreams ) but no headache or feeling tired the next day.

Not everyone gets on with it and if you hate it, there are other types of HRT. Gel and Utrogestan has become the default type recently, but patches or tablets suit some women better.

Does anyone ever go down to one pump of oestrogel and 100mg of Utrogestran?

This isn't a prescribed dose. You can't just halve each because you don't know how much your endometrium is thickening on 1 pump of gel so you still need 200mgs Utrogestan.

100mgs is a daily dose for women post menopause.

It's completely individual. Some women get enough symptoms relief on 1 pump.
2 pumps is the 'suggested' dose but not always necessary.
1 pump is the same as a 25mcg patch.

I'm on one pump of Estrogel (I just started) but the dose is still 2 progesterone capsules. I've seen a thread on here where some people were saying they had a very low dose due to it not agreeing with them.

I had the same but I found that it helped when I switched to taking it at night rather than in the morning

Thank you all. I have been taking it at night, right before bed.
Noted about the dosage. I’ll see how I get on, complete this cycle, and then maybe switch to vaginal application. I am seeing the GP again in about 10 days as I only have 1 month’s worth and they didn’t do a repeat prescription, and will relay how its going to her.

Feeling a bit better now, hope I will build some tolerance. If it causes night sweats then that is a problem as that’s a main symptom I’m trying to alleviate rather than cause!
Will be interesting to see how things are with my next period too.

Just checking you are still using the oestrogel as well as taking the progesterone? You need to use it every day, even in the phase where you take Utrogestan as well.

I reacted very badly to Utro, but it didn't make my night sweats any worse and in fact they were better because of the oestrogen. (momentarily, though am on 100mcg now and still soaking a vest every few nights).

Yes I am, thought bit late to it today as been very busy! Usually do it in the morning.

I think my night sweats were better too, even after just 10 days of Oestrogel.
When you say you reacted badly to Utro, what were the reactions?

Suicidal thoughts within 3 days each cycle. Endless weeping. Exhaustion. Though my sleep was deep it never felt restorative.

I managed 4 months then got a mirena.

wow well done for surviving 4 months of that!
Were you still having periods? If so, Has the mirena helped with them? Mine are very very heavy and disruptive so I am increasingly, and esp more so now leaning towards it.

Yes and the mirena changed my life.

I didn't know that it wasn't normal to pour with blood each month, it never ocurred to me it might not be ideal, then I had a blood test which said I had non anaemic iron deficiency.

Started transexamic acid which is also a miracle drug.

Now I still have a period but it's very light, the cramps don't go on for so long (though can still be brutal) and my mood swings arent quite as dramatic.

I should say that a year after starting HRT my vaginal ultrasound showed endometrial thickness of 7mm, so had a hysteroscopy but all was fine. So even though the mirena is great, it still didn't totally keep on top of my 100mcg oestrogen. Gynae seemed happy though.

@Soupwithstring thank you for sharing all of that - glad you’re ok and finding a good balance now

@moderationincludingmoderation good luck with your HRT journey. I'm in a totally different place two years later.

All the HRT incl testosterone, a year of counselling, things better in every single way.

Thanks @Soupwithstring

I actually slept a lot better last night and don’t feel so bad this morning. Fingers crossed!

@JinglingSpringbells tagging you in this question as you often have all the intel! Does anyone do one of the Utro vaginally and one orally? Wondering if that might take the edge off..!

@moderationincludingmoderation I took one orally and one vaginally for a while then just switched to two vaginally. It helped a bit but felt better when I used two vaginally.

Good question! I've done it myself occasionally as vaginally I find a bit of external irritation after a few days. The one thing I'm not sure of is if the absorption difference might be an issue for some women as there is a slight difference in rate of absorption (faster vaginally.) I'd give the way you're doing it longer as 2 days is too soon to make a call.

Thanks @JinglingSpringbells
That’s good to know as I have vulval dermatitis so wouldn’t want to add to that. I’ll definitely carry on as I am and see how I get on, I know it’s early days.

Thanks again all for the help and support

It's a bit of an experiment. I have side effects with either way. Orally, it means I get up at least once in the night for a wee, (which a lot of women seem to experience on it) but generally sleep a bit better, vaginally I get hotter and have vivid dreams.

Just came back to update. I’m now nearing the end of my second cycle, I am actually now
finding I look forward to the progesterone days of the cycle as it has a massive impact
on my sleep. I have had some of the best sleeps I’ve had in years. Hope that lasts!

I am however having quite erratic periods/bleeding, but overall, though more
frequent and random, they are lighter and more manageable than my periods were before starting HRT and It’s still early days so hoping that’ll settle. I think I need to
adjust which part of the cycle I take the progesterone.