Can I stop HRT cold turkey?

[Moorfellduck]

50 and still having periods albeit a bit erratic.

I just started hrt and was on Everol 50 sequi for the month of December. Early January I switched my copper coil to a Merina and the Everol 50 patches ( I threw out the conti ones).

I feel terrible - I've never experienced rage like this. Started about 10 days ago and getting worse. Also got sore boobs. I can feel the rage and anger in my body.

My peri symptoms weren't that bad - body ache and insomnia no flushes or brain fog.

I've got a GP appointment on the 13th, but can I just go cold turkey - stop the patches and get the coil out? I feel I want the rage to stop now but similarly don't want to make things worse!

You can - it’s your body. But it might be worth tweaking your HRT if the reasons you started HRT remain. It can take a bit of adjusting. I think that The Rage and sore boobs are usually a sign of low progesterone. When you were using combined patches did you have these symptoms?

Yes, you can stop.

However, as the PP says, you may want to consider a different type and dose if your symptoms get worse.

For a start, a 50mcg patch is medium. IME of posts here, compared to my own with HRT (through an excellent consultant, privately) far too many women are started on a high dose.

I was started on the equivalent of half a 25mcg patch for a few weeks, then building up to 25mcgs ( gel- so half a pump then a whole pump).

Diving in with a medium dose isn't always the best way.

It could also be the Mirena that isn't working for you.

Again, many specialists suggest estrogen-only for a few weeks to get the dose right, then introducing the progesterone after that time and evaluate how you respond to it.

Unfortunately, GPs aren't trained in HRT unless they take some courses, so what they know is hit and miss.

OP when I first had the mirena fitted, the big boost of progesterone made me have period boobs for a month then it all settled. I'm 18months in and love it now.

I also needed much more oestrogen than 50mcg to make a difference to the rage.

The rage is new - came on within a week of getting Mirena. I've also felt a bit pre migrainey for me - eye splodges and the like . I didn't feel like this the month I'd was on Sequi but did have some cramps.

I've been hormone free for so long- copper coil since early 30s - I just feel totally out of whack and don't know if its the mirena. I'm feeling a bit raging towards it that is for sure. 😅

You can still have your normal cycle underneath too.

I still get rotten PMT on HRT, so it might not just be the mirena. A week isn't long enough to be sure.

When I look back my first six weeks were hard, it made me feel really sleepy. But I'm like a new woman now.

Hello op. Sorry to hear you’re struggling.

I stopped cold turkey about 8 weeks ago and I honestly feel absolutely no different whatsoever.

One bonus is that I have actually missed a period. I’m taking that as a win as I’m nearly 58 and was still regular as clockwork until then. Which made me pretty furious tbh.

I'd consider getting the Mirena out and continuing on oestrogen and body identical progesterone. I'm the opposite of jingling and need high oestrogen, but I did start on a 25 patch and worked my way up slowly.