New to HRT

[Alexfaith1]

I’m two weeks into HRT. 46 years old, symptoms were anxiety attacks, hot flushes, insomnia, weight gain and a few more.
I have started on 2 pumps of estrogel and 200mg of progesterone capsules.
Im glad to say my anxiety attacks, hot flushes and sleep issues disappeared almost immediately. I started on P straight away as I haven’t had a period in 4 months.
The issue I now have is that I feel like a zombie. I’m groggy all day and feel like I have a head full of treacle.

Is this to be expected as a settling in period? Also wondering if symptoms will return during my break from progesterone? It’s my last day of 14 days today.
Any advice would be welcome xx

That's the progesterone. What time of day are you taking it? Make sure you have not had any food in the 2hrs before either as that increases the side effects.

I take my progesterone at night. It seems to be better. X

Thank you, I take it around 8pm but will be making sure it’s on an empty stomach. Last day of Progesterone today so will soon find out x

Hopefully that will help. I couldn't take it as a tablet at all I felt unsafe to even drive next day so take utrogestan as a pessary. Its off licence but many ladies use it this way and it bypasses side effects. Thete are other options too if it doesn't settle

Mattjack2, that’s how I have felt, like everything is in slow motion. I’m going to make sure I take on an empty stomach today just to rule that out. X

Hi @Alexfaith1
i felt like that at first but taking it 2 hours after food and just before bed helped and the side effects wore off for me, been on it 18months and great now no side effects at all even if I forget to take on an empty stomach one night now. I take it for 12 days a month.

Probably not entirely relevant, but I had a mirena fitted.
No remembering to take pills and no pretend periods. I did get quite prolonged spotting at first which was unusual but that was 4 years ago.

I had very similar reaction to progesterone. Had coil fitted instead. These symptoms stopped when i stopped progesterone. The coil is great but realise it's not for everyone.

The synthetic progesterone in the coil gave me excruciating pressure headaches, but I'm fine with utrogestan. It really is a personal thing!