Reduced HRT but hot flashes have returned at night

[Rumpoleoftheballet]

Can anyone suggest something to help? Gynaecologist reduced HRT patches due to thickening of the lining of my womb but this has meant I’m now being woken by hot flashes again. They’re not as bad as they used to be but are waking me all the same and I find it hard to get back to sleep.

A friend recommended magnesium. Does anyone else suggest this or anything else?

Reduced from what dose to what?

The other option that is in guidance is to increase the amount of progesterone.

What did your scan show exactly?

If you are not post menopausal, the lining can be much thicker during an HRT cycle, (before the withdrawal bleed if you use sequential) but I'm assuming this was known and taken into account.

Sorry should have put that info. Estradot patches 100 down to 75 and I’m post menopausal with a mirena for endometriosis.

I'm wondering how the Mirena helps endo when endo is anywhere in your body, yet the Mirena works mainly on the womb lining with very little systemic absorption.

Have you had some bleeding while on the Mirena and it's been investigated?

Reason for querying with you is that if you were using a different type of progesterone it would be easy to increase it - and that may mean you could carry on with a higher dose patch.

Yes I had some erratic bleeding and after a hysterectomy, my gynae advised reducing the patch and put in a new mirena. Completely confused now!

Can you add oral progesterone as well so you can keep your Estrogen dose?

I use Magnesium biglycinate and magnesium cream on my feet(soles) which help deeper sleep. If I wake (due to sweats) I can go back to sleep. Also use sleep gummies on the odd night when I can’t.

Do you mean a hysterectomy?

Or a hysteroscopy?

Have you got endometriosis elsewhere in your body? If you have a Mirena won't help with that.

Sorry it autocorrected and I didn’t realise. I had a hysteroscopy. No only have endometriosis in my womb hence the mirena.

Thank you for that. I’ll look at both of those magnesium’s as that’s what a friend had suggested. I’ve never heard of the sole cream before so hopefully if I do wake with a hot flash, they’ll help me go straight back to sleep.

Do you mean adenomyosis?

You can't have endo in your womb.
Endometriosis is when the womb lining grows outside the womb and in other parts of you body like the bowel and pelvis.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adenomyosis/

I have 2 areas of adenomyosis in my uterus. I'm on sequential HRT and have been for years. It means I have slightly heavier withdrawal bleeds.

I’m more confused than ever and have clearly got my diagnosis wrong but have to trust that my gynaecologist knows what he’s doing. Next time I go to the doctors I’ll check it out. I do appreciate your help and advice though!

I’m happy to have the mirena and patches but since they were reduced, the flashes have returned but not to the degree they were pre HRT. I’ll try the magnesium suggested above and hopefully that will help.

Nothing is going to help with vasomotor symptoms like hot flushes/night sweats as much as oestrogen. You really need to increase your patch strength I would say. Magnesium is fine, I take it each night, but it works as a muscle relaxant and helps if you have restless legs or cramps each night and won’t treat the root cause of your hot flushes at night.

I’ve also just reduced from 100 to 75 but for a different reason. Sorry to ask a separate but vaguely related question but are you still able to get Estrodot patches - I thought they were completely out of stock now for months. I’ve just switched from estrodot 100 to Evorel 75.

Yes my prescription was for Estradot but it was then changed to Evorel too.