positive experiences? starting 50 oestrogen patches and 100 utrogestan

[ILOVECHOCOLATEPISTACHIOS]

Hi,
I am about to start HRT (prescription should be in within next couple of days) I am so nervous, I have had migraine aura in the past and high BP although the clinic nurse said this will not be a barrier to my starting it, as I have no other contraindications (although I am on low dose thyroxine for underactive thyroid). My symptoms now are mainly anxiety and hot flushes, joint pain. I am so worried I am going to get bad side effects, I am literally dreaming about visiting and picking up my prescription and the effects once I do.... (all subconscious worries), it feels weird to put those hormones back in to me when its all slowed down. I am scared actually........despite knowing it also has some very positive effects (bone health etc...) .....Basically has anyone had any positive reactions to the HRT? I did ask for 25mg patches to start in case I react bad, but she (the nurse) said I should really start on 50mg patches and 100 utrogestan tablets....I am dreading the progesterone but have just read some people don[t react well to the oestrogen either. I don't know why I'm posting really just to hear some positive stories I guess.....although I'm aware everyone is different....Thanks ...oh and if I wanted to stop (if not good) can you just stop?

I'm on exactly that dose and I was equally worried, but I have been absolutely fine for a year. Better than ever. Sleep and anxiety much improved, hot flushes totally gone.
Give it a go!
I used to get aura migraines when stressed, but realise I haven't had one for a couple of years now.

Thank you @WinterFrogs I can't tell you how much I appreciate your reply, I needed to read this, just because........ so yes, I am going to give it a go 🙂🙏

I'm on oestrogel and utrogestan. No negative side effects at all. Not one. It's all been positive for me. Symptoms are about 95% better than they were, and I feel like myself again. Long term benefits for bones, brain and heart

There are risks with all sorts of things, but honestly there is nothing to be scared of. You're giving your body what it needs and taking care of yourself

I am glad to hear this. I began at a weekend in case I reacted badly ( mood swings concerned me most as I never tolerated the contraceptive pill) I felt....no different...for a few days then it gradually dawned on me how much more comfortable I felt in my skin.

Thank you @Lottapianos your message has really reassured me, I know that everyone reacts differently but its wonderful to hear such positive takes on HRT, and yes it so true that it is what our body needs, I have really struggled to go from being fairly agile and reasonably fit (though not athletic by any stretch of the imagination) but certainly not creaking, to having joint aches and just generally feeling lower and less me ....I hope to get back some of my joie de vivre and feel like me again....I really get what you said too @WinterFrogs about starting at the weekend, unfortunately the pharmacy didn't order it as its a new prescription but I rang the GP and they said check Saturday so I have fingers and toes crossed, thank you both for sharing your experiences I can't thank you enough, its really helped a lot to alleviate the anticipation of trying it and hopefully being able to stick with it if all goes well 🙏 🙂

I’m on oestrogen gel (2pumos daily), testosterone, oestrogen vaginal cream, progesterone 200mg per day. I’m 60, started HRT at 52/53. Never coming off, it’s been great. I have made other positive changes for my health- better nutrition, loads of exercise including weights, better care of my mental health, but I do believe the HRT is the backbone of the improvements in my wellbeing. Makes sense: we now live decades beyond the end of our childbearing years and our bodies and brains are full of oestrogen receptors. We need those hormones washing through our bodies!
Oh , and I also suffer from ocular/aura migraines.
I always carry Migraleeve as I have no particular triggers and usually taking two of the pink tablets stops it in its tracks. Progesterone at night lulls me to sleep and so I’m- possibly- less likely to get a migraine with improved sleep. I don’t find the attacks any more frequent or severe with HRT.

I'm honestly thinking about seeing if I can up my dose due to benefits to heart and bones.
I am feeling a bit like if it ain't broke don't fix it though.
@BigSkies2022 did you start with all that? My GP said we can look at testosterone after 6 months. It's been a year, and it's very difficult to get an appointment around her. Do you feel the testosterone helps you? I fear getting more hairs on my chinny chin chin.

I have naughtily taken two progesterone and added half an evorel patch a couple of times, and I definitely slept better

The testosterone dose is tiny, (about 4mg a day), so unlikely to have a huge impact on hairiness! But I think a bit more attention with the tweezers well worth the impact it's had for me on my libido. I have erotic dreams again! everything works! Can your GP prescribe it or does it have to come via a direction from a menopause clinic? I started on testosterone around 2021 - it was during lockdown, that much I know, and my GP referred me to the meno clinic, and I had a telephone consultation.

The vaginal cream was added by the meno clinic. The progesterone dose was upped this year on the recommendation of the obs and gynae consultation I had (which included an uterine scan to check womb lining and remaining ovary) after experiencing some spotting. I have found the GP and NHS consultant service pretty responsive here (south London) - do you have a choice of GP practices near you? Might it be worth changing (or making a complaint to the care commissioning group/NHS England replacement)? I just don't think it's acceptable for GPs to say, busy, sorry, no appointments.

Thank you so much @BigSkies2022 really informative and helpful, I have been prescribed the cream too, the nurse said it will also help with the more frequent urgency to go to the loo (to be honest hopefully it will because I have a supermarket close by that I frequently visit for shopping and sometimes for a coffee in the cafe to just chill and let all this meno brain racing stuff go)..... the same security guard seems to be on duty every time I visit and I am starting to feel a bit self conscious about the amount of times I have said ("can I just leave my trolley here for a minute I am going to the bathroom" . I inwardly groan when its him again because I think 'oh no I need to go and its him, the same guy..... he's going to think I am incontinent ....admittedly its not every 5 seconds and likely I am more paranoid and he hasn't even noticed but it always seems to hit me the moment I start perusing an aisle and I have to dump the shopping trolley and rush to the loo (for a trickle 😂) I'm digressing but yeah she (the nurse) said i,ll prescribe the cream and also some testosterone, I have held off on that for the minute as I am not overly bothered at the moment , i'm currently single but have a flirty interest with someone so it might be something I go for in the future as I have flickers of that feeling fruity 😀but it often passes so might be something I will take up at some stage.....I am grateful for all the advice and definitely the keeping fit, weights, lifestyle changes, I am going to keep some migraleeve in my bag for back up just in case, a great tip... thanks everyone all wonderful advice greatly appreciated I needed to read all this and its helped massively. ♥

Thanks @BigSkies2022 😊 I wouldn't mind an erotic dream or two! I will look into it again I think.

Best wishes @ILOVECHOCOLATEPISTACHIOS

I started HRT two weeks ago - I’m on 200mg utrogestan and 100 oestrogen gel, with additional vaginal oestrogen cream. The progesterone made me a bit dizzy for a few days but it has settled now, and no other side effects at all. I feel less rage, am sleeping better, and have seen an improvement in vaginal dryness already, which is a huge benefit as I was finding that quite tricky. Having spoken to friends most of them haven’t had side effects that impacted negatively. The nurse I spoke to said to allow 3 months for things to settle before deciding if it’s working or not. Best of luck.

Thanks so much @Nightmanagerfan this is really helpful...also the dizziness you mentioned and that you have been able to ride it out..... I think you are right, I need to try and give it at least 3 months 1st before I make a decision on whether its working or not and worth continuing. thanks so much for sharing your experience I really appreciate it.....and Yes @WinterFrogs I hear ya! me too, erotic dreams are fewer and fewer these days but who knows they might pop back on my night time agenda if I do ever start on a tinzy bit of testosterone to re- light that fire so to speak 😀