Oestrogel and Progesterone Advice - new here

[Anythingisjustfine]

I’m 42 and the past year or so have been getting bad mood swings and quite a lot of anger. I’ve also been waking up in the early hours with the center of my back along my spine sweaty. Ive also been getting weird things like both my shoulder joints feel like they’re going to pop out any minute like they’ve become loose, sore elbow and knee joints in the morning. But the past 5 months my worst thing (I didn’t think until recently this could be related) is I’ve had awful globus with gastritis symptoms. I’ve had every test and they’ve all come back normal (endoscopy, CT, bloods etc)… I’m starting to wonder if it’s all related. I still have a period pretty regular but it’s longer and heavier these days.

I saw a male junior GP who was lovely and took note of everything and sympathised but then at the end said I need to try therapy first?

I had a call this morning from a new GP (female) and she barely asked me anything and put me on HRT straightaway.

I wanted to go on a really low dose just to trial things so she’s given me 80g oestrogel one pump once a day and then 100mg progesterone capsules 2 tablets once a day at bedtime for 12 days each cycle.

I don’t really understand any of this, just doing the reading now as I’ve just picked them up but wanted advice from ladies who’ve been on this or know about this.

Also a bit worried two tablets on an empty stomach might make my stomach pain worse.

also how quickly did you notice improvements and what did you notice first? Did it help with your anger?

my mum had ovarian cancer at 45 so I am also a bit nervous about that but I’ve heard this is similar to an extra glass or two of wine a week so not horrendous?

What contraception do you use rn? Maybe consider the mirena coil as then you won’t need the progesterone tablets, it supplies progesterone. That was what the gynaecologist recommended and my gp grudgingly did. My gp started me on 2 pumps of the oestrogel but I found one was enough for symptom management for me. I never really had hot flushes but omg the brain fog and anxiety was horrendous, the above regime really helped. My mother likewise had ovarian cancer, topical oestrogen doesn’t really add to your risk.

I think you will find this helps with your joints and the anger. I don’t know about the globus but hopefully you will find it helps that too. I recommend collagen for the aches and pains, it’s really helped me alongside the oestrogel and progesterone

Thank you both. @Takersgonnatake honestly I don’t use anything, just condoms but we very rarely have sex I’m just never in the mood and don’t really enjoy it/find it uncomfortable. My GP did actually offer the mirena first but I didn’t understand It was so I didn’t need to take the progesterone so I said no, it’s silly I know but I’m not too keen on having one. Is the main difference convenience or are there other things involved like safety?

'I saw a male junior GP who was lovely and took note of everything and sympathised but then at the end said I need to try therapy first?'

God Almighty 🤦🏻‍♂️ WHY are some doctors like this?! I'm a massive fan of therapy but it will do fuck all for painful joints and night sweats FFS

HRT has been pretty life changing for me. It took a good 8 weeks to kick in, and up to 12 weeks is normal, so stick with it. You don't need to be afraid of it - you're levelling out your normal natural hormonal levels, and giving your body and brain what they need. I've had no side effects at all from progesterone tablets

Maybe ask the gp but as far as I’m aware it’s mainly convenience. The progesterone tablets regime is fiddly and some people may not remember or take them correctly and if that was the case then the mirena would be the safer option.

Ask for oestrogen pessaries (just teeny tiny tabletty things and a thing to use to insert them) it will totally help with the vaginal discomfort.

The Mirena progestin will only have a localised effect so contraception and protecting the womb from the lining thickening. Oral body identical progesterone will be systemic so will do all the things your own hormone had been involved in, so helping your sleep, calming anxiety, breaking down histamine etc

Wow… I had no idea progesterone did all that but to be honest I didn’t even know women had any up until this point. So it’s sounds like although the tablets affect the whole body so may create more side effects they are actually better for the process?

Do you know if the tablets raise the cancer risk/other risks more than the coil?

Did you mean you didn't think women had testosterone? A lot of women find they need the progesterone to successfully menage their symptoms.
As far as I understand it any small cancer risk would be with a combined oestrogen and progestin method, much like with the pill.

I have bio identical HRT which works a treat. The spray estradiol is great, dries in a couple of minutes.

https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/oestrogen-only-gel-and-spray-what-you-need-to-know

https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/utrogestan-micronised-progesterone-explained

https://rockmymenopause.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RMM_HRT-in-a-nutshell.pdf

These are links that I was given by the menopause nurse at my GP surgery when I started HRT.

Your stomach issues may be lack of progesterone. It's the hormone we have the largest amount of. Pre perimenopause!

Hi OP first of all, my sympathies for your symptoms. Secondly, It all sounds peri menopausal related.
Oestrogen falling means histamine increases in the body, explaining your gastritis. It also means a drop in collagen hence soreness in sex: skin is thinner in the vagina and less stretchy.
Also drop in oestrogen causes drop in serotonin and dopamine, hence globus/anxiety. Falling oestrogen also explains joint pain.
Definitely give the HRT a go and let it have it's time to work. Good luck.

And progesterone assists someway in breaking down histamine so it can be a big problem in peri/post menopause. Some women develop new or worsening allergies at this stage, I had IBS type symptoms, nearly doubled off in work on occasion but fine after hrt