Has anyone improved their sleep by adding more estrogen?

[butterbum]

Another night of about 3 hours sleep and my weekend is ruined again but lack of sleep. I'll push though and try to look happy but I'm only surviving. I wake up tired but not drowsy so I don't fall back asleep even if I feel calm. I'm 48 and the sleeplessness has been bad for the past year. Been on HRT of Evorel patch and Utrogestan since 43. I started at Evorel 50 but when up to Evorel 75 when I was 46. I can fall asleep no problem but wake up early at 3 or 4 am and can't sleep again. Other issues are sore joints in my hands, sore hips, new and mild receding gums :( and terrible sleep. I am not having any hot flushes and only occasional palpitations which were bad prior to starting HRT.

My GP is not pro HRT and already thinks 75 is too much but I am thinking of just adding a bit of another patch to make it 100 to see if it helps any?

Anyone have any advice?

@Moveyourbleedingarse My GP is a woman a few years older than me, seems ideologically opposed to HRT. I have heard the younger male GP is supposedly better on this so I will see if I can speak to him in future but they always seem to want me to speak to the other GP if its Meno related. Your practice sounds amazing!

@butterbum so don't tell them? Make up a spurious appt. Say it's to review an existing condition. 😉

@Moveyourbleedingarse That sounds like a plan!

I previously asked my GP for vaginal estrogen and was told no that I couldn't keep adding more hormones. Perhaps I do need a new doctor!

Yes, you do.

It's absolutely fine to use both.

Your GP sounds useless.

I get so angry and frustrated on behalf of the women who come on here with their dreadful experiences of ill informed GPs: it really does beggar belief that so many doctors are ignorant of the most basic facts around HRT.
But women do need to also advocate for themselves, and go armed with information: the Newson free Balance app is a good place to start.

just to add 2p - have you tried also taking a magnesium glycinate supplement before bed?

Heart palpitations and poor sleep can also be symptoms of magnesium deficiency and its super common. It might be worth trying out while you also try and work on hormones with your gp as can just be bought online / OTC and might help some of the symptoms