Is it normal to feel unwell when starting HRT?

[HRTnewbie]

Hi, I started HRT a few weeks ago. Gel first and then progesterone tablet a few days ago.

Over the last 10 days I've felt unwell. Weak, nausea, awful bloating. I've not yet had any positive symptoms (mood and sleep are still crap). I was just wondering how normal this is? I've read these symptoms are normal, and that it can take time to improve.... or maybe its just a bug and nothing to do with HRT...

I've started to have midnight worries about something being wrong.

Does this sound similar to anyone else's HRT journey?

Do your symptoms match the time you've been taking progesterone? That's how I felt using utrogestan. I swapped to mirena and it's been game changing.

Probably not what you want to hear, but I've been in it for three months now and rather than feeling any better, have collected more troublesome symptoms. my moods crap, anxiety has increased and my already shit sleep has got shitter. Everyone is different of course but I wish I hadn't fell for the hype that oestrogen is an absolute saviour. I'm giving it another cycle and then time to reassess.

@StormyHorizon I hate to repeat myself but increased anxuety on HRT can often be down to the form of progesterone.

Oestrogen is the happy hormone. Progesterone is supposed to be the relaxing hormone but it made me cry day and night, have horrific intrusive thoughts and made my boobs swell like pre period. All these symptoms disappeared in the oestrogen only phase.

I get it and believe that to be true for many women. Controversially, I'm the opposite. In my follicular phase, the oestrogen only weeks, my anxiety is out of control, my moods rock bottom and I struggle to get through the day. things improve slightly when I move to the progesterone weeks, but then my insomnia gets worse when I'm taking the tablet! Through my own research I think my own oestrogen levels are spiking way too high and me adding more, is creating hormonal chaos. I'm nearly 50 and definitely peri menopausal btw.

@StormyHorizon that sucks. I'd have more oestrogen if they'd let me 😂

I'm 48 and been on HRT since 44. I have 100mcg patches and I ran out a few days ago, my hot sweats are back with a vengeance and I went through two vest tops last night 🤢

Whacked a new patch on today. Phew!

No its started the week before. But my DH had a funny bug so hoping its too things. My gastro symptoms have got worse since starting progesterone.

Thanks @StormyHorizon not what i want to hear, but still helpful to know HRT doesn't work for everyone.

Just feel so crap... hoping it gets better. I dont know what i will do it this is the next few years of perimenopause.

Has anyone had crap side effects which have got better? And improved their perimenopause symptoms?

It can also be the type of HRT. I had the combined patch to start with and it made me suicidal. I came off it for month or three and went back on separate estrogen patch (going up sliwly in strength) and utrogestan and did much better. On the Mirena and patch now and though I am not transformed, my moods are much better now.

Thanks @SpunkyKhakiScroller. I had the Mirena before (as contraception- i am guessing it is the same?) I started to notice a negative impact on my mood. It put me off HRT as I wondered if I would be able to tolerate it, but heard from friends that it was different.

I guess I just need to keep going and talking with the GP. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am pleased you've found something that works.

It's the progesterone that is the problem. I had had a hysterectomy so was able to use oestrogen only patches and had no problems.
I know people for whom the progesterone produces endless problems.

It’s such a minefield as every menopause expert I’ve listened to, on podcasts etc. keeps saying that natural progesterone is wonderful and makes you so relaxed. I found it helped me sleep but I felt really anxious all the following day. Apparently it’s all about getting the right balance of oestrogen to progesterone. Much more progesterone than oestrogen. Otherwise you can have oestrogen dominance. Like I say, it’s really a minefield!!!

Thanks @Lizzbear and @Mischance. I don't think it's just progesterone, i've not long started to take it and felt the same way last week without it and only the gel.

I just hoped to hear this is normal. But its just not that simple I guess... and its too early to say. I'm just finding this a hard stage.

I think it's quite normal to feel a bit rubbish when starting? I felt just awful for the first few weeks- a bit like early pregnancy- nausea, full blown morning sickness type nausea, the pregnany hormonal fatigue type feeling, and this weird sort of on edge angsty thing. It was the estrogen that caused it, I hadn't started the progesterone when I had those symptoms. I get it any time I increase the estrogen dose.

I remember reading lots of other people's similar posts at the time and thinking it was normal.

It took a couple of months to settle down. It is worst when increasing a lot in one go, if I increase gradually it drags the whole thing out a bit, but the side effects are less bad.

I do hear lots of people have issues with progesterone, I did with oral contraceptives and mirena. But I find utrogestan is a relaxing hormone for me, I sleep better and feel more grounded. Less anxious.