Side effects after starting HRT gel and progesterone, has anyone experienced this?

[LivelyKhakiBee]

I was prescribed oestrogen 2 pump gel and 2 Progesterone tablets for 14 days nearly 4 weeks ago, the first month I got sore legs but my back pain and hot flashes went away but towards the end of the tablets I got really bad brain fog, anxiety and night sweats back and then last day of tablet had a period and major migraines that had left me feeling like I am rocking when I walk and feel like I am swaying but I’m not. have since gone down to 1 pump this week but no idea what is happening has anyone else experienced this?

I had an awful reaction to estrogen gel. I was only on one pump and it gave me anxiety, huge womb polyps that had to be surgically removed, flooding, dizziness, and feeling like I was wired. I stopped. Had a mirena coil put in instead and dropped all estrogen. Feel a million times better. Estrogen is not the cure all that many say it is. Some can’t tolerate it at all.

It sounds like progesterone intolerance. Very common.
Nothing to do with the estrogen.
Migraine is a very common symptom when the levels fall at the end of the cycle.

Don't reduce your estrogen- that will make things worse because progesterone works by reducing its effects.

The advice is you give it 3 months and your body may get used to it.
If not, there are many other sorts of progesterone available as tablets, patches or the Mirena coil.

Give it a bit longer and if it's still awful go back to your GP and discuss other options.

I absolutely can be due to the estrogen. Progesterone intolerance is a thing too - but one does not exclude the other.

I also concluded I couldn't tolerate oestrogens. Even my own!

it is more common than you think right. During some estrogen surges in peri, I take an antihistamine to counter the estrogen. Look up the histamine and estrogen link. Peri actually has many days of estrogen being way way too high, then plummeting again, then soaring. It’s awful.

Progesterone tablets made me feel woozy and dizzy - completely disappeared when I switched to vaginal suppositories so you could try that

How long did it take you to get back to normal when you stopped it?

Progesterone?
It leaves your system in around 24 hours.

HRT?
Depends on the dose. It can take a few weeks for the estrogen to reduce completely.

Thank you everyone dr has told me to come off the gel straight away

Does your GP know that progesterone can cause dizziness?
If these symptoms started 14 days after using progesterone it is likely to be that. Was this discussed at your appointment?

Yes she said as it all started when I started tablet and gel I am having a reaction to the gel causing migraines and to stop it for now

It gave me migraines too - estrogen is key migraine trigger. Awful.

My legs are so weak from this feels weird when walking outside

You appeared to say the symptoms started when you took the progesterone.

but towards the end of the tablets I got really bad brain fog, anxiety and night sweats back and then last day of tablet had a period and major migraines that had left me feeling like I am rocking when I walk and feel like I am swaying

It's very common to get these side effects - a migraine at the end of the progesterone phase when the levels fall (I often do and used progesterone for 12 years.) It's also common to get brain fog. The usual medical advice is give it 3 months and your body can get used to it.

Were you taking them as directed- last thing at night on an empty stomach?

Some women find if they increase the dose of estrogen a little for 14 days (half a pump or 1 pump) it lessens the effects of the progesterone.

I’m on the same combo as you but one pump and one pill.. but oh lord do I feel hideous. I’m having gut issues in the morning and terrible migraines but only when I’m in the progesterone phase, then when I came off I had crazy anxiety for 2/3 days and then I felt loads better, back on progesterone and I feel hideous again. I’m week 5. Have a nurse appointment tomorrow