HRT Patch - Severe Period Cramps

[DaddysGirl36]

Hello. Wondering if anyone can tell me if this is normal. The medication leaflet isn't helpful and can't find much online that isn't generic.

Started Everol HRT patches a month ago
No issues
Starting bleeding on Wednesday, very light
Woke up overnight last night with horrific period pain.
Not a usual cycle symptom of mine
Pain is the worst I've ever experienced. Felt like pain I had during a miscarriage (this is not the case here)
Busocpan & Codeine did not shift it
I could barely stand, felt sick & dizzy
Naproxen improved it this morning, rested all day but just took my second tablet at 6pm & the cramp waves have started coming again now, although milder
Terrified I have another night in agony as there is only so many painkillers I can take
Bleed is still light
Patch needed changing today so did that as normal

Anyone suffered this? Unsure if I need to seek medical help if it continues to be debilitating over the weekend or if this is just what really bad period cramps are like during menopause / whilst taking HRT.

P.S. Kudos to any woman who this is 'normal' for as you do hear about debilitating periods but bloody hell fire!

I'd get it checked. Hormones can certainly mess up your usual cramping pattern or level, but the period may be a coincidence rather than a cause.

I used to have pretty bad period pains, so failed to notice appendicitis because I put it down to normal cramping until my mum pointed out the cramps didn't usually turn me so pale I looked green.

I changed from patches to tablets for this reason. Constant break through painful bleeding, I have Naprexen for when my back plays up, this was the only thing that helped with the pain, my periods were never as painful apart from when I had endometriosis many, many years ago.

I take estrogen and progesterone separately orally, it works better for me like this. My hairdresser was telling me recently that she was having all sorts of tests as she was having the exact same issues. I suggested that she tells her Drs this could be the reason. She’s no longer on the patches and now taking it orally, she’s so much happier 🤷‍♀️

I started on Lenzetto spray - super low dose about 3 weeks ago, had a period about ten days in and cramps were much worse than usual, even painful at the end.

I’ve also got a prickly feeling in my hair which I recognise from when my hair shed post pregnancy so I’m a bit worried that I’m about to lose hair too. AND I have a really stiff neck!

I’ll be monitoring and decide whether to continue or not as I barely had any symptoms before starting anyway.

Thanks ladies. It has been more manageable since then but I'm taking Nurofen & Buscopan & resting where possible. If it happens again at that level, I will raise it with GP.

I did think of appendicitis but because it has eased, I've not thought it to be the cause