Did the heatwave affect your HRT?

[FedUpandFiftyNine]

Am 60 and am on Everol Conti. I feel like the heatwave affected my hormones quite badly - perhaps reduced my absorption from my patches, as I seem to have had a return of anxiety/ heart palpitation feelings.

I did have one patch that basically came unstuck and I had to replace early.

Anyone else having any problems?

That is strange as I have been feeling really anxious this week too for the first time in months. I only switched to Everol conti three months ago from a higher dose oestrogen only patch and thought maybe it just wasn’t strong enough for me. I would be delighted if I thought it was just the heat and I would return to normal soon.

I find heat waves always make me more anxious and apparently its quite common due to the body responding to unusual temperatures as a threat in a sense

Mine did not stick on well and one came off during the night.

Mine did not stick on well and one came off during the night.

Mine did not stick on well and one came off during the night.

My patch came off so I think it was likely not adhering and delivering estrogen so I felt very off during it all.

Patches can come off with sweat.

Don’t know if they affect absorption rate though.

i have found these tablets helped with my anxiety - might just be placebo but not sure I care. https://healthandher.com/products/health-her-perimenopause-mind-supplement

I don’t think I was absorbing my gel properly as I had a tiny bit of spotting yesterday which is unusual for me. I also completely forgot to apply gel one day which didn’t help. Seem to be okay now though.

I think I was affected, OP. Evorel too. I also use gel as a top up and I wasn't sure that was helping much either.

I read a BBC article that said heat can affect many medications as they’re meant to be stored at under 25 degrees C. Above that it can make them less effective.

I know you have to be careful about patches when you sauna as extreme heat and cause the patch to release the hormone faster than normal so very hot weather may do the same (and then could the patch 'run out' early?)

My hot flushes went through the roof, and yes obviously it was very hot but then I would literally be on fire when one came on. I normally have 3 or 4 a day, but had 15 a day in the heatwave. Im on the contraceptive pill for HRT.

Oh that's interesting! Not just me then.

As an aside, @Apileofballyhoo - are you topping up an Everol Conti patch with gel, or just a straight Everol one (and using a different progesterone?)
I'm worried about where I go next if I need more estrogen than Everol Conti provides (I can't tolerate utrogestan)

Can I ask if you are using hrt as well as taking these? I found the hrt really effective at addressing my anxiety (apart from the past few days) but it's good to have another option if I need it.

I'm 12 years post menopause but the flushing during this heatwave and the panicky feeling have been grim

ooh this is interesting. I am on HRT (gel) and am feeling very anxious again. I found the heat very hard to deal with and am feeling quite tearful and having anxiety at a more extreme level than usual.

Used to love the heat but really struggled. Felt like my body could not regulate the heat and my hole body was on fire. The pains in the joints were really bad too.

Anxiety is really bad too

No, it didn't affect me/my hrt (apart from feeling very, very, warm like you do when its 37 degrees). Patches still stuck on etc.

I did however gather up all medication and store it in the coolest part of the house (which was still 29 degrees).

Oh wow, I also had painful shoulders and finger joints - I never associated that as a possible hormone thing (and it's usually cold, not hot, weather that affects joints) but now it's a bit cooler, it's disappeared again!

@FedUpandFiftyNine Theories say the warmth is better for joints but I guess it is all down to inflamation in the body and dehydration. Dreading the next heat wave! Palpatations last night were really bad and the night sweats.