Estrogel and difficulty swallowing

[hardworker6]

I didn't know how to write the title 😅

I started on Estrogel a few weeks ago, I'm on two pumps. Recently I've started to struggle a bit with swallowing, it feels like something is clicking in my throat and my mouth is quite dry. These evening my voice is a tiny bit hoarse.

The only thing I can think it could be is the HRT 🤔 I don't have a cold and the only other meds I take are sertraline and that hasn't changed recently.

Any ideas what could be causing it? It started before the weather got colder.

I'm 45, in case that makes any difference.

Very unlikely to be the oestrogel - it’s generally the drop in oestrogen that leads to dryness (eyes, throat, vaginal etc). In fact oestrogen is one of the reccomended treatments (alongside other things) for the autoimmune issue Sjogrens, of which one of the main symptoms is dryness (throat, mouth, eyes etc etc). A few weeks in isn’t long enough to see any benefits yet - they say you should give it around 3 months at least. I think the dryness etc is more of a sign of your own oestrogen declining.

Does this fit? https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/feeling-of-something-in-your-throat-globus

It's a known symptom of perimenopause.

I think it sounds like acid reflux. I get similar symptoms sometimes if I’ve been doing exercise after eating or drinking. Mostly I can’t feel the acid in my throat at the time but then I get symptoms of throat irritation the next day or two.

Yes that makes sense although like I say, it started after I started taking the HRT, it would be a strange coincidence

Not that strange. People often make correlation associations with new medication. Correlation/coincidence is very likely and happens all the time.

It’s not a know side effect and would be weird that millions of women have used it and none of them have reported it as a yellow card.

It's the swallowing and feeling something clicking that's the weirdest thing, not sure if that could be reflux 🤔

It doesn't really feel like something is stuck there all the time, I just notice it when I swallow. It's really hard to describe

Hi!!!! I start with Femoston 1/5. It's the same for me since the 2nd pill. Now I leave it. It seems to be ERGE. My doctor told me I can't take THS

Could be coincidental, could be meno related or a weird side effect.

See your gp anyway as any voice changes and changes in swallowing need a review to rule out other issues.

Oh interesting!!

I've got an appointment for next week 😊

@hardworker6 There is some evidence that estrogen/progesterone can initiate some reflux , by a relaxation of the stomach sphincter, causing regurgitation. You might need an endoscopy to spot that.

Are you also using progesterone?

However, it shouldn't make swallowing necessarily harder. It can cause hoarseness if your stomach acid is coming back up into your throat. Issues with swallowing can be also due to stress/ anxiety and although you may not feel anxious, it can be a symptom.

I have the mirena on for progesterone.

Hi,
I’ve had a lot of problems with local vaginal treatments, as I’ve rejected them all, including Senshio (ospemifene). I was doing very well on Vagifem, but after eight months I started experiencing urethral discomfort and pain during intercourse again. I was against HRT solely because of local discomfort, but my gynaecologist eventually prescribed HRT for me, and now this has happened with Femoston.
I’ll wait a few months and I think I’ll try the oestrone cream again, as it only caused me itching, and I reckon it might have been down to trying so many local treatments in such a short space of time.
I think I’ll try Blissel and Colpotrofin again despite itching and burning.