Just started on HRT - weight disaster

That sounds tough 😣 Had similar issues when starting HRT - bloating, low mood, generally feeling worse. What fixed it was to cut right down to tiny amounts and build up slowly (over two months) to the prescribed dose. This "go slow and low" method really worked. How about trying to cut the patch in half or requesting lower dose ones from your GP. It can be pretty discouraging at first, but don't give up just yet!

I would give it time. While I didn't experience weight gain on HRT it did take a couple of months for other symptoms to settle down once I started.

You must be discouraged. Putting on 7lbs in just over a week is pretty unusual.

Was there a reason for starting on a 50mcg patch? You could have started on 25 or 37mcgs.

Also, if it's a combined patch containing Norethisterone, that could be a factor.
Sometimes it's best to start on estrogen only for a few weeks and then add in the progesterone. This is sometimes beyond the training of GPs but a meno specialist could make it more individual for you.

Ignoring the HRT, your exercise sounds a bit on the low side.

My dr advises aerobic exercise ( walking fast) 5 days a week(I do about 45 -60 mins usually 5 x a week.) And even the NHS suggests 30 mins 5 x a week for everyone.

Weights- you should be aiming for every other day, so 3-4 times a week.

Diet- well, it depends on how much you drink twice a week. Is that one unit or a lot more on each day?

I felt like this when my oestrogen went up too high too quickly.

My personal opinion (not a doctor) is that you need to balance all hormones testosterone included. I think if oestrogen is higher but testosterone isn’t addressed you can get low energy and weight gain.

I’m pushing for testosterone at the moment so I’ll report back if and when I get it.

I’ve put on one stone on HRT. On the Facebook groups this seems pretty standard. It’s annoying but otherwise I feel really good so I’m accepting it.

I think a lot depends on the type of HRT and whether you're taking progestins daily or on a cycle.

I've used hrt for nearly 15 years and put no weight on.

@Mikki77 50mcg is a medium dose. Just for reference, when I started I used the equivalent of a 25mcg patch and worked up over a few weeks/ months.

You've also not said if you are post menopause and using a combined patch.
It really is worth thinking about starting hrt on a cycle, giving a monthly withdrawal bleed, because using 2 hormones from the start makes it impossible to know which isn't suiting you.

Oh that’s interesting. I’m using an Evorel patch and changing it twice a week and progesterone the second half of the cycle.

It’s honestly talked about so regularly on the HRT groups that a stone just goes on. Mine went on within the first three months of taking it as has just sat there regardless of my diet.

I'm on oestrogen and it's given me swollen ankles and calves which is apparently water, could it be water retention?

Firstly, try not to panic. It's only your second week and your body will be adjusting to the sudden introduction of hormones after years of being depleted, so it's going to take time to rebalance. I suggest giving it another month and seeing how you are then. It may be that you'd do better on the gel where you can adjust the dosage yourself. I switch between two and three pumps depending on how I feel.

This freaks me out!
I'm very slim, always have been and would really struggle with any weight gain.
I'm currently getting on ok by taking various supplements and generally feel totally fine. I'm 52 and read so many threads on here that make me feel I should be on hrt!!

Ah! Thanks for explaining. It's just that there are so many types of HRT that symptoms often happen with some and not others.

The thing is, you will get people who put weight on posting on forums rather than women who don't put weight on, so it's a bit of a skewed response.

I respond to posts here, but I'd never start a post saying '15 years on hrt and not an ounce heavier' (type of comment!)

I've had to adjust what I eat (low carb) compared to what I ate in my 30s and 40s because I'm just not as active even though I do exercise daily.

Have you tried going low carb and seeing if that helps? (low carb is around 25-50gms carb a day.)

@Ohchristmastreeohchristmastree me too!
Losing three hormones and only replacing two doesn't make sense.

I was Keto in the past so I’m low carb now. Genuinely don’t eat much across the day. Nothing has changed apart from HRT. My doctor agreed that for some women weight gain goes along with it. I don’t really want to eat much less if I’m honest. I don’t drink alcohol. Eat a.very small amount of refined carbs and sugars. The only think I used to do that I don’t do now is intermittent fasting. That’s something I could certainly go back to. I just find it hard.

I would say at least 15 of my good friends and I are on now on HRT. We’ve all started within the last 2 years and have different regimes.

In honesty, not one of us has gained weight (although 2 were already fat). There is no evidence to support the link between weight gain and the menopause itself. I have testosterone as part of my regime, and I think it might be my favourite hormone. It has definitely improved my energy, stamina and muscle mass.

But! I would also add we are almost all very careful about what we eat. I found in my 40s, I could no longer eat whatever I liked and I certainly have to restrict carbs. I need far, far fewer calories now than I did when I was younger.

Intermittent fasting came in for some criticism a couple of weeks ago, in the press. (saying it can actually cause some of the things it was supposed to help prevent.

@Mikki77 @RudsyFarmer
I don't get on with it at all, but one thing that is an easier option is creating a 13-14 hour gap between your last meal and breakfast. I find that easy as I don't eat beyond 7pm (sometimes not after 6pm) and then my breakfast can be at 8 or even 9am.

@Mikki77 I'm not doing this every day but I try to eat carbs only once a day or twice at the most. So it might be some wholegrains for breakfast (bread or porridge) but I then avoid carbs for lunch and dinner. I'm a soup or cheese fan for lunch, followed by fruit and yoghurt. I do eat some 'carbs' for dinner like carrots, sweet potatoes etc, and wholegrain rice, but only a small portion.

I actually have testosterone but haven’t taken it. I’m too scared!!!

Intermittent fasting is not for everyone but I do it every day and find it easy. Today I ate 18 hours after my last meal. It’s just become a habit with me.

It is reported as having significant health benefits- improving insulin sensitivity, reducing abdominal fat, lowering blood pressure, increasing good gut bacteria and reducing inflammation (which is a powerful force in cancer development).

You've mentioned that you've been craving carbs more since "upping the exercise"
I mean this very kindly and gently, but I don't think the exercise that you've mentioned is very much at all. Could you walk for half an hour every day rather than twice a week?

I mean this very kindly and gently, but I don't think the exercise that you've mentioned is very much at all. Could you walk for half an hour every day rather than twice a week?

I was wondering how to phrase this as I was thinking the same. I'd be upping the cardio exercise.

Run rather than walk? Increase length and frequency of walks (a half hour walk is nothing much really).