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Feeling worse on hrt

Posted , 9 users are following.

vix55
vix55

Hi ladies,

im interested to know if anyone else has felt worse when starting HRT? I've been on Elleste duo 2mg for two weeks and although my anxiety is a little better, I now feel more depressed, still not sleeping, no appetite, no energy or desire to do anything, the list goes on. Just wondered if anyone else has experience of this and if things get better?

1 like, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • metamorphed
    metamorphed vix55

    Posted

    hi vix

    I tried hrt to try and get rid of the hotness and only made it two days before removing the patch. Day 1 I felt odd and down in myself but kept it in place, then got to the following evening and really felt that it was affecting my mood and bringing me down.  Took the patch off and the following day was much brighter in myself.   This was the oestrogen part of the hrt which I wasnt expecting to affect me as I had been told that progesterone part might cause problems!  I am still having periods although irregular, are you similar?.  I just didnt feel comfortable with the low feelings.  Maybe the oestrogen was too much right now?

    • deborah_37796
      deborah_37796 metamorphed

      Posted

      Hi, morning I'm going to hopeful start taking HRT this week and thought it would be the answer to everything I'm suffering !! Did you go back on the patches or ditch them altogether. Been peri for about 5 years
    • vix55
      vix55 metamorphed

      Posted

      I'm two years post meno and had been doing ok until symptoms started to creep back in and now things seem to be worse than ever. Doc advised keeping with hrt for 1 month to give it a fair try but not sure the benefits are outweighing the negatives at the moment!!
    • metamorphed
      metamorphed deborah_37796

      Posted

      hi deborah,  no I didnt try again.  My worst symptoms happen around the time that my period is, or would have been.  So on the other two weeks (the two weeks that you take oestrogen only on hrt)  I have felt ok, not down in myself, quite a lot of energy returned etc.  It is the other two weeks I was having problems with, with hot and cold, achy body and headaches.  I really don't want to feel bad on the other two weeks and I did feel bad on the oestrogen only patch.  I just couldnt stick it out.  Was afraid that when I switched to the oestrogen/progesterone on the other two weeks that I would feel even more rubbish.  are you still having a cycle?  It may be right for you now, but for me, I just couldn't bear the doom feelings which I didnt have.  It's a mine field.  I may try it again when I miss periods for a couple of months when oestrogen is really at a low level.  
    • metamorphed
      metamorphed vix55

      Posted

      it's hard to know what to do.  maybe a lower dose, I am no expert as you can see, but maybe, if its tablets, take half a tablet?  it might be too high?  maybe say it to your doctor, 2mg might be too high.  you really dont want to feel worse on it.
  • ljp64
    ljp64 vix55

    Posted

    Hi,

    I am 18 months post meno, and started HRT in Deceber, it was all a bit unexpected really as I had been using vaginal oestrogen for bladder issues, since May last year, then a post meno bleed meant I had to go to gynae and have hysteroscopy to check uterus lining....it was during that visit that the gynae suggested inserting the mirena coil to protect uterus froom effects of oetrogen, and she sufggested i use systeminc oetrogen too either patch or gel...i went with the gel.

    it was aroller coaster of emotions and varying symptoms for a while, and i questioned severaly times whether I was doing the right thing.....but I told myself to give it three months, after six weeks, things started to really improve, and now I am feeling the best Ive felt in years.

    Its not an fix all, and who inows if you might have just felt crap that day anyway, with or withouth HRT, give it time, if you are genuinly feeling rubbish every day after a couple of weeks or so, then the dosage might need adjusting. But like any medication, its acase fo finding what works and what dose, and perseverance.

    Hope that helps x

    • vix55
      vix55 ljp64

      Posted

      Thanks for that, it really helps to know what others have been through and learn from their experience. I think I'll give it a bit longer and see how it goes before I speak to the doctor again x
  • gailannie
    gailannie vix55

    Posted

    Hi Vix,

    I am ppst meno and I started HRT for vaginal atrophy and dryness. I wound up seeing an endocrinolgist who specializes in HRT.  I was also put on a patch and progesterone 2 weeks each month.  I HATE the patch and pretty much feel horrible on it.  The only time I feel remotely normal is when I add the progesterone.  I've been on every dose of patch that they make, and don't know if I can do this any more.  I've even seen very bad reactions with my skin on estrogen only.  It seems that the minute I put on a new patch, the bat wings grow on my arms.  I can literally watch them.  But the one thing that bothers me the most, is I get this intense feeling that fat cells are growing everywhere.  (Sounds crazy I know, but that's exactly how it feels.)  

    As I said, I've been patient, done everything this endo gal tells me to do, and I hate the estrogen patch!   Hope it works better for you.

     

    • ljp64
      ljp64 gailannie

      Posted

      Hi gailannie, have you thought to try the oestrogel that you rub in to the skin? easier to adjust the doseage too.
    • vix55
      vix55 gailannie

      Posted

      Thanks Gail, it's good to hear what experience others have had it helps to give the brain some thing to focus on x
  • Zigangie
    Zigangie vix55

    Posted

    Hi vix,

    I felt great the first few weeks on it.

    Then weeks 6 to 8 I almost gave up because I had some symptoms return with a vengeance, because it had been so good to begin with I stuck with it and by week 10 most things had gone.

    I'm left with sleep problems but they are not as bad as they were prior to starting it also a painful shoulder (some aches and pains have gone).

    • vix55
      vix55 Zigangie

      Posted

      Hi Zingangie,

      Thanks for your reply, I'm still struggling but only two and a half weeks in so will keep with it for a bit longer and see how things go. I do get the odd good day so maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel !!

    • Zigangie
      Zigangie vix55

      Posted

      Don't forget they put you on the lowest dose possible so it can take a while.

      I am going to ask to try a higher dose if they are happy to prescribe it because I slept so well the first week, I slept just like I did before it all began, also such an improvement in memory it was like I had dementia before I started it and I only have to miss one dose and I'm groping for words the following day.

    • ljp64
      ljp64 Zigangie

      Posted

      I can vouch for it taking time! I felt fab the first week too, then slumped. Good thing with the oestrogel is that you can alter dosage easily. But I have still found 11/2pumps seems to keep my symptoms under control, which is low dose, I also have an estring for bladder issues.

      it has definitely been a progressive improvement fir me, five months nearly now, and feeling good most of the time, memory SO much better, no brain fog anymore, sleeping better,mind anxiety very much reduced too, so all good 😊

    • vix55
      vix55 ljp64

      Posted

      I don't feel I've had any improvement with anything, still not sleeping or eating, anxiety some days worse than others, some days I can barely function. But, like you say, it does take time so I have to decide whether to stick with it although I do feel like giving up! Vix x
    • ljp64
      ljp64 vix55

      Posted

      you might be better on a different dose, or different type of HRT. If you can stick with it for another couple of weeks at least, so you e given it a good trial, and if still no better, discuss options with GP.

      there are lots of different types and delivery systems x

    • vix55
      vix55 ljp64

      Posted

      I'm on 2mg of elleste duo conti, maybe it's too much or not enough? This is my first try with hrt as two years post meno thought I was doing ok until the symptoms started to creep back a couple of months ago, I had to try something as it is affecting my life too much. Off work, don't socialise much, have had to cancel a holiday, this is soooo unlike me, very upsetting. Vix x
    • Zigangie
      Zigangie vix55

      Posted

      My doctor did tell me if you are going to have side effects they usually show up within a few weeks. But improvements can take up to three months.

      In my case it was great for the first week, some things got worse at around 6 to 8 weeks but by the tenth week I was a different person.

      So I'd say give it the 3 months and if nothing has changed ask to try a different one.

    • vix55
      vix55 Zigangie

      Posted

      Yes, maybe you're right I'm probably being very impatient. My doctor didn't really tell me much just take these and come back in three months!! I will try to stick with it a bit longer x
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