Am I on the wrong HRT?

Hi Joanne/Jackie, 

I've swapped regimes a few times due to side effects of progesterone but am using Evorel oestrogen patches continually and adding in utrogestran for the last 14 days of the month... 

Joanne, do you use progesterone on a 3 monthly basis instead of monthly? 

Jackie, maybe try the tabs and see how you feel, if they work then it's all good or ask your GP regarding comparable strengths? 

It's all such a minefield of side I've found. 😖

AJ. xx

Hi AJ it is a minefield here my history HRT 

age 37 to 48.(premature meno )  Prempac C 0.625 low dose as I prob had some of my own hormones aand ok on this , I had a monthly bleed. This is combined 

age 48 to 53 Ellesst duo 1mg also combined low moods didn’t realise until I change to tibolene aged 53 great on this cogenitive brain but spotting and not high enough dose and research show at my age and been on hrt for a long time due to an autoimmune problem I had to go on continous hrt due to spotting. Had scan biopsy bloods all ok apart from obvious low oestrogen due to cause spotting .so 

aug 2016 50 patch daily utrigestan testogel ...low mood 

3 months later evoril combined low mood 

femeseven patch low mood 

angeliq terrible mood so we established progesterone intolerant after  5 differe,t types of. Progesterone so did a trial oestrogen patch and testogel , I feel fantastic but you have to have progesterone if you have a uterus so my consultant arranged a scan all fine womb lining 4.7 nothing sinister so we both agreed trial the progesterone crinone which I have never tried every 12_14 weeks I use a applicator full of the progesterone feel for 15 days which I am going to do 17th au as I have holiday booked .he said little side affects and after 9 months he will scan the uterus to see if been a build up or not but he thinks be ok . Sorry so long but only way I can explain to you lovely ladies . I go on here myself to research but now I hope I can help others as they help me . Remember again I will say we all individuals and what works for one doesn’t for another hope this makes sense to you both xx

Hi again.. 

ok so you and I sound a little similar in a way as I started the menopause early around 3-4 years ago, I'm now just 46. 

I started on Evorel Sequi last November but got terrible side effects, low mood, terrible breast pain etc... due to the progesterone side of it. 

After trying with Evorel Sequi for six months I swapped to Femseven but felt no better and patches just fell off every time I went in the shower 😖! After another 3 months of trying I switched around 6 weeks ago to Evorel oestrogen only patches and adding in the utrogestran at day 14... last month it made me quite drowsy but no other side effects. I've held off my next cycle for a week or two as I have a lot of driving to do soon and don't want to be  drowsy on the utrogestran.. so I've just started the evorel oestrogen patches again and I'll see what this month brings!! 😬

Fingers crossed but I like the idea of only using progesterone every 3 months or so like you do! 

AJ. xx

Yes hi again 

yes on utrigestan I was flat fatigued and the femseven patch did fall off all the time 🤣😂??😂

i think my way would Suit you 75 oestridot testogel daily for skin muscle tone libido if needed and the gel every 12_14 weeks speak to your Gp to arrange a scan to check lining womb as that what builds up but not on everyone best of luck don’t give up getting the balance is hard but I am evidence get there in th end and once that happens you feel great . X

Yes hi again 

yes on utrigestan I was flat fatigued and the femseven patch did fall off all the time 🤣😂??😂

i think my way would Suit you 75 oestridot testogel daily for skin muscle tone libido if needed and the gel every 12_14 weeks speak to your Gp to arrange a scan to check lining womb as that what builds up but not on everyone best of luck don’t give up getting the balance is hard but I am evidence get there in th end and once that happens you feel great . X

Is this regime working for you ? I’m going to see a new hormone dr Thursday and want to be well informed as at the end of my tether with all this nonsense 😩

What’s the difference between continuous and combined ? I’m so confused with all of this and so so desperate ! 

What’s the difference between continuous and combined ? I’m so confused with all of this and so so desperate ! 

What’s the difference between continuous and combined ? I’m so confused with all of this and so so desperate ! 

What’s the difference between continuous and combined ? I’m so confused with all of this and so so desperate ! 

Hi Joanne 

I’m soooo happy you feel great ! I can’t wait to feel happy again life is too short for this . I cannot believe you have been through so much and you never gave up ! That sure is a testament to your strength and willpower and after all that you deserve to feel the best your ever felt. I’m screenshotting your info and will take to my new  dr . Thursday 

I’m reading a lot on here and the main theme that keeps popping up is ‘feeling down on the combined patch’  and women ‘feeling better on the estrogen only patch’  and adding progesterone only certain times . 

Boy is this one big maze to go through and we have to do it all ourselves ... how we all haven’t GIVEN UP ! I don’t know ... it’s stressful and completely exhausting . 

My replies aren’t posting ? Oh well try again .

What I’m noticing is that most women feel better with the estrogen patch only and then adding the progesterone ever month or 3 months ? 

I am seeing a new hormone dr Thursday .. and will ask her about this .

I can’t believe the stories on here ... what everybody has been through to just feel normal .... it’s insane that we all haven’t given up . That’s what I feel like doing right now 😖

Well... to be honest I've only had one months trial of Evorel and utrogestran but it seemed better than previous patch regimes... 

I'll keep you posted how I get on this month with it all!! 

AJ. xx

Lori are you on a combined patch or a sequential one? 

Combined is oestrogen & progesterone in one patch all the time throughout the month...

sequential is oestrogen only patch for two weeks and then  combined oestrogen & progesterone for two weeks then when you go back to the oestrogen only patch after using the two weeks combined you have a bleed. The stoppage of progesterone instigates the bleed preventing thickening of the womb lining. 

Did that all make sense?!

AJ. xx

So, sorry - just to be sure... 

you use estrodot 75 patch all the time, then Testogel  added on every 12 -14 wks? How long do you use the testogel for each 12-14 weeks? 

I may have got totally mixed up here, sorry!! 

I was REALLY tired on Utrogestran too last month so I would defo like to check into your method... IF my surgery let me...  

Thanks so much. 

AJ. xx

Sorry Joanne just scrolled up to check - you use testogel for 15days every 12-14wks? 

AJ. xx

Hi ajacyn

Ok I get it now ... sounds like a lot of work but to feel good ... I’ll do anything ! 

I’m on Climara Pro estrogen and progesterone started on a full patch but now down to half a patch as I went to a very DARK place and made my sleep weird. 

I’m going g to screenshot your reply and ask my new hormone dr tomorrow about that schedule . 

I’m actually having a good day today .... it’s been a while . But as we know those days are fleeting . I’m enjoying whilst it lasts! Hope that combo is working for you ... I’ve learned so much from all the ladies on here and splitting up the dosage seems to have the best results over the combined patch .

Hey Lori, 

Well I really hope you can feel better soon too, glad you've  had a good day today, as you say they are few and far between these days unfortunately! 

Let me know how you get on tomorrow? Good luck. 

AJ. xx

Testogel daily progesterone every 12-14 weeks x

Thank you. xx