Is my HRT not working?

Posted , 5 users are following.

I've been on evorel conti HRT patches for 7 weeks now, but have had an awful day today, been very weepy and "down" all day. I thought by now that I'd be feeling a bit more like "me", but some days I seem to be worrying about anything and everything. My hot flushes disappeared within 7 - 10 days of starting patches, and most days I am OK, but why do I have these dips?. Am beginning to wonder if my HRT patches are either too strong, or not strong enough. Or, am I just depressed and would be better on antidepressants? Oh I'm so confused, upset, worried, fed up. I had knee surgery in March of this year which has taken a while to recover from, my unoperated knee is now twanging (and the thought of having surgery on this makes my stomach flip), I have fribromyalgia, I'm 56 and I've just retired from work because I just couldn't face going full time, and reduced hours was not an option open to me like and on a more upsetting note my wonderful cat was killed a month ago. I'll be so glad wen this year is over and hopefully I can start afresh in January.

Thanks for letting me rant! 

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Pam,

    Im feeling similar but today I have a thumping migraine. Ive taken Ibuprofen ,its taken the edge off enough to reply to you.

    Ive read differing pro & cons re HRT not knowing alot about the treatment one would assume after 7 weeks you may feel at least a little like your old self.

    In regards to your surgery that would be enough to get anyone down.

    Ive been seeing a counsellor , It has helped alot. Not with my pm depressed mood or pains.Ive had alot of stress & loss over the past year & a bit & having PM has just taken everything to a new level.

    I did initially see my GP who was keen to throw ADs at me. Talking to a counsellor has helped me to put different stress's & probs into perspective & Ive managed to separate my feelings of loss ect from my PM misery.

    I feel more confident in what I help I need to ask for from my GP. At this point I need help with levelling oestrogen/progesterone levels. Thank you for sharing your experience with HRT. 

    I havent been using anything HRT or ADs because I have had the odd good day but I too have dropped today . I woke crying then came the migraine. 

    Take care.xx

    • Posted

      I forgot to say I'm also seeing a counsellor.......I seem to have too much going on to remember it all lol! Who'd be a woman??!!

      I used to be such a happy go lucky woman......now my get up and go has got up and gone! 

  • Posted

    So sorry about your troubles and my sympathy for losing your cat, I'm a cat lover so I understand xx
  • Posted

    hi Pam I was on Evoril Conte for 13 years and found they helped a lot.I started on a low dose and then reduced to half a patch as I had a small fibroid and thoug as I was only a small person half patch would be enough?

    I have come off now as thought. I should as only recommended for 10 years ?Though my doctor said I could go back on them if I needed too.Its been 5 months without patches and I am coping.Do get hot flushes but they are becoming less frequent.My mood is a bit low but that is normal for me at this time of year. From November till the days get brighter .....I think I getS.A.D!Realised this when I took a sunny holiday and immediately felt better !

    I do think the patches help with feelings/mood but so does exercise .Think perhaps your anxiety more to do with circumstances than hormones ?

  • Posted

    I have fibromyalgia so I know the hell you must be in having to contend with two conditions, both debilitating in nature.  I wont go into a lengthy rant,just to say that I was living in hell on a daily basis,could not manage all the symtoms that the menopause caused me to experience. You need to read up on vitamin B complex and vitamin A .  Vitamin B regulates hormone levels which we lose during menopause and vitamin A helps alleviate hot flushes which i had a severe bouts of sometimes they could last up to 24 hours Since taking both these vitamins my life is worth living the monster i felt inside me that raving temperamental,psychotic .alien being has gone I feel me again Hot flushes gone  headaches,mood swings etc gone  just to say dont buy a cheap stores own vitamin B they dont have the same ingredients as Holland and Barret tablets and belive me it makes a difference when i ran out of my vitamin b i tried a store brand and hey presto my symptoms came back,so threw them away and bought holland and barret make and every symptom disappeared again after a week or so. vitamin A is not as important, you can buy a cheap version of those, It does take about 4-8 weeks but believe me. you will notice a big difference It may not work for you but anything is worth a try. the tablets last for 3 months so the cost is not that much. I you do decide to try these vitamins let me know if it has helped also i get vitamin A in multivitamin form because some of the other ingredients help with menopause  like niacin and magnesium, Hope this has been informative     good luck

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.