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The experts always say ESTROGEN?????

Posted , 9 users are following.

gailannie
gailannie

Ladies, I am looking for help.  The experts always tell us that our menopausal bodies need estrogen.  The research always says that it helps with symptoms, and in many cases is helpful for long term physical problems.  Yet my experience taking estrogen has been anything but pleasant.  

Is there anyone else out there, who has had odd, off the wall reactions to taking estrogen?  Horrid fatigue, odd weight gain, weird hair or skin reactions?  Or am I the only one.  I would love to hear your stories.  I guess I'm hoping I'm not alone in all this.   

0 likes, 45 replies

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  • trish22961
    trish22961 gailannie

    Posted

    hello i have other medical issues so i cannot say in all honesty if it is all to do with hormones i hope some lady on here can help you
  • elaine16907
    elaine16907 gailannie

    Posted

    I'm not sure I can help Gailannie. Sorry your going through this. What type of estrogen are you on by the way?

  • supemack39
    supemack39 gailannie

    Posted

    Hi Gailannie,

    Sorry to hear you have been having a problem. You have always been the person to read, when I was really suffering, and I know you have researched and have a very good knowledge of all things menopause. Your posts helped me through some horrendous times when I could not see light at the end of my tunnel! You don't say what issues you have with estrogen or whether you take progesterone too?

  • supemack39
    supemack39 gailannie

    Posted

    Hi Gailannie,

    The symptoms you mention are fairly common in this wonderful journey. The weight gain appears to be pretty much a given, the hair issues again are common, as are the skin issues.....I,m assuming you mean the itching and crawling "things" under the skin? Hair shedding and condition seem to be part and parcel, although I found that after I started taking Femoston my hair stopped falling out. Femoston apparently has a kinder progesterone and when the hormones settle down, most of the other problems seem to go.

    The fatigue also goes, as when sleep becomes possible and regular again, you will regain your energy levels.

    I don't know what you mean by the off the wall feeling, unless it's when you feel as though you are outside, looking in to yourself and wondering why other people can appear to function normally, and whatever you are doing feels like a huge effort. Your hormones sound as though they are out of whack. What do you take?

    Best wishes,

    Susan

  • Mars777
    Mars777 gailannie

    Posted

    Hi gailannie ..  Yes weight gain only .. I find oestrogen great! do you take progesterone too ? While I am on HRT I feel great but it does put on weight .. 
    • gailannie
      gailannie Mars777

      Posted

      Ladies, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESPONSES.  I really appreciate it. 

      Supemack, it sounds like you are doing well with the combination pill?   (Femoston)  And yes, I'm struggling with the HRT at this moment.  I feel like hell.  

      Mars are you also taking progesterone?  Do you take in on a continuous basis?  It sounds like you are doing well with estrogen.  How are you taking it?  

    • Mars777
      Mars777 gailannie

      Posted

      Hi gailannie, I am taking a tablet , yes progesterone too. I am postmenopausal how about you? I had to stop them a few weeks bk as I was having a procedure ... Hellish when not on them! Back taking them now but not kicked in fully Hot sweats anxiety are the worst with me , I have had many symptoms but these two are deff the worst ! I take them on a continuous basis 

      Are you meno or post ?

    • gailannie
      gailannie Mars777

      Posted

      Oh yes, Mars.  I had my final period in Dec. 2009 at 53.  Thought I was doing really well until the vaginal atrophy and dryness set in a couple years later.  Ok that's when I'd had enough of this junk.  

      Don't mean to be noisy, but I'm assuming you're doing oral Estrace and oral Prometrium?  How much of each?  I'm just looking to see what other menopausal women feel good on.  

      There was a time (very brief) when one doc had me on a .75 patch with 5 mg vaginal progesterone twice daily, and I probably looked and felt my best.  However she had me doing this on a cyclical basis, and I hated the estrogen only part of the cycle.  I felt like blowing my brains out.  (She wouldn't budge from doing more days of progesterone.)  It's been a real roller coaster since then trying to find the right balance.  

    • Mars777
      Mars777 gailannie

      Posted

      Hi, yes I take 2mg of oestrogen & 5mg progesterone, I took a different HRT the first 4 years then the terrible sweats came back so much worse! So was then put on I mg / 2.5mg, After about 18 months I had the dose put up to 2mg/5mg as the sweats & anxiety came back plus no appetite  Felt awful.

    • gailannie
      gailannie Mars777

      Posted

      Mars, is your estrogen oral Estrace? And how are you taking 5 mg progesterone.  It must be compounded, but that's a very small dose.  Do you take it orally?  Or vaginally?  Or in a skin cream form?  

    • Mars777
      Mars777 gailannie

      Posted

      I take it orally & yes 2mg oestrogen / 5mg progesterone one tab daily .. my GP said its the highest dose?

    • gailannie
      gailannie Mars777

      Posted

      Mars, yes 2 mg of oral Estrace is the highest does.  But boy I'm confused on your progesterone.  Standard RX for oral progesterone is 100mg.  Are you getting your progesterone from a compounder?  5 mg is very low.  

      The important thing is you feel good!   But sure love to understand type and dose of progesterone you are taking.  (For many women progesterone is the difficult hormone) 

    • Mars777
      Mars777 gailannie

      Posted

      The progesterone is Medroxyprogesterone Acetate 5mg!
    • gailannie
      gailannie Mars777

      Posted

      Ahhhhh, now that makes sense.  It's a progestin, not natural progesterone.  I kept wondering why you were on such a small amount.  (LOL)     

      Mars, do you take it with the estrace in the morning, or estrogen in the  morning, and the progestin at night?  

    • gailannie
      gailannie Mars777

      Posted

      Oh and I should have thought to ask......I know you said you are post menopausal.  How long, and how old are you now?  How long have you been on this combination?  

      I know you said you had to quit for awhile, I hope it kicks back in soon and you feel better.  

    • Mars777
      Mars777 gailannie

      Posted

      Thanks i will let you know when they do ! I am 64 been taking this combination for around 18 months at 2/5mg . Was on 1/2.5 mg for 18 months b4 that post menopausal for around 7years .
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