Hi
I am sorry to post again. (The menopause is making me as self obsessed as a teenager I'm afraid). But the advice here is so good.
Three weeks ago, I increase my dose of Elleste Duet to 2 mg because I had started feeling sick again, my energy levels had dipped a bit and I had had the odd warm flush again.
On 2 mg I felt better immediately. The sickness went away and my energy levels went back to where they were years ago. In lots of ways I felt even more 'normal me' than I had on 1 mg.
But I also noticed two other symptoms which I have read are typical of too much estrogen - I am finding it hard to get to sleep and my appetite is enormous.
I have realised that I have always had these two 'symptoms' for most of my life. I got used to lying awake for ages long after everyone had dropped off to sleep. And I put my enormous appetite down to the fact that I have always done loads of endurance sports. I have always been teased though for being able to out-eat the men I run and cycle with.
I had noticed that my sleep improved when my hormone levels had started to fall a couple of years ago. I had also noticed that my appetite had gone down. I just didn't link these two things to estrogen levels. And the negatives of the menopause significantly outweighed any improvements by last year!
So please, can anyone tell me, since I have clearly always had high estrogen levels, is this right for me? Or should I try to find a mid point by switching to gels instead of pills (I was thinking about doing this later anyway)? Or am I going to need to accept a trade off?
The not sleeping much didn't bother me for the first three weeks because I've got so much energy. It hit me yesterday after a series of latish nights - and this was always the way for me. I've just slept for about 7 hours but I could have done with another hour or two!
I would really appreciate any thoughts.
Thank you in advance.