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[Dotty]

Hi. I’m 53 and 3 years post meno. I started Hrt 7 weeks ago after suffering debilitating symptoms.  I was on a low dose for 3 weeks and this was upped to Elleste Duet Conti. I am just starting my 5th week on the higher dose.

My daytime flushes stopped after 3 weeks and my nighttime flushes are much better. But I’m not seeing many more improvements. In fact some things are getting worse. The insomnia and exhaustion and woozy head feeling are definitely worse than they were. I am still suffering from nausea and no appetite and cant eat much . I saw a specialist  a week ago and she said that none of these symptoms are being caused by the hrt. She said they are the menopausal symptoms that I would be having anyway. She said that I need to give the hrt 3 months to work and not give up on it.

I just feel that it’s not working. What do you think? Xx

[Dancinggirl]

Dotty - I'm afraid being on a continuous HRT may have this effect. Progesterone taken every day can bring side effects e.g. sedative/woozy. It could well settle in time - you did start from a very low base line.  Try to stick things out fro another few weeks and then ask to try something like Femoston 1/10 sequential HRT to see if that works better. You would get a monthly bleed but at least you wouldn't get so much of the sedation.  DG x

[Taz2]

I'd give it the three months and then, if feeling no better, asked to be put onto a sequi regime where you don't have progesterone everyday.

Also, as I think has been mentioned before, if you ask for gel or patches this will cause less nausea. If you are already feeling nauseous then I don't believe a pill HRT would be the best route to be honest as this can cause nausea in itself as well as making any existing gastric conditions worse. The patch or gel HRT bypasses the liver and goes straight into the blood stream.

Taz x

[Dotty]

Thanks DG and Taz2.

The symptoms haven't started since starting the hrt.  The exhaustion and wooziness were there before.  That's why I'm wondering if they are menopause symptoms that are occurring because the HRT hasn't kicked in yet.

[Taz2]

I was just referring to the nausea really. Whatever is causing it tablet HRT can cause nausea on it's own so, to me, it stands to reason that if you are suffering from nausea then it would be better to avoid pill HRT and use a patch or gel?

Patch and gel HRT tend to work faster on symptoms such as flushes and VA. I definitely couldn't cope with constant progesterone - it gave me the fuzzy head and poor sleep - which is why I went back onto sequi which made me feel much better for at least two weeks of the month.

Taz x 

[Roseneath]

I would get a second option from another GP. I had a terrible time on Ellestre Duet - thought I was going crazy, started 48 hours after I started taking it.  Second GP I spoke to said come off it straight away some people react badly to some types of HRT. There are a load of options  out there and I think some GPs just throw  one at you(maybe the cheapest ?). Have you had all your viatmin / thyroid etc bloods done too?

[Dotty]

Hi Roseneath yes I've had all blood tests done. All ok.

GP has said I've got to try this hrt for 3 months. I don't think I'm getting side effects from it .