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[Dotty]

Hi I'm 53 and 3 years post meno. Been suffering dreadfully now for 4 months . I'm so exhausted that I can't do anything. Haven't been out of the house for weeks because I feel so ill.

Am on Elleste Duet Conti. Been taking it for 8 weeks and there's not much change in my symptoms. Took a low dose for 3 weeks before this. Night sweats had calmed down but have now come back. Insomnia is terrible. I've been told to give the hrt 3 months but surely I should have seen some improvement by now?!

Can anyone help?

[peri]

Hi Dotty I didn't like elleste at all, it just didn't work for me.  You are right though received wisdom is to give it 3 months, I didn't though I switched after a few weeks and never looked back x

[Butterfly22]

I'd go back to the doctors and say you cant continue them as your getting worse, I did not get on with them either but was migraines and acne.
You no your own body, maybe look at other options so when you go you can tell them what you want to try. Xx

[Dotty]

Hi I've been back to docs and all she offered was anti depressants if the hrt wasn't working x

[Roseneath]

Same here Dotty. I had Ellestre Duet, horrid side effects and no benefit, then two GPs have both said AD (sertraline) which at the moment I am resisting taking as I'm not up to the side effects 50% seem to have with it. Feels like you reach a dead end quickly with some GPs, mine just open their big books and slap down the prescription. There seems to be no idea what the underlying cause of the hormone upheaval is and whether we need HRT & which one or ADs or just understanding and advice.

[Dotty]

Hi Roseneath were you taking Elleste Duet Conti conti or The Elleste duet Sequi?

What are you taking now?

[Mary G]

Dotty, I think it is safe to say that this HRT regime is not working for you.  I had the same problem when I used oral HRT/patches because I was not getting enough oestrogen.   It sounds like this is your problem and you need to switch to a different regine.   Why not try Oestrogel?   It's very easy to use (you rub it on your skin) and it's also very dose flexible.

[Dotty]

Hi Mary G I saw a menopause specialist and she said I needed to give the Elleste Duet Conti 12 weeks to work. She said she won't change it before that x

[Mary G]

You've been on it for 8 weeks without any improvement?   I would have thought you would be getting some relief by now if this regime is going to fly.   Did the specialist have any other HRT suggestions?

[Dotty]

Hi Mary G
I have had some improvements. Hot flushes during day and heart palpitations went quite quickly but I am still having night sweats, insomnia and am totally exhausted and have no appetite.

Specialist said that Elleste Duet Conti is a good hrt but it could take 3 months to see improvements. She said that after 3 months there are alternatives of gels or patches but it could make things worse if the medication was changed before 12 weeks.

[Hurdity]

Hi Dotty

I already answered on your other thread when you asked about patches or pills. Really I would say that night sweats should have disappeared by now if it was going to work and also I did mention about the potential negative effect of continuous progestogens (on some women) on the other thread but sounds like you were OK with norethisterone in the past? Just a cautionary note re that one - it could be that now you are older and also if your own oestrogen levels are lower - you may be more sensitive to the norethisterone - compared to when your own oestrogen levels were much higher when you took it as part of the pill?

If you can bear to keep this going for another 4 weeks then try to do so, if the specialist won't prescribe anything else until then - but in the meantime find out as much as you can about all the different types including separate oestrogen and a progestogen, as well as looking into the possibility of a cycle.

Hang in there and we will support you though this

Hurdity x

[Dotty]

Thanks Hurdity.

I really don't know what to do as I feel that the Elleste Duet isn't working but the specialist said it could take 3 months.  Do I believe her?

[prestige]

Oh Dotty I really feel for you.

I was exactly the same as you this Summer. The only difference being I was on Elleste Duet Sequi. I felt so fatigued and nauseous and damn right angry that the Menopause is viewed so lightly by the medical profession.

I went back to my GP, who then prescribed an AD. I took the prescription, but the box is still unopened. I terrified of encountering even more bad side effects.

[Dotty]

Hi prestige

Are you still taking the Elleste Duet? How are you feeling now?

[prestige]

Hi Dotty,

No, I came off HRT and have been off it now for 15 weeks.

I take a very good Iron and B12 vitamin tablet. I have made having a good diet and exercise a top priority.

I have chosen not to take the AD and just take one day at a time. I have good spells of time and I have bad ones too, but I can honestly say I feel better now I am off the HRT.