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[knorman]

In using HRT, has anyone found out that they are allergic to Oestrogen? 

My symptoms are a burning, tingling tongue, lips and an exceptionally dry mouth. For 3 weeks the Elleste Duet Conti worked a treat, night heats a thing of the past and then at 3.5 weeks, experienced the burning.  I stopped taking the tablets and over the next few days, the symptoms slowly started to go.  Tried a Femseven patch (this didn't stick properly by the way) stuck on in the morning, symptoms back as strongly by the evening. Back to (lovely and patient) Dr and thought might be progesterone intolerant. Prescribed Elleste Solo (1mg instead of 2) and micronized progesterone (to take for 25 days in 28 day cycle).  Have not got as far as taken the progesterone as the symptoms came back when I took just the oestrogen tablet again. There appears to be a link between oestrogen and histamine, but I have never had an allergic reaction to anything previously, neither medication nor foods. I am going to ask about Oestrogel instead of taking a tablet, but through trial and error, it is pointing to an intolerance to oestrogen. Before turning detective, I never knew we could be allergic to our hormones!

Those 3 blissful weeks were beginning to be a lifesaver and I am extremely concerned about ending up back were I was, but even so, I am not able to put up with the unpleasant effects, especially as it is worse of a night time and unable to sleep.  I have CFS/ME also, which may be playing a part in this.

If anyone else has found they are allergic to oestrogen, did you ever find a way around it? Thank you ladies!

[Sarai]

I honestly don't know a lot about hormones, but it could be that you are allergic to the fillers in the tablets.
I had a severe reaction to high dose vitamin D, but I'm not allergic to the sun, so it was deduced that I was allergic to one of the fillets. Who knows but it was reported under the yellow card scheme. Perhaps you could report it too.

[Salad]

Hi 

I had an adverse reaction to Elleste Solo tablets but have been able to use patches and gel OK. Although a couple of the patches made my skin a bit red and itchy.
I have found the best patches for sticking have been Estradot, they are also a lot smaller which I prefer too.

Good luck!

[knorman]

Thank you both for replying.  I have heard of the yellow card system, but I do not know what it is? I was hoping it was the makeup of the tablet that was the problem, but when I tried the Femseven patch, I had exactly the same reaction, so now I am not holding out much hope. I fought against HRT for so long and the irony is, I now know what I will be missing and I know that I desperately need it and I want it!

[Spangles]

I use evorel 50 patches, for me they stick the best.

[knorman]

Salad, was your adverse reaction similar to mine?

[Hurdity]

The good news is that you cannot be allergic to oestrogen otherwise you wouldn't be here! However as said you could be allergic to the fillers in the tablet, or it could be that adding oestrogen exogenously (ie as HRT rather than your body's own hormone) is affecting your histamine reaction and causing you to be allergic to something else. As you say there is an interaction and I had a quick scan of the web - and see there are scientific papers and articles on this.

When you say the same thing happened with Femseven - was it Femseven conti or Femseven 50 ( ie oestrogen only)?  You will only be able to work out if it is the tablet or the oestrogen itself if you try the estradiol only patches rather than with the protgeestogen - since some women have an allergy to this too. If the allergy happened with oestrogen only patches then sounds like the histamine issue you mentioned and perhaps you need to see a specialist to investigate further?

Hurdity x

[Salad]

Morning 

No - I felt sick and dizzy after the first tablet but after the second I felt worse. Severe abdominal pain, accompanied by watery stools, pale clammy skin and fainting.
I went on to gel and was fine 

[knorman]

Thank you Hurdity, I was hoping you would see my post! Yes, I think it is a histamine reaction brought on by the HRT oestrogen. My third attempt at hrt has been taking separate oestrogen 1 mg elleste solo and I was due to start the micronised progesterone after the third day. I haven't got as far as taken the progesterone as the reaction came back strongly by second day of oestrogen. I am going to ask about a bio identical oestrogen, as I am hoping that it is something in the matrix of the original tablets that is setting off the histamine reaction. I really need this HRT! x

[Dotty]

The oestrogen you have been taking is body / bio identical. It is oestradiol but there could be something else in the tablet that doesn’t suit you.

Transdermal might be better.

Perhaps you should try Premarin.

[knorman]

Hoping that if I go onto the gel I may be ok like Salad (very pleased that you are ok now), but I did have the same reaction when I tried the Femseven combined patch. That's why I'm beginning to worry that nothing is going to be suitable for me and that it is the oestrogen itself in the HRT causing the histamine reaction. Speaking to the Dr tomorrow. I was so happy when I left the Drs clutching my HRT prescription. It never occurred to me that I would have any side effects, other than maybe the known ones. Haven't had any of those!

[Dotty]

Premarin is a different sort of oestrogen so you might be ok with that.

[Hurdity]

Hi again knorman

But - as I said, from the sound of it you haven't tried Femseven oestrogen only or any other oestrogen only patch. You said you tried Femseven combi patch. Trying an oestrogen only patch is the only way to tell if it's the oestrogen itself causing an increased sensitivity to something else, or whether it is the fillers in the oestrogen patch ( or possibly the progestogen in the Femseven patch). I would try this first and then if you get the same reaction consult an allergy specialist to see what you are actually allergic to - if it is possible to determine this?

Dotty - Premarin contains a mixture of horse oestrogens one of which is estradiol so I doubt this would be any different in terms of reaction but I might be wrong (about the reaction) because the proportions of the oestrogens are different and estradiol is not the major one present.

Hurdity x

[knorman]

Estradiol has been present in the solo and combi HRT I have tried so far, with same result. Speaking with Dr this morning hopefully, with an appointment on Wednesday.  I am trying really hard to help myself in the meantime, so thank you very much for all your help, it is really appreciated.  I have never been allergic to anything in my life, so really at a loss with this.

[Hurdity]

Best of luck with your doc appointment and let us know the outcome?

Hurdity x