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[Mary G]

Demelza, I can relate to your situation because I had a very similar experience.

I started having silent migraines (aura without headache) when my hormone levels started to drop.   Long story short and several migraine/menopause specialists later, it seems that the migraines were caused by hormone instability.

Despite having no history of PMS, I thought my problems with all types of progesterone used in HRT preparations were progesterone intolerance but I was wrong, it was hormone instability and what I needed was body identical progesterone to stop oestrogen spikes.   I imagine this is what your specialist had in mind. 

I got to the stage where I couldn't take Utrogestan again full stop.   I now take 50mg body identical progesterone every day along with oestrogen (you will have to consider this when your levels drop) and testosterone and I pleased to say, so far so good.   I'm now on an even keel with no periods and hormone stability.

It might be worth looking into this type of progesterone which is available at the Specialist Pharmacy.   It is nothing like Utrogestan -
in my case at least - because of the way to is absorbed (buccal) and I haven't had any unpleasant side effects.  I've had a couple of uterine scans since starting the regime six months ago and womb lining is well within limits for continuous combined HRT.

I hope that helps.

[Letmein]

This is an interesting thread as it goes in the direction of the conclusion I had reached myself from my own experience.

I started peri with very distressing symptoms, paraesthesia, terrible tinnitus, lightheadness and diziness, nausea, vision in one eye going blury, low heart rate and blood pressure and overall feeling very hyper physically with thoughts bouncing in my head all the time and seeming unable to relax no matter what I did to do so.

Once it was identify that it was nothing sinister and due to the peri, I was advised to go on HRT. Sadly, it seemed to have the exact opposite effect with the parasthesia and ligheadness. It was worse soon after I stopped progesterone and then noticed the same trend when I had previously started my periods. I stopped hrt and started to feel better but the parasthesia, tinnitus, fuzy vision would still hit me at time, and finally realised that it coincided with me getting vaginal discharge indicating oestrogen (the egg white looking discharge).

I am convinced that what made peri horrible for he was oestrogen surges. It is also interesting that I get very few hot flushes.

I'm now officially menopausal (12 months no period) and feel much better already. Parasthesia is now rare and tinnitus still there but not as bad. Only the sleeping issue remains but I've now find treatment that works.

I did suffer from very dry mouth during the hrt treatment but was also taking sleeping pills thrm so put it down to that, but maybe it was the progesterone indeed.

[Demelza]

Thanks Mary G, that's really helpful to hear. My specialist has said that I'd i can't get on with the Utrogestan then she can prescribe the buccal lozenges, so based on what you have said I think I might give them a go. I have started the Utrogestan again but am waking with headaches most days which I think might be a side effect of it. Dry mouth still a problem but I have found Xylimelts which stay in the mouth at night and really help.

[Demelza]

Letmein - really interesting what you say and I think you are right about the oestrogen surges. My specialist says she never prescribes oestrogen in peri as the body is still producing oestrogen if periods are still occurring. I was also suffering parasthesia (all over!) when I was taking the combined HRT prescribed by my GP.