Oer Ladies, I wonder if anyone else has experienced similar side effects with Femoston? This is my experience over the last 3 months....
The first month was quite unremarkable but toward the end of the first part of packet (estrogen only bit) I had noticed some soreness and drying out of my lips (facial!). I thought it could have been a lipstick I was using as I don't wear one very often. The common side effect of a nasty headache duly came along with the second pills. It lasted about 5 days but was manageable. A few aches and pains started creeping in.
I started on the second pack and welcomed a "normal" bleed which I was expecting and felt I needed. At day 12 my lips again started to get sore and dry and by day 14 I had a full on trout pout with pulsating and purple lips around twice their normal size. Oh soooo painful. I saw a pharmacist who suggested I needed a steroid cream but she couldn't prescribe. This was a Saturday so she suggested I call 111. In the meantime I took some antihistamine tablets, still thinking it was a lipstick or something I'd eaten and by the time I got to see a doctor on Sunday, everything was settling down. He said to take Piriton 4 hourly (yikes) and not to drive! Second part of the pack and the headache, some neck and ear pain followed. At this point I am mindful that it can take 3 months plus for things to settle down so I'm persevering.
Third pack and I also had an appointment with my GP to see how things were progressing. This was around day 6 or 7 and I reported that my brain fog was much improved and scalp/hair loss was around 80% better. (I really hadn't linked the Femoston with swelling at that point). I also had the feeling of a lump in my throat at times, but was happyish. Because of the headaches, aches etc., my GP suggested I could try something else if I wanted and also gave me a script for Tridestra. Anyhow, come day 11 and my lips start to explode again - too coincidental so looked up side effects and swelling of face, neck etc. is a rare but noted side effect. Arrrrgh. I stopped the estrogen tablets (3 left) and went straight onto the combi bit. 8 days into those and the headache has subsided, feel very lethargic but a little like my old self. Unfortunately, the scalp ****les are coming back and hair is shedding again. I was so hopeful that Femoston was going to be "The One" for me.
I'd be really interested to know if anyone else has experienced this and is so, what did you find, if anything, that worked for you? Having read about Tridestra on here, I'm a bit reluctant to try it as it's a 3 monthly regime with a less hair friendly progesterone. It just feels like too long a cycle for me. I'd be so grateful for your comments or suggestions. Many thanks and sorry for rambling.