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[Wrensong]

Hi Julie, Evorel Conti are not really higher dose than your Kliofem (the dose of micrograms 50/170 mcg in the patch is lower than 2mg/1mg in the tablets).
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

BUT the 2 different methods are apples & pears really.  You can only try them and see how you get on.  I would say that Evorel Conti was the first HRT I tried & one of the main reasons I went on HRT was for palpitations.  They stopped on Evorel Conti within a few weeks.  I used that form of HRT for around 2 years with trials of others in between as I didn't absorb EC well enough to get rid of flushing, night sweats & insomnia.  Always went back to EC as I felt better on it than with no HRT.  Incidentally I found Utrogestan was the worst for bringing back my palps, though many women get on very well with it.

You could cut the patches in half as you say others have suggested but if you do, this will represent quite a reduction in dose compared to your Kliofem, assuming you were absorbing the tablets well & that could mean any other symptoms that were well controlled on the tablets come back.  On the other hand if the Kliofem was too high a dose for you going lower may suit you better.
Up to you entirely how you start - please do whatever you feel most comfortable with as anything else will add to your stress, possibly making the palps worse. 

The alternative, as the palps have reduced, is to stay off HRT & see how you feel.  I do hope you soon feel better.
Wx

[julie55]

Thank you so much for your advice I have cut the patch in half today and ATM I feel fine can you tell me when would be appropriate to put on a full patch do you think after the next half so my body gets the jist ? I'm still having hot flashes ATM but I'm hoping when I increase they will subside once again thank you so much for taking the time to reply in such detail that I totally understand thank you so much   

[Wrensong]

Bless you Julie - it's a pleasure  .

I can't tell you for sure what to do about timing of going to the full patch Julie, but Evorel Conti is considered to be a medium strength HRT preparation, so halving the patch means you will only be getting a low dose of hormones.  The change from Kliofem may mean you continue to get symptoms for a while - we don't know how much of that you were absorbing, nor how well you will absorb from the patches.  But I'm hoping you will find the continual release of hormones from the patches suits you better than the peaks & troughs you may have been getting from the tablets.  You can only go with your gut instinct for now, but please don't be unnerved if you continue to get symptoms while your body is adjusting to the change in method. 

Come back & let us know how you're getting on & please never be afraid to ask questions.  We are all learning from each other here & there is a lot of brilliant advice, wisdom & support.
Wx

[julie55]

Thank you so very much for your kind reply x I have put a whole one on  for two weeks now  my symptoms have not yet lessened I was wondering if it could be because it's a lower dose and if besides the full patch should I cut one in four and put that on also to up the dose .I know I have gone from one extreme to the other just want my symptoms to ease off or would you persist with the one for the time being xx feeling confused xx

[Wrensong]

Hi Julie, do you mean your flushes have continued to be problematical or are you still getting palpitations? 

If you feel your palpitations have been adequately reduced/resolved by switching to the patches but you are still getting other menopause symptoms I wonder whether you would be better persevering for a little longer without adjusting.  2 weeks on the full patch isn't long to stabilise.  Your body will probably still be catching up - the hormone levels still building because you were on only half a patch for a while - likely quite a lot lower than when you were on the tablets.  So your current symptoms could simply be a reaction to the change in levels.  But as we don't know how well you were absorbing the tablets, nor how much you are getting out of your patches, it's kinda difficult to know what to do isn't it?  Standard advice is 3 months on any new regimen unless symptoms are intolerable & it definitely feels very wrong.  So, if the palps are better & you can grit your teeth a little longer to see whether the flushing resolves on the whole patch, I think I would probably do that.  I found palpitations a lot harder to tolerate than the flushing, though the 2 also coincided at times.  Sorry Julie - it's pretty much trial & error, I'm afraid.
Wx

[julie55]

Thank you so much for your kind reply 🌹🌹the palps have reduced and are now sparodic throughout the day the flashes are now mostly at night but not as strong I will as you recomend keep plodding along with hope they will kick in I really don't want to go back to tablets now I have the patch I find them less of a problem so onwards and upwards I hope thank you for responding you are so kind 🌹🌹🌹

[Wrensong]

A pleasure.  Hope you soon feel better.  Please let us know how you get on.
Wx

[AndreaP]

The very same happened  to me except I was persuaded to come off HRT all together when Elleste Duet Conti became unavailable with the suggestion I would be over the worst  at 57 and 5 years of HRT. What a dreadful mistake. Slowly but surely my joints  and general health suffered and by December hit a complete menopause meltdown! Funnily enough my palpitations hadn't reappeared to any degree. But once I was put on Kliofem they did reappear. Everything else recovered rapidly especially mental health almost instantly. Within a few weeks all.my bursitis in multiple joints had disappeared and I can now build up some strength and fitness. Have decided palpitations are a small price to pay and I think they are slightly improving after 2 months...fingers crossed. Not sure I want to tamper again with prescription unless it can give me my libido back after all these years

[Penelope]

https://www.verywellhealth.com/thyroid-disorders-and-heart-conditions-3231710

[Ladybt28]

AndreaP - is there any chance of getting testosterone into the mix for libido?  It can be done with oestrogen and progesterone alone for some women but for others the missing part of the puzzle for libido, lethargy and brain fog is testosterone.

[goldgalaxycat]

I'm nearly 58 and I've had palpitations, ie ectopic heartbeats and tachycardia for about 9 years. And it definitely coincided with the menopause. I've had every test going, even recently having a two week heart event recorder. My cardiologist has told me to forget about it and get on with my life (easier said than done). They are extremely upsetting when they last for hours and I've been up all night before with them. I'm healthy, slim, don't smoke, I exercise, no caffeine and still they?re there.

I definitely think they?re hormone related and also related to the vagus nerve and digestive system. But unfortunately the specialists don't even know what causes them if your heart is ok, although mine said they could be stress related.

We have to come to terms with this thing and hope it goes away eventually. It does help reading all the stories on here though as you realise you?re not alone. 

[Bluebell]

Goldgalaxycat, I have had palpitations, heart flutters/flips whatever for 7 years since my last period at 59.  I tried HRT but it didn't work for me. Sometimes I have a few weeks in between the palpitations but they always come back. They can be thumping palpitations or heart flutters and wake me during the night or come on during the day - totally random. I've had ecg's, heart monitors etc. nothing showed up.
I now take a beta blocker when they start and that usually helps.
I still get hot flushes and night-sweats but the palpitations are by far my worst symptom.
I'm a size 10 walk everyday and like to exercise. I'm a non smoker and have a glass of red wine with my evening meal. You are the first person I've come across who has had palpitations for years like me and that does give me some comfort.  🤗