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[greendragonette]

Hello everyone. I am new on here, and would really appreciate some advice!! I started on BHRT a few months ago (utrogesran, and an estrodial dermal cream).  I haven't felt much better. About the same time I thought my thyroid was playing up (have had Graves Disease for 26 years with no major problems, well controlled with Carbimazole) because I had high heart rate, around 120bpm even at rest, and breathlessness. However, tests showed I was slightly UNDER active so that didn't add up. My endocrinologist is concerned at the heart rate and has referred me to a cardiologist for tests!! But now I am wondering if the hrt could cause it? Google seems to suggest it can. If that is so, should I stop taking the hrt and see if symptoms subside??

[Flossieteacake]

Hello and welcome. I do not have experience of BHRT but I just wanted to welcome you. I am sure somebody with experience will be along soon. 

[greendragonette]

  Thank you for replying. I'm pretty miserable and confused, but reading some of the posts on here, at least I know I'm not alone.

[Mary G]

greendragonette welcome to MM!

I'm sorry to hear that your HRT regime has been a disappointment but I think it's probably being dragged down by the Utrogestan.  This is a very common problem on here.

I have used BHRT but in my case it was the other way around.   I used branded Oestrogel with a bespoke 50mg progesterone which was made at the specialist pharmacy.   This regime worked brilliantly for over 3 years but it became difficult due to Brexit plus I wanted to save money so I am currently trialling a progesterone gel.

What dose of oestrogen/Utrogestan are you taking and are you using the Utrogestan every day or on a cycle orally or vaginally?   This would make a difference.

In my opinion, you would be better off using a lower dose, bespoke progesterone alongside a conventional form of oestrogen.

Re the thyroid, there are several members on here who are very knowledgeable on this subject but I can tell you that my thyroid levels are all over the place if my oestrogen levels get too low.   Ditto cholesterol and blood pressure.

I have a thread on compounded hormones in the Alternative therapies section on here which you may find helpful.

I hope that helps and do come back with any questions.

[greendragonette]

Hello Mary
Thank you so much for your reply. I started on a compounded combined oestrogen and progesterone but didn't do very well so I have now changed to the utrogestan 100mg at night and oestrogen gel morning and afternoon. I started yesterday trying the progesterone vaginally, so too soon to tell if that will help. Someone suggested taking the progesterone every other day, although my gynaecologist told me NOT to lower the dose. I am quite happy to go against her advice!! I will try to find the thread about thyroid, it just seems likely that the 2 things are connected. Thank you.

[Mary G]

greendragonette, thanks for explaining, now I understand.

This is just my personal opinion and I'm not a medic but I would make a couple of observations.  Firstly, I don't think it's a great idea to combine hormones ie the oestrogen and progesterone cream you used previously because it is too inflexible.   I think the branded oestrogen products are good and it's the branded progesterone products that are often the problem because the dose is too high.   So really I would suggest a bespoke 50mg progesterone product alongside branded Oestrogel (which you already have) having had success with it myself.

If you have a gynaecologist then she can scan you to check the womb lining ( - his is standard procedure in Spain.  So yes, try taking 100mg Utrogestan vaginally every other day. 

I hope it works out for you.

[greendragonette]

Thank you ! I have had a scan and hysteroscopy and all was well. I've got some Biovea progesterone cream (20mg per pump, so i could use 2 or 2½ pumps) so I could use that? Wouldnt that be better than 100mg every other day? I agree the combined hormones are just too inflexible, but that particular doctor was horrified when I asked for them separately so I could experiment with timings and amounts!

[Mary G]

As long as you use 50mg of the Biovea progesterone I don't see why not.   50mg is 50mg so it doesn't matter what type of progesterone you take it as long as you take it every day and you can be checked regularly by your gynaecologist.  You may find you need more if your womb lining is overly thick but hopefully not.

I'm doing the same as you with 50mg progesterone gel and so far so good.   I've booked a uterine scan for next week so I will know how well it's working then.   I do know that I bleed automatically once my womb lining hits about 8mm so the fact I haven't bleed at all since I started using the progesterone gel at the end of July bodes well but we shall see.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on!