Ladies I'd love your advice / wisdom / experience. I was on Elleste Duet for three months and apart from a wonderful boost in only the very first two weeks (and never since) didn't get on with it - terrible digestion problems in particular. Was then switched to Femoston 1mg which seemed to have zero benefit but also no ill effects. So after 3 months on that my GP changed it to Femoston 2mg which so far has caused terrible breast tenderness, often inverted nipples, migraine type headaches and constipation. Am still getting occasional hot flushes, crashing fatigue in the afternoon (with no choice but to nap) crazy mood swings, plus low energy and no libido. Have just finished the first month. GP has kindly let me try Estrogel and Utrogestan and I can switch tomorrow (she says it's my choice.) Do you think I have given Femoston 2mg a fair trial after one month or should I persevere with it? It feels like such a big decision! Most of all I would love some energy and my libido back! (Really hoping I might be able to try Testem if I still get no joy with the latter but that's for another post...)
Also is there less risk with the Estrogel / Utrogestan combination? I am concerned about breast cancer and especially stroke risk.
And finally if I do switch is my understanding correct that I use 4 pumps of the gel daily on my inner thighs?! And one Utrogestan intravaginally for the first 21 days? Do you do this at the same time of day as using the gel? And do you still use it if you're bleeding? (I am expecting to bleed next week.) And presumably you use the Estrogel for all 28 days but the Utrogestan for just the first 21 days?
I need to decide whether to switch and if now is the right time to do so (and will factor in if it will be lower risk) and then if I do decide to go for it to understand HOW to use it. I usually take my HRT at 8.30am so if I can't make my mind up by that time tomorrow I'll be stuck on Femoston 2mg for another month!
I am 49 and have been perimenopausal for about a year and am still having reasonably regular periods (though skipped some pre HRT.)
Look forward to any help you can offer. Thank you.