Keep trucking along, Warwick! I think maybe too don't use alcohol for a good while.......It could well have thrown things off for you, you wee soul! You're also on Thyroxine too, right? There's a lot of balancing going on there at the moment, so you maybe need to give it extra time. I'm rooting for you!
Well, this is day 2. Very early days indeed, I know! Last night I slept MUCH better than I have in a good while - curiously, no night sweats! I had dreadful ones on 2 pumps of estrogel. Still very apprehensive about a 'hormone crash' as I had an awful one when I changed to a 25mcg Estradot patch from 3 pumps of gel (disaster - too low, too quickly. This was on Consultant's instructions)!
![Shocked :o](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/shocked.gif)
Tummy is rather gurgley, not as 'spaced' as when I took tablet yesterday which is a shame really as I liked this feeling after being wired to the moon for months! Resting loads to support adrenals in case of sudden drop in hormone levels as they then go crazy trying to make up the shortfall! Definitely NO stimulants of any kind (never do caffeinated drinks anyway). Not feeling anywhere near as bloated as last few weeks on the gel already - I puffed up like a bullfrog on that stuff, despite being told I wasn't absorbing it well! Avoiding all stress (where possible) and keeping warm (it's freezing here in Scotland) and taking plenty of fluids.
How many months have you been off HRT now, Dancinggirl? I ask because as you know, I didn't use HRT for over a year post oopherectomy and I can tell you that it takes some time for the estrogen receptors to down regulate (my Consultant told me this). It wasn't good in my case as mine had started the process and of course, I've had problems now starting HRT! I was given a rough ball park figure of this down regulation to be complete in approximately 2 years. This timeline only applies to ladies who are well post menopausal and stop HRT or have an oopherectomy and don't use HRT. Until this process is complete, you will indeed have adrenal surges and feelings as if your body is 'craving' estrogen.
It's very similar to the experience with anything that the body has to withdraw from - and we have many receptor sites for estrogen in our bodies (over 300, so I'm told)! Other examples are nicotine or opiate withdrawal. The receptors for these have to go through a period of down regulation too, which means that there can be very strong physical and psychological cravings and effects on the body that last a good deal of time - and which users find distressing so they often relapse.
I think this is also why a good number of women find it difficult or in some cases impossible to go off HRT. They are in effect in 'withdrawal' and at the first sign of distress return to their therapy. This is why tapering is very good, as well as supporting your general health to ensure the least discomfort and success.
I know you probably already know all this, Dancinggirl but I'm sharing for those ladies who might not know and may be interested as I received this information from my Consultant and I like to share if it is in any way helpful.
Can I just say that you're managing remarkably well, and I hope very much that you will move into a more comfortable phase soon. xxxx