Hi all! After much research (and trying many other things), and despite not having a dr/ or clinician who is well versed in navigating perimenopause + hrt (but thankfully my dr will Rx but didn’t know how to navigate the challenges, & the tweaking inevitably needed to get to a better place with symptoms (I’ve had to keep reading and learning to try to help navigate it all).

When my dr and I had me start this past July, I tried progesterone 1st (before starting estrogen) because a relatives dr instructed her that it is safe to do so, and can often help to see if the lowest dose of oral progesterone will help with night time issues + sleep problems.
Unfortunately instead that caused me some issues (too long of a story if I share all those specific details),
but thankfully I talked to a friend in another city 4 hrs from me, who has a gyn guiding her on hrt, and she asked me if I’m also using an IUD too?
Which yes, I have a Kyleena IUD.
She told me her dr said the small amount of progestin is enough protection for the lining of the uterus, to then add transdermal estrogen! (And the double dose of IUD progestin + oral progesterone was likely too much for my system which likely caused the issues).

So I stopped the oral progesterone + then began on Estradot 25 patches alongside my Kyleena IUD.

When I first began it did cause some dizziness - but that seems to be better.

But the one really odd thing that happened + continues to happen is this odd sensation like a small bubble popping in different areas of my legs and feet. I’ve been on the Estradot for almost 3 mos now, and that continues daily. It feels so weird/ and a little disconcerting. I haven’t found anything yet on what it is/ what should be done for it? Hoping some of you have encountered it and your doctors have advised! Thanks!

I’m grateful to be able to get Dotti patches during this shortage but honestly, when I started with the 1 mg Divigel generic, in the space of a month I felt 30 again. Okay, 35. Sex? No more feeling like my man had a cactus for a penis. Brain fog? Outta here! Sleeping for 7-8 hours again, what?? I thought was gone forever along with the periods. Vertigo? Shmertigo! Anxiety? Fuggitaboudit! Creaky knees? Stiff shoulder? Night sweats? Gone, gone and gone.

Life was great until… Switched to a Dotti 0.05 patch and my pre-HRT symptoms found me in a dark alley ready to beat my ass into a bloody pulp.

A few days ago started the 0.075 patch because doctor’s logic said I need more E, and last night I woke up after 3 hours of sleep and just lie there staring at the ceiling under a blanket of deja vu. Is it me? Or is it these Dotti patches? Because it feels like when I stopped the gel back in early September all the wack started coming back, just taunting me like “bitch you can’t ever quit us!” Vertigo shoved me into a wall. Brain fog socked me upside the head. Insomnia sucker punched me. So watch me fight back by going back to the gel. Yeah it made me feel like a human furnace and the patches don’t but I’d rather deal with feeling like I’m trying to catch a cold all day everyday than all of… THAT.

My ob gyn surgeon said that many of her patients say HRT is actually better than the iirregular horomones of perimenopause. I am getting my ovaries and tubes out today. Anyone else experience positive results with HRT?

Previous post here

I was back in the ER Saturday with abdominal pressure and nausea. They found nothing new but I was pretty upset they wouldn't take it out that night. They messaged my OBGYN about needing a consult asap. Dcotor's office called Sunday morning and said they would do emergency surgery and I got on the surgery schedule for yesterday (Monday).

I lost an ovary and the cyst had attached to my pelvic floor so they had to scrape it off. I've been managing with the ibuprofen and acetaminophen they gave me and it's not too much pain yet.

The crazy doctor called me on the weekend and it was an hour of them exclaiming shock, how interesting and total gaslighting again saying I had been anxious for months. I was pissed but kept quiet until I could think through how to handle this. They called me again after I got home from surgery and wanted to know what kind of cyst. No how are you, no what can I do for you like most people do for someone who's sick or just had surgery. How you gonna call someone who is still loopy from sedation and start asking them all kinds of questions??

I said nothing and said I needed to go. I went through my records and I have been complaining of frequency for a whole year. I must have brain fog when it comes to the timing of things because I think things are less time than they actually are.

I found bogus diagnosis in my records from the bad doctor that I have never had in my life that could be detrimental to my health and future care and had to make sure my surgeon was aware of it in case something happened on the operating table. I will be reporting what has transpired and the erroneous records to superiors at my provider.

On a postitive note, I got the royal treatment at the hospital. Bed massage pre-surgery, amazing staff, amazing surgeon, my belly is a lot smaller and color photos of my big cyst as a souvenir :)

If you have bladder issues and feel physical therapy and meds aren't working after a reasonable time, demand scans and if they refuse, go elsewhere. If a doctor is booked up, call every day until you get in. I didn't because I know I have tight muscles and had no reason or other symptoms to think it was a gigantic ovarian cyst. But ultimately, she is the doctor and should have realized after a period of time, I needed a specialist or have imaging done.

Asking on behalf of my wife as she's not a Reddit user. -

My wife (55) is on Estrogen and Progesterone (gel and tablets), these have been largely successful inhelping her navigate this difficult journey, sleep which is key for her is now at a good level.

We have 3 children (under the age of 8), she is retired and fulltime mum. This in itself has required huge levels of energy from both of us, more so for her due to the Menopause. Luckily, I work from home so am able to pick up vast amounts of the daily routine.

Her escape is the gym, so energy is very important. (she's wiped by 6.30pm). We've considered Testosterone. However (Superdrug) tests came back as normal. (0.6 nmo/L).

Research indicates that this can be muted by her current HRT Regime, that she should be testing for SHBG and Free Androgen levels. This level of testing is particularly expensive over here. And also, a bit subjective.

The GP has largely disregarded the whole Testosterone subject, but then I found this NICE guideline.

NICE Guideline NG23 (Recommendation 1.5.25)

"Consider testosterone supplementation for people with low se**ual de*ire associated with menopause if HRT alone is not effective."

(Footnote note in guideline: "In November 2015, this was an off-label use of testosterone. See NICE's information on prescribing medicines.")

"Consider referring people to a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause if... there is uncertainty about the most suitable management options for their symptoms."

We have drafted a letter regarding this to the GP (Most GPs require appointment or query through online portal currently).

I figure that a 3–6-month trial, funded by the NHS would be useful? Rather than endless tests when it seems to be such a subjective matter.

Has anyone else (UK Based), been through the same process with their GP and pushed for a Testosterone trial?

Also, I find it interesting that the NICE guidelines focus on Li**do and not energy? I would have though the latter was the more important for the quality of life? Do any of you see a direct correlation between the two?

I was convinced I had (another) ovarian cyst - severe, persistent bloating, feeling of fullness, dragging feeling and pressure in my pelvis, constant dull ache and intermittent stabby pains, most of it in the same part of my lower left pelvis. I feel like there I ‘something there’. I’ve had this before and it turned out to be an ovarian cyst (6cm). However, I’ve just had an ultrasound and transvaginal scan and the doctor said there was no cyst or anything that could explain my symptoms. I have a small fibroid that wasn’t there on my last scan (about a year ago) but apparently that won’t cause me issues. I have had some unscheduled bleeding, which followed the same pattern as my last cyst: symptoms first then some bleeding. Just a few days of spotting and one period-like day.

I’m on HRT (19 months). The thing that is making me pause: I’m having a quite strange repeat of events. Last august I moved from the patch (wasn’t absorbing) and started on 4 pumps of estrogel. My symptoms (above) appeared 1 month later. A scan showed a cyst and a slipped coil (body trying to reject it). I had the coil replaced and it again failed. All this took about 6 months during which time my cyst resolved itself. In the meantime I got a new meno doctor who swapped my gel for patches and eventually got me onto Slynd to stop the cysts (also micronised P intolerant).

Due to a patch allergy, I moved back to estrogel in August this year and…a month later, a similar set of symptoms appeared. I know bloating is definitely an estrogen symptoms but is it possible that the gel is causing all of these symptoms (and the coil failure + cyst were red herrings last time). Or am I gaslighting myself?!

I spent 9 years with undiagnosed peri. I had a lot of painful explorations (GI, fibromyalgia nerve tests etc,) that were all subsequently solved with HRT. I’m so upset because I feel like I’m once again being told there is nothing wrong with me when I clearly have persistent pain and symptoms that are stopping me sitting and exercising properly. I’m at a loss of what to do next. The estrogen gel is fixing so many of my issues (crippling pain, anxiety, broken sleep) that I don’t really want to trial stopping it and I’m just through the 3 month settling period again after messing around on the patch.

I suppose a gynaecologist investigation is the next step but the wait list in the UK is long.

I don’t suppose anybody has any suggestions/has had a similar experience or just some support. I’m 50 and still in peri I believe.

PS the person doing my scan today was a man and had zero sympathy which just upset me even more. Just needed to rant about that.

Asking on behalf of my wife as she's not a Reddit user.

My wife (55) is on Estrogen and Progesterone (gel and tablets), these have been largely successful in helping her navigate this difficult journey, sleep which is key for her is now at a good level.

We have 3 children (under the age of 8), she is retired and fulltime mum. This in itself has required huge levels of energy from both of us, more so for her due to the Menopause. Luckily, I work from home so am able to pick up vast amounts of the daily routine.

Her escape is the gym, so energy is very important to her alongside Libido (both lack) (she's wiped by 6.30pm). We've considered Testosterone. However (Superdrug) tests came back as normal. (0.6 nmo/L).

Research indicates that this can be muted by her current HRT Regime, that she should be testing for SHBG and Free Androgen levels. This level of testing is particularly expensive over here. And also, a bit subjective.

The GP has largely disregarded the whole Testosterone subject, but then I found this NICE guideline.

NICE Guideline NG23 (Recommendation 1.5.25)

"Consider testosterone supplementation for people with low sexual desire associated with menopause if HRT alone is not effective."

(Footnote note in guideline: "In November 2015, this was an off-label use of testosterone. See NICE's information on prescribing medicines.")

"Consider referring people to a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause if... there is uncertainty about the most suitable management options for their symptoms."

We have drafted a letter regarding this to the GP (Most GPs require appointment or query through online portal currently).

I figure that a 3–6-month trial, funded by the NHS would be useful? Rather than endless tests when it seems to be such a subjective matter.

Has anyone else (UK Based), been through the same process with their GP and pushed for a Testosterone trial?

Also, I find it interesting that the NICE guidelines focus on Libido and not energy? I would have though the latter was the more important for the quality of life? Do any of you see a direct correlation between the two?

I am 53 yo post meno, and very sensitive to many ingredients which can be debilitating (informal MCAS diagnosis from my immunologist). I've been searching for an Estradiol vaginal cream that is chemical free for a couple years now - aka no sulfates, parabens or fragrance. My current RX, a $10 copay tube of Mylan fragrance free cream, was working pretty well- but I hate that it has sulfates and parabens. I put up with it twice per week for a couple years (at least no fragrance = no reaction). I brought a 4 month old tube of it to the desert on a vacation to stay on schedule, and it pretty much immediately started UTI/burning/pain down there. Not sure if it got too hot in the VRBO? In any case, I am on the hunt for a (compounded?) chemical free option. I've been searching for a long time now with very few leads. Some compounding pharmacies near my home charge $70-120+ for a tube of compounded vaginal cream!! My doctor mentioned that I could try Biest vaginally, but the cost is a big concern- and she is not completely sure if it's safe??? My only Google search brought me to various online providers- for example one that charges $119 for a 3 month supply. Any ideas or leads? TIA.

I'm 46, in peri and on oral progesterone (currently I take it with a 6 day break for my period). Usually also take the lowest dose of estrogen gel, but have been forgetting to apply it in the mornings lately. I just finished my period and resumed taking the progesterone yesterday evening.

I had THE WORST case of restless legs last night. Usually, I get it infrequently, mildly, and more so in the evenings when relaxing on the couch rather then in bed when I actually want to sleep. But last night it only fully started in bed and got so bad that I was tossing and turning, moving and kicking my legs constantly. I could not sleep. I took a "sleeping pill" (over the counter antihistamine sold for sleep here in Germany), then took another + some magnesium and finally fell asleep at 2 am.

It was pure torture last night. I'm wondering what the trigger was. Probably have to take iron supplements again, but I was wondering if you had any insight and experiences with the same phenomenon. Did you get this/did it get worse during perimenopause or menopause for you as well? How are you managing it?

Does anyone know of a good Menopause Dr. In El Paso? My girlfriend is passing through menopause with daily panic attacks and anxiety. If anyone can pass on a good recommendation of someone that would be great. My heart is breaking because of the pain she's experiencing.

I guess I’m just tired of being tired, and now feeling like I LOOK old and tired. I’m overweight despite doing everything right, can’t lose, have body image and aging issues now, have had to completely revamp how I think about food and exercise, and want to scream when I see commercials saying “talk to your dr if you think menopause is affecting your quality of life”. After all, what’s a few hot flashes?! Gee, those were uncomfortable. /s

I know everyone forges a different path, and all of our journeys come with varying degrees and combinations of challenges, but I am completely unprepared for how hard this has been. I’m over everything, from the dumb doctors to the anxiety to the weirdness of it all. I’m still out there swinging, but, yeesh.

I bought a portable AC unit for my bedroom but only been lowering the temp to about 72 which I think is still too hot, also bought a cooling Buffy comforter but I still am insulating myself with heat under it. Have ceiling fan and standing fan blowing directly on me. I wish I could sleep without covers but seems I need something kind of cozy and weighted on top of me. Those cooling mattress toppers seem very expensive, not sure if anyone uses them? Im waking up hot multiple times a night and cannot be on HRT right now.

I am wondering what actual experiences were for people who experienced the following: if you were in perimenopause, and experienced continuous bleeding because your balance of e & p was incorrect, how long did it take the bleeding to stop once you started taking the correct doses? So for example, if you were on 100mg of progesterone, and starting taking 200mg, how many days/weeks/months did it take for your bleeding to stop after that first night of taking 200? AND, when you were working with your provider, how long did they tell you to give each dose combination a try before you tried something new?

I know there are all kinds of reasons for bleeding and you can switch to synthetic or get a D&C, etc, etc, And I know what the experts say to do and how long it could possibly take, but I am really looking to hear what the lived experience was for this one particular scenario.

Thanks!

With regard to checking levels of hormones. I feel like there is zero clear messaging.

I had a total Hysterectomy 13 years ago. I have since seen a GYN and my primary at my local clinic​. The GYNs advice was to take blood and monitor the various hormones over a period of time.

The primary provider, which I find LAUGHABLE and a complete joke is to take blood ONE TIME and make her own determination.

Which is it? I'm sick and tired as a patient of getting unclear messaging from providers. Someone needs to make a decision at the board level and facilitate this messaging with all providers, it's crazy making as a woman.

Anyway, I have no lady bits left other than ovaries. Tubes, cervix and uterus were all removed so I have nothing else to gauge this. Been having hot flashes and symptoms for years, beginning a year and a half after my Hysterectomy. Constantly dismissed by providers at that time telling me there was no way I could be experiencing menopause at that age.

Also, another question, what is the pap smear guidance for us post Hysterectomy/no cervix ladies? I've also had mixed provider guidance on this too. Some saying I don't need it anymore and my primary stating I do and still need to scrape for cells regardless of no cervix.

It sucks trying to navigate being a woman at 50 yrs old with all of this unclear messaging. I want to take good care of my body but it seems the providers are hit or miss with their depth of care.

Thanks!

I use topical estradiol gel packets and have had to increase the dose every 3 months due to significant symptoms returning. I start the new dose, everything in the world is right again but 3-4 months go by and symptoms come roaring back. Mostly horrible fight/flight symptoms, and rage and the longer I wait to increase my dose the more frequent I have hot flashes during each day. I’m up to 1.5 mg of divigel each day, which is above their top dose.

I also take 200-300 mg of progesterone each night to give me great sleep and uterine support and I have topical testosterone-about 0.2 ml twice a week due to acne that is incredibly reactive to testosterone but tbh that dose is perfect when my estrogen is working.

I am also taking 10 mg of citalopram for my GAD that has been working perfectly for me for 20 yrs. I cant go any higher tho as I experience ssri related sexual dysfunction.

My specialist isn’t sure what to do, we clearly cant just keep upping my estrogen dose every 3 months right? I could have years before this roller coaster is done 🙃

Anyone else? Any suggestions? I love life but I can’t live with crippling panic every day.

(UK context) I have white-coat syndrome, which means that my blood pressure spikes when I get it measured by a professional. A few years ago I had to a week of twice-daily readings at home to see if I needed to take medication (I didn't get prescribed any in the end). I test at home and my normal range is in the range of 120-130 over 80-90. I even feel a bit anxious when I use a home BP monitor but it reduces quickly once I relax.

I'm preparing to go to my GP to request HRT but I'm a bit worried about the blood pressure issue. What is your experience with this? I'll bring a week's worth of blood pressure readings so maybe I'm overthinking it?

Anyone else experience numbness, almost feels like bad circulation in arms/hands after starting HRT? It’s driving me crazy, while it’s not painful it is uncomfortable. I don’t know if it’s purely coincidental or a side effect of the hormones. I’m on a .0375 patch and 100mg of progesterone.

I'm on 2 mg estrogen patch and Drosperinone. I asked a new HRT doc if he would keep me on drosperinone and he told me that he would want to switch me to progesterone the closer I got to menopause. He said that he would like to have me on something "cleaner." This just sounds like BS to me. This whole bioidentical thing annoys me. Progesterone made me want to die. And bioidentical is a marketing scheme - "cleaner" isn't a thing? I suppose he is referring to a slightly higher cancer risk on the synthetics? But does that even rise with age?

Post meno for over a year. 48 switched from 2 pumps Estrogel to .75 patch (100pro) because the gel didn't seem to be working anymore. Right before I was supposed to go back in for my patch consultation, and go up to .1 my husband got laid-off and the crappy new insurance we have doesn't cover my meno doc. Thankfully she gave me refills on my patches but right now, I don't know if what I'm feeling is necessarily hormonal or just stress or everything.

My hubs is 54 and this is his first time in his career being laid off. I have never been the bread winner but now I am the only one bringing in money (sans current unemployment) and it's a lot of pressure. At first I felt good about it and saw it as an opportunity for him but three months in and now I find myself very stressed.

Since the lay-off our washer and dryer, dishwasher, and freezer have all gone out. I had a PTSD trigger occur and am still dealing with the after effects of that. And (I feel the worst about this one so much) I picked up cigarettes again about a month ago after quitting smoking for over a decade.

I feel like a complete mess physically, emotionally, mentally. And it doesn't help that I am being so hard on myself. I am definitely feeling incredibly emotional but I don't know if I should go up on my patch, as doc had planned to do in September. Especially with the horrible smoking part. But I'm not for sure what to do for myself to feel better.

I am trying to get back to where I was only a couple of months ago -- non-smoking, walking a couple miles a day, eating right (my appetite has been so small), feeling a lot better than currently -- but I find myself needing some support. My anxiety and depression are weighing me down pretty hard. I know this isn't normal and it will get better. But any words of wisdom or encouragement are great appreciated.

Can I ask how things were for you during perimenopause (did they get worse during this time) and did the symptoms die down post menopause.

I am living in hope as that's all I have right now (life is not great atm with these symptoms AND perimenopause).

I have just deferred a planned hysterectomy (UK and under the NHS so have to wait a while now) because I have been under a huge amount of stress and my mental health is shot to pieces. I know that I am my own worst enemy but I really can not face major surgery right now. I am hoping I may be able limp by on something like Zoladex or Ryeqo or similar until I can get my mental health in a better place (currently having some therapy every week) and have the op next year instead.

I am 53 and feel as though my life is falling apart (four years into a failed uterine ablation, perimenopause issues, daily gut issues, mental health is breaking down and I help to care for my elderly mum who is in advanced Alzheimer's - such fun!).

Yes, I am feeling very sorry for myself right now lol!

I'm going through perimenopause and my face and skin has changed beyond recognition. I'm suffering quite bad hair loss as well, I look terrible! I remember my Mum not looking too good in her early 50s, not as bad as me I might add, I'm not even 50 yet! Anyhow as my mum got over menopause, she started looking well again, she had colour in her cheeks, her hair thickened out etc. I'm wondering, is this something that could happen to me? I'm struggling with how I look now as I haven't aged I've actually turned ugly. I don't know how I'm going to live my life like this, I just hope there is some hope out there.

62 years old, 10 plus years on oral HRT, Mimvey, highest dose. My doctor has talked me into switching to combipatch or the estrogen patch with the micronized progesterone. I do not intend to stop this therapy in my lifetime so switching to the safest option is starting to make sense to me. I can’t decide which option to choose. I’m a little nervous about the micronized progesterone side effects. I sleep very well and am not concerned about that. I had serious PMS symptoms, mental health symptoms, I’m worried about getting myself anxious and depressed, but maybe I’m overthinking this. Any thoughts? Thank you

Anyone getting migraines that last multiple days every month once perimenopause sets in?

Im going some months without a period but they haven’t stopped yet. I’m taking sumatriptan and it helps a lot but still terrible to deal with.

It’s been going on for a year now. How long can it last??

I don’t really have a question, just need to vent, I’m frustrated.

Before starting HRT I was in a very bad place mood wise. I had already been taking wellbutrine for years for anxiety but felt it wasn’t working anymore and had additional mood problems that I hadn’t experienced before (increased anxiety, depression-thought I had the winter blues for 3 years, SI, rage, awful brain fog and absolutely no motivation for anything).

I really thought it was the wellbutrine not working. I didn’t realize I was in peri. I didn’t know that peri could impact my mental health. Saw a meno specialist, started HRT. It helped everything except the motivation aspect which I was ok with because it fixed everything else.

I used to walk every day, did weight training, 2L of water a day, kept busy with hobbies. Now I have the energy for it but have absolutely no desire to go for walks, workout, do any hobbies. It’s been a year since I last did weights and I’ve only been on a few walks. My BMI is about 23 but a dexa scan says 40% body fat which is defined as being obese.

Not that I enjoyed it before but my husband has taken to doing all the laundry now because I am not doing any and house cleaning is only done when absolutely necessary (people coming over). No more regular grocery shopping. There’s days I don’t even have the motivation for work so I’m idly sitting at my computer all day. I’m not even remotely close to getting my daily quota of water intake, some days I go without.

I know all the tips and tricks to get moving, I know what needs to be done but I just don’t care yet am disgusted with myself every evening for all the things I didn’t do that day. And every evening I tell myself I will do better tomorrow but I don’t.

I kept thinking the hrt just needed more time for the motivation to kick in, didn’t see a problem with the dose as it fixed everything else except the motivation, but I’ve been on it for 6 months, I just recently increased my estrogen to .5, it’s only been 3 weeks but I’m starting to think this particular problem won’t be solved with hrt. I will of course stay on it for everything else it fixed. And the mood issues it fixed were more important than having motivation.

But I also don’t want to necessarily add more mental health meds to my regimen (I’m not in the mood for powering through potential side effects) or see the slow blink look on my dr’s face when I try to explain what the problem is. Our appointments are always so fast paced I struggle to explain myself and feel like an airhead.

But the discussion needs to be had with the doc, I will make an appointment.

Thanks for letting me vent.