Why is my estrogen not working the same the second time taking it?

I was on oral estradiol 1mg and slynd for a month and had to go off of it for 2 months. I had insane belly bloating that was so uncomfortable. 4 days on the hrt and the belly was gone! Amazing.

But now I'm back on it starting 2 weeks ago in addition to vaginal estrogen. Well the belly bloat came back and it's actually getting worse each day.

Why is it different this time around, could it be the vaginal estrogen? I know that it can take up to 3 months to see results but I'm just confused why the timing of results has changed. I'm panicking and worried that the bloating won't go away this time. Like I missed my chance😔 Has this happened to anyone else? Will it eventually improve like the first time I took it?

So I got covid in the summer whilst in Mexico and since being back I get these awful internal vibrations head to toe and only usually at night. I woke the first time thinking it was a seizure but when I put my hand out my body was not moving but I felt like I was in the electric chair it was ridiculous.

I've noticed it is significantly worse in the 2 weeks before my period but that alcohol makes it absolutely horrific. I had 3 glasses of prosecco last night and woke at 5am like I was a giant phone buzzing.

Does anyone else find alcohol does this?

I feel like I'm in turmoil. I'm 38 and 6 months ago I removed my IUD. Since then my periods returned with a whole spectrum of symptoms that look like peri. My cycles are shorter, I get night sweats, extreme anxiety and fatigue, aura migraines, ringing ears, itchy ears, itchy skin, depression, heart palpitations, drops in blood pressure. It's a mess.

However I'm now finding that when my period ends and eostrogen is rising I'm dropped onto what I think is histamine intolerance. I get nausea with every meal, acid reflux, brain fog that feels like ants are running round my brain, headaches, tummy pains, loose bowel movements and itchy skin. I've spoken to the gp many times over these 6 months and they've done lots of bloods for the usual things (thyroid, iron, bc, liver, kidney etc) I've had colonoscopy and endoscopy, all clear. Test coeliac and ibs, all clear. Go also done 2 hornone panels, all normal. (Which i know isn't reliable)

Is anyone else dealing with this? I've been in and out of work on sick leave. I've 2 young kids that have seen me spend more time in bed than I'd care to admit. I'm not able to live like this. Should I be pushing for hrt? Should I go in birth control and just suppress ovulation completely? I mean 2 days before my period arrived the brain fog cleared, my appetite was great and my energy was great. There's definitely a connection to ovulation/eostrogen. I never had any issues with my cycle in my life. And I've never had any allergies. My body had become completely foreign to me over night. Any advice? Positive stories? I'm at a loss.

(48f, UK ) I’ve had various tendon and ligament issues for the past 4 years - things just don’t heal / recover properly.

Worse affected has been my ankles - loose retinacula causing peroneals to slip forwards a little and rub on the bone.

Orthopaedics say I’m hypermobile (2024) haematology says I’m not (2023); osteopath (who knows my body well) says there is ligament laxative in some joints.
Dynamic ultrasound has confirmed the loose retinacula and the excess peroneal movement. GP also stated I had hypermobility.

I thought HRT would help with this (and loads of other stuff). 11 days in, it was fab for the other stuff but both ankles have localised tendon pain and swelling and are unstable.

There is no other reason I can think of for this and my ‘research’ tells me this can be a thing. (!)

However, I cannot find reference to it in the literature my GP referred me to

I’ve stopped the HRT for now (3 Patches (50mcg)) in because I’ve read the Progesterone part could be even more damaging.

Has anyone else been through this?

Is the damage reversible? (AI says it is, but AI says some things that I KNOW are not correct!)

Any supplements that could help improve things more quickly?

I’m 38. My period has always been relatively normal and usually lasts 5-6 days. My last few cycles I’m only bleeding for about 3 days. The first day is normal amount of blood and then it basically just tapers off over the next two days to nothing. My cycle has remained the same and is consistently 26-29 days as it’s always been.

Is this normal for 38? Did this happen with anyone else? Is this perimenopause? Lol. I’ve been feeling off for months now, major ramped up anxiety and brain fog although I also have adhd, but nothing about my actual cycle had changed until now.

Hey all,

I am in my first cycle of HRT and I’m using the gel and 200mg progesterone from day 15 to day 26.

It has been 7 days since I stopped my progesterone and I am still not bleeding, no cramping and nothing to suggest that I’m due for a bleed.

I can’t even provide you with any idea of what my cycle looked like before starting HRT because I’ve been on the pill for 30 years and frequently skipped my period.

I had a bleed when coming off the pill before starting HRT to form my day 1 so it looks like I’m still able to bleed.

My question for you all is, how long did it take you to have your first bleed on your first cycle of HRT?

Also, I’m 46yo and my mum didn’t hit menopause until 56yo so I’m not expecting to be done this young.

Also, I would like to also celebrate that I’m now sleeping through the night as my vasomotor symptoms seem to have resolved in the last 5 weeks of HRT. 🥳

Thank you all in advance. I’d love to hear about all of your experiences.

Had some spotting after sex a few months ago. Ultrasound said likely polyp. Had one a week ago and it didn’t show anything but I was on my period so I’m thinking that wasn’t the best idea. Last night I moved some couches and then started bleeding heavily like I’m on my period again. AI says the lifting irritated the polyp. If you’ve had polyps what was your bleeding like?

I’ve been on HRT a little over a month, and my temperature is much more regulated through the night, and I can finally sleep much better. I recently found out my dad carries the BRCA gene. I’m afraid to tell my doctor, cause I’m concerned she’ll take me off HRT. I’m afraid to even get tested, cause if I carry it, she’ll see it in my records. Does anyone carry the BCRA gene, and if so, does your doctor know and still prescribe you HRT?

I’m soon 48, have my periods still and was put on bc 1,5 yrs ago for suspected peri symptoms.

My period has diminished to 2-3 days from prior 5-6. I decided to test what happens if I stop the bc pill.

Damn the night sweats and hot flashes came quickly back and I didn’t even remember how terrible it was! Tossing and turning all f’n night. Needless to say I’m back on the pill and it seems they really work for at least this symptom for me.

This is to those wondering where to start. Bc might be a good idea and you cam still track your period. At least give it a shot, if your Dr. and you agree on that.

I’m still tired af and considering changing to HRT but just wanted to share that this might be of help on the early stages.

Much love to all!🩵

Peri menopause symptoms help!

Help!! Luteal phase

So I had my doctor appt yesterday. She raised my estrogen cream a bit. My estrogen level is low.

I need some advice. My luteal phase is bad again. Nausea, bloat, digestion issues, major fatigue, migraines. I know most of you remember how this felt when you had these symptoms. Any advice?!

I am in the process of switching to defy but its a process and will take time. In the meantime I need all the tips you have please!!

Hi all, first thank you to all who responded to my last post. I went to my pcp and he thinks i may have perimenopause.
I have a question about fatigue. With peri hpw bad can the fatigue get? I have multiple times a week where i am sleeping 13-15 hrs and the other days i sleep a lot. I feel like the hot flashes and sweating wears me out a lot. The night sweats also causes me to wake up a lot so im very tired the next morning. Thank you for any responses.

For me it’s not so much the perimenopause symptoms themselves, but the hormonal instability affecting other health issues I have.

Previously well-managed issues have become unstable and difficult to manage for the last 11 months. I’ve had several hospital visits, I was already on disability leave but now I’m requiring extra home supports. I’m missing most family events and in a lot of pain. I wake up very sweaty but also too dizzy and weak to shower without assistance.

I started HRT and it helped somewhat but my quality of life is still drastically reduced. My bloodwork shows very wide estrogen fluctuations, very high at times and very low at others. I had a hysterectomy so I don’t have periods as an indicator.

My doctor said this stage can last for 2 to 10 years. I truly don’t think I would survive 10 years of this, I’m already pretty frail and have 2 major surgeries on the docket for the coming 6 months.
I don’t know how I can survive recovery plus just feeling so extra shitty from peri.

How do you survive having serious medical issues + perimenopause making them increasingly hard to manage?

For most people how long does the severe fluctuations last? I just turned 40 but had a complicated hysterectomy 2 years ago that seems to have triggered early perimenopause.

Oook, about a year and a half in I just discovered the easiest way to remove patch reside. After a shower, run gently with a dry towel and it comes off! 🙀

Just came back from an emergency room visit for the whole day for e tremely heavy bleeding for 2 days. Losing about 100 ml a day (i use a 20 ml cup). Usually i will need to change the cup once every 16-24 hours last two days i jave needed to change it 5 times a day. Soaking through pads in under 2 hours. They did blood tests and pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound. Everything is spectacularly good in the scan. No fibroid, no cycst not a single polyp. Uterus lining at 4 mm. Doctors said they dont know what is causing it... they didnt seem to take it as seriously. Sent me home qith tranexamic acid prescription. Told me i will have to lose twice the blood then they can give me blood transfusion.

I have been on HRT since jan .075 patch, 200 mg progestrone and 6 mg testosterone gel. I also needed an iron infusion in june and that literally rwmoved all my cognitive and fatigue symptoms.

I had normal 4 day period and a it was looking like it is ending i suddenly started getting this heavy bright red bleeding with m3dium to big sized clots. I must be in follicular phase. This seems to me like a massive estrogen spike from my ovaries. Incidentally, around the same time the clotted bleeding started i started feeling amazing, huge dopamine hit, got a ton of work done because of that. This usually happens for me on higher estrogen levels. Last ultrasound few months ago was absolutely clear too.

I cant do iud's and HRT has been life changing. My last doctor added 100 mg progestrone vaginally for me along with the 200 mg oral. I didnt start because my bleeding eqs very light and zero spotting last month. I have that extra. But the doctor left and my current doctor canceled the extra 100 vaginally progestrone saying there is no reason for that.

What are my options if this doesnt resolve. My gynae left too so i need to call and book with someone new.

Haven’t had a period in 2 months. Guess what I just got?! Yep. I feel too old to still be getting my period. Any other 52 year olds still getting it?😫

So it seems likely my face has become so sensitive. Every cleanser, serum, lotion, etc I’ve tried burns. Like the 00’s noxema “it’s burning so it’s working” burning with redness. I also have one flaky dry eyelid?! And my face just feels so so so dry, even with thick nighttime moisturizers. Other than a bit of hormonal acne my skin has been pretty chill but dang the past few months. I have a Derm appointment but not until December (and that was to address my back/butt-ne 🫠). Any recommendations for tried-and-true super gentle products I can try that aren’t outrageously priced?

Can anyone share the changes you’ve experienced with your digestive system during perimenopause?

I’m 41 and over the past year I noticed an overall increase in my gassiness. Lately I’ve started to have more bowel movements as well. No constipation or diarrhea, and no pain or bleeding. Just trying to gauge how much other peri women have been affected similarly, and what might help.

I’m 41 and started HRT a month ago for all the mental healthy symptoms and intermittent hot flushes. My periods were always regular prior to starting it.
I’ve been one 1 pump estrogel and cyclic progesterone 200mg for 12 days. I took my last dose of progesterone 7 days ago and haven’t had a withdrawal bleed - why? I’ve been having all the period symptoms, like crankiness/lower back pain/ mild cramps but no bleeding. I just don’t really understand.
Before when I took progesterone only,
As soon as I stopped that I got a withdrawal bleed within 3 days.

I'm currently on the .75 patch. My dosage was increased 9 weeks ago from .50 to .75. I actually feel worse. I still have my periods although the are sporadic. Has anyone experienced this? My symptoms are worse, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, and mood swings! All comments are welcomed!

Need experience please. I'm having my first period since starting Estradiol and having a IUD placed. I'm having an awful period... I am having cramps daily and it is dragging out soooo slowly over the past week. Nothing about this is my normal. Is this common and does it get better? I have so many less symptoms of perimenospause, but it has been traded for a horrendous period. This isn't a good trade off so far.

For a couple of years now I’ve been (more often than not) waking up at 3:30AM. It wasn’t too bad, I’d go eat a snack and go right back to sleep, but there was a definite need to get up and move rather than just roll over and go back to sleep. I’ve tried various doses of Magnesium glycinate, glycinate on its own, l-theanine, and a combination of the 3. It’s gotten to where if I don’t take magnesium glycinate at night, I’ll stay awake longer. I’ve been seeing a pelvic pain specialist for a long time now for nerve pain on my inner labia and a few weeks ago the NP at that office prescribed me .5 gram of vaginal estrogen cream twice a week for vaginal dryness. I don’t remember if it started before or after I started the cream, but I started waking up at 1:45 AND 4AM and both wakings come with knee aches. These knee aches only occur in the middle of the night. The night before last I was awake from 1:45-4:30. Last night I decided to try half of a trazodone from a left over prescription my oldest child had a couple of years ago (he hasn’t take them in forever). I slept better than I had in ages. I’m now worried about needing a sleep aid in order to sleep through the night. I don’t know what the long term effects will be and I’m upset and worried about this whole thing in general. I have an OB appointment coming up soon and I plan on bringing it up. Life just isn’t fair.

Skin aging overnight

Does anyone else feel like their body is aging almost overnight? Im 55, still in perimenopause and it seems like the skin on my arms and legs is falling of my bones all of a sudden? Even on my forearms the skini just hanging like out of nowhere. It's really starting to freak me out. Is this because I'm on my way to real menopause? I have had a period since May of this year. Now I understand why older women cover up so much. The sad thing is that I've been working out and getting at much stronger, but now I feel embarrassed about my body all over again. And don't even get me started on my neck. That too, is suddenly wrinkled now when I'm just sitting. I want to cry.

How do you handle irregular periods when you are on HRT tied to your cycle? Do I need to call my doctor? Like most doctors he doesn't really know that much about menopause and I'm just grateful he has been good about bioidentical hormone replacement.

I am 47 and have had peri symptoms for two years but up until a few months ago was still very regular. Then I had two periods within three weeks and no period for two and a half months. Finally got my bleed again today. My progesterone is tied to days of my cycle, though, and I have no idea whether I'm supposed to keep taking it when I'm late or not. And do people normally use vaginal estrogen cream during their bleed still? There is no indication otherwise on the label but that seems strange.

How long did others deal with the irregularity? I was kind of hoping after the 2.5 months that would be it but apparently not.

Has anyone experienced foods they normally like not tasting good? Many foods are blah to me now because the flavor either sucks or just isn’t that good. It’s hard to figure out what to eat when you don’t like anything. Btw, I have never been a picky eater in any way. I’ve always liked most foods and am open to trying new things.

Is this even a symptom of peri? Will it go away eventually? Is there anything I can do about it?

I’ve been doing pretty well on 2 pumps Estrogel and 200 mg progesterone for several months now. Had a hysterectomy last year for fibroids but still have ovaries (I just turned 50). Things have been pretty level with a few spikes in symptoms here and there that I figured was my ovaries doing their thing now and again. But for weeks now my boobs have been sore - specifically my nipples, as in like even wearing a bra is uncomfortable. I chalked it up to too much estrogen so have been doing 1 pump of E gel per day, but they are still super sore, and to top it off now my left eye is twitching nonstop and my eyes are super duper dry. I get that my ovaries might still act like I’m cycling, but this has lasted a few weeks so I’m super confused. Maybe I should stop the E altogether for now?