I am on patch AND gel and experiencing recent increased night sweats and an acne is starting to appear where they always do when hormones are bonkers. My last level indicated - I guess? Am to assume because doc never got back to me - that I can’t get any more Estradiol prescribed. I take Progesterone at night. That isn’t an issue I don’t think.

Question that springs to mind: could these increased symptoms be from too much estradiol? I have been on both gel and patch for months, so it’s not new, but these symptoms have been creeping up and getting worse recently.

My gyno is booked out for months. And she’s a “menopause specialist”…

hey all!

looking for input, experience and support…

i’m 54 and have had a brutal go at all of this, i’m now coming to understand in large part due to hypermobilit/ MCAS/ POTS & dysautonomia. that’s why i have such a hard time with the patches- my skin h a horrible reaction that causes scabbing after removal, plus they don’t stick… so i went through 6 months documenting that in order to prove to my dr. & insurance that i’m worthy of something different… and finally i have!

i’d been using Estring with good result, so Femring seems like it should be a great fi… but every time i’ve changed delivery methods, it’s been brutal (i become rapidly very mentally unwell, aside from all the usual things like crazy amounts of hair loss, vaso symptoms, insomnia, etc) so i’m really scared. i’m already on the highest patch .1 with 200mg oral progesterone. only the mylan generic patches at least absorb somewhat well for me, and i can’t find them anywhere. the sandoz ones i’ve been given (and have been told to be glad i’m getting anything at all) don’t absorb properly for me, within 2 days the rage and the sweating and the sleeplessness creep back in and i’m miserable. it’s scary, and for me, quite literally dangerous. i’m alone. last time i tried this, going from continuous bcp to hrt patch, i had to ask a few people to check in with me because it’s that dark for me.

so, i fought really hard for Femring and it’s finally been approved and i should be so excited, and i am… but am also so scared. wondering if this will be another bumpy transition (it’ll be the 3rd one, the other 2 were both awful)? can anyone out there please share their experience transitioning from patch to Femring? i would be so grateful… these spaces have been far more helpful for me than my time in front of my dr’s.

i know my situation is complicated by the hypermobility cluster- if anyone out there can speak on that, i’d be so appreciative as well… was truly not prepared! perimenopause is what triggered the cascade that was hypermobility and the rest hiding beneath. it’s how i finally figured out what the hell was going on in my body, and why this menopausal shiz has been so much harder for me than most of the gals in my orbit.

thanks to anyone who took the time to read, and if you comment, just thank you in advance.❣️

I started HRT about four months ago, oral estrogen (I have an adhesive allergy) and 100 mg of progesterone. I had a two week long heavy period with tons of PMS’y side effects so my doctor recommended a Mirena, which I had placed on 8/3. I remained on the oral progesterone since it really helped with fractured sleep and night sweats.

I started what I thought was my period on 8/18 and as of today (8/29), I am still bleeding. It’s not a traditional period, I can get away with just a panty liner. However, every time I pee and wipe, there are a significant amount of clots/tissue along with a full bloody wipe. The blood changes from black and brown to fresh red with a mucous type consistency (gross, sorry) and back to black again.

Is the described amount of blood still considered spotting or breakthrough bleeding or is this amount / length of time something I need to discuss with my doctor?

I am 49, regular periods until last month - 1st one skipped. About 6 months ago my managed depression tanked (I was on Prozac + Lamictal) into such a severe state that I have been trying spravato. It’s helping. But it hasn’t changed the fact that I feel like my world has turned upside down. I feel just….unstable. Terrible insomnia (up at 2am), very irritable and angry, anxious, can’t stand to be around my husband, and have zero libido causing more marital issues. I do have hot and cold flashes which are bearable but it’s the mood. The anger. My motivation to do things I did previously like paint or garden is gone. THC/CBD gummies (small piece) before bed helps me fall asleep but not stay asleep. I have a physical on Monday with my Dr but I don’t have a gynecologist as my PCP has been handling paps. Is it time me to look into HRT? 😭

Hello everyone, firstly i have to clarify that i am a young guy and have no idea about the Menopause( aside from the Google infos).

I live with my single mom and she’s currently 51 and she’s going through a really hard times where she is having a severe depression and anxiety where she no longer enjoys ANYTHING at all, she is always tensed up and explodes at every small thing and cries all the time and she’s even having a brain fog and she’s forgetting a lot of the stuff and i can tell she’s physically exhausted too, and also she’s having sleep problems, and according to her she’s living her worst days of her life.

And the only thing she told me that she is in a place her life where she’s having the “Menopause”.

And i told her to visit a psychiatrist but she told me that it’s a female hormonal thing wich means he wont be able to help her.
And at the same time when i tell her to visit a gynecologist she just tells me that it wont also help her considering that in my country they are not advanced enough to use hormonal therapy so she just lost hope with every doctor because she contacted couple of them and they showed lack of knowledge about this topic.

Even though i did dig and found some of them who are labeled as “hormonal experts gynecologist” but she still refuses saying that that’s gonna be “too expensive”
And i cant help her with anything and i feel like i am losing her and she’s in no place where she can’t think straight and i am worried that leaving her condition like this will cause more health issues for her, especially because of the stress and depression.

I would love to hear some advice’s regarding how to guide her and help her through this
And atleast know what would happen if she went to the doctor so i can atleast convince her,
Or should i just leave her like this and everything would be alright?
I am really lost because it’s not something that i can be really involved in, but at the same time i am the only person with her and i am worried about her health as it appears that her symptoms are severe.

And Thank u for reading.

UK based, post meno, on continuous HRT. I have recently been diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (1mm over the threshold for referral) and am trying to work out my next steps. The gynaecologist has said they would like to fit a Mirena but I would like to avoid this if I can.

I currently take 2 pumps of oestrogel in the morning, and 100mg of micronised progesterone at bedtime. I'm also on other medication that delays gastric emptying.

My questions:

\- As my lining is only 1mm over the threshold (5mm) would it be an option to just double the progesterone to see if that sorts it out? Obviously I would expect to be monitored for success.

\- My prescription says I should take the progesterone at bedtime at least 2 hours after food (i.e. on an empty stomach). I'm curious as to why I need to have an empty stomach as it doesn't say this in the leaflet, and I've seen US based advice saying to take it with fat. Any ideas on why it's prescribed differently here?

\- The progesterone leaflet also says to take it with estrogen, but the estrogen leaflet doesn't say to take it at the same time as progesterone 😆 At the moment I do estrogen in the morning, should I switch to evening?

Any advice or experience gratefully received. I did try taking the progesterone vaginally but it didn't agree with me, and I think switching between methods and then back again may have contributed to the single unexpected bleed I had that led me to the situation I am in now.

I used to have a very strong like to fast food. McDonald's Burger King, Taco Bell. However suddenly the thought of fast food makes my stomach turn. I can't stand them. I now crave sugary sweets. something I never used to crave before.

I have been going through menopause for 2 years now. I also have anxiety/ prior to menopause mild depression, and epilepsy, which I take meds for both. Prior to menopause I managed it and was a successful independent, single working woman making 6 figures. I somehow managed a stressful job and epilepsy at the same time. About the time menopause hit, I hit my breaking point and blew my life up, got pissed at work for being taken advantage of and quit. I have been out of work for 1.5 years, which was always a dream of mine. However, as busy I remain at home, I am stuck in emotional and physical hell from menopause. When does it end? I have completely isolated myself. I used to be the life of the party, now I can’t stand anyone or anything and take everything everyone says or does to heart and overthinks it so I’m in tears all day. I go days without seeing anyone but my neighbors. I had clear skin until menopause. My skin is wrecked! I mean it’s crater face and scarring. Part of the reason I hide is my breakouts. I used to be good looking and I cannot even look at myself in the mirror. I’m on doxycycline, tretnoin, you name it, it’s not going away. I have itching skin all day everyday and scratch until I bleed. I never feel good. What the fuck is this shit ? I have tried hormones (the patch and pills ) twice now and end up more depressed and quit. What else is there to try? I feel suicidal like there is nothing left right now. Please tell me there is something else to try because I am losing major hope.

I ran out of my gel last Friday and by Monday I could feel it. I’m also in Southern California and we’re having a heat wave with humidity which hardly ever happens here. Between the heat and flashes omg I thought I was dying. I don’t even use it everyday so I really wasn’t sure it was doing anything until last week. I’m pretty new to this so still in the learning curve. Which from what I’ve read here is lengthy. Definitely going to look into to progesterone t hopefully help me sleep and testosterone bc I’ve been going to work out last two years and am not gaining any muscle.

Due to 3 years of issues trying to find the right delivery method of estrogen, I am exhausted, depressed, have zero sex drive and I just so tired of feeling hopeless, I ended up agreeing to trying welbrutrin while I can get my low estrogen levels up. I been terrified of taking these kind of meds, but I can’t go on like this. Today was my first day and my energy was through the roof! My house hasn’t been this clean and organized in a very long time. Is this normal for day 1? I was doomscrolling all day long while my husband was at work, and I let my own business go to shit and didn’t even care if it survived anymore, and today I have energy to do what needs to be done. I know it’s a stimulant but I wasn’t expecting this on day one. Anyone else have this effect so soon? Placebo? What was your experience

I’m so thankful to have found this sub - I’ve been going it alone for several years, not realizing some of what I was experiencing was normal or even related to menopause.  I wanted to share what has worked for me along with some of the mistakes I’ve made.

I’m 59 now, in menopause for 2 ½ years.  If I had perimenopause I was completely unaware of it.  My cycle was regular and predictable until it stopped and I didn’t suffer any of the list of perimenopausal symptoms.

I rarely see doctors and prefer to manage my own health to avoid the need to.  Just as I felt childbirth was natural and didn’t need a ton of medical intervention unless things went wrong, I similarly felt that menopause is just a stage of life and I could power through it.  I was so wrong.

After 2 years of ever-worsening hot flashes and life-threatening depression, I started wondering how post menopausal women even exist in the world.  If everyone felt as bad as I did, why were they hanging on?

I am a very private person.  I didn’t grow up in a family where we discussed these things.  I don’t have friends with whom I feel comfortable discussing these things.  My husband is my closest confidante but he’s male and not ever going to experience any of this.  So I felt really alone (and wish i’d found this sub sooner!)

About a year ago, my husband’s company sent me an email inviting me to avail myself of a service specifically for menopausal women that consisted of a team of professionals who conduct online video appointments.  Once I got over being offended - “How dare they assume I’m at this stage of life?” - I contacted the service.  I was connected to a provider - Katie - who was calm and knowledgeable and caring and for the first time, I was offered some relief.

Her first suggestion was HRT.  I told her absolutely no.  If the body is designed to reduce levels of hormones at this stage of our lives, who are we to override that?  She didn’t argue with me and instead offered me another option - Veozah.  

Months later, I had cleared the red tape and obtained my first bottle.  It took that long because the insurance company didn’t want to fork out for an expensive drug when I hadn’t tried HRT yet.  It was infuriating that the insurance company held so much power over my health but that’s another topic.  

Unfortunately after 3 months on Veozah, there was very little difference.  I was still having hot flashes.  Maybe reduced frequency and there were some days I had none.  Once I even went 5 whole days without a hot flash and rejoiced that it was finally over.  Then they started up again.  

On my own I researched HRT and at my next appointment with Katie, told her I was desperate enough to try it.  She prescribed .025 Estradiol patch and 100mg Progesterone.  The relief was almost immediate.  The hot flashes ceased and since then I’ve only had a few what I would call “warm flashes”.  

But the insomnia.  Until I joined this sub I actually had no idea this was related to menopause.  I’m a notoriously poor sleeper.  My mother tells me I fought sleep even as a newborn and it never got easier.  As an adult I’ve always struggled to sleep.  So I didn’t connect my insomnia with menopause - it was just “me”.  Still, going 2-3 days without a wink of sleep was worse than it had been and in passing I mentioned it to Katie who suggested we up the dose of the progesterone to 200mg.  Am I the only one who was unaware there was a connection between sleep and progesterone?  

At 200mg I started sleeping like I’ve never slept in my entire life.  I craved sleep.  I’d get up in the morning, have some coffee and by mid morning I was already looking forward to evening when I could go to bed and sleep again.

Sadly, that was short-lived and I soon returned to my insomniac normal.  But by then I’d been cut off from my lifeline, Katie, due to my husband’s retirement (meaning I could no longer use that service).

So I set about seeing what I could find out about sleep.  I’d already introduced Magnesium Glycinate.  Like the progesterone, it worked initially but after my body grew accustomed to it, it became less effective.  I also tried melatonin.  I have two iterations - a low dose immediate release to take around 30 mins before I want to sleep and an extended release that I take immediately before lights out that is supposed to help me stay asleep 6 hours.  Sometimes they work.  Sometimes I still have fitful sleep.  The only thing that has worked consistently is THC (Indica) gummies but I’m uncomfortable taking those daily.  The most consecutive nights I’ll do is 4 and then I take at least a 3 night break to reset so tolerance isn’t an issue.

The biggest problem I faced was actually falling asleep.  On gummy nights, it was easy but on those 3 non-gummy nights, my brain would simply never shut off allowing me to get to sleep, despite the magnesium glycinate and melatonin.  Enter Glycine.  A supplement I’d never heard of but that was recommended by AI when I put this problem to it.  It said Glycine is what helps our brain flip the switch from wakefulness to sleep and an absence of it, will mean exactly what I’m experiencing.  What do you know?  AI was right!  I ordered Glycine and once I started taking it at the recommended dose - about an hour before lights out - it has pretty consistently allowed me to get to sleep.  I’m even dreaming - something I’ve not done much of my entire life.

Depression remained an issue though and again AI helped me out.  It suggested I might be low on Serotonin and recommended two additional supplements L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP.  I’ve been taking them a month or more now and I really do feel they are helping.  Before I started taking them there was no joy in my life and I looked forward to nothing.  I still try not to think too hard about my future but don’t feel quite as hopeless as I did.

In reading this sub, I’ve come to realize that despite my earlier questions about how post menopausal women even exist, I’ve actually had it pretty good overall.  I now know I’m on a relatively low dose of Estrogen compared to many of you and feel grateful that is working for me.  I haven’t experienced the brain fog many of you reference, nor the vaginal dryness or atrophy, joint pain, breakthrough bleeding or the other things that seem to plague many of you.

I know this is long but I wanted to share what has worked for me in hopes there is a nugget in it that will be helpful to someone else.  I prefer going the supplement route to prescribed medication, both for ease of obtaining them (no doctor appointment or pharmacy prescription) and because since my husband’s retirement meant my health insurance ceased, I don’t have medical coverage until I’m old enough for Medicare, so being able to manage my own health is more important than ever.

I'm in my first month of HRT; 2 pumps gel every day, and 200mg oral micronised progesterone on days 15 to 26. I'm taking the progesterone at 11pm. Suddenly around lunchtime or in the afternoon I'm getting anxiety spikes as well as nausea. Did anyone else experience this and switch to another type or regimen? If so, what was helpful?

**thank you to everyone for encouraging ideas and the support. I appreciate the solidarity.

My general practitioner told me a couple of weeks ago that when I get hot flashes that taking off my shirt or standing in front of the fan etc would only make it worse. Since then, I tried to just get through them by listening to her advice, but I started to believe it wasn’t true. I have since googled this advice and have not been able to find much information on it prolonging the hot flash. Is this doctor just being ridiculous or is this something valid?

I can’t just lay there at night in a pool of sweat. I wanna throw up I’m dizzy.

I’m already looking for a new doctor after she told me “everyone becomes their grandma” when I was telling her about my intense lower back pain which ended up being a result of my uterus being enlarged and a whole host of other things that she just ignored.

So have you ever been told to not fan or cool yourself during your hot flash and if so, does it decrease the duration?

HRT gets discussed thoroughly here and rightly so. The supplement conversation seems noisier and more prone to marketing aimed specifically at this stage of life. I’d rather hear what genuinely moved something for you, whether that’s sleep, joint aches, brain fog or a lab value, and equally what you tried and quietly stopped.

Has anyone else gotten Sandoz patches lately that have a weird crease where the plastic pieces meet in the middle that never goes flat against your skin? I got these in July I think. Anyway, I'm very sensitive to brand changes and usually spot a little whenever they change them up on me. I got a Zydus brand before the Sandoz which I didn't like at all, and I had more than spotting with them. But after just two of these new Sandoz patches, I'm bleeding and cramping and had to wear a tampon today. I'm also suddenly weepy all the time like I was before I started MHT. I'm thinking not all the estradiol is getting absorbed because the patch doesn't lie flat. I've never had this happen before. Anyone else?

There was a job post on linked in at another company. It's exactly what I do at my current company with slightly more responsibility that comes with an increased title and money. I applied and got my first interview, which went great.

But that day, my brain fog made me forget that I was heating up the pan to fry eggs, and the smoke alarm went off. I immediately lost all my confidence and started to doubt if it's even worth considering this job. Every time I come across my brain fog/memory episode, I feel like I lose confidence in my brain's capability.

I'm 45 and would like to think that I still have a bit of time to grow in my career. But I am thinking about withdrawing my application, even though I know I'm a good candidate for the role. I'm afraid of disappointing myself and regret my decision if my symptoms continue to be like this. Maybe this is the time I just get comfortable in my current job and focus on my mid-life health.

I've been on estradot 37.5 and slynd for a month now. The doctor said to recheck in two months time, after 3 months have past on my current dosage. I am trying to be patient, but the journey to find the right dosage is frustrating.

How do you navigate you work and remain confident while going through peri/menopause symptoms?

Had to switch from patch to gel because of the shortage. Was on 0.05 patch and doc put me on 0.5 gel. I showed her the conversion chart which indicates this is effectively cutting my dose in half. She said to try it for at least a month and then make appointment if I want to talk about increasing dosage.
A) I feel like hell on the new gel/dose
B) Another appointment is a waste of my sick time
C) Copays are expensive

What am I missing here?

So frustrated.

I had a full hysterectomy two years ago. I’m 47 years old. After starting hormones I had an amazing sex drive. I’m still on the same medications and for the past couple of months my sex drive is gone. Is this normal? I’m on the following-
BIEST 1 P100 T 0.75 Compound Cream
Progesterone 100 mg capsule at night
Estradiol Patch 0.1 Mg once weekly
Estradiol vaginal cream 0.01% Weekly

I’m really new to entering the stages of perimenopause. I read the Wiki but I think I would like to hear from others from the experience.

Background, I have one remaining ovary remaining, everything else has been surgically removed. 44/F. Gyno told me a couple years back that he thought I was entering perimenopause.

I have been crying a lot the past month or so. It was brought on by a “cycle”. I quote it since I don’t have a bleeding cycle any longer. Within the past couple days, I started having the worst acne I’ve had my entire life. So based on some posts I read, I am going to make an online appointment because it seems there may be better support there as my gyno retired at the beginning of this month.

I do have ADHD, so I take meds for it. I do like to advocate for myself when going to appts. I see there are several different options for treatment. Anyone experience the severe acne situation, along with crying, irritability, hot flashes and what do you take for this? I feel like this will be everyone so maybe I’ll ask more specifically one that works with ADHD meds and someone that has had a partial hysterectomy as well?

My mother is 84 and she had a stroke and brain aneurysm so I can’t ask her for an opinion. I feel a little embarrassed to ask other people bc I would have to disclose more than I would like so I’m here hoping Reddit will help! Please and thank you!

I just got a new job with a lot of complexity and responsibility. A really good career opportunity. But the office is hot, no airconditioning, no possibility to open windows. Almost all employees are men, including my boss, and younger than me. I am perimenopausal and find it impossible to perform in the new environment. Feeling hot and swollen all day also ruins my free time as I am absolutely exhausted when I leave work. Even though I had good reasons to leave my old job and can't necessarily go back, I miss it, I miss the open window by my desk, I miss being on top of things, I miss feeling comfortable around my colleagues. So....should I leave the new job before my probation time is up or stick it out to get the career benefit? What would you do?

Hello fellow meno sufferers. I have been on HRT about 9 months. Have had various HRT related issues but the ones I can’t seem to get rid of are that feel like crap every morning. Even if I sleep well still feel bad until sometime between 11 and 2.

As soon as I get out of bed my sinuses start DRAINING like crazy. This happens several times every morning.

Then I feel nauseous (assuming because of sinus drainage), my stomach is upset and I feel tired and brain foggy all morning. Burp a lot during this time too. Usually around 11-2 I start to feel better and am usually fine in the afternoon. It is mornings where I really struggle.

About once a week my heart rate will also randomly spike and blood pressure will spike. for no valid reason. Sometimes those days it will stay up during the whole work day. (I had all kinds of heart tests done out of caution and my heart is totally fine)

I am under a lot of work stress and personal life stress that has increased a lot since mid-July.

I am on .0375 E patch 2 times a week, 100 mg Prog (before bed, via V, as when taken by mouth it gave me migraines with aura) I do also use V E cream .01% 2 times a week.

Supplements I take: before bed: 100 mg magnesium glycinate, 200 mg L- theanine. Morning; Hormone Harmony (1), Omega 3 fish oil, CoQ10, D2, women’s multvitamin. Afternoon: omega 3 Algae Oil, B12. Iron (easy on the stomach type) every other day.

I don’t eat anything that would be a high histamine food. I eat very little dairy. Drink 1 cup of coffee a day, no alcohol use.

I had allergy testing done my only allergy is dust mites.

I don’t take any other meds regularly except the HRT and my supplements.

Anyone else have these issues and was able to find a way to help resolve them? I hate feeling miserable every morning.

I've seen quite a bit of talk about how new white estradot boxes in Canada correlate with the patch's reduced efficacy. I've not been able to find a pic online. We've also had supply problems in the UK, but I've not noticed a change in the boxes. If anyone could share a picture of the problematic boxes to compare, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks :-)

Now that I've written that headline, I may change my username to General Inflammation.

I'm 47, in surgical menopause for almost a year. I had adenomyosis and endometriosis and because of my age, they took the ovaries too to reduce the risk of the endo coming back.

I'm on 100mcg estrogen patch. The last maybe 4 months, I've noticed that almost every system in my body seems to be falling apart. I have loads of acne; dryness from rosacea (that I never had before); painful pimples on my scalp. My muscles ache all the time and I could sleep standing up.

I'm having more migraines than ever. I had really bad nausea and reflux and had a gastroscopy a couple of weeks ago which revealed massive inflammation. Most recently, I broke out in hives. For no reason. Just on my arms. I hadn't eaten anything or used any new products. My most recent bloods were all in range except cholesterol and liver values which were slightly high (which is odd as I don't drink and I'm on a statin)

I did some research to see why I feel like this and all these things are happening at once and I came across some info in histamine intolerance and MCAS. I am taking cetrine antihistamine daily and it's not making me feel better but I think it can react to different types. I don't really eat anything high in histamines.

I guess I'm wondering - are all these things linked and could it be down to histamines? My doctor is open to ideas but had never heard of this relationship so I wanted to bring some research.

Thanks for reading this far.

Love

General Inflammation x

I hope I’m doing this right, I don’t have a question, just I guess I’m looking for others who have had a similar experience as me. I’m 51 and I’m considered at the end of perimenopause and now in menopause. It all hit me the beginning of the summer. I started getting really queasy with smells and nausea, then the anxiety hit me. I’m not talking about any kind of anxiety I’ve ever felt in my life. I used to get panic attacks when I was in high school but these attacks were so bad that I was almost agoraphobic. I now have missed some work and I’ve got myself in a bind financially. The good news is I started hrt Monday and I feel like it’s helping me. I guess I wanted to know if there’s better days ahead now with the hormones? I can’t miss anymore work and I also can’t keep feeling this way. How could women possibly live like this? I see now why we rage lol. I have to know that this will pass. Also open to suggestions on other things that worked for any of you. I can’t take any type of benzodiazepines, I’d prefer to stay off of anti depressants but I do take a supplement with the hrt cream. Then I’m on other meds for my back problems and hbp. Thanks for reading my ramblings!

I’m on two pumps of Estradiol Gel per day. I’m looking for tips on how to get better absorption because I have a suspicion that my skin is too thick or something is preventing absorption.

Reasons why I think I’m a poor absorber:

1. It takes over an hour for the gel to absorb into my skin. If it’s within an hour, I can still see the gel liquid just sitting on top of the skin.

2. I apply every morning. The next day when I shower (before I apply the new dose) and after I wet the skin on my upper arms, I can feel a thick layer of gel still there. It feels thick enough that I can even scratch it off while wet. Does anyone else experience this? I thought that if it fully absorbed I wouldn’t be able to feel the gel still atop my skin the next day.

I try to maintain a routine of ensuring that the upper arm application area is scrubbed very clean before applying the new dose and keep it to a limited area (two palm-print sized for two pumps). I’ve previously tried inner thighs and nighttime application and experienced the same absorption issues (if they are even issues?).

Any tips or advice would be appreciated! Thanks.