u/rosemary_charles

F48 postmeno. Currently .075 E patch and 100 P oral. All the supplements (magnesium, ashwaghanda, etc).

I started HRT a few years ago and I did well for awhile. Although, now looking back at my post history and messages to my doc, things were never perfect. But I felt better than I do now. And that's partly my fault. My estrogel that I had been taking seemed to stop working for me at the beginning of the year and my gyno put me on the patch. Well, nothing has felt right since. Again...have to take some blame here.

Over the last three months I've gone up to 200 and back down to 100 progesterone. I've been on .05 E patch that I have tried to go up on a couple of times and after a few days felt like it was too much and went back down. As of this morning my gyno wants me on .075 E patch and 100 P oral for two months straight, no changes, and then we will revisit. So, I have to get through the next two months, stay out of my head, and just deal with the ups and downs. Period. That's it. And I understand. It's like being told to stop picking...and I'm a picker.

I have been told so many times to stay out of head and I do try. But I have a really hard time not noticing body symptoms. I have PTSD and a lot of my meno issues trigger my anxiety and depression. I haven't adjusted any of my anxiety/depression meds since I started HRT and I think it might be time. Of course that is going to take some adjustment.

I know this isn't forever. I know that better does exist. But I need some support. I'm having a hard time. I'm trying so hard to do all the right things but even then, it's not going to guarantee success. I could really use some support. If there is anyone who has had to tweak the anxiety/dep meds, I would love to hear good news. I will take any good news right now.

48 post. Was doing well til around January w 2 pumps E and 100 P. Was having break through symptoms so I went up to 200 P and then about 2 months later doc realized I’d stopped absorbing my E gel and I was put on patches. So within two months both E and P changed.

I’m on .05 twice a week E patch. I’ve tried to go up twice to .075 but immediately sore boobs and mood changes so went back to .05.

Current symptoms on .05 E patch and 200 P — so tired I will literally cry. Depression and anxiety. Dizziness. Sometimes anger. Sleep still kind of shitty. Motivation so low.

So last night I decided to go back to 100 P to see if that helped. I have been on 200 for 4 months. 100 is the dosage I had tolerated well for years. Last night was sweaty to say the least but that’s normal right? First night lowering P…I should give it a few days right to see it level?

I’m just looking for some support until this gets figured out. It’s worked before. Surely it will again right??

Edited to add: My doc has given me permission to experiment with these changes. I just don’t think she wants a daily check in.

48 post. Was doing well til around January w 2 pumps E and 100 P. Was having break through symptoms so I went up to 200 P and then about 2 months later doc realized I’d stopped absorbing my E gel and I was put on patches. So within two months both E and P changed.

I’m on .05 twice a week E patch. I’ve tried to go up twice to .075 but immediately sore boobs and mood changes so went back to .05.

Current symptoms after two months .05 E patch and 4 months 200 P — so tired I will literally cry. Depression and anxiety. Dizziness. Sometimes anger. Sleep still kind of shitty. Motivation so low.

So last night I decided to go back to 100 P to see if that helped. I have been on 200 for 4 months. 100 is the dosage I had tolerated well for years. Last night was sweaty to say the least but that’s normal right? First night lowering P…I should give it a few days right to see it level?

I’m just looking for some support until this gets figured out. It’s worked before. Surely it will again right??

Edited to add: My doc has given me permission to experiment with these changes. I just don’t think she wants a daily check in.

Went post meno August of last year. My HRT of 2 pumps E 100mg P had me level for almost 2 years. Averaged 8 hours sleep. Happy!!!

Jan something shifted and my sleep bottomed out. Gyn started tracking my labs, mood and sleep patterns. Increased P to 200 which I couldn’t handle at the beginning of HRT but this time seemed helpful. I started falling asleep better but wasn’t staying asleep.

Even tho I am post my doc noticed wild exceedingly high and incredibly low E which made her think I had stopped absorbing my gel correctly. So was switched to patch. A week on .075 my boobs were so sore and went down to .05.

I’ve been on that for a month now but I’m still waking up for around an hour every night and toss/turn the rest of the time. And I’m angry, very short temper. And I’m sad. I feel burned out and hopeless. Mood swings. I just feel like my overall mode keeps going down.

I’m taking this whole weekend off to rest to see if that helps. But my mind keeps going back to my E. Do I need to go down more?? Is it worth experimenting? Are the patches not working/absorbing correctly like the gel? Can we just get injectable E so we know our dose???

What would you do? I haven’t been this turned around in years!!

FYI: I do therapy. Exercise. Meditate. Take magnesium, ashwaghanda, supplements. Have a sleep schedule.

Went post meno August of last year. My HRT of 2 pumps E 100mg P had me level for almost 2 years. Averaged 8 hours sleep. Happy!!!

Jan something shifted and my sleep bottomed out. Gyn started tracking my labs, mood and sleep patterns. Increased P to 200 which I couldn’t handle at the beginning of HRT but this time seemed helpful. I started falling asleep better but wasn’t staying asleep.

Even tho I am post my doc noticed wild exceedingly high and incredibly low E which made her think I had stopped absorbing my gel correctly. So was switched to patch. A week on .075 my boobs were so sore and went down to .05.

I’ve been on that for a month now but I’m still waking up for around an hour every night and toss/turn the rest of the time. And I’m angry, very short temper. And I’m sad. I feel burned out and hopeless. Mood swings. I just feel like my overall mood keeps going down.

Edit to add: And my vagina has turned into tissue paper over night!! Dry and prone to tearing. I’ve had to start using vaginal E.

I’m taking this whole weekend off to rest to see if that helps. But my mind keeps going back to my E. Do I need to go down more?? Is it worth experimenting? Are the patches not working/absorbing correctly like the gel? Can we just get injectable E so we know our dose???

What would you do? I haven’t been this turned around in years!!

FYI: I do therapy. Exercise. Meditate. Take magnesium, ashwaghanda, supplements. Have a sleep schedule.

I was IBSD up until 38 when I went perimeno and flipped to IBSC. And I haven't really gotten this all down. Been doing well on Ibreslla for about a year. It kind of causes D for me but that is what I am used to. I'm used to feeling empty.

Recently had to switch my estrogen from gel to patch and my hormones all over the place...which upsets my guts. Last week I didn't have a BM for three days and so I took a full dose of Milk of Magnesia (Miralax doesn't work for me) and that cleaned me out Thursday. It was all day. Usually after I get things going again, they keep trucking along. But that hasn't happened this time. This is day three and I really haven't had any activity since Thursday.

My question: Does this need patience and time to let my body reset itself... just keep hydrating, taking my magnesium, super probiotic mixture, fiber supplement until the ship is righted?

Or, do I do another big dose of MOM tonight and clean out tomorrow?

How long do you give yourself? What is your method for readjustment after a flare-up? How "constipated" do you let yourself get? I've always only waited til end of day 3. Only ever really had to.

FYI: I am gonna make an appt with my doc tomorrow just to get on the books in case this keeps happening. I had all my scopes 6 months ago and everything is fine, plumbing wise.

I’m new to the 2x a week patch. I’m on my fourth week and I have felt like things have been getting better, especially sleep. But since this last patch — 2 days in — I’ve felt a bit down and my sleep has been bad. I’m wondering if I put it in a place that isn’t absorbing as well.

I placed it on the fatty area a couple of inches below my belly button. Is that not good? I’ve been using my bum and my hips but just wanted to vary the location. I’m just curious if location could cause issues. TIA

Edit: Thank you all SO much for all the answers. Good grief we really are playing hormone roulette here. Thankfully I can switch it tomorrow and hopefully that will help!!

48F 200mgP oral, Compound T, currently working out new E.

Had an issue with absorbing my E gel after years doing great. Completely bottomed out. I have been on the 2x a week patch for one week now. My moods are crazy!!

I am literally watching myself go from zero to rage in 60 seconds. If I see anything sweet or cute, I wanna cry. Instagram videos of odd animal friends. Seeing older folks shuffle hand in hand in the grocery. Straight back to rage. I am hitting the extremes of every emotion. Being aware of it helps keep me from unleashing anything on innocent bystanders. But when am I gonna level back up?

I was experiencing a decline over the course of a few months. Then the bottom fell out for about a week. And then I got the patch. I’m at .075. I’m just getting dizzy from the ups and downs and arounds. Plus…I don’t even know if I’m properly absorbing the patch 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've been in post for 10 months. The first few months I didn't notice anything different, although I did start getting even better sleep. But after the beginning of the year I had symptoms return that pointed toward estrogen. I started having insomnia, increased anxiety, super sense of smell. My gyn thought that perhaps I wasn't absorbing my gel efficiently and has changed me to the patch. Because of the shortage she prescribed me the .1% but told me to cut it in half. I did all my research on here on how to cut it and such and started a couple of days ago.

Last night I had the worst night sweat sleep!! So bad that I wanted to get up and slap the other half of the .1 patch right on. I know that it is going to take time but my questions are:

When did you feel comfortable enough to experiment with dosages?
Should things be leveling out in post meno?
What would you do?

It is really hard to be patient when I thought I had moved past the hardest part of all of this and when it comes to sleep. I need sleep!

I've been post since August of last year. October through the end of the year I had the best sleep of my life. I was feeling great!! My HRT had been treating me well for a long time. Then at the beginning of the year, I started noticing some things coming back, hot flashes, insomnia, heightened anxiety. I thought it was post holiday. But it never settled. It was also around the same time I went on .06 micro dose every 10 days of tirzepatide for arthritis inflammation that couldn't be treated with steroids.

Went to my gyno for help and started weekly labs just to see if that showed anything, (for what that's worth, ik ik). Had to keep a symptoms log and all pointed toward estrogen deficit. We were all prepared to increase my Estrogel. But my numbers kept coming back higher and higher to the point where my doc was going to need to up my progesterone to 400mg if it didn't stop just for protection.

So a lower dose of estrogel for a couple of week. Ruled out ovarian issues, etc that would cause such a vast increase. Numbers bottomed out. Did find that I had way too much Vitamin D in my system. Switched to the patch. Now I'm on .05 E patch, 200mg P and a compounded T (same tirzepatide dosing).

The past two nights have been awful. Hot sweats that made me remember I had forgotten what hot sweats really were! Up for hours with a hot body and a surrounding chill from the wet neck, chest, and clothes.

Am I wrong that this should be easier in post? The majority of my hormones should be coming from HRT, correct? So, it would just make sense that things would level. How long would you wait before you started experimenting with your patch levels? I feel like I get into a good groove and then my hormones throw a wrench in the plans. And I thought those days were behind me. Sigh.

EDIT: My doc does not diagnose on numbers, however she does do bloodwork every six weeks just for reference. Since I started HRT my E numbers have stayed in the 50's (3 years) until recently when it went into the 400's. So, something wonky happened. But doc is treating me based on symptoms...just not as quickly as I would like. LOL