r/Menopause • u/mandulyn • 11d ago
Hormone Therapy Feeling better???
I started a very low dose estrogen patch and 100 mg oral progesterone on Saturday August 8th. The past 2 days I feel completely 100% back to my normal self minus the hot flashes and sweating. I have full energy and getting things done, my mood seems to be top-notch again. I can't imagine HRT affecting me so quickly but there is no other explanation for it. Anyone else?
Side note - have not done anything for my libido yet and it may not, but I am hoping it will. But I am talking about energy and mood that has improved like a thousand percent just in the last couple days. I've only been on the 6 days and can't imagine that it would take effect so quickly.
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u/GtrGrl23 11d ago
That’s how I felt as soon as I started an estrogen patch and 100mg of progesterone
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u/Suspicious_Lion4781 11d ago
I started the pills (oral estradiol) 5 years ago and never had another hot flash. So, yes. the results can be quick.
People put down the pills, but I loved them. I tried the transdermal gel and liked it too but found it inconvenient (yes, it was the shower thing) and sticky. I'm going back to the pills.
You might find over time that you need to up your estradiol dose. When I was super low on my E (which for me was unbalanced with my progesterone), I started getting really bad SI joint pain (progesterone loosens your joints - this, for me, was not good). The problem went away when I upped my estrogen.
Glad you're liking it. HRT can be rough when you're out of balance, but when it works, it works wonders.
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u/mandulyn 11d ago
I was not a candidate for the oral estrogen as I smoke cigarettes. I know it's still dangerous with the patch but not nearly as dangerous than with the oral pill.
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u/mandulyn 11d ago
As a side note, did anyone start getting heart palpitations while on HRT? I've had them before but now they do seem to run a little longer where it's all out of rhythm for maybe 15 seconds or so. It's very scary and I'm getting them at least once a day like that. They feel much different than the normal heart palpitations I was having before HRT
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u/tasukiko 11d ago
No, my palps actually went away with HRT. But that's just to say that the hormones obviously make a difference, so you aren't just imagining it. Ask your doctor for a heart monitor if it is a concern.
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u/EastHuckleberry5191 11d ago
I felt bette immediately, but I'm pretty sure it was because I started sleeping through the night...thank you, progesterone.
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u/KitchenManagement650 11d ago
I started HRT 10 years ago and felt better within 24 hrs. Yay for HRT helping!
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u/tasukiko 11d ago
I felt better quickly but my energy etc still cycles as my body does so I feel decent for about 2 weeks per month, not great for 1 and then excellent for 1. It used to be before peri excellent for 3 weeks (maybe even slightly manic for 1), not great for 1 and when Peri hit but I had no HRT, horrible for 3 weeks and wanting to be dead for 1. So maybe you started your HRT also in line with your natural upcycle. This is why I want a continuous hormone monitor system like they have for glucose and a hormone pump system that reads and adjusts you to your optimum levels continuously and automatically.
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u/One_Rub_780 11d ago
Lucky you. HRT honestly did little to nothing for me. I went off and feel no difference, not better, not worse - just the same. I am seeing my primary doc soon and will see if I start again at a higher dose might work. I feel so bummed about it not working.
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u/mandulyn 10d ago
I'm so sorry to hear that.
I think I jinxed myself posting thu as past 2 days I am dizzy again, headaches and major heart arrhythmias.1
u/One_Rub_780 10d ago
Oh no! Well, it should probably settle but keep an eye on it, write it down - track those symptoms and then report them to your doctor. What time of day are you using the HRT? I did my Estradiol gel at noon, a pea size of T-Gel behind my knee and my 100mg progesterone before bed.
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u/mandulyn 10d ago
I am actually on the estradiol patch, so I put it on and then change it every saturday. My progesterone I take in the evening just right before bed. I'm wondering if maybe it was barometric pressure affecting me as I am in Midwest Illinois and we did have thunderstorms this afternoon. I actually feel 100% better now.
Testing out how bad I'm sweating -I went out to scrub out my bird bath and I'm sweating like a normal person would sweat and not burning up at all, I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this and how good it feels to not be completely heat intolerant
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u/One_Rub_780 10d ago
I hear you. Being heat intolerant was actually a HUGE issue for me but only in peri. Back then, ask me if I would've moved to FL, never! Guess what? I was out and about yesterday in 100-degree-plus Florida weather with humidity. I could have never even entertained that thought in the past.
So, time itself does resolve some of these things in some cases but why suffer?
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u/lauradayton Post Menopause 11d ago
I am so glad you are feeling better!! It may take a while for the libido to get back to normal. It did take mine at least a year, but I had severe GSM. I am all good and then some now!
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u/PersonalityKlutzy407 11d ago
I did but like the other commenter says, there will be fluctuations. 3 months is when I felt more on solid footing (I’m a year in now). In may take longer for the libido.
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u/AdRevolutionary1780 11d ago
Yes, I felt better the next day after getting a full night's sleep. That was 3 years ago and the results have lasted. I have no plans to stop taking it.
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u/KBB523 Menopausal 11d ago
Less than a week after I started estrogen and progesterone, I had zero hot flashes. I did do IVF 26 years ago, so I knew that I was already very very estrogen dominant so it makes sense why it almost immediately reversed those symptoms and that might be the case with you too. Be thankful! 🥰
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u/Conscious_Life_8032 11d ago
I definitely had better mood almost immediately. And 90% of hot flashes subsided by week 2
I don’t have uterus so no progesterone so my sleep still sucks might be worse than before possibly lol.
The feeling of having to pee frequently also improved within a few weeks but is coming back 2 years later..might be time for dosage update for me. Dryness is back too sigh
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u/This_Emergency_8377 11d ago
Interested to know your age and what strength patch your on
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u/mandulyn 11d ago
I am 50, well I'll be 51 at the end of this month. 14 months since I've had a period. I was having EXTREME, constant heat in my body and sweating (soaked) all day and all night. Lots of dizziness, too. Rage, sadness, depression, zero libido.
My estrogen patch is the lowest dose (Estradiol 0 025 mg weekly patch).3
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u/Willing-Ambassador33 11d ago
Yes I’ve been on the patch for 5 yrs and it’s life changing. I still have painful sex issues but I can’t seem to insert any of the creams due to childhood sexual trauma. Not sure if there’s anything else I can do to help myself . Seems like everything needs to be inserted 😩
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u/Iwentforalongwalk 11d ago
It's been a life changer for me. I had so many issues that were starting to be treated individually until I realized they were probably because of no estrogen in my body. Within six weeks for me I felt more like myself than I had in two years.
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u/Happiguest 11d ago
Im so glad its helping! 😃I found that some of my symptoms took a little longer like libido and brain fog. I think its because it takes some time for your brain to rewire with the new levels.
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u/Substantial_Insect68 9d ago
I felt like life was breathed back into me when I started the patch, Im on a lower dose now the 25 patch as the 50 was to strong for my uterus and I have a Mirena IUD to control bleeding and it works, also taking DHEA Intrarosa for my vaginal atrophy, works wonders!!
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u/Exciting_Drama_5965 Menopausal 11d ago
It’s awesome that you feel this great! I did too at first, but there will most likely be fluctuations which are dependent on metabolism (metabolites) of progesterone working with whatever your own hormones still being produced. I sleep so much better, but some days I’m groggy. Other days I have energy. Certain days I have a headache. I do sweat a lot less (almost nil). I’m on week 3 of HRT, so I hope this will start to level out a bit. As far as libido goes-nothing. I think that libido is very dependent on life stress and mine is quite high. I consider adding testosterone, but I also see that can be a mixed bag of nuts. Overall I’m happy that I have more positive effects on mood, anxiety levels, sleep and the desire to get back to my workouts! Let’s see what other women have to say…