Dear ladies I am fifty-two years old and live in England. I have been reading this wonderful sight now for many months and have just started posting. Up until my periods finally fizzled out two years ago I felt O.K. but when they did end a couple of months after my fiftieth birthday things really kicked off. Some of the many symptoms have been insomnia, night and day sweats, loss of confidence, not surprisingly, anxiety and that morning sickness feeling amongst others. I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on the patch Evorel Conti. In desperation I decided to try it and have had it on about ten days now. I have not noticed much change in the hot flushes yet and I have had quite a lot of backache and am feeling like I have pre menstrual symptoms. I did not want to go down the synthetic route but I got to the stage I was prepared to try it. This is a no bleed preparation. Sometimes I feel as if we are still in the dark ages here in the U.K. with menopause.

Simba2 - I am suffering from 6+ months of severe symptoms of early menopause. Also did not want to go synthetic but my doc recommended it and figured I would try it. I am also on combined continuous patch called "combipatch". I've been on for 2 weeks and have noticed a definite relief from fatigue and anxiety but still suffering from daily headaches and jaw tightness amongst other symptoms. I am going for more blood work tomorrow to check estradiol level to see if dr. will increase to ward off headaches.

Best of luck to you. I will let you know how I make out as I have read alot on this site about increasing estro until headaches leave.

Dear Springsjean I was very interested to read your post on the continuous combined patch. So far I am not sure it is the right thing for me though it is early days as I only started it November 20th. Maybe I am not getting enough oestrogen or perhaps taking the synthetic progestogen with it is ofsetting the effect of the oestrogen. The flashing and sweating has abated but I am not sure the patch effects last through to the next patch. I seem to have got a lot of premenstrual symtoms back, particularly after I have applied a new patch, (low back ache, feeling that my period is going to start but doesn't). Doctor seems to think it is all trial and error but I didn't really want a bleed back. Will give it a bit longer, dont want to crash off it and go back to full blown menopause hell. Have got enough to cope with over Christmas! Good luck.

Simba - I'm not sure it is the one for me either but having so many other problems, can't seem to narrow down what is hormones and what isn't. Fortunately or unfortunately, my hormone level came back normal so dr. wouldn't increase to see if headaches wouldgo away. so off to the chiro and dentist to see if it is TMJ. Not fun. Good luck to you.

Springsjean - I am wondering if this patch is right for me too. My doctor said he did not think there was much difference between different synthetic progestins but I have read differently. Some are more related to testosterone and I am definitely feeling pretty aggressive on it. I need that serenity back that I used to have pre menopause. This new character isn't me and it's my nearest and dearest who get the backlash! It is two years since my last period and in September I too had a terrible headache that seemed to last in varying degrees for about six weeks till it went off and I had never been one to have headaches. Maybe my hormones dipped. Best of luck to you. Let's hope we find the answers in the new year.