Does anyone else have symptoms that come and go after being on hormones for a while? Some days I just really feel like c**p. I don't know if it is too much estrogen or not enough. I guess I should just try not to think about it. I think I have become obsessed with trying to figure out why I feel like I do at times. You know, like is it really hormones or is this some kind of virus????!!!
Linda S

Hi Linda,

Im with you..not sure which way is up. Ive been on bio-estrogen/testosterone cream for awhile, was doing ok then one day it hit the fan...anxiety, dizziness, stomachaches, flu like feeling all the time?
I havent been able to function at all, wondering if I just cant tolerate the hormones anymore. I tried a few others and got even sicker? My estrogen keeps tesing low (35) some say I need more. I tried the patch and got it up to 75, but I couldnt tolerate it anymore? what a nightmare

Rachelle,

I'm like you wondering if I can't tolerate the hormones also. I was doing ok up until last week. I was stupid and went to a new doctor that had me try and go down in dosage. At first I felt pretty good, and then after 3 days came the headaches. So I imediatly went back to what I was doing and haven't felt right since. Maybe just coincidence, I am not sure.
I have also had the slight adrenal surges,nausea, weakness in my legs. Like you said, feeling like the flu, but not. I would love to try and reduce my hormones but am afraid. I tried the patches, Vivelle .05 but started having symptoms flair up after 1 1/2 weeks. Either the dosage wasn't high enough or I just wasn't absorbing. Decided to do the oral estrace with prometrium. My doctor gave 2mg estrace. I am wondering if that was too high. I think he was getting tired of me calling his office and whinning Today I have the pressure in the ears and sinus thing going on with a bit of nausea. I hope today is a better day for us.
Take care.

Rachelle, I forgot to ask, how long have you been taking the hormones, and do you also get the heart pounding in your ears sound???

I have been on bio hormones for a little over 5 weeks. I'm just like you, having ups and downs. My hormone panel showed that I was depleted of estrogen and progesterone. High testotorone levels. So, I'm on progest/Bi-est. Lowest level possible. I'm better than I was, but just don't feel right most of the time. Lots of things still going all. I had hysterectomy 1 yr ago, and it's been a living hell since then. My gyno didn't want to give me anything, and said it I could hang tough with the hot flashes after a year I'd be all right. He didn't have a clue. So, I've been using my GP for most everything. Actually, he's the one that wanted me to try the bio's. When I'm feeling poorly, and mention it to my husband, he always thinks I probably have the "bug" that's going around. In my heart, I know it's my hormones.

That is funny how husbands say things like that. Mine always asks if I want to go to the doctor. No thanks! Yesterday and today have been really bad for me. Last night I started with stomach cramps and pains and ended up with diarrhea until this morning. The stomach pains bother me. These were some of my very first symptoms last year before all hell broke loose. It has to be my hormones, I don't have a fever. I also have joint pain in hips and knee today along with nausea, red face (roseacea) and weekness in legs. This is not fair! So now I wonder if all of the horrible symptoms are getting ready to hit me again. I had a script for an estradiol blood test so I decided to have it done today while I am feeling so bad just to see if it comes out low. If it does, I guess I can blame this on my hormones.
Do you also have a lot of other symptoms besides the hot flashes? I think sometimes GP's think out of the box more so than Gyno's.
LindaS

Linda - I continue to have symptoms while on hormones, but they are not a severe as before. The internal shaking, insomnia, loss of libido are persistent but less often. But, I developed a new symptom over the week-end that lasted a few days. I had an ache near my vagina. It continued off and on over the week-end. This morning, when I woke, it was gone. I did call the pharmacist where I have my hormones made, and he said it could be hormonal, or perhaps a vein that we have that was acting up. Who knows. I'm done trying to figure it all out. Try not to beat yourself up over it, nor let it comsume you. How long have you been on your hormones? I've come to realize that it's not a cure all, just something to let us live a better life.

Sorry it took so long to reply. Spending a lot of time in bed the past couple of days. Thanks for the support. It is strange how there can be so many crazy symptoms! I have been on hormones since June 07. I certainly do hope the symptoms I am having go away. I really try not to let it get me down. The way I have been feeling for the past 3 days are very much like when I started with my big crash. It bothers me. Like today now I woke up with the slight headache, pressure in sinus and ears, very cold arms, back of my head is very sensitive and the head feelings of being kinda dizzy and out of sorts, Hard to explain. Oddly enough is that it is almost 1 year since this started and I am so afaid it it happening all over again. Ok, I will not let it get me! Everything is going to be ok. I have to keep telling myself this.

Hi Linda and all,

I too am on BHRT and started symptoms again (insomnia, achy feelings, hot flashes at night). The thing I figure is how much worse I'd feel if I weren't on hormones at all! Not a big consolation, but the alternative would be to increase/add hormones and I don't want to do that. How, oh how, did women handle this for centuries? I've asked this question before. Maybe it's rhetorical, but I keep wondering if I'm blowing things all out of proportion, whining, etc and this is really as good as it gets for this time in my life. (Wow - can you tell my mood is also low??). I am so glad there are people out there (you all) who understand at least.

In misery along with others,
Adair

Adair, It's ok. We can all whine together. I understand, as do many others. I have to tell you, it really does help to know that there are others out there going thru the same thing. I would like to drop in dosage of hormones, but I am afraid things would only get worse. I think I am going to ask the doctor for estrogel instead of the oral stuff. I feel like it is making my stomach problems worse. We will see.
LindaS

Linda,

Im having much of the same symptoms..started with numbness/tingling all over, then my sinuses and head just plugged up, I couldnt breathe out of my nose, joint pains, extreme dizziness. The list goes on. My stomach keeps getting worse, just like yours, Im trouble digesting anything and the bloating/gas is crazy. I tried several other hormone-patches and it made my symptoms way worse. So, Im wondering if its the hormones period!!! The list of side effects goes on and on from estrogen. I have autoimmune disease's so maybe its causing me to flare..who knows? afraid to stop taking my bio-cream because Im so darn dried out...I'm thinking of quitting it and trying that Amberen stuff. I have the estrace pills sitting here..guess I should try them? sooooo afraid to take anything at this point.
Even the Vagifem bothered me? go figure?

Hope we can all find the right hormone-balance to get our lives back again. Im sick of feeling like I have a bad flu-bug all the time...I would def try other types of hormones. Im sure there is something that will work out there!!!

rachelle

I'm glad you responded. I meant to tell you that I too suffer from GI issues. What has helped me considerably is probiotics. I take 1 pill with breakfast, along with a multi-vitamin. My bloating has just about disappeared, and I'm very grateful. It's amazing to me sometimes how I hear women say, they breeze through this time in our lives. Frankly, I don't believe them. A woman I work with had a hysterectomy a year before I did. She has said to me, on more than one occasion, that it was the best thing that ever happen to her. I don't even tell the woman I work with anything of my health issues anymore. If you haven't experienced this yourself, you wouln't believe it could be true. For me, my hysterectomy was the worse thing that has happened to me. It was necessary, but never, ever would I have believed of the consequences it would bring. Coming here has been a comfort to me from time to time. Like they say, "misery loves company".

My hyster ruined my life....I should have known better. I trusted my doctors. Menopause is hard enough, then add my lupus/Sjogrens and its been a nightmare. Feel's like my body just shut down, nothing functions right anymore and all these infections I have arent clearing up. Ive had soooo many
tests it's crazy..Im chalking it up to the hormone inbalance. Trying to tolerate my BHRT, but seems to be making things worse at times.

I take handfulls of probiotics, diflucan, oral nystatin, other natural stuff for yeast, but mine has always been bad and since my hyster, has grown in my fingernails? think this is another reason I feel so ill.

Just praying for something to get some relief......for all of us that are having such a hard time.

Rachelle

Rachelle, I am so sorry you are suffering so badly. Too many antibiotics just destroy the good bacteria in our bodies. I try to make sure and eat raw garlic and organic yogart to keep things balanced and take a good probiotic. I have to say that today I am feeling better. So I am guessing that the ups and downs of hormones can still have a big affect on you even though you are using BHRT. I hope you are able to find some good help soon.
LindaS