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HRT Intolerance or Side Effects?
Very hopeful that others may share reassuring feedback. Im 63, 7 years post meno, started HRT about 7 months ago (Estradiol patch 0.5 and Progesterone oral 100mg). First 3-4 months were great, and then it changed - tons of weird side effects including brain fog, lightheadedness, anxiety/panic, visual changes, and more. I read about Progesterone Intolerance and my doc lowered it to 35mg through compounding pharmacy. Note, Im extremely petite (93 pounds) and may have high sensitivities to things. I wake up from HEAVY sleep, feel like Im in a fog for hours. Don't know what my next step is... lower Estradiol? Lower Progesterone? Stop HRT? This is very scary. Im otherwise VERY HEALTHY and active and youthful and productive, but this is interfering with my life almost continually. Are there women who cant do HRT? Anyone struggle with this and what did you do? Thank you!
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@lp30
Check out Dr. Susan Hardwick smith in you tube
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2 ReactionsGreat information! If only we all had doctors like this! 🙏
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1 Reaction@orion7962
Did lowering your dose help? Was it estradiol or progesterone that made you feel that way? I’m struggling too
@memem33
I don't know your age but at 77 I started on .025 estradiol, 100 progesterone, estradiol vaginal cream and testosterone. Now I am on .0375 and 200 progesterone. We are all individuals but that balance works for me.
@memem33 I lowered the dose of one, then lowered the dose of the other, and ultimately had to stop both - I was unable to tolerate either one. Took a couple months but I'd say most symptoms resolved and I'm back to my baseline. Good luck.
Progesterone isn’t for everyone. For some people it causes heavy fatigue drunk feeling. If your feeling that I’d speak with your dr the progesterone might be causing it. And I don’t know if you have your uterus but usual b they try progesterone if you do still have it. Otherwise estrogen only can be fine for some people too. But if you have your uterus estrogen can build up your uterine lining. But progesterone is usually the cause for fatigue
Hi I am researching a similar issue to what you experienced and wrote about Dec 2025. 62.5 started 100 mg progesterone, 0.050 dottie patch and vag estrodoil cream April 26 2026. Within 1 week I felt amazing - I was a good sleeper but prior to starting I was waking up 1-2 x a nite to pee and if I sneezed I would have to squeeze my legs to not drip pee. I am athletic active healthy not overweight 5'6" female last period age 54. I was late to get on HRT because in 2018 when my prior ob gyn was trying insurance would not approve progesterone (terrible I know here we are in USA w health care insurance lack of womens health knowledge). Back to my current issue - I have felt incredible like HRT was the magic glue for my entire body - my waist size is smaller and my body composition positively changed even my hair and skin. Then something changed with my sleep up again 1 time. Then Dottie patch shortage 0.050 so provider upped to 0.75 in 2 weeks felt like crap. Labs showed estrodoil went from 66 to 45 but she is like anything over 20 is in range (I am SO sick of hearing this BS) I was at .50 before HRT June 1 2026 labs were amazing after starting in April 2026 - why on earth do these practioners say this when my body and labs were in sync feeling great. Now something is off - not sure if its progesterone or estrodiol - any thoughts ?
@denisedkb64
My progesterone is 200 with estradiol patch at .0375. also have vaginal estradiol cream and testosterone compound cream. We women have testosterone receptors too.
@gravity3 thanks for chiming in - your reply isn’t directly related to my question experience - for 3 full months I was amazing then something changed 🤷🏻♀️
@denisedkb64
I should have been more direct. I wonder if more progesterone and the addition of testosterone would help balance your hormones.
Dr. Gersh also talks about the effect of a healthy microbiome to hormone balance in another video.
Are you getting regular blood tests to evaluate hormone levels and balance? Very important..one size does not fit all. Is your provider well trained in hormone replacement and what is she saying about the change in your response?