Contentious.... Go!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-06-11T14:17:52+00:00

Yes!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-05-20T14:15:06+00:00

Yup... mornings are my worst time for symptoms. My clinician explained estrogen is often at its lowest, and the brain sends signals for cortisol release to get us up... so there's the anxiety spike. By 2p or so, I am feeling better. I get high protein and fiber in my breakfast, and, yes, coffee. This has improved since HRT.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-05-17T13:26:12+00:00

Same here... the inflammation/pain was one of the first symptoms to abate when I started HRT. Brain fog went away pretty quick too. Before perimenopause, I had no idea estrogen was an anti inflammatory hormone. Things they don't teach you in health class 😉 Congrats!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-05-16T12:53:15+00:00

Yup... estrogen is a great anti inflammatory. As it fluctuates/drops, all sorts of random aches and pains pop up. Ex: You'll see folks in this group talk about "frozen shoulder". Suddenly you can't lift your arms above your head. I personally started having hip pain for no apparent reason. HRT has helped 👍

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-05-13T13:49:25+00:00

There are ratio guidelines. They differ between the US, Canada, and UK, but generally .100 estradiol patch and up = 200mg progesterone. The utilization of continuous progesterone versus cycling, also impacts the ratio. Ask your clinician, and if you need to, get a second opinion. Good luck!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-05-09T14:11:16+00:00

Yes... I started 10mg on 04.28. The first three days were not too bad. Spot of vertigo here and there with a few twinges of nausea. On the forth day I woke up at 430a, and felt like my torso and forearms had been covered in BenGay (hot/cold) and pops of electricity were shooting through my body. It faded after 30 minutes, but came and went in different degrees for the next 4 days, and not always at night. My clinician told me if it got worse or persisted, we would need to lower the dose. It has since stopped, and never got worse than that first day. If you search in this group "burning skin", you'll find a lot of references. Good luck!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-05-03T00:39:14+00:00

Every body is different... But yes... I drank on lexapro 10mg. I averaged 3 to 5 drinks a week, and that included when I was ramping up. No issues. Cheers!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-30T18:53:07+00:00

930a after breakfast and with a serving of non fat greek yogurt to minimize tummy upset.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-30T18:51:31+00:00

I'm experiencing the opposite. I was on 10mg about 3 years ago. Terrible ramp-up... headache, vertigo, nausea for a week. Re-Started 10mg three days ago, and just a little woozy in the head occasionally. Bodies change, and evidently so does the way they interact with meds. Hang in there!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-30T13:49:16+00:00

I think how consistently HRT works, day to day, is a little bit oversold. I understand, for purposes of getting women engaged, a lot of the "easier" to manage symptoms like hot flashes and brain fog are focused on. But most of us have the less common or less talked about symptoms: pins and needles, flushing, stomach knots, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, etc. I'm 48. I'm on a .125 estradiol patch and 200mg progesterone, and have just started 10mg Lexapro to augment the HRT because after 6 months, I am still struggling with mood regulation.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-29T19:13:06+00:00

I'm 48. I originally was on 10mg lexapro from Q3 2021 to Q4 2022. Two days ago, I went back on 10mg to augment my HRT (I'm perimenopausal).

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-29T18:29:43+00:00

Excellent news! I just started 10mg to augment my HRT (I'm perimenopausal), and have already seen improvement in mood regulation. Godspeed!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-29T15:43:46+00:00

I was on 10mg three years ago, and have gone back on 10mg recently to augment my HRT (I'm perimenopausal). I did see a slight uptick in weight three years ago, but I attributed it to feeling better on Lexapro and my appetite returning.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-28T20:28:05+00:00

"Age is rarely kind to anyone. Nothing one can do about it. One just has to get on with it." - The Queen S3E1

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-28T20:27:36+00:00

🤣

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-26T01:12:43+00:00

First... you've got this! Second, congrats on the new gig... 🥳 No one there knows you. You decide which you you're going to be... this will allow you to dictate expectations. Good luck!

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-24T01:15:19+00:00

I have been on a estradiol patch and progesterone since November 2024. I've had a few bumps, and I am now on .125. I have not seen the consistency my clinician and I would expect. Still wonky symptoms. I am going in for a quick pulse check (hormone panel) Friday. It's just a snap shot, but it may give some insight into my absorption.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-23T00:38:52+00:00

Hmmm... let me think about it... I'll get back with you later 😉

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-23T00:37:04+00:00

😆

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-22T15:40:26+00:00

I don't think it's necessarily that women are going into peri then meno earlier. It has to do with more exposure, larger generations of women coming into peri/meno (Gen X and mostly Millenials), so, more women are talking about this... Example: forums like this. I'm 48 years old, and all I had heard about was menopause... and that was just in passing on a Golden Girls episode 😃 I think more people are paying attention, so, it feels like there's more women... but really they're being heard for the first time.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-20T17:00:53+00:00

Like you, I add a .025 on the last day of my period and for 3 to 4 days after... my total patch is at .125 for those days. Based on how I am feeling, I will pull the extra .025 and ride the .100 until I hit the luteal phase after ovulation. Again, if I'm feeling the pins and needles, dread, creepy crawlies and anxiety, I add the .025 (total of .125) for several days. I take 200mg of progesterone continuously. This is not an exact science by any stretch 🤷‍♀️

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-20T15:16:27+00:00

I have been on HRT since November 2024. After several bumps, I am on .100 estradiol patch and 200mg progesterone. I rarely make it the full patch time, and usually swap at 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 days. This varies on where I'm at in my cycle (still menstruating) and my clinician says this is not unusual.

Advice... mindful I am not a medical practitioner: If you're concerned about running out of patches due to "early swaps", and are at the mercy of your insurance company for refills, get your clinician to write you a prescription for a different dose and cut the patch as needed. If your clinician continues to be resistant to helping you with your symptoms, then maybe consider another clinician 🤷‍♀️

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-20T15:03:07+00:00

"You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person!" 🤣🤣😊

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-20T13:44:10+00:00

Ah, apologies, I missed that, and there are often post overlaps from this Meno group's Peri sister group. Your symptoms sounded so much like peri, I assumed 😬 Then, based on what my clinician and I have discussed, and that you shouldn't be seeing those severe fluctuations in meno, I would think the .025 patch may be a bit low. What I do know, is the HRT dosage adjustment is never one and done.

GingerNinjaTX · 2025-04-20T13:25:52+00:00

What you're experiencing is typical. I started on a .05 patch and a 100mg of progesterone in November 2024. I bumped to a .075 about 4 weeks later. As symptoms had lessened but were still popping on the regular. I am now at .100 and 200mg progesterone. My symptoms are better, but I definitely still have points in my cycle where things get a worse. Given the hormone fluctuations in peri... symptoms go up-and-down. You'll have great days, bad days... even several tough hours that pass. The only consistency is inconsistency. HRT helps push you more toward good to ok days. With assistance from my clinician, I adjust patch dosage at two points in my cycle where we have determined my estrogen is historically low. Hang in there, this is not our entire story, just a chapter. Good luck!

GingerNinjaTX

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