HRT (Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone Replacement Therapy) After cancer for menopause?

Hi everybody, sorry for the very very late reply. Life was so busy!

@Greengirl @Abbydog oh my it was such a journey these two years trying HRT! I managed to have a nice GP who put me onto Estradiol and Prometrium in May last year (2023) but it was a horrible experience. I had dizzy spells and my body became jittery and I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. My mind was super foggy. I realized that the dose was too high (I was on 100 Prometrium and 25 then 75 Estradiol). I also got my periods back. So I completely abandoned HRT to reset my body. I felt much better after all the hormones cleared my system. I think Prometrium is the one causing most of the problems.

I did go to see a cardiologist to do a heart scan to make sure my heart is fine.. it was some calcium score test which is out of pocket completely. And I did a DEXA scan showing that I am a little osteopenic. I did all these because i understand that lack of estrogen can possibly cause heart attacks, alzhemier's and osteoporosis, so I did a baseline check. The doctors don't tell us!!! We have to educate ourselves!!!

Later in the year in November I had a GP put in a Mirena instead and I decided to see how I was going with it since it is meant to be confined in the womb but it actually does travel around the body. I did not start on Estradiol straight away, just the Mirena for around two months. Pretty soon after the Mirena was inserted, I started to feel horrible again. Brain fog, jittery shaky body especially my arms and hands and they felt weak. Weird symptoms indeed but I was very sure it was due to the Progesterone from the Mirena. But, I understand it takes around 3 months to settle so I persisted. At some point I really felt like getting the Mirena removed and just forget about HRT! At times I really feel like I am falling apart.

Towards end of second month, I decided to use the Estradiol patches but very low dose. I actually cut the 75 patches into quarters (I know the patches come standard size but I needed to adjust my body from a low dose onwards!!!). I do feel that my body feels better! Right before I started the patches, I did see an OB and she told me that the lack of Estrogen could be why my body is reacting like this and it seems that she is right! I am on very low dose of estrogen since then and I feel better, the shaking jittery has improved more and my brain is somewhat better! The annoying thing is I get tiny bit of periods once I started the estrogen patches and I am on very low dose, so I am gonna tweak my dose till it is perfect.

It was pretty much trial and error and I had moments when I wanted to just cry and give up!!! However, I keep telling myself I need the estrogen for my bone density and heart and brain!

I have also gone to see my chemo oncologist to get a letter advising that I am perfectly fit for HRT. But note, I did have hormone negative HER 2+ cancer. I do not believe estrogen causes cancer! However, it may promote cancer growth. So please do your own research.

Sorry for the long post but I hope it helps!!! Good luck with your journey! And please do record all the details on a notebook so you can always refer back and see how you go xoxo