Hello Ladies
I have just started HRT and I have some unpleasant side effects. I now seem to need the loo every 20min. It’s an urge and I don't feel I can empty my bladder. It’s affecting my life as I struggle to take journeys on the train or in the car.
Is this normal? Will this get better?
Thank you
Hi PixieElv, what dose are you taking and what delivery method? Did you increase gradually? I've not personally heard of or experienced this reaction myself but maybe others have and can give more advice
Hello Bertiepuss
I am using Transdermal gel, only one pump and I’ve had the mirena coil for a while for the progesterone. So in theory that shouldn’t be too much?
but who knows… it’s so tiring, as if we’re not already worn out 😂
Good you started on a low dose. Making a guess here - some women report bladder problems when their oestrogen is too low. Could be the case you actually need more? Or possibly vaginal oestrogen. But, it sounds like you didn't have this bladder issue before the HRT, is that correct? Maybe you need a bit more time to settle, how long have you been on the one pump? Which is indeed a very low dose. 25mg did nothing for me personally.
I didn’t have this problem before 😞, so it’s super annoying that I now need the bathroom every 20min…
I do sleep much better. My nightsweats were almost instantly gone! And I almost instantly (2 days) put on 2kgs 😂
I’ll give it some more time, but it’s not really practical to be doing this…
Thank you for listening to me 😃
Oh yes, the weight gain...but glad to get rid of the hot flushes and sweats!
Shame you're having this bladder issue, I can see how horrible it must be and not really an acceptable side effect if it continues. I must admit it was in reverse for me. I kept getting these bladder irritations for several months before I started to think my hormones were getting wacky (I'm peri). Once I started the HRT the bladder issues went away - could be coincidence, who knows.
How long have you been on the one pump? Are you at the 3 month mark yet? Is there any possibility you may actually have a bladder infection?
It’s only week 2! So plenty of time to sort itself out. 😊
Mh… bladder infection, I never thought about that. I will look into that. I don’t suffer from them and because it occurred at the same time as starting HRT, I linked those too.
I am glad to hear you are getting on well with it. I hear so many great stories about women getting their lives back.
Well, I still have a long way to go, HRT for me is no miracle cure but it has helped some of my symptoms, now I continue to unravel the rest.
Yes, 2 weeks is a very short time so it might be a case of putting up with it and seeing if it resolves over the next month. Alternatively, you stop the oestrogen and see if it goes away.
I would still be inclined to speak to your GP and ask if you can have a test to see if there is any infection. There probably isn't especially if you don't have terrible pain, but worth ruling out.
I can get what I call 'irritable bladder' without infection from a few things. Specifically if I've not drunk enough water that can set off a bout. Things that have helped in the past have been cranberry tablets, not the juice as it has too much sugar. And drinking plenty of plain water to dilute the urine. Of course this makes you go to the toilet more but then seems to let the bladder calm itself down.
Another thought - could your IUD have moved and be putting pressure on your bladder? Just throwing out suggestions, sorry if not very helpful.
You could also ask the question on the The Menopause Support Network FaceBook page if you're on FB.
I have just been to see the GP. She thinks it maybe an infection, so I am trying antibiotics 🤞 it helps. Never occurred to me it could be that. That’s why this forum is so great
Thank you for all your help and advice. It is so nice you care 😊
HRT is tricky. If you feel that the positives outweigh the negatives then it’s worth persevering and ‘tweaking’ until you have something you can live with. I tried it 3 times now and every time the side effects were worse than the positive effects. But this time I feel it might actually be helping. Minus the bladder thing 😂
You are very welcome 😊, it is indeed wonderful to have others to help spot things one may not have thought of.
Ah, great...well not great, but you know what I mean 😁 Hopefully you will get some relief and can continue on the HRT and get the benefits without the side effects!
Please go to see your doctor about your increased urge to go to the toilet as it may be a sign of something else.
Thank you! Good tip
I had the same issues with estrogen gel so changed to the spray and it cleared up.
Lenzetto
I have to say I'm off HRT completely now, I have an overactive thyroid and it seemed to be making that worse. Also the weight gain was horrible. I put on 2 stone over 2 years. It's slowly coming off now thankfully.
I only had hot flushes as a symptom (although they were very fierce and didn't help my already chronic insomnia) so being off HRT is better for me. The doctor prescribed melatonin for insomnia, I use essential oils for the hot flushes (once I tried all.the herbal remedies which didn't work for me).
Vagifem for vaginal dryness which definitely has an effect on estrogen levels in my body as it causes slightly more hot flushes.
For me, I think this is the best solution, as the high blood pressure and tachycardia that the HRT was causing was debilitating.
Sage is good for flushes, so I add a few drops of that to some oil ( I have clary sage and chamomile too so add a few drops of that for luck and to help with sleep). Rub it where your skin gets most hot (avoid eyes) seems to work. Good luck
The Doctor's Appointment
Progestogen sensitivity / intolerance?
Do I need to up my patch dose?
Vaginal soreness
should I reduce my Oestrogen gel to one pump a day?
