HRT Diary for a Perimenopausal Woman

Yesterday the first day my eyes aren't really prickling and I hadn't taken any antihistamine. They are still swollen and red.  apart from that... all good.

 Eyes swollen and have managed to sooth by using the De Mamiel wonder Balm and putting cool compress on before I went to work. Look acceptable. By the evening felt sore in the lash line (but had worn makeup today) and took an antihistamine before bed.

 Eyes are just starting to prickle around the lash line. By the time I went to bed, little red prickles had appeared on my right eyelid. Almost feels now like prickly heat. I will take an antihistamine. This is exactly the same time frame as last month. I don't think there is any denying this isn't hormone based.

 Most things have been the same. I had a moment when I thought my memory was getting better... but as I say its pretty normal at the moment. Its very hard to judge. Haven't been sleeping overly well. Waking up between 3-5 and not going back to sleep.  Now realise its the Progesterone that makes me sleep very soundly. Literally cant wait to start again on Friday ;-)!  I assume once my periods stop I can just take this everyday and it will be tickety boo all the time?  I have since read they call Progesterone the calming hormone. Feel in a bit of a low mood this week. Nothing terrible, but generally a little low. Certainly not, what I realise now were wild swings from mood to mood. That could be the lack of sleep I guess? I did get very hot in my sleep last night and felt a bit hungover this morning which as I hadn't had a drink would indicate too much salt in my meal last night and I got dehydrated. Interestingly, whilst I was hot I wasn't drenched in sweat :-)

 Feeling back to normal! Brain back to functioning again

 Weight - 76.2 kg   Blood Pressure 123/72   (higher but low) Feel a bit better today. Was in a terrible mood yesterday. Period seems to be dropping off, which is good.

 I have changed the Title dates slightly now to the months on HRT and the day in cycle to help me pinpoint things. Having finished my Utrogestan last Thursday, I started my period Saturday afternoon. So it takes about a 1.5 days. Its been pretty light until yesterday evening and has been quite heavy since. I also had period pains Saturday and Sunday. My periods have changed in the last 18 months from being very regular, every 25 days and normal flow over 4/5 days. To being a little more erratic. Sometimes going to 40 days and then it would correct itself the next month by going 17 days. But would avg. about 29/30 days.  I would then bleed heavy for 2/3 days and it would be done. Which I didn't dislike if I'm honest. Less annoying than going on for days.   I am kind of hoping it will be done quickly. I have been forgetful/scatty over the weekend and also at work today I don't feel as 'on it' as I would normally be. Mood wise as well I feel a bit more variable than I ...

 Took my last dose of Utrogestan last night. Feel good in every other way.  But would say I'm noticeably more forgetful/absent minded today and yesterday. Again this would be normal at this time in my cycle. I want to keep a note of this as potentially this is when I would do two pumps of the Lenzetto and need to work out the timings so I can be proactive. Not that I can really do two pumps... as according to my NHS app, despite the dosage saying 1-3 pumps per day. The NHS App ordering is only allowing me to order as if I was doing 1 a day and there are 56 doses in an applicator.... wrinkles to be ironed out... As far as the brain fog goes generally. I wouldn't say I have been bad. But, wouldn't say there has been an improvement either. Hence looking to see if the two pumps makes an improvement.  If not I would be looking at taking testosterone. I think I'll carry on with the 1 pump and try and see more of a cycle.

 So now nearly a month of HRT. I don't believe I've had any side effects yet. In fact at this stage of the cycle, despite thinking last week I had cramps, I didn't. I am having very little hints that I would be due on soon. Which is how I would have been a few years ago. No breast tenderness, no PMT, no stomach cramps nothing at all. Maybe a slight bloatedness... What is noticeable is no night sweats at the moment. Especially as yesterday I did go into London and have a couple of glasses of wine and a cocktail (albeit a small one). Even so, I would be expecting to have them by now anyway and absolutely after even just one glass of wine. Still getting out of bed being able to walk. I also went for a 10km walk on Sunday with absolutely no aching muscles after.  Even when I was at the peak of my running. My muscles were always tired and achy after a walk.

 So my main notice today is that when I get out of bed in the morning I am no longer stiff at all. For a long while now (about 2 years if not more) I have hobbled out of bed and probably takes me 15-20 steps to be able to walk properly. It no longer does. I now just get out of bed and walk! add this to the arms over my head thing which seemed to happen on about day 2 or 3. Tummy is just started to feel a little bloated and periody. Which would be normal for me at this time in my cycle with the odd cramp. I have another 6 days of Utrogestan to take. I assume I start bleeding a couple of days later? Apart from that.  All good!!

 Again no side effects to report of the HRT as far as I know. This will be day 5 I think of taking the 2 Utrogestan tablets each evening.  I have noticed no grogginess or anything despite them saying take at night as they act as a sedative. One thing that is an observation is any anxiety I have whilst riding is completely gone. Now, this really is an observation as I have worked very, very hard on this over the last 18 months. This may equally be a culmination of the hard work I've put in and the techniques I have in place. For instance I had a bit of a thing about riding up the other end of the arena (there is always a spooky end). Not sure if it was actually the end of the arena or riding the whole arena? but, I digress. I had a session last week where I made it my thing to ride up the other end and I had to work quite hard to actually do it. But since then, not a flicker of anxiety. I have just done it... including at a friends house this weekend. Also no anxiety at the tho...