Why is everything a trade off?
Looking for support and maybe a bit of advice.
Bit of backstory: 39. Been on 100mg of continuous progesterone and E patch since November. I had horrible peri symptoms . The worst was the urinary issues and vaginal pain. I also had no libido, acne, joint pain, horrible anxiety etc. Things have gotten a lot better on HRT (GSM is a million times better and my anxiety is a lot better as well) but now my period is all over the place. I now bleed twice a month. Usually 3 days of light bleeding around cycle day 17, and then 2 weeks later I bleed again which I assume is my actual period. Again it’s super light and lasts maybe 5 days. This past month I hardly even needed a pad it was so light, but enough to make me feel crampy, moody, and be annoyed at life.
To try and combat this mid cycle bleeding issue, my doctor had me increase my 0.0375 patch on cycle day 16 to 0.05 (my cycles are about 32 days long right now). I am supposed to stay on 0.05 until my “period” is due in 2 weeks. Her theory is that the estrogen drop right after ovulation is what is triggering the shed. I upped the patch 2 nights ago. Spotting started like it normally does at this time but now it feels like an actual period, complete with shedded lining that’s visible in the toilet/pad.
I know irregular bleeding is considered normal in HRT, especially when changing dose, but why does it have to be a trade off? Not being on estrogen makes my GSM unbearable (and yes I’ve been on vaginal estrogen too for a year and it didn’t fully solve the issue), but being on estrogen makes me bleed twice a month-or at least I assume it does. I feel like I can’t win. I also wonder if my doctor is changing things too quickly. I was on 0.025 from November to January, then 0.0375 from January to now. I’m not sure I love this idea of changing dose every 2 weeks (0.0375 to 0.05 then back down to 0.0375)
Anyone had this issue too? What helped? Stopping my E patch really isn’t an option. I can deal with bleeding but the GSM had me feeling like I had a constant UTI and that absolutely ruined my quality of life. Now that is so much better. Luckily I tolerate the continuous P well and it calms me and helps me sleep every night.
Sorry, just crampy, mad that I’m bleeding, and debating on if this increase to 0.05 is worth it and I should wait it out or just go back to my 0.0375 where I still bled mid cycle, but at least it didn’t feel like a true period. Maybe I’m just all over the place because I’m adjusting to a new dose and have had so many dose changes in the past 6 months.
I’m tired. I’m a newly single mom too (divorce was final 4/10) so I guess all these ups and downs feel heavier and harder to navigate where I can’t afford to not be okay. I have full custody of my 8 and 13 year old boys so I can never just tag someone else in whenI’m struggling.
I just want to feel somewhat okay (which I do on HRT) AND not bleed every 2 weeks. Too much to ask I guess 😟 Just needed a shoulder to cry on tonight. This peri shit is lonely. Plus I got mad at the cat tonight and then felt guilty and cried. It’s gunna be okay, right?