Within the last week or so I have been experiencing major dizziness, increased headaches and tightness in the back of my neck.  Had to stop HRT in January for three months due to having chemotherapy for cancer.  Started HRT back up in March.  Currently taking Estradiol in pill form, since that is what my endocrinologist wants me on for the time being.  I would rather be on the injections or patches though.  I am 56 years old and have been on hormones for almost 6 years now, except for when I had to stop in January.  Are these signs of a stroke that I have described above?  Does estradiol increase the risk of strokes?  I do not need this in my life.  I am really scared.  Today was really bad.  I was at church and had to be wheeled out to the car in a wheelchair after service due to severe dizziness.  Have had the dizzy spells since chemotherapy though but they have increased now and more in severity.  I am suppose to see my primary doctor this coming Tuesday to address this.  Would it be best to stop my hormones until I see my endocrinologist and ask to change route of administration?  The only anti-androgen I am taking is Finasteride, I am unable to take Spiro due to causing my blood pressure to drop to dangerous levels.  I have severe GID and going off HRT completely is not an option for me. 

Susan

Hi Susan,
I'm not a doctor or nurse. But I'd ask one if I were you. I had a TIA (mini-stroke) a few years ago related to a hole inside my heart that I was born with. The symptoms of my TIA weren't pain or tightness at all. It was more like a sluggish heaviness. My left arm weighed a ton (had to us the other arm to lift it, and my left foot felt like it was trying to slide out from under me. But it very possible that these things present in different ways. So I'd definitely ask a doctor.

It's something you need to consult your doctor about. Many things can cause dizziness and stiffness. We can't say for sure in regards to the main question because we are not there so we have no way of knowing. However, if they thought it was stroke at all you would have been told to call an ambulance and get seen. Hugs
Mariah

Hi Susan, best to contact your doctor, but here is a quick guide to identifying someone having a stroke.

http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp

Hugs, Devlyn

Dehydration and low blood pressure are possible but if you suspect a stroke, get to the hospital as soon as possible. Medication exist that can reduce or eliminate the damage caused by a stroke but you need to get it in your system fast or damage will still occur.

I was quite regularly experiencing vertigo attacks, along with tinnitus and acephalgic migraines (where you get the symptoms of a migraine attack such as auras etc, but without experiencing a headache). They've all stopped since I started taking hormones, so presumably they were the result of hypogonadism (abnormally low sex hormone production, something I've suffered from all my life). I was experiencing a lot of stiffness in my neck, and back pain, as well (which now looks like it was due to my spinal vertebrae starting to crumble - another problem commonly associated with hypogonadism). I've heard of other people with a history of DES exposure and signs of hypogonadism experiencing similar problems too. It seems that the brain, along with the rest of your body, needs either male-typical levels of testosterone or female-typical levels of estradiol to be present, in order to maintain it in good working order.

From what you say, your symptoms have only appeared since you had the chemotherapy. How do your current E levels compare to what they were prior to you stopping when you had the chemotherapy? Presumably your T levels are now low to nonexistent, if you've been on female HRT for 6 years. It's possible that your E is significantly lower now than it was prior to the chemotherapy, and perhaps that on top of the 3 month break is why you're experiencing these effects.  When he restarted you on E, did your doctor cut your dose by any chance?

Hi HughE  Thank you for sharing this with me.  No my doctor put me back on the same dose I was taking before I started chemotherapy.  After I see my primary doctor tomorrow I may call to see my Endocrinologist and see if changing to patches might help or reducing the dose of my Estradiol. 

Susan

I saw my endocrinologist yesterday and informed him of everything I have been going through including the ER visit.  He says that it is not the Estrogen.  I disagree, I am exhibiting most all the side effects of oral estradiol, headaches, dizziness, inflammation of the sinuses and now skipping heart beats.  It occurs right after I take my pill.  My endo wants me to see a Neurologist.  I don't know what to do, I have been taking the Naproxyn that is suppose to relieve some of the headache but does not seem to do much.  Do not want to go off the estradiol without approval of the doctor but if this persists I may end up with a heart attack.  Should I find a new endocrinologist or just wait it out?  I have never had any problems with side effects from oral estradiol before the cancer and chemotherapy, but now I am exhibiting most all of them, oh and confusion has set in as well.  Yesterday was really bad, I woke up with a number 10 migraine in the morning and did not go away until later in the day, that was after taking only one pill, later around noon time I took my second pill and I became very dizzy and the headache came on again.  I mentioned this to the nurse when I saw the doctor at 1:30pm.  The doctor did not even notice, my speech was slurred as well.  This is why I thought I was having a stroke earlier last week and went to the ER.  The ER doctor did all the necessary tests and found no sign of a stroke or heart attack.  I am worried and scared now.  Do I continue taking my meds or just stop them entirely and see if I can find another doctor?  I start school this coming Tuesday and I do not want to be coming to school with a migraine and feeling dizzy and confused. 

I am not a doctor but I do know how to google and this is what I came up with
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/estradiol-side-effects.html

Hi Susan,

I am not a doctor. Perhaps seeking another doctors advise may be advisable. I was wondering if the doctor took a full panel of blood work or was he or she stating opinion from experience?

Are you dehydrated? Are you on spironolactone? if on spiro are your sodium and potassium within tolerance?

Again, I am not a doctor and the above are some thoughts that came to mind.

After my chemo and other issues, you describe some symptoms I had.  Do you check your o2?    Morning headaches could be lack of o2 while sleeping  (could need a cpap) and dizziness could be low o2 levels while moving..   they sell an o2 monitor at walgreens, always good to have around esp playing with meds after chemo.  Just make sure you stay above 90percent.  If you are below 94 on average, get to a pulmanologist. 

It could be other things, but this is the first thing I check when I have those symptoms now..  viagra raises my o2 levels sad to say.  I mean I'm glad I can have a few hrs a day off the o2 bottles, but ya get a stiffy, and that's not fun to hide:(  even with no testosterone or testes!  They prescribe me 3 v pills a day, but it causes a migrane too!

Hope it was that simple for ya..  let us know;)

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Quote from: HughE on August 18, 2015, 04:35:10 PM
I was quite regularly experiencing vertigo attacks, along with tinnitus and acephalgic migraines (where you get the symptoms of a migraine attack such as auras etc, but without experiencing a headache).

One thing I forgot to mention is that I've found that pregnenolone works really well in arresting those particular symptoms I've mentioned there, if they ever show signs of recurring.

I originally got some pregnenolone 50mg capsules to see whether they'd be of any use as an adjunct to my hormones. Taking the capsules whole didn't work out very well for me (it made me feel groggy), however I've discovered that you can pull the capsules apart and get the powder out that's inside. If I start experiencing a return of any of those symptoms, taking a small amount of the powder (by dabbing a fingertip in it and then putting it in my mouth) will normally stop it in its tracks within the space of a few minutes. The dose we're talking about is quite small, about a tenth of a capsule or so.

I guess, taking it that way, the pregnenolone must be getting absorbed directly by my mouth and reaching my brain that way, since it takes effect too quickly to have been absorbed through my intestines (and in any case, nearly all of what gets absorbed in my intestines would be broken down in my liver before it gets any further). Pregnenolone is apparently quite an important raw material for making neurosteroids, which might explain why it has this beneficial effect for me.

Pregnenolone capsules are a nonprescription item, and you can easily buy them online from places like Amazon (some health food stores probably stock them too).