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[Dancinggirl]

cassie - I started this regime back in December last year under the guidance of a private gynae - you wouldn't be given this regime (using a lower dose of Utrogestan) on the NHS as it is off licence. I started off doing a longer cycle using 2 pumps per day Oestrogel but I wanted to use the lowest dose possible and have got it down to one pump per day and my flushes etc are mostly under control. Initially I did 6 weeks oestrogen and then 14 days adding Utrogestan but I have shortened my cycle as I'm getting rather heavy bleeds - even though I'm using half the amount of Utrogestan!!!!
I'm 59 and would like to stay on HRt for a few more years so keeping to the lowest about of hormones is less risky.  DG x

[foreign body]

DG, i am on utrogestan 100 mg, vaginal use, because when i took it orally it upset my stomach. It still makes me constipated, sluggish, unable to focus, and getting up in the morning is a struggle.
I agree, Angeliq was not a good fit. The synthetic progesterone had the same effect that testosterone had on my skin, it caused a terrible acne outbreak and made my legs restless. Also, it didn't do anything for my hot flashes and insomnia.
Estrogel is the holy grail for me. I feel like my old self when i am on the estrogel only phase. I have a lot of energy, my  muscles recover fast from intense exercise, i regain my flexibility, my skin is glowing, i sleep well and never experience any hot flashes, my libido is back to normal, even on one pump a day.
I hope i will be able to take estrogel for a very long time. Blood tests and uterine lining scans are very important to monitor the situation, as this protocol has to be personalized in order to be safe and work.

[claude66]

I've been on this combo for just about a year now and - suddenly - in past couple of months it just seems to have stopped working.

Hot flushes breaking through again and not had a proper bleed in past 3 months.

Time to switch to another regime?

[Linsey44]

Have any of you ladies experienced weight gain on this regime?

I am using mainly oestrogel and sometimes 100mg of utrogestan (not good at remembering to take it).  I dont have womb etc (surgical meno) so prob not as necessary for me.

I feel my weight is starting to creep up, nothing too drastic but clothes getting tighter.  Mainly gone on hips and thighs.  dont know if its because i use mainly oestrogen?  I suppose my question is if i take utrogestan regularly what effect in weight do you think it would have - increase or decrease?

Would appreciate any of your thoughts on this.

Linseyx

[honeybun]

Why would you want to take any progesterone Linsay. If you don't have a womb then you don't need it at all.

Unfortunately weight gain in middle age is very normal. No easy answers except to reduce portion size and increase excercise.

It's not that I have put on weight but I have a different distribution ....mostly around my middle 


Honeybun
X

[Linsey44]

Hi HB hope you and hubby are well, dont let your  mother grind you down.  I read your posts, dont always have time to reply but im thinking of you.

Was told by gynae consultant  to take progestorone due to history of endo and adenomyosis, since i still have cervix.

That said im really lax about taking it, would discuss with gp but prob little point since i told him what i wanted hrt wise and he just said ok.  Printed out stuff from consultant and dr currie, he agreed no probs.

Linseyx

[honeybun]

Thanks Linsey. Hubby is doing good.

Guess you have to follow doctors orders, shame though because progesterone is the awkward hormone. Easier to adjust oestrogen to feel better.

Maybe chat to your consultant if you get another appointement.

I don't think progesterone will make much difference to your weight, but I could be wrong. A lot of us have found that the weight just creeps on.


Honeybun
X

[jedigirl]

i had been doing ok on Utrogestan 1-25 days, 2 pumps Estrogel but now feel all over the place.
Didn't take usual three day break fron Utrogestan this time as had to travel and didn't want dip but now trying to bleed again, after slight bleed 10 days ago, have lumpy area in left nipple area and other side sore too, prob from me prodding it.
Don't know whether to switch to 12 day regime. Have always had dip after stopping progesterone but don't want to put my breasts at risk by using a continuous(ish) regime if it's affecting them. Feel scared today, anxiety peaking, probably another sign of out of kilter hormones.
Would love a worry free holiday , always seems to coincide with holidays that i have a health worry. Sorry girls, hope good Sunday for you all x

[jedigirl]

ps sorry for posting twice about this, forgot about this thread!

[donnacrichton]

Hi not been on for a while but running into real problems again. At christmas was up to four pumps of estrogel and had settled a bit. As time has gone on my estrogen levels were feeling high. Symptoms were tender breasts, headache and being arroused all the time. Been reducing levels with several problems. I have a few times got to a point where I was feeling ok then something would happen with my dose few times I have applied too much in error or the pump has not worked properly and had too small a dose. Each time this has happend it takes a few weeks to settle. I am on 7th month of zolidex and twice it has run out before the end of the month. I have been given a three monthly one to try to get a stable dose. I have bled all the way through even having marina and zolidex. Fast forward to last few weeks down to 2 3/4 pumps per day, one in morning and 1 2/3 at night. Went to consultant to get zolidex and he advised I should know if the dose is going to be ok after about a week and to adjust accordingly. Felt quite high with headache and feeling aroused so stupidly adjusted by a tiny amount (I have been measuring with a syringe every night). My question is how long when feeling the dose is high would you give it to see if it will settle? The constant aroused feeling could this possibly just be libido recovering after years of none? It disapears as soon as I reduce the dose but any lower and I seem to have gone too low. Headaches have been a massive problem but would imagine not having a steady dose would not help. He has also mentioned getting an ablation for the bleeding anyone had this done and it be successful?

[Dancinggirl]

donnarichton - I really don't think doing such minor changes in the dose of oestrogen will make so much difference to how you feel - I used to get headaches when I used too high a dose of oestrogen.  Unless you keep to the same dose each day for at least 4 weeks you have no way of knowing whether it is working for you or not. Measuring half or three quarter doses is really not the way to go.  If you think 2 doses might be enough I'd do one in the morning and one at night and perhaps stick with this for 4 weeks, keep a diary and see how it goes. I am certainly not an expert but the constant bleeding might be because you are using too much oestrogen. If you are trying to control anxiety then constantly adjusting the dose won't be helping. If you use the minimum dose that controls the flushes then I'd stick with that - 2-3 pumps per day is quite a normal usage.
An ablation can sometimes help - I had one in my 30s and my bleeding settled. DG x

[donnacrichton]

Thank you I keep getting told as this is a daily dose I should know within a week. I should know from past experiences not to go too quick. The bleeding and arousal feel dose related. Going any lower I am ending in tears and struggling with work. Four weeks it is my own hormones have kicked in a few times and knocked it all over the place. I have 3 months zolidex. Hopefully I can apply correctly as made a few mistakes too much, too little then rubbing it in too quick. It went against all I had learnt to change after 1 week. Thank you again x

[dazned]

Day 5 of using utrogeston vaginally and so far no dramatic side effects ! Hopefully it remains this way and this will be the regime for me this time ,fingers crossed.

[jedigirl]

I'm thinking of changing my 1-25 day regime on Utrogestan to 1-14 day and maybe using vaginally. The 1-25 day regime has worked well to address my huge dip when i come off progesterone but am having  break through bleeds that suggest it is not the right regime for me to use. As I was still having irregular periods before HRT I am concerned its not the correct one for me.
When is the best time to start a 1-14 day regime? Should i wait for my bleed to stop then start then Utrogestan for 14 days then just Estragel for 14 days?Also if I'm using it vaginally can i use the same capsules you take orally or is there a different preparation? I've been on 100 mg.
Would really appreciate any advice.
JG

[Cassie]

I take 100mg Utrogestan from the 15th to the 26th of each month and about 4 days after that I get the bleed. Also use it vaginally have done so forever....its exactly the same tablet.