Hello Westie and Hurdity
Thank you for your advice and comments.
Hurdity I originally started on HRT in 2016 and was on 3 pumps of gel and initially 12 days X 200 mg, but I such bad side effects that the meno dr recommended I came down to the 7 x 1000 mg a month which was far more tolerable. I then increased that up to 12 days x 100 mg as I seemed to have less side effects and understood about the need for a good dose of progestreone to protect the endometrium. Unfortunately this did not regularise any bleeding as I would sometimes go for 4/5 months without a bleed and then have one closely followed by another. Prior to a special holiday I decided to go on to Northisterone in replacement of the Utrogestan as this had always worked to stop periods when I was regularly having them. This was a long holiday and therefore a long time on Northisterone. Unfortunately, when I stopped it I had horrendous sweats (something I had not really experienced before) and it was as though my body was really getting fed up with the HRT.
Meno Doc suggested I increase the Gel to 5/6 pumps which I did for 12 weeks and this seemed to settle the sweats and I then dropped down to 4 and returned to Utrogestan 100mg x 12 days, but the lack of any certainty in terms of bleeding led me to talk to my GP about going on to a continuous regime. I started this on June 16th and really wish I hadn't!
Prior to starting on HRT, I had gone for 5 months without a period then one would come along. I had the odd hot sweat but nothing too significant, but was tired and completely lacking in libido. I'll have to say that since going on the HRT along with the Testosterone this has completely reversed and possibly for the first time in my life I am enjoying (as is my husband!) a very fulfilling sex life. That was until going on to the continuous regime and having this erratic bleeding.
I will try, the 200 mg vaginally, as you recommended Hurdity. Sorry to be direct, but do I insert one immediately after the other and just hope they don't pop out
and also if we are able to have sex, presumably I would pop them in afterwards - really sorry to ask. Hopefully the side effects will be minimised this way and the benefits maximised.
Thank you for the advice on the testim gel. I would never have thought putting it on the inside of my knee! Yes, I did apply it to my arm and there is a 50/50 chance it was the same arm from which the blood test was taken as I alternate which arm I apply it to. My first blood test after being on the testim gel for 12 months was actually 26.47 nmol/l - my Oestrodial was 1006 pmol/l. These were in June 2018 so my levels have come down a fair bit but particularly on Oestrodial - recent test was 263. I make a Testim tube last 8/9 days - it is supposed to be applied to a level that makes it last 7-10 so I thought my usage was ok, but I probably put an amount the size of two peas tbh, so I am going to cut that down to one pea and try it on the inside of my knee.
Thank you so much once again for your help and advice. x