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[winnie1967]

Hi all, I've lost the link thats been posted previously, regarding the right balance of oestrogen and progesterone.
Can someone repost plz.
Many thanks

[Ladybt28]

depends Winnie what regime you are on.  If it is utrogestan and you are supposed to have it every day then 100mg is fine.  If you are on a cycle then it is 200mg for 12 days per month.  The higher amount is because of the shorter time if you see what I mean.

Are you talking about utrogestan or some other progesterone? x

[heavenlyblue]

Just an update after about 10 days of switching from 50mcg Evoril Conti to

2 x pumps Oestrogel
1 x 100mg Utrogestan
Testogel daily

No change in any symptoms apart from sleeping a bit better, assuming that is the Utrogestan.
I don't expect to feel any better with the Testogel yet, I know that can take some time.
And my Oestrogel dose is the equivalent to the 50mcg Evoril Conti I was on before and I felt dreadful on that but she couldn't up it until my BP was down.

Good news is that my BP readings for the week have been really good so I will email my private GP with that, so she should give me the go ahead to up my Oestrogel dose, I cannot wait!   I haven't felt well for nearly 3 years so any improvement, whenever that comes, I will grab with both hands :-)

Just an update ladies.

Morning

3 pumps x Oestrogel
1 x pea sized Testogel

At Night

1 x 100mg Utrogestan capsule a night

Been doing this regime for about 2 and a half months now.

My severe weekly migraines have gone, I get the odd headache every now and then but nothing like what I was getting. I am seeing a Naturopath at the same time who has been absolutely wonderful as well.  The pains in my liver have gone, so has the vertigo.  I do still have fatigue though.  I am taking an iron spray for this.

Saw my private doctor for a follow up last week, we had another hormone test done to see what was going on.

22.10.2019

Testosterone - 0.4 nmol/L
SHBG - 64 nmol/L
Oestradiol - 44 pmol/L

31.1.2020

Testosterone - 0.5 nmol/L
SHBG - 71 nmol/L
Oestradiol - 434 pmol/L

So as you can see, I am absorbing the oestrogen well but my testosterone has not really done anything.

Dr McCulloch said to increase my Testogel dose very slightly - I am having no negative side effects with Testogel so far.

She said my oestrogen levels are good now.

I am just not sure if this is the 'best' I am going to feel, if you see what I mean.  I have been feeling awful for about 3 years that I have forgotten what 'good' or 'normal' feels like.  Not having the migraines is like a new lease of life but I do still feel tired. I asked her if I could try 4 pumps for a while to see if I feel even better, she said it was up to me but to keep her posted.  My flushes have really decreased.

Would I feel better if I didn't take Utrogestan every night?  I know some of you ladies do that.  She said if I wanted to go down that route, she wanted me to try it for a couple of weeks and the rest of the month, take a double dose.  See if I notice any change in mood etc.....

As I said, I have no idea what 'good and normal' feels like, just want to make sure I am on the best regime that I can be on :-)

But it is generally going well with my private doctor and my naturopath.  I feel listened to.  They understand what is going on in my body and that has taken so much anxiety away.  At least I know my regime can be tweaked if needs be.

Would appreciate any comments or advice.

Hope you are doing well ladies xxx



 

[Hurdity]

Hi heavenlyblue - thanks for the update and glad you are feeling better. Re the progesterone - are you taking this orally or vaginally? Personally I would not want to do the alternate day thing with that dose of oestrogen and those levels because it could lead to breakthrough bleeding - but interesting idea from your specialist to try half the month on half the dose and the other half on double the dose.

The ongoing fatigue could be due to the daily utrogestan or the so far ineffectivenss of the testosterone. Do you have other symptoms like low libido or muscle pain etc especially after exercise?

How wonderful that your migraines have gone! That is one excellent result! Long may it last

Hurdity x

[pricey]

Hello, I'm posting this here as probably most relevant to this group.  Any advice gratefully received.
---
I've posted a few times and have sought advice on spotting while on oestrogel and utrogestan. I have been on various forms of HRT for about 4 years.  The only one that controlled my cycle was Elleste Duet, but it gave me horrendous headaches. Since then, I have felt best on Femoston and more recently Oestrogel, both of which control my menopause symptoms but not my bleeding. As I am constantly battling anaemia and work full time in a challenging role, this is getting on top of me.  After chatting with Hurdity (thank you!) I decided to stop the utrogestan to induce a proper bleed, rather than the constant spotting, with a view to going back on to a sequi regime and perhaps weaning off. This has indeed induced a full on bleed  I have also, rightly or wrongly, reduced my Oestrogel to one and a half pumps (3 days ago) to see how I go. I wonder if the spotting is due to my levels being too high as I'm quite small and also eat a plant based diet so lots of soy etc. Who knows??? (And yes,  I take iron supplements - my iron stores are generally better than they were when I ate meat as I now eat a more balanced diet). Could too much oestrogen and too little progesterone result in the problems I've been having? Would 1and a half and even 1 pump of Oestrogel (assuming my flushes etc still remain under control) be ok to use with 100mg vaginal utrogestan for 12 days, or should I use 200mg utrogestan? 12 days of 100mg has induced a withdrawal bleed (with 2 pumps oesrogel). I have a telephone appointment with my doctor on 11th, but while she is understanding she seems a bit clueless about hormone levels and dosage that deviates from the patient information leaflet. At 55 I'm curious to know where I'm at, although I do seem to ovulate and my own cycle kick in at least every 3 months.

X

[Sammiejane]

hi heavenly blue

a very quick question has your regime of 3 pumps gel utrogestan and testogel did you start all 3 together ?

have you had any hair shedding on the regime x

thank you

[Lucyjo]

Hi ladies,
Need some help - totally fed up!! Started estrogel 3 pumps & androfeme 0.5ml in a morning.  Utrogestan 100mg orally at night & vagifem every other night & vagisil as needed (regularly).
Apart from no hot flushes & sleeping a bit better - I am feeling no better. Very sore and spotting every couple of weeks.  So tired and low mood. I thought I would have more energy, be less depressed, even maybe help burning mouth - but feel about the same. Do you think I should pack it in?? Don't see gyn till June. Also take Duloxetine for depression/anxiety/burning mouth.
Advise needed PLEASE!!!
Lucyjo x

[Dotty]

Lucyjo....how long have you been on this regime?

[Lucyjo]

Hi Dotty, sorry - meant to say that I started october 2019 x

[Dotty]

Hi Lucyjo

You may need an increase in the Oestrogel if you're not noticing any improvements after 3 months. However HRT can take longer than 3 months to have full effect x

[Lucyjo]

Should I increase oestrogel to 4 pumps? What about the androfeme???
Thanks x

[Hurdity]

Hi Lucyjo - "apart from no hot flushes and sleeping a bit better" - these are major positive effects!!! If you are taking utrogestan all the time, especially orally this can have a permanent sedative effect - ie tiredness and low mood You say you are taking ADs - is this from lifelong depression or hormonal anxiety/low mood due to menopause - and did you start these drugs approx the time when menopausal symptoms began and your periods might have stated going awry? If so I would really focus on getting the HRT dose/balance right as ADs are not recommended for menopausal symptoms including low mood (unless serious depression). I would see if it is the utrogestan before increasing the oestrogen dose if the latter has eased your flushes. However this would mean taking it cyclically and having a bleed - so you might not fancy this!  How are old are you? Taking HRT is always a compromise for those of us with a womb. ie we either have to put up with the side effects of the progesterone or put up with a bleed! Hope you get sorted.

Hurdity x

[Dotty]

Can I just say that not everyone gets side effects from Utrogestan. I am fine and I take it every day xxx

[Sammiejane]

hi

i agree with dotty that not every side effect is progesterone i think some ladies need to look at estrogen either brand dose application

i was on the gel too and all those symtoms described i had on the gel estrogel and i was on 2 pumps and my estrogen levels were not necessary low i think it would be wise to have your blood levels tested as u may find you have to much estrogen or it could be the gel just not suiting you i felt very thick headed and fatigued on estrogel and i don't have a womb but i am trying it with progesterone to balance things out and apart from headaches weeing more i feel ok in progesterone utrogestan . the only issues is for me i've been applying gel to my arms and am getting pains like trapped gas so tonight will use on thighs instead .

[Sammiejane]

hi birdy

i disagree i think it does matter where u apply it the same as patch some women are better with it on their bottom rather then abdomen and when i tried the patch on the bottom i got bad back ache and burning sensation out it on my abdomen and was fine

i think it does vary same with the gel as i?m less bloated using on my arms compared to thigh