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[claude66]

Early days I know but I'm 8 days into taking 2 x pumps a day and nowt. In fact today I feel worse than I ever have.

Even if it hadn't fully kicked in surely it would, at least, take the edge of my symptoms? I've had more hot flushes so far today than I've had periods of normal temperature.

I have some in date progynova left over from when I had IVF (and I know this worked on me, whereas I feel the gel will not) and I am seriously thinking of taking those
 

[CLKD]

8 days is early.  Have a word with a Pharmacist or your prescribing practitioner, Practice Nurse …… you may need to up the dosage?  Don't mix the medication as you won't know what is working/not!

[Suzyq]

Try to be patient if you can and give it at least 4 weeks. I started on gel but couldn't get stable on it so eventually changed to patches. For me, these work much better but I know lots of people love the gel. It has taken 3 months for me to reach the stage where I am somewhat stable and I did go through periods where I felt worse. Hope you feel better soon x

[Joyce]

Be patient, can take about 4 weeks as I remember it.

[Dancinggirl]

The Oestrogel needs to build up the oestrogen level in your body.  I don't think you will know whether 2 pumps per day are enough for another week or two.
Are you applying it to clean dry skin - inside of the thighs? Sorry to ask this basic question but if you use moisturiser or even moisturising soaps or shower gels this could stop the absorption.
Oestrogel usually absorbs very effectively.  I can only imagine your oestrogen levels must be very low and need to build up.  DG x

[claude66]

thanks for replies. I am applying to clean, dry skin but am doing upper arm rather than inner thigh. Upper arm made more sense to me as it's an easier area to dry, plus it's what the instructions say.

I will give it longer but I just have a feeling the gel won't work for me. I know from when I've had things like anaesthetic cream applied it just didn't 'take'. likewise when I had to take progesterone vaginally for IVF it didn't absorb. I think it's oral or nothing for me (so to speak!)

[Hurdity]

As Suzyq says - patches may be the answer if the gel doesn't work after 4 weeks. I agree it doesn't seem to work for everyone if you don't get the knack of it, to give yourself a stable dose that will eliminate symptoms. Patches are the most reliable way to get stable levels of oestrogen into the system I would say. How much you get from oral HRT depends on your digestion.

Hurdity x

[Joyce]

Oestrogel can be applied to inner thigh or upper arm. I preferred putting on upper arms as hated feeling of legs sticking together. 

[Sarah2]

anna- the leaflet in the Oestrogel pack includes a diagram of where to apply- and it shows upper arms up to the shoulders but not on the inside of arms near the breasts- or the front of thighs but not too near the genital area.

claude- have you thought about givng your upper arms a good exfoliate with a loofah or a scrub? Don't mean you need to but they say that face creams are not absorbed well if you don't exfoliate regularly as you are putting them on top of a layer of dead skin which slows down the absorption.

You should not wash or anything for 1 hour after using and not apply moisturiser before use.

I've had no problems with absorption, but even so, I give my upper arms a good going over now and then!

[claude66]

Thanks - will give exfoliation a go as well!

[Cassie]

Give it a chance to build up in your system, at least 4 to 6 weeks. I just use it on my legs, and rotate legs, inner upper thigh, the nice squishy bits works well or back area over your cellulite also works, I find it goes in better on legs, my arms are a bit short and I find that I prefer to spread it a bit more on my legs, but do give it a chance, you can always switch over if you are not happy after a few months.

[CLKD]

REBEL  ……………

[claude66]

Stella you rebel

I've held off so far and today my period has arrived so not sure what the hell is going on at the moment. I think I'll give it one full cycle - I'm halfway there already and then see where I stand after that.

I'm not overly concerned about taking tablets, I know the gel is meant to be less of a risk but, frankly, I just want something to work at this stage

[CLKD]

You need to let the medication do it's work though, it may take time for uptake enough for you to notice a difference