Hi Liz sounds to me you are getting to much oestradiol. Especially as you're peri, not menopausal.
X 2 measures (pumps) = 2.5grams = 1.5mg of oestradiol
Depending on make of patch, but roughly 75mcgs = 1.17mg of oestradiol
Just to clarify that you cannot compare the TOTAL amount of oestrogen in a dose of gel and a patch - it is the delivery and ultimate systemic concentration that is the crucial factor ie the daily average amount in your blood-stream after absorption. Also the patch is usually changed twice weekly and the gel applied daily so there is no comparison whatsoever!
So the fact that a 75 mcg patch contains 1.17 mg oestradiol has no relation to the total amount in a gel dose. The 75 mcg patch is so called because it is designed on average to deliver 75 mcg estradiol per day into the system and according to the product info for estradot each patch size leads to on average the same value in pg/ml. so 75 mcg patch would lead to 75 pg/ml.
According to the product leaflet 2 pumps of estrogel containing 1.5 mg oestradiol gave average estradiol level of 76.8 pg/ml - but there will be great variability as some women will get much less, others more, from the same dose applied.
However I'm not sure if the information/figures given for both of these is even comparable as it is not clear exactly what they are based on - at least I am not a pharmacist/biochemist and can't interpret them properly.
Liz - as i said before, below, the thing is not to get hung up on an exact comparison - but an approximation of low, medium and high and if it's not working for you - then with docs agreement, to try to increase.
One thing is certain - high oestrogen should not make you feel either "zonked" or sedated" - this is not a property of oestrogen - more likely the opposite. It is progestogen that has a sedative effect, but low oestrogen can also lead to dip in mood and energy. Not sure what a sudden spike in externally applied oestrogen would do though?
Are you still peri-menopausal? Your own hormones could be coming into play. I wouldn't have thought you would need to reduce from 2 pumps - this dose is not going to lead to low mood ie it's not too much!
Anyway hope you feel better soon!
Hurdity x