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[MIS71MUM]

Hello

Just a quick update after applying my gel for approx 10 days.

I no longer have the urge to ball my eyes out, my digestion seems to have improved and I seem to spending less time in my own head which is good.  I'm still having hot sweats and feel a bit moody and nervous but I realise it's very early days.

However, I have read a couple of posts on here this week which have got me thinking.  Firstly my GP diagnosed me as having POF approximately 3 years ago.  I would imagine that this is why my periods stopped for 6 months a year usually between September and April then continued as normal for summer.  My FSH levels at this time were 35.  My question is should I go back to my GP and ask for some bone scan or some sort as this is the 6th year it has happened?  Also as I have never had advice from my GP as to what dose gel I should be on....I was wondering whether to see him about increasing my dose?

In addtion, I have read some posts about oestrogen levels being 300 to 600, and with mine being a tiny 127, is the idea to increase with a particular level in mind.

My last period which was induced by Utrogestan alone...was about about a teaspoon!

[MIS71MUM]

I meant to say the first 2 nights of applying gel, I felt so relaxed and I am positive I could actually feel a tingling sensation in my lower abdomen. Did anyone else get this?

[peri]

No but I did feel the patches working within 24 hours of putting the first one on.  How old are you Mis71Mum I'm guessing from your name about 44?

[MIS71MUM]

Yes am clinging on to my 44th year until June!

How long were you on the patches before you felt fully recharged?

[peri]

Pretty quick really and I felt really good for the first few weeks.  I think it all depends on your own baseline when you start the hrt. Now I'd say I'm on an even keel most of the time except for when I have a period and I always have a blip then.  Sorry I'm not an expert by any means but what I have picked up from the site is because you are relatively young you do need hrt to protect your heart and bones.  Plus because hormones are precursors to mood there's also that added benefit; I certainly don't feel I would be functioning fully without it x

[CLKD]

What's POF 

Ring your Surgery or visit a Pharmacist and ask - however, the details should be on the side of the packet of medication

[Dancinggirl]

Mis71mum - Your oestrogen reading may be a bit misleading - it could have been the alternative way of measuring the levels and the 127 may be fine - most of us quote the pmol/L reading and therefore oestrogen could be 300-600 whereas I suspect your reading was the pg/ml and 127 would be a reasonably good level.   The important measurement is 'how you feel' - if the HRT you are using is improving your quality of life then stick with it.  Increasing dosage can actually bring other side effects.  I personally think 1-2 pumps per day is quite enough.
I suspect your ovaries have been kicking in and out for some years so you have basically been in peri meno so still producing some oestrogen - therefore your bones should OK.  Your GP really won't know what is best re dosage as they are not experts and even a specialist gynae would normally go on how well you are responding to the current HRT. As to your bones, you could request a DEXA scan but if you are reasonably active and because you have been having periods, you may not have been that oestrogen deficient. It is a good idea to get sufficient calcium and vitamin d in your diet anyway to maintain good bone health.
It is so good you are starting to feel better - Id stick with what you are doing and only review the situation if things decline.  Do be prepared for some fluctuations and some ups and downs - HRT doesn't solve everything.
I can't remember how much oestrogen you are using but as a generally rule one should use the lowest amount that keeps your symptoms under control.  If you have very fine bones, very low weight, get little or no exercise and a diet that is poor in calcium etc. then a scan is a good idea and a higher level of oestrogen with advice on diet and exercise may be necessary.
Try not to worry - just enjoy getting your life back.  DG x

[MIS71MUM]

Hi DG

My reading was is pmol as I checked this when the paperwork arrived!

I'm currently doing 1 pump each morning, split it between two hand and apply from inner thigh to my knee every morning.

There's a definite change even in the last 10 days.  I'm enjoying things more. This time last week, I was sat on a park bench crying wondering what to do with myself. Today I'm at work, very tired with a headache but I am engaging with others and "present" in my life, if that makes sense.

Fingers crossed things continue to improve, looking forward to some energy maybe!!!

[Milamam]

Hi Mis71Mum,
If I were you I wouldn't increase until at least for a month. It seems that I pump gets rid of some symptoms, it may take time for the flushes to subside, too. If needed you can always go up to two pumps in a month. But 10 days is such a short period of time. You may as well see improvement after one cycle, and then won't need to add more gel.
Milamam

[MIS71MUM]

Thanks for the replies.

I just feel like i'm doing this blindly sometimes as it says on the instructions 2 Pumps on first month, increasing to 3 thereafter and the Utrogestan has no instructions on it.  I decided on the 1 pump to try and build up gently but then after getting my results back, and saw some other ladies having results of over 300, it made me realise that I am really deficient.

I know the results aren't majorly important and they can change quite a bit, but it did help explain quite a lot of my symptoms.

[Dancinggirl]

Mis71Mum - I have found that when I start back on HRT it takes time for the levels to build and stabilise.  You didn't tell us when your oestrogen test was done but by day 10 the levels may have increased and may well build and maintain at a good level by the end of one month - using only one pump per day. There are no hard and fast rules about how much HRT one should use, this will vary from women to women. But if one goes to a much higher level of oestrogen then often a higher level of progesterone is needed to protect the womb lining so that can bring problems.  There are many advantages to keeping things lower.  Dg x

[MIS71MUM]

Right Thanks DG. I hadn't realised that there was a correlation between amount of oestrogen used and progesterone. Now it makes sense.

My test was done when I wasn't on HRT and as I'm not having a regular cycle, it's hard to say what day it was!

So 1 pump it is then....and will see how it goes.

Thanks again.

[Lizab]

Mis71Mum, Is this your first time trying hrt? I apologize if I missed that, my brain is skittery today. I ask because I recall reading a website where a doctor said he observed a pattern in the improvement in his patients. Something like the first couple weeks he attributed the positive difference to placebo effect, then there is an up and down period, and maybe after the first 2 months everything levels out and the improvement can really be seen, or it becomes clear that it isn't enough. I may have the time frames a little off, and I'm sorry I don't have a link for it. But hopefully you get the general idea. I would follow the low dosing these other ladies have advised and give it several weeks to stabilize, even if you have some blips along the way. Crossing my fingers that it's easy going for you!

[MIS71MUM]

Thanks for replies.

Yesterday was the first day that I didn't have any hot flushes or sweats apart from after my bath...which is to be expected.

I tried Femoston 1/10 with good results twice but F 2/10 was almost too much and I never settled on it.

I tried the gel before for 2 weeks but had to stop due to an impending operation. But both times on gel on Days 1 and 2, I had the most chilled out feeling ever! Was super relaxed and felt fab, unfortunately that feeling disappeared on Day 3, just wouldn't mind a bit of that.

Seen to be a bit constipated and have a headache which may be side effects of HRT.

[Dancinggirl]

Mis71Mum - I think it is important not to over think things.  Give the one pump per day a good chance over the next 4-8 weeks  - I assume you doing the a monthly course of Utro?
As your test was done when not on HRT then after about 4 weeks on the Oestoegl I would expect a level of around 300 - although this can vary from women to women depending on how much oestrogen is still being naturally produced and how well you absorb the gel. Try to just relax and get on with life - I bet you will start to feel more balanced in a couple of weeks.  I actually use 200mg Utro for 12 days each month and feel great on this, sleeping really well and feeling energised during the day.  I do get nasty tummy cramps with the bleed which leaves me feeling very tired but it's worth putting up with this for 4-5 days each month to then feel good for the rest of the month.  DG x