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[SandJ]

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere, but I just can't find it

I'm on 2 pumps of oestrogel per day. Instructions say inner thigh / top of arm, shoulder.
I've been alternating, but here's the thing: I'm tiny. It's virtually impossible for me to get one pump onto my inner thigh, I have to spread it down to my calf pretty much, and the same with the arm, I seem to have just so much I'm trying to fit onto a tiny space. I try to put it on my shoulder blade to get it spread.

What to do? Can I put it anywhere else? And, once I'm done, there always seems to be extra on my hand. What to do with it? Wipe it where?

And I remember there seems to be contradictions as to whether to rub it in or not..

Help

[Hurdity]

Hi there

Sorry - I'm not a gel user - or rather I use Testogel but not oestrogen gel. However most other transdermal oestrogen (patches and gel) say to apply below the waist and oestrogel is alone in saying upper body is OK. I would suggest as far away from breasts as possible if you do use upper body. Also if you spread it out in as thin a layer as possible research has shown this will reduce absorption. So probably best to limit it to inner thigh rather than all the way down calf - I think you will  have to wait for it to dry though - that's the idea - it should not be spread so thin that it dries before it can be absorbed. It is just supposed to be spread onto the skin rather than rubbed - ie rubbing is not necessary otherwise the instructions would say to do this - I can imagine if you do this you will be rubbing some of it into your finger! However I think the most important thing with gel is to be consistent - so keep to the same sized area of application  (as long as not too large), the same part of the body, and spread or rub if you see what I mean-  that way you will be most likely to achieve a more consistent absorption.

Hopefully someone who uses oestrogel will be along to give their personal experiences of this.

Hurdity x

[SandJ]

Thanks so much Hurdity - so would you apply the gel only to the thighs rather than the arms as well?

[Salad]

Hi 

I was advised to use thighs to apply oestrogel when I used it. Smoothed over and left to dry before getting dressed.
I was using 4 pumps so applied two to each side - it worked well for quite a while 

[TheOtherOne]

Hi SandJ.
I use two pumps every day and am also quite tiny.

I pump one pump of the gel onto one hand and then rub it onto both hands, then I slowly apply that to:

My inner thighs and all around the tops of my legs, and then the same as before with the second pump to:
my upper arms and shoulders.

I find I have to apply all around my arm, but am careful not to apply in the area on my upper arms near my breasts. Sometimes I apply it down my arm beyond my elbow if there seems to be lots for my arms.

If there is any left on my hands after all that, I squirt some of my face moisturiser onto my unwashed gel covered hands and apply it to my face and neck, as the French do.

It's fine. The skin on your hands is perfect for absorbing the gel too.

I try not to get too hung up about things as I got a bottle of gel with French instructions and they're different to the English instructions. Just goes to show that it's not lethal if you use the gel on lower arms or your face!!

Hope this helps.

[SandJ]

Thanks so much everyone, this has set my mind at rest! Interesting that there are different instructions for the French version!
I have another concern: would not some of it rub off onto sheets? I try to hang around until the gel is completely dry - this seems to take a lot longer than 5 mins stipulated in the instructions. Hard in winter... I get cold v. easily. And even if it's dry, doesn't some get onto the sheets in any case? ( I put it on at night as directed by my doctor...). I don't wear pyjamas or a nightdress. I'm not just concerned about some of it rubbing off onto my husband, but my cat, who likes to snuggle.....

[Cassie]

I use one pump and spread it from my calf right up to my thigh yes it does spread quite a long way I rub it in until it has absorbed and it dries fairly quickly, I have been using it at night like this for many yrs and have had no problems, I dont think you should be concerned, it gets taken up fairly quickly into the system.

[ellie66]

Be careful not to spread it too thin. A mediums layer will dry in 10-15 mins.I use 4 squirts/pumps on my lower arms and put my make up whilst its drying.

[ellie66]

Ps I do not rub it in I spread it and leave it too dry. Do not worry about cat. Mine have accidentally got covered in it and are fine!

[Cassie]

Quite correct StellaJane, but then again, I only use 1 pump, takes no more than 30 secs to dry off. 

[Noheroicsplease]

I spread mine between elbow and wrist across both arms.

[sjb0610]

I alternate between outside of upper arms/shoulder and thighs.  I spread on and allow to dry. Just doing 2 pumps at the moment.

[SandJ]

Thanks everyone, very much appreciated to hear all this!

[Hurdity]

Thanks so much everyone, this has set my mind at rest! Interesting that there are different instructions for the French version!
I have another concern: would not some of it rub off onto sheets? I try to hang around until the gel is completely dry - this seems to take a lot longer than 5 mins stipulated in the instructions. Hard in winter... I get cold v. easily. And even if it's dry, doesn't some get onto the sheets in any case? ( I put it on at night as directed by my doctor...). I don't wear pyjamas or a nightdress. I'm not just concerned about some of it rubbing off onto my husband, but my cat, who likes to snuggle.....

Yes you should be concerned about some rubbing off on your husband!

The instructions say you should avoid skin to skin contact where you have applied it, for at least an hour and I would suggest that unless you sleep with PJs or nightie covering where you have applied it then night-time is not the best time. Research has been carried out into transfer through the skin. Can't think why your doc would advise night-time in view of this - without giving you this warning.

The gel should be applied by the patient herself, not by anyone else, and skin contact, particularly with a male partner, should be avoided for one hour after application. Washing the skin or contact with other skin products should be avoided until at least one hour after application of Oestrogel.

http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/19898/SPC#POSOLOGY

In addition I think also I would avoid regular snuggling with pet soon after application - I have read that pets have become ill through  oestrogen - although this is by someone mentioning on here. I think a member had a cat who become ill after ingestion of oestrogen from gel?  It doesn't say this on the info though but would have thought the warnings would apply equally to pets - well the exposed skin anyway (eg on cat's face).

Re the area covered - as I mentioned there was some research which showed that if you apply it to the largest possible area - ie very thinly eg down arms and legs then you get lower absorption than from spreading it over a smaller area - but the critical thing is (as I think I said) - if you are consistent with whatever you do and however you apply it, then you are likely to get a more consistent dose than spreading it on different areas of the body and different sized patches, sometimes rubbing it, sometimes spreading it etc. Does that make sense?

Hurdity x

[SandJ]

Thanks so much  Hurdity... skin to skin contact is a bit rare I have to say as my libido is retrograde (perhaps things will change once Testim kicks in  )it's more the sheets I'm worried about, that it 'collects' there and then rubs off on him. I suppose this is logical, that it would do that. Maybe I had better switch to morning....