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[Hurdity]

As it says - I can't believe I've agreed to do this at the ripe old age of mid 60's after 11 years on patches which I completely swear by and which have eliminated all my menopausal symptoms. If it isn't broke, comes to mind.....

However I had a long overdue review of my HRT - when I mentioned last week I got the testosterone prescribed by the gynae GP. Well this was also the first time I had to spill the beans about having slightly increasing my oestrogen dose due to starting the T and not wanting to be T dominant. As I've mentioned before I did this by snipping my 50 mcg patches into 4 and adding one of these to my 50 mcg making 62.5 mcg. Somehow have managed to get away with having more prescribed so far, by just ordering my patches a bit early saying I've nearly run out (after all they sometimes come off!) Doc wasn't keen on non standard amounts but not keen on prescribing 75 mcg (so I could snip a bit off that instead!)  so I thought gel might be easier, although rather worried about rocking the boat when I function perfectly well.

The upshot is I've got Sandrena (I didn't want estrogel as it's weaker so you have to apply more).  I asked for 1.5 sachets as the same as 2 pumps of estrogel. However she wanted me to try less ( I'm nearly 65) and also again it was a non-standard amount. I was so pleased she agreed to the T that I agreed to a 3 month trial of a sachet per day which is 1 mg ( same as 1.3 pumps of gel!).

I started yesterday morning - scary! The stuff is so much more gooey than Testogel which is quite runny. This is more like the consistency of a salve or ointment and quite sticky. What's more it takes AGES to dry ( I applied it to my inner thighs) and was still tacky after half an hour. It has to be applied below the waist on body or thighs and I will no way apply it to upper body.

So I sit back and await any effects - positive or negative. The worst thing will be if sweats come back which have been well controlled before. I have to go back in 3 months but if they return before that will do a trial of 1.5 pumps.

Weirdly I am half way through my 12 days of utrogestan (200 mg vaginally) and I could swear my head is not as foggy as usual - but that could just be wishful thinkiing and it is near Easter hols!

Anyway here goes!!!

Hurdity x

[robotwars]

Good Luck, I hope it works well for you. 

[Maryjane]

Good luck . You can only try 😊.

I couldn't tolerate sandrena dreadful spots on legs , took forever to dry and made me feel sick .

So swapped to estrogel pump and all good .

[Daisydot]

Good luck from me too Hurdity hope all goes well xx

[Roadrunner]

I love it. I hope will too. I agree it takes longer than 10 minutes to dry but I put it on after my morning shower then by the time I've dried myself, applied creams and dried my hair it's good to go.
You'll soon know if you need to up your dose and you can add a bit more as needed.
1mg wasn't enough for me.
I've ended up on 1.75mg
Good luck and keep us posted.
RR xx

[Lanzalover]

Good luck Hurdity

Hope it all goes well do keep us updated.

Love Lanzalover x

[Rhiner]

The best of luck Hurdity, hope it goes well. I too would be very reluctant to change from patches too.  Its strange that you are asking for tips as its normally everyone asking you for tips.
All the best, Rhiner x

[paisley]

Good luck. Hope it goes well

[Kathleen]

Hello Hurdity.

Wishing you good luck with your new regime and I look forward to reading about your progress.

Take care.

K.

[warwick01]

Hi Hurdity

Good luck hope it works ok. If not go back to estrodot 50.

Wxx

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Hurdity - I've emailed you.  DG x

[Tinkerbell]

So why does it have to be applied to lower body but in the leaflet with Estrogel it says you can apply on shoulders? I thought it was the same stuff

[Hurdity]

It is puzzling Tinkerbell - I have mentioned before when this has been discussed that all the patches say they should be applied to lower body, and Sandrena gel - and oestrogel is the only transdermal oestrogen product (as far as I recall) which gives arms, shoulders and upper body too.  I go with the advice on my leaflet and put it on thighs - as far away from breasts as it can possibly be! This is just a personal choice - I have found no other information/studies on this.

Sandrena has some different ingredients to Oestrogel and also a different concentration of estradiol (it's more concentrated).

Thanks everybody for commenting. I'm just hoping I'm not going to be allergic to it as I have sensitive skin. So far so good Day 4. No especially adverse signs although yesterday it was red where I had rubbed it in.... incidentally the patient leaflet says rub it in whereas the more detailed prescribing information on the web - the SPC) makes no mention of this - so this was news to me! However the consistency meant it is more suitable for rubbing than a more watery gel like Testogel which I just spread on my (other) lower thigh.

Hurdity x

[Dancinggirl]

I'm afraid I don't like the sound of Sandrena at all!!!! I've never used this, only Oestrogel or Oestrodose, but it sounds far more problematic because it doesn't dry as quickly as Oestrogel.  I used to just apply one pump or each thigh in the morning (like you I never thought it good to apply anywhere near breasts), it used to dry within 10 mins while I had my cup of tea and I could then get on with the day.  I didn't have to rub it in, I just smeared it well over a good area so it wasn't too thick so it would dry and absorb quickly. As I mentioned, I have emailed you but I will be interested to hear how you get on with gel as opposed to patch.  Good luck.  DG xxxx

[Joaniepat]

Hurdity, isn't the Lenzetto spray applied to the arms? Mary G says that's where she puts it. I think all this may have to do with the application site chosen for the original trials of the products. I've read somewhere that this was the case with Oestrogel, that the trials were carried out on arms and shoulders, but unfortunately can no longer find the reference.

Anyway, best of luck with your new regime.

JP x