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[KT57]

Hi everybody.

 I did post on another board but got no replies so hoping someone might offer some advice on here. Had a total hysterectomy and ovaries removed 9 years ago. Have always been quite anti HRT but due to feeling fairly anxious and miserable all the time I started on Oestrogel (2 pumps per day) 10 days ago and am really struggling with side effects. I just feel so tearful - keep bursting into tears - my 2 year old grandson was very worried about me yesterday! I'm also extremely depressed and anxious - far more so than before starting Oestrogel.On the physical side I have developed a horrible white discharge. I was just wondering if anybody has experienced similar when starting on Oestrogel. I suppose I just need some reassurance - when I asked my GP she said it was coincidental and nothing to do with the Oestrogel.

Thanks in advance.

[Daisydot]

Hi KT57 listen to your gps advice re discharge.im also on oestrogel and it takes a good while to get the levels up your body needs time to adapt I'd say looking back now it was a good 6-8 weeks before I felt really stable again.are you also having treatment for Vaginal atrophy as when your body is depleted of oestrogen you are effectively drying out from the inside so you need to plump up the moisture in vaginal areas again.vagifem pessaries would be f benefit to you or if you prefer estriol cream so I'd ask your gp to put you on it along with your oestrogel.Try and lift your mood by getting out for plenty walks and keep yourself occupied,eat well and regular and drink plenty water.There are at least 34 symptoms of menopause and you'll probably tick most of those boxes like the rest of us you just have to try and take back control of what's happening and read up from the forum and learn as much as you can.good luck xx

[Cassie]

Its a great gel, I agree with your GP, we are often so quick to blame the meds,  and yes the discharge is perfectly normal whilst on the gel.

[KT57]

Thanks so much Daisydot and Cassie for prompt replies and reassurance. Will definitely read up on this board -so helpful.

[Dancinggirl]

KT57 - you haven't told us how old you are?  If it's 9 years since you had the hysterectomy, then you have been oestrogen deprived for a long time and it's going to take some time for the body to ‘wake up' and adjust.  Starting on 2 pumps per day was probably not the best idea since you will be starting from such a low oestrogen base line.  Why not use one pump per day for 2-4 weeks and see how that goes - this dose may be enough to keep you ticking over nicely.  Just increase to 2 pumps per day if you feel you need to.

The white discharge will be you poor urogenital area waking up and producing some proper lubrication - it could be a bit of bacteria or thrush that can be treated with some Multi Gyn Actigel. Once meno hits we get very prone to vaginal infections.
Buy some Multi Gyn Actigel (buy this online) to use occasionally to help keep the flora balance right. 
You would probably benefit from Vagifem local oestrogen as well, so perhaps ask the GP for that. Many of us use vaginal moisturisers daily to keep everything comfortable and healthy around our ‘lady bits'. - SYLK or the YES products are best and these can be bought online.
Keep going - I bet in about 4-6 weeks you'll feel much better. Dg x

[KT57]

Thank you all for the advice and explanations - very helpful! Will drop down to one pump per day and see how I get on.

[Daisydot]

You could drop to 1.5 KT57 it's quite easy to do that for a couple of weeks then again drop down to one and see how it goes.x