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[Noheroicsplease]

Hello,

I'm back after a break. I hope everyone is ok.

My hair has started to shed again. Previously, this has been because of low ferritin, so I went to the doctor and had ferritin, Vit D and Oestrogen levels checked. (The reason for the estrogen is that after a year on Estrogel, I switched to estrogen patches, but they didn't work as well, so I saw a consultant who told me to go back to 3/4 pumps a day. Then, once levels up, I could bring testosterone into the mix).

Anyway, ferritin and Vit D were fine. Ferritin could be higher but it was significantly lower when hair shed last time.

Oestrogen result, however is this:

Oestradiol, 17B (serum)
Range: 45.0 -  854.0

My results: 57 pmol

!!!!

I have no idea why it is so low. Clearly, I'm not absorbing it. But it explains why I feel like crap.

What now? What are my options? I don't want to take a pill or a combined pill. I've got the mirena.

I think I might jack HRT in. If I'm not getting anything from it, what's the point?

I'm 48, nearly 49. I went into meno (14 months without periods) when I was 46.

Thanks all.

[MIS71MUM]

I'm not sure of your options as I'm in same boat as you not absorbing as I should be. But a little better than you with a reading of 153!!

When do you apply gel and when was your blood test?

Do you use Oestradose or estrogel?

[Noheroicsplease]

Hi

I apply every morning on my thighs or arms. My test was early morning. I can't remember if I did the gel before i went or not, but regardless, there should be far more in the tank.

It's frustrating.

[Tempest]

I think either a) you might be getting what I call the 'slam, dunk' effect from the gel which was a problem for me - absorbing fast, burning through it and then 'tanking' or your tissues have become saturated (this is talked about on Stateside menopause forums but in that case mainly applies to transdermal creams, which we don"t have here).

I know with patches you rotate the site of application, and wonder if this should also be the case for the gels but for consistency's sake it might be tricky as absorbtion between arms or thighs might be different.

I do think it's very much an individual thing too - anything is possible with HRT's and we also respond (or not) very differently. xxxx

[Noheroicsplease]

What does slam, dunk mean? That literally I spike and then come down? But even so, doesn't that seem a ridiculously low amount in my blood stream? How much good can it be doing me? (None if my current mood is anything to go by)

 

[Tempest]

Yup - that's what I meant by 'slam, dunk'. It's not a technical term, but kinda describes it perfectly! How Prof Lumsden put it to me was 'you're absorbing the gel, but not circulating it'. God knows where it was disappearing to!! This is just my own personal situation - I was going to give it another go, but for other reasons I am off HRT altogether after trialling the patches first.

I would have had to dose more than once daily, and for me that is not do-able due to other health issues. xxxx

[Noheroicsplease]

I'm so sorry to hear you've had other health issues.

What are my options? What would you do if you were me? I've clearly stopped absorbing via skin

[Tempest]

Have you tried patches? These would probably be worth a go first as they can offer a steadier dose. You could give it a 4 week trial, and then go and have bloods drawn to see if you're absorbing from this method.

Or you could try oral. Oral is not evil, many women do ok on oral preperations and if it works well for you - great!

Or.......if you're really fed up with trying HRT,  you could take a break and see where you are now with symptoms. If after 4 to 6 weeks things are not copeable, then you can always restart. I know all of this sounds obvious, but hope it helps a bit! xxxx

[Noheroicsplease]

I did try patches for several months - very low absorption. It's why I went back onto the pump and maxed it out (was on x 4 a day at one point for several months but HATED how my boobs felt).

I took Utrogestan at one point, instead of the coil, and HATED it. I'm very very very reluctant to try oral pill. I think I'd have to take a combined pill, as well, and I don't want that.

Is my hair shedding because of low oestrogen, do you think?

Purely vanity wise, that's an issue

[SueLW]

Just to sympathise, it's horrible when it's not working.   

I used compounded creams for 3 years but it hasn't been working for me for the last year or so, I just didn't realise.  Last blood test, taken the specified 4-6 hours after cream application came back with an oestrogen reading of 88!

She's switched me to the gel now.  But I fear that if I wasn't absorbing the cream, why will I absorb the gel. 

I wish we could get pellets here in the UK.

[Tempest]

How bad is the shedding? Because this summer, both Hubby and I have shed LOADS (and we both have long hair). I think it's our body's response to this heat, and we do shed more hair in spring/summer anyway.

My estrogen level has been in the toilet as I haven't really used HRT for most of the 3 plus years after my ovaries were removed, and this is the first time I've shed hair more than usual. But I still have LOADS of hair (think 'Cousin 'It'').😂😂😂  xxxx

[CarryWarry]

Not sure if this will help, but I too had crashingly low oestrogen (off the chart according to my specialist).  Long story very very short.....got Mirena fitted 5 weeks ago....was on 2mg Progynova for the 5 weeks too and felt VILE (nauseus, crying, depressed etc), stopped Progynova only on Monday in the end and as of this week I am using two pumps of gel added to 75mcg Evorel patch....this is a good mix for me (starting to feel better already), but I realise you don't rate the patches - so that is probably no help at all, but thought I'd share anyway!!  Poor you, hope it all sorts out soon.  Hellish times aren't they?! (I had the patches last year and also thought they were a bit rubbish, but this mix seems to be working...) x

[Noheroicsplease]

Hi Carry, thanks but I tried the patches and literally nothing came through. I'm going to speak to my doc or Heather about it.

I don't want to take oral estrogen

[CarryWarry]

Good luck Nohero.  We are all on a forever journey trying to sort this.  Hopefully by the time my daughter hits the menopause there will be far more knowledge with all sorts of blood tests.  I think we are the generation who will help crack it properly.... x

[racjen]

What about estrogen implants? I have no experience of this so not recommending, just suggesting. Also, why do you think you'd have to take a combined pill? There are other progestins you can take separately if you don't get on with Utrogestan.