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[Mich10a]

Hi. Ive posted on here before about ny problems getting the correct hrt, and things are still no better. Having been on 1.5mg Sandrena gel (with a Mirena coil) and not all my syptoms relieved, i went to see a menopause specialist as my gp would not increase the dose. The specialist put me on 4 pumps of oestrogel and 0.5ml androfem. That was in September, it has since been upped to 6pumps daily and 0.75ml androfem as i was still having symptoms. But i seem to be worse than ever. My night sweats & flushes have gone but my mood is all over the place. I am anxious, irritable, emotional, depressed, crying all the time and have no energy. and as for my libido etc, that is non existent. I have very little interest in sex and am as dry as a bone, i have no feeling down there, its awful. I dont know what to do. It is affecting my relationship. Any advice/comments would be most grateful.

[NorthArm]

Hi Mich10

It's an awful ride this meno business, isn't it?

It sounds as though you might not be absorbing the gel very well, would your gp/ specialist be ok with letting you try a patch? I think you can use up to 200mcg with the patch. And are you using any localised oestrogen in the form of Vagifem or Ovestin for your dryness?

If you're still having no luck with patches, maybe you could try an oestrogen tablet?

Good luck with it all xx

[Mich10a]

Thank you Northarm. I have got vagifem which i use twice weekly. Have read somewhere I could try using two of them twice weekly, or one 3times weekly, would that help? . I dont see the specialist gp again until 11th Jan, but that seems a long way off. I have some Sandrena gel left, was thinking if trying that again but double it up to 3mg. What do you think?

[CLKD]

Use the Vagifem for the next 12-14 nights.  It used to be 25 now it's 10 so some ladies find that they need nightly; sometimes even inserting two on the same night occasionally .

[Mich10a]

I will try that, thank you CLKD. I still meed to sort out the oestrogel. I did try patches initially but they kept coming off.

[NorthArm]

I found that when my patch kept coming off, it wasn't a high enough oestrogen dose - seriously they'd come off, and there wasn't even any stickiness left on the patch...and I was still getting flushing. I thought it might have been because my body had sucked all the hormone in (as it's part of the sticky stuff) - and it was two different types that I tried. It was winter, my skin was dry and I'd swabbed with an alcohol wipe beforehand. I even used opsite surgical tape to keep it on, (I thought it might have been showering that was doing it) and when I'd remove it, there would be nothing on it. Now I'm on 100, it doesn't happen any more.

And I agree with CKLD, do a reload of the vagifem nightly - some ladies need to do this at least once a year to keep it all going, some even need it nightly anyway. Have you tried the ovestin cream?

See your dr too re the gel, 6 pumps is a lot! so you might be better on a stronger patch, or a tablet.

Have you thought about adding a small amount of testosterone to the mix? During our fertile years our ovaries produce some and this can help with oestrogen regulation from what I've read.

Good luck with it all xx

[Mich10a]

Thanks Northarm. I am using 0.75ml androfem which is testosterone cream specifically for females. Ive been usibg this since september too and its done nothing at all. I want a life, this sucks. I am having to take time off work cos im so depressed, and literally cannot get out of bed.

[NorthArm]

I would seriously consider a stronger patch, say 75 or 100 then Mich10a...get some opsite in too, to stick over it. I'm on the Estradot, they stick really well xx

[Mich10a]

Thats the priblem, shes put me on oestrogel pump, 6 pumps a day currently and im not due to see her until 11th jan, so dont know what to do in tge meantime, it seems such a long way off.