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[becca]

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone has had problems changing from Oestrogel to Estradot?  And did you find it balanced out with time/perseverance?? I've struggled to get the right dose of HRT but felt good on 6 pumps of gel per day and doctor was happy with my oestro levels (up to 455 from 160).  I was sick of applying 6 pumps of gel per day - a total phaff so I thought I'd change to Estradot instead.  Switched to 150mg 2x a week and have been on them for two months.  BUT almost straight away I started getting a few hot flushes, then the insomnia started creeping back in and now the depression and lack of energy.
Went back for the routine bloods last week and oestro had gone back down to 160.  Clinic says increase patch to 200mg  2x per week and also I should only test bloods the day after the patch has been applied as it's normal for levels to fluctuate???  But surely levels should fluctuate within a range that still keeps me feeling ok??? And 160 is not ok for me!!  Also I don't feel like this is a fluctuation it feels more like a gradual decline back to where I was when the gel dose was too low.  Hmmmmmm should I risk feeling crap for another 3 months to try the different patch dose??? Does anyone have a similar experience to share.  Would be great to hear what you did and what worked for you.

[allie007]

Hi becca
Will be following this, I changed from 3 pumps of Estrogel and am now on 100mg of Estradot, been on them for 4 months. Didnt feel any better for the first 3 months , then withput telling my GP as she doesnt want me going higher than 100 I added a pump of gel for 2 weeks but stopped. Then 2 weeks ago, a week after stopping the extra pump of gel I felt like me for the first time in as long as I can remember. This last week though I feel really low again, I've been waking up at 1 am and not going back to sleep so I'm exhausted and I've had the headache from hell for 3 days. I don't know what to do because they won't do blood tests until I agree to come off HRT and they won't up my dose.

[Droopeydrawers]

Good Morning ladies.
I'm not on hrt any more but feel I can respond to your queries from my own experience of it.
I found when on the patches I did get a noticeable drop in levels by day 3 then a high again on changing to a new patch.one of the reasons at that time I switched to the gel.
I was told by louse newson consultant that I wasn't absorbing the gel enough my blood tests were too low to register any oestrigen or testosterone in my system so was again changed to a combination of estrodot 100 patches to be topped up as and when required with gel.
Sadly the side effects of hrt were too much for me to cope with so i stopped it completely and I actually feel very well now.i have my off days like everyone but it's copable now.
I hope you can make use of this info and I hope you can get the help and advice you need to resolve things for you.keep pushing your gps and print off any relevant info you find on MM to help you get your point across.good luck DD😘

[allie007]

Thank you droopeydrawers
Glad you are feeling well. I did do a pump of gel last night despite my gp telling me not to. At the end of the day I can't function at the moment, how can they expect anyone to on 3 hours sleep x

[Droopeydrawers]

Good allie you take control don't let these gps fob you off because of their lack of knowledge.sometimes even with a consultant behind you it's still a battle with them I used to get so stressed out every time I needed to go to gp so id end up just paying for the private scripts rather than suffer the confrontation then I got pissed off as I started to get better and found the energy to say no your not beating me or consultant and I wrote a sniffy letter to practice manager polite but pointing out the error of their ways and that did the trick.who are they to dispute a meno experts recommendations.keep battling lol good luck DD😘

[allie007]

My GP referred me to an NHS meno clinic and they won't up my dose either. They wrote back to my GP suggesting amiltriptyline

[Joaniepat]

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone has had problems changing from Oestrogel to Estradot?  And did you find it balanced out with time/perseverance?? I've struggled to get the right dose of HRT but felt good on 6 pumps of gel per day and doctor was happy with my oestro levels (up to 455 from 160).  I was sick of applying 6 pumps of gel per day - a total phaff so I thought I'd change to Estradot instead.  Switched to 150mg 2x a week and have been on them for two months.  BUT almost straight away I started getting a few hot flushes, then the insomnia started creeping back in and now the depression and lack of energy.
Went back for the routine bloods last week and oestro had gone back down to 160.  Clinic says increase patch to 200mg  2x per week and also I should only test bloods the day after the patch has been applied as it's normal for levels to fluctuate???  But surely levels should fluctuate within a range that still keeps me feeling ok??? And 160 is not ok for me!!  Also I don't feel like this is a fluctuation it feels more like a gradual decline back to where I was when the gel dose was too low.  Hmmmmmm should I risk feeling crap for another 3 months to try the different patch dose??? Does anyone have a similar experience to share.  Would be great to hear what you did and what worked for you.

The Chelsea & Westminster recently changed me to Estradot because I wasn't reaching a high enough level on the gels. On 3 pumps of Oestrogel I achieved <100 pmol/l. Was switched to 2 sachets of 1 mg Sandrena per day and got up to 140 pmol. I have now been on 125 mcg Estradot since mid December. I recently felt my joints were going downhill again and have had a return of gastric reflux, so a few days ago I started adding one pump of Oestrogel to see if it makes any difference. This time I am rubbing it in well. We used to be told to spread it on and leave to dry, but some ladies on here have been advised by Louise Newson to rub in well. Anyway, we'll see what happens. My next blood test is due in April, but I will stop the Oestrogel well before that.

I am well post surgical meno, but was denied any more oestrogen back in the early noughties due to the WHI studies. I finally got it back again in 2017. My particular concerns are VA and avoiding osteoporosis, so for the latter I need to achieve >200 pmol/ l.

JP x

[allie007]

I just cannot understand why they wont give me more than 100mg if that's what i need to function. The last GP i saw in the practise 2 weeks ago wanted to take me off HRT till I reminded her i was 47 and there is a history of osteoporosis in my family. Am snowed in today but have a day off Monday so am going to register with a different practise.

[TNM45689]

It is all very confusing....I am under Chelsea and Westminster and was diagnosed with osteoporosis 2 weeks ago. My current estrogen level is 101 having been on 50mg of estradot since May (46 and post menopausal and started HRT to prevent osteoporosis!!!).....they have increased to 75mg.......and testing in 2  months time....

There was a post about implants at Chelsea and Westminster - could this be a option.....
Tx

[allie007]

 I remember you posting about it. How are you feeling now? Let me know if theres anything I can do to help, im not an expert yet (just started!) but i do exercise classes for the elderly, obviously youre not one of them but part of what I do is adapting exercises for people with arthritis and osteoporosis x

[becca]

Thanks everyone for your replies - I am just catching up with these now.   Yes it is so frustrating when you feel like you aren't getting enough support to get the dose right!!!!

Allie - if you don't mind me asking why wouldn't the meno clinic consider upping your dose??  No-one can be expected to function on three hours sleep - that is just the worst.  Would you be open to asking for a short dose of sleeping tablets to try to get you back on an even keel???  I did this when I was at my lowest point in the HRT journey and it did make a big difference to just get some sleep - I felt better able to fight for the right treatment and care along with referral to a meno clinic - even though sleeping tabs are of course not a long term solution. And SNAP, I also do movement classes for seniors - I'm a Pilates teacher 

Droopeydrawers - thanks for sharing your experience on the patches - the clinic did say that the dose could be tapering off.  I guess I'm concerned about the sudden drop in levels for me though, that doesn't feel quite right since I had got my osteo levels up to a good level before starting the patches. Glad to hear you are feeling ok post HRT 

TNM45689 - I am also under Chelsea and Westminster so will be interested to hear more of your story.  I'm also following the post on implants - but am a total control freak and so worry about something I can't change or remove myself esp when it's been such a long journey to get the dosage right - plus they were discontinued in the UK for a few years and that makes me wonder why.  Could just be NHS funding issues, but also can't seem to find any ringing endorsements for them in many places.....

Joaniepat - fingers crossed for your test results in April.  I didn't know about the rubbing in the gel method.  I will give that a try if I decide to ditch the patches and go back to gel.

PS I also changed my username today (this post was originally under "becca" - I've had an issue with bank card fraud so have had to change all my online account details.  remembering new passwords with meno fog will be a challenge. 

[TNM45689]

Gosh it sounds like we are all in the same boat - trying to get the HRT right is hard enough but the added combination of osteoporosis is hard work!!

Allie007 my slep had been awful and had tried everything but I am now taking an antihistimine at bedtime and I am really am sleeping much better - still feel tired but not groggy as such....

An exercises you ladies recommend for osteoporosis (or ones I should avoid) would be greatly received..

I agree re implants - but maybe an option - I am going to try with the increased dose - 50mg was very low and see what happens. Meanwhile I am armed and dangerous with all my supplements to try and get my Vit D levels up - D3, K2, Magenesium and Boron.

Sorry woodpecker I do not have any words of wisdom on this but will certainly keep you updated on my journey...

Tx

[becca]

Gosh it sounds like we are all in the same boat - trying to get the HRT right is hard enough but the added combination of osteoporosis is hard work!!

An exercises you ladies recommend for osteoporosis (or ones I should avoid) would be greatly received..


I look forward to hearing more about your journey TNM45689 and I will keep you posted too.  For osteoporosis - it depends on the individual (how active you've been before etc) so suggest you have a look at this link for exercise recommendations (there are new recommendations coming out soon) - https://nos.org.uk/about-osteoporosis/your-bone-strength/bone-building-exercise/ -  Walking is great and (I am biased of course) but Pilates helps too - some teachers offer group matwork classes that are "osteoporosis safe", others will modify exercises for you in class for safety.  But if you can, go to a fully equipped Studio (reformers and other specialised equipment) to a small group class where the exercise programme will be tailored to your needs.  Good luck with the Vitamins too x