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[Turkish delight]

Hi all!

I'm Dem, I'm so glad to join your community, though wish I didn't have to

So my quick back story(the boring bit I know)I'm 51 and have been struggling with the standard textbook meno symptoms over a few years but mainly in the whole of 2018, which was a write off due to worsening symptoms.

I presented to my gp and long story short, got a gynae apmnt which was last week to discuss whether I'm even a candidate for bhrt. I say this bcz my mum died age 50 from breast cancer!! She got it at age 40. So cut back to gynae who says...Yes you can absolutely have it! He said bcz of the ways I've been suffering badly with the symptoms ect, he wouldn't have any issues with it, and even prescribes it to women who have themselves had breast cancer, go figure! My eyes are wide open and obv it's me who has to live with the all the "what if's" and potential consequences of bhrt, but having the green light from a top drawer gyne was reassuring, and to any still worried for me I didn't take this decision lightly. So I went to the apmnt armed with some knowledge of bhrt and also some resolve that despite my(possible)increased risks, I feel the benefits outweighed them.

So my question is, has anyone ever heard of taking 2 pumps estrogel twice a week??? with 100mg utrogestran 14 days per month!!!? This is what my take away script was, plus some Testogel(ask and you will/will not receive)a thimble size daily. Thimble size...excuse me a moment while I clear my hoarse husky throat...jokes!

When I went to the gynae, I didn't have any info on dosages of estrogel, partly bcz I thought I'd have the bhrt door slammed in my face. I just knew what treatment I felt would suit me. And bhrt being adjustable on the daily seemed a good fit considering my family history, as I am keen to take the "minimum effective dose" so bhrt was a good fit in that respect.

I have started taking the estogel. I took one 1 pump instead of 2 for the past two days bcz I'm a chicken and want to ease into it like easing into a warm bath. Though secretly I fear it will be more like a baptism of fire in reality...yikes! Another question coming... So from every other shred of evidence I've read since my apmnt I should be taking it daily right, not twice a week...no? Help!!

PS It might be worth mentioning I have Ankylosing spondylitis as well and take biologics Enbrel weekly injection.

I would be grateful for some advice from you lovely ladies and thank you in advance for that.

Peace out

D

[Dotty]

Hi  Oestrogel and Utrogestan are body identical hrt.  You should use the Oestrogel every day.  How you use the utrogestan depends if you are peri or post menopause.  If you are in peri menopause you should take 200mg of utrogestan for 2 weeks.  If you are post menopause you should take 100mg every night on an empty stomach.

The dosage of testogel depends on whether you have the pump pack or the sachets.  The guidance is normally to use oestrogen for 3 months before adding testosterone.

I use all of them and have had no side effects.

[Turkish delight]

Hia Dotty,

Thanks for taking the time.

I should have added in my post that I haven't had a period since the end of August 2018, so 5 months. I know menopause itself by title is after a year of no blob I believe, so I'm kinda in the middle here.

Do you think 100mg Utro up the veegay/vagina is gonna cut it if I have one pump of estrogel daily??

What am I even saying lol...this bhrt stuff requires learning a whole new lingo doesn't it.

Peace
D

[Dotty]

This is what it says on the treatment part of this website for utrogestan in peri menopause:  2 x 100mg daily at bedtime for 12 days per 28 days (days 15-26 inclusive).

I can't comment on whether you can take less.  That would be up to your doctor.

You seem very worried about taking the Utrogestan?  Why is that? x

[Turkish delight]

Thanks Dotty!

I don't think anyone relishes the thought of taking Utro do they.
I guess what your picking up is some apprehension, after reading what others say about the side effect of it, none of which seem positive. It comes over as estro good cop and Utro bad cop if you get me.

Plus I'm still trying to find my way with the technical side of it. I'm still confused about the ratio of one with another if I'm honest. The guideline you quoted is based on 2 pumps I'm guessing, where I'm taking one pump estro.

[Dotty]

Hi The guidelines are for up to 4 pumps.  There are no different guidelines for 1 pump.

I can see that you are apprehensive, but what you've got to remember is that forums like this are very good and very informative , but they are full of ladies who are suffering.  I was suffering terribly 18 months ago and was desperate for help.  I've stayed on here and post sometimes if I can help, but ladies who are doing well or who never suffered don't come on these forums.  What I'm trying to say is don't get too tied up in the negatives.  I take utrogestan orally every night and have done for a year.  I've never had any side effects and you might not have side effects either.  There are lots of others who are the same, but you'll never hear from them.  You won't know till you try. 

I was terrified of taking oestrogel and utrogestan....look back on some of my earlier posts.  I'm on 4 pumps and I will stay on that xxx

[Turkish delight]

Dotty my darling, you are a superstar, and a smart one at that.

This was exactly what I needed to hear. You changed my views completely with that one post.
What you say is so obvious, it makes total sense now I think about it.

Thank you for reaching out to help me, I really do appreciate it.

D
X

[Dotty]

Turkish Delight.....as I said in my previous post, I don't post a lot these days as I'm doing very well.  I've just realised that it's a year today since I started on the Oestrogel and Utrogestan after seeing a private specialist.  I'd been on hrt tablets for 4 months and they didn't help me at all. My GP said I'd just have to put up with it as there wasn't any alternative.  How wrong he was!!!!

I remember standing in the bathroom with this gel.  I was absolutely terrified to put it on.  I don't know what I thought was going to happen.  Like you, I'd read lots of horror stories, but I was so ill that I had to do something.  Slowly, very slowly I began to improve.  It's not easy.  I won't pretend it was.  But 12 months on I'm doing very well.  I'm back to leading  normal life.  I had to stop looking at these forums for a while as the negatives were getting me down. 

Give it a go.....it might not suit you, but you might do very well on it. xx

[jillydoll]

Congratulations Dotty.........you're hrt anniversary.......
 
Keep going strong babe, xxxxxxx 

[Dotty]

Thanks jillydoll x

[Turkish delight]

Here-here, well said Jillydoll!

I for one am glad Dotty hung around!

Peace

D

[jillydoll]

So am I......Turkish Delight.

She's lovely ent she........😀

[Dotty]

Thanks jillydoll and Turkish Delight.  I just wish I could stop anyone suffering as much as I did.  This forum is brill and I've made some lovely friends on here.  I'm happy to help if I can xx

[Turkish delight]

Aw bless!

Dotty have I put my post in the right category? I'm finding this site a little hard to navigate tbh. I'm normally ok with picking up on how to navigate a site. In future is there a different subcategory I should post in as this one seems to be for newbs only or no?

D

[Hurdity]

Hi Turkish delight

  from me too.

You've already had good advice from Dotty.

Just to add that I presume your gynae has prescribed you a lower dose of oestrogel due to your potential breast cancer risk and so sorry to hear about your mum dying so young from this disease?

You can get counselling as to whether you are at increased risk - since your mother contracted it young - and to see if you have the BRCA gene which could make you more susceptible? You should be able to ask for a referral on NHS.

Just to be clear you have been prescribed 2 pumps twice a week that is 4 pumps in total? This would be equivalent to approx 1 pump every other day - so this would be better than taking it twice a week I would say as you will get fluctuations in oestrogen levels with less frequent dosing.

I can see the need to start low and slow - first to get your body used to it, and also some women actually absorb gel very well even from just one pump. One member got very high levels - way higher than I got on 50 mcg patch and yet 1 pump is supposed to be a low dose. It also depends on your body weight and BMI.

Did you say where you were with periods and whether your cycle is very irregular? 100 mg Utro for 12-14 days may well be OK if you are taking a lower dose of oestrogen even though it is half the licensed dose (of progesterone), especially if you are taking it vaginally. If you are seeing a specialist who is prepared to monitor you on this lower dose of progesterone - then that's fine.

As for the testosterone - can you tell us which preparation you are using? Whichever type you have been given a thimble-full is far too much! As Dotty says oestrogen should be given before testosterone added. I don't use thimbles but they go over fingers, so that is way over the usual recommended starting amount! The guidance for women who still have their ovaries and probably depending on symptoms and age - is to start with a pea-sized blob  - this is what my gynae said - and it was a small pea at that. Testosterone can take several months to fully take effect so you should avoid temptation to increase. Do you have symptoms of low tesosterone and if so what are they?

You can post anywhere and the newbie section was perfect to start with. If you want to start a new thread - depending on what it's about then go to one of the other boards - eg All Things Menopause, or if nothing to do with menopause and just chat - This and That etc!

Hurdity x