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Author Topic: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!  (Read 1602 times)

PeriPagan

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Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« on: September 26, 2019, 06:05:53 PM »

Hi,

So after the last 3-4 weeks of crippling reactive anxiety/depression i managed to get an appointment with Dr Marfleet to discuss a new regime. Essentially my oestrogen levels aren't high enough on 2 pumps a day and my bodys' going into freak mode again complete with massive oestrogen surges and short cycles!

Essentially i'm now on 4 pumps a day (standard situation for us peri reactives) applied twice a day, plus extra progesterone in the form of vaginal utrogestan 12 days a month on top of my cerazette.

What I want to know is how long do you leave between your doses? I was thinking 12 hours apart. I put my first dose on as soon as I wake but I'm trying to find an easy time to do the second dose. I have a bath about 5 hours before bed but as i'm an emollient user (2 forms of eczema + pruritus) doing it afterwards is right out!

Any tips or suggestions welcome.
 
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Dotty

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Re: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2019, 06:23:39 PM »

I use 4 pumps and put it on every morning. X
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Ladybt28

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Re: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2019, 06:40:19 PM »

Hi PeriPagan….I'm same as Dotty. All 4 pumps go on every morning.  I don't split the dose.x
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PeriPagan

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Re: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2019, 07:10:11 PM »

Hi guys thanks for the replies,

I asked Marfleet about that and she says to split the dose. So I'm going to try that even though its inconvenient as well as add a 2nd application site. 

I can always change it to a single dose later if it causes me problems. I'm a little scared as its a fairly big upping of dose from 1.75mg to 3.5mg.

I know there's some on here who do apply twice a day so hopefully they'll be along soon.

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Bobidy

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Re: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2019, 09:03:24 PM »

Hi, I split the dose as advised by Dr Newson. Not sure why but I'll ask in Jan at next appointment. I'm less fussed about strict times. It's usually about 10amish and 7pmish. Sometimes earlier or later. I apply to the same site (both inner thighs) and don't wash thighs again before night dose as I shower in the morning. I've tried all pumps at once but I seem to feel better splitting it and I'm getting over the faff of doing it now. I may try all in the morning again at some point.

I up by half pump at a time for a couple of weeks then increase. Started half pump, then 1, 1.5 etc. Used 2 pumps for 3 months then plateaued and felt a bit mweh again so upped to 2.5, then 3 as advised. I do 3.5 during crappy days as still in peri so have a cycle but no periods due to recent hysterectomy. This is great as I only need estrogel, but I'm not sure where I am in my cycle anymore or when I'm eventually post meno. I can only go off symptoms. 3-3.5 seems to work well for me at the mo and I like knowing I can still increase to 4 if I ever need to. I'm starting Androfemme testosterone on Monday too.

Each time I increase I feel a bit nauseous, headachy and achy boobs for a couple of days, and get a bit of a rushy feeling, but that goes quite quickly. When I first started the gel I got little popping sensations too throughout my body which was a bit odd but not at all painful.

It seems to be working really well for me 4 months on so I'm pleased with it overall x
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PeriPagan

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Re: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2019, 10:20:38 PM »

Hi Bobidy,

Thanks for your reply, its very reassuring. I think i'll do my second dose at bathtime 5 hours before I sleep (I'm autistic so I live for routine!) I'll just have to cleanse the area with soap after I get out of the bath. Paraffin waxes and oil emollients create a barrier to keep water in so It's got to come off! It'll become habit soon enough!

I think Marfleet may have said split the dose as I mentioned that I metabolised the tablets waaaayyy too quickly when I was on them. I do tend to get more symptoms as the day wears on and wake up creaking and groaning.

I think i'll also titrate (increase dose) gradually like you, I'm an absolute demon for side effects (can be another problem for autistic peeps). I'll do 3 pumps a day (2 in morning one at night) for a few weeks and let it settle before I go for 2 pumps each dose.

Dr Marfleet is good and I'm glad to have her expertise but i know my own body and I reserve the right to tweak things!
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Bobidy

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Re: Moving to 4 pumps Oestrogel a day. Advice please!
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2019, 07:28:27 AM »

Sounds good, maybe try increasing by half a pump at a time to minimise side effects. Good luck x
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