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[Gilla999]

I am very sensitive to fluctuations and have never had an issue with Lenzetto dispensing. I know what you mean though, about the liquid sometimes running or not but my sense is that's just coincidence of the minute difference of the angle your arm is tilted at etc - but could be wrong of course! I used to worry that it sometimes felt you weren't getting the same with each dose but as I never experienced any fluctuations I figured it must be in my head.

Agree on the dosing though - does seem to be so much variation with what women experience!

Think I need to have a few yoga sessions before I attempt to apply on my back!!

[Brindle]

It does seem that there are various views on the dosage. I was using 2 pumps of oestrogen which worked well. As directed by the GP, I started with 2 sprays of Lenzetto, but it was not as effective and I started to get sweats at night and occasional hot flushes, so upped it to 3 as advised. That was when I started getting the breast pain, nausea, and stomach pains. May be a coincidence, (apart from the breast pain),the problem is working out which symptoms are linked to HRT and which are unconnected, especially when the symptoms of the menopause can replicate the side effects of HRT! I was heartened though to hear that my GP was going on specific training, long tome coming, but positive nonetheless. I've taken a short break from the HRT to see if my symptoms subside to try and get an idea of the cause and effect.

[Sazzle42115]

I'm up to 6 sprays Meno expert said can go up to 8!!!! Very poor absorption

[Gilla999]

Side note but not for the first time this thread just makes me wish that hormone testing was easily and readily available for women. I completely appreciate the view that blood tests aren't everything but for me they have been absolutely invaluable on my journey, by helping me understand / correlate what's actually going on with how I feel. That understanding and correlation has also helped me get a picture of what levels I need to feel well overall. If as women we were able to monitor our levels in the same kind of way someone monitors their blood pressure it would give us so much more ownership and understanding of our bodies.

[Postmeno3]

Very well put. Totally agree, especially for postmeno where much less fluctuation. "Understanding the levels needed to FEEL WELL" is so important and would reduce the dreaded "trial and error" which can go on for months, even years, for so many affecting them pervasively. Hopefully this new surge in profiling menopause more highly will bring about positive research and development. 🤞

[Evangelista]

Hi Gilla
I've never had a hormone blood test and the GP went on symptoms,  but my understanding is that they fluctuate through the month/cycle so aren't necessarily helpful unless you can do them frequently.
How often have you been able to have blood tests and has that been with a friendly GP who is happy to use them on an ongoing basis?

[Gilla999]

Your hormone levels do fluctuate throughout the month according to your cycle (assuming you're not post meno) but they're in a pattern, they're not haphazard so I have always been a bit puzzled by that assertion. I have never - despite testing lots of times - found my hormones to vary notably up and down in the course of a day or two for example (and if they did I would blimmin well experience it!). What is true though is that you could have an E reading of 350 which falls nicely within the blood test acceptable range and yet still be horrendously symptomatic because what is a "good" level of Estrogen for one woman can be totally different for another. So that's where I understand that a blood test on its own isn't always so useful and symptoms matter more. But for me, correlating what is going on with my Estrogen levels when I've been experiencing symptoms (of either too low or too high E) with a blood test result has been absolutely invaluable because it's allowed me to understand what works for my body, and to also sense check what I intuitively feel is going on. I am quite "in tune" in general so know when my E is too high or too low, but always feel better when I know for sure otherwise you're often just adjusting in the dark.

I wish I got them through my GP! GPs will rarely test your Estrogen for you, and certainly not regularly as far as I'm aware. It would put too much demand on the NHS I suppose, the same reason why menopause is a blanket exclusion under all private health insurance. I get my tests done through medichecks at my local private hospital. I get venous samples done because if you use topical HRT it easily contaminates the reading of a finger **** test. It costs £80 a time and I've had several over the course of the last year.

I have also in the past done the Rhythm Hormone test by Genova diagnostics, which is a salvia test you do daily and tracks your hormone levels. There is debate over how reliable saliva samples are but I think what it is at least good for showing is the pattern of any fluctuations over a month and how they might correlate to what you were experiencing at any given time.

Sorry for the long reply - I really feel quite passionate about women having better access to understanding what's going on in their bodies. We don't say blood pressure testing isn't relevant...!

xx

[Postmeno3]

Apologies if I'm going off piste and a resounding yay to empowerment, but another aspect is the waste. Many on here speak of shedloads of unused prescriptions due to the random nature of things. I already belong in a category of three differing delivery method prescriptions being abandoned halfway through, on the direction of the specialist. It seems so wasteful apart from  anything else and money that could be spent on ways to make the process less random? 🤔

[Evangelista]

Hey Postmeno, that was going to be the topic of my next rummage on the forum!
I'm 'collecting' my empty blister packs and Lenzetto pumps while getting round to establishing whether there is a way to recycle them.
I'm sure I've seen something about blister packs in general and recycling because clearly it's not just HRT that results in lots of blister packs.
As for Lenzetto,  I think I'll contact the manufacturer and ask them if they can recycle the pumps, or even reuse them.
That's of course assuming that's the kind of waste you're talking about :-)

[Postmeno3]

I take your point, Evangelista, but I was more meaning all that waste to the "cash-strapped" NHS. All those boxes of part-used medication prescribed, not suited and abandoned. Perhaps it comes back to the three month rule thing, prescribing for three months when bloods or symptoms show sooner that something different is required?
🤔

[Evangelista]

That's true, and a fair point.
Even if you haven't broken the seal on a box of any prescribed medication the pharmacist won't be able to reissue it to someone else, so in some ways this new idea of prescribing a year's supply might lead to even more waste.
I've only ever had HRT in Scotland where all prescriptions are free, but I've usually only been prescribed 3 month's worth initially.
Once I was happy on whatever I was taking it went to 6 months supply, which is probably sufficient.
My current GP practice has an online repeat prescription service and when I knew I wanted to change my regime I just put a note on the repeat asking for one month's worth. That was on the basis that if I knew I was going to run out I would get myself organised, do my research and then see the GP.
Took me three months of doing that to actually get there, lol!
But yes, it's an issue and as there's not a one size fits all then I guess there will be ongoing waste

[Sooty]

I'm up to 6 sprays Meno expert said can go up to 8!!!! Very poor absorption

Can I ask what you were on previously

[Natter]

I got put on Lenzetto about 7 weeks ago because there was a shortage of Oestrogel, which I'd been on for the last 3 years with no problems. It's not been a great success for me. Pretty much all of my symptoms have ramped up, whether I use 2, 3,or 4 pumps of the spray. Horrible anxiety, heart palpitations, hot flushes, and aching joints. It's been horrible, life has lost all it's colour and I can't work out if the dosage is wrong, or there's just been an increase in symptoms and the change in HRT is coincidental as most people seem to love Lenzetto. Luckily after a phone appt this morning, I've been re-prescribed Oestrogel, so I'm hoping that'll sort it out.
I'm quite disappointed as the spray was alot quicker and easier to use. Has anyone else found Lenzetto ineffective compared to the gel?