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[Nas]

Hi again 

So, have been on the evorel 75 patch with utrogestan for some months now.
Have experienced lots of bleeding, but all fine, no issues to report, except more than likely HRT linked.

The symptoms, which still linger are early waking, pouncing heart and mild anxiety. I am very tired now.

Bloods revealed a low Oestrogen level for that day. My mood isn’t bad for such a low level  and energy levels are reasonable.

I do feel I need to increase my dose ( as specialist suggested ) if symptoms continue. I tried the 100 a while back and within 24 hours, experienced awful stomach cramps, so removed it.

 I have some sandrena gel and was wondering whether to top up the 75 patch with a blob of gel to see if that helps? Or, I do have some 100 out of date patches ( but Estradot not evorel)

I’m back to work in September ( busy school) and would like some decent  sleep and not to feel anxious in the morning etc .

So i trial the gel with patch or go for the out of date  100 patch ?
Can you use gel and patch together?

Thanks 

[Floo36]

It’s worth trying either.  I use patch and gel.   Let us know how you get on.

[Nas]

What dose of gel and patch do you use floo? Is the gel a top up?

[applejack]

I’m in the same boat as you right now so interested in replies to this. It’s been recommended I up my patch to 150 but I’m scared of doing that (my oestradiol blood test showed a very low level though, despite using a 75 patch). Same racing heart, lack of sleep and anxiety - it’s rotten isn’t it 

[Nas]

Ah we are in the same boat for sure applejack.

Yes, I’m not sure what to do yet. I may start using my 100 patch next week, but scared to rock the boat as had bleeding with 75 until recently and don’t want that back again! But I do feel I need the additional oestrogen, otherwise why would we have these symptoms still?

It’s such a challenge tying get these hormones to balance properly! 😬

[applejack]

I've had the bleeding too so also scared of upping further.

What my menopause doc recommended was fixing one thing at a time - the lack of sleep/early waking and anxiety she reckons is down to low oestrogen and this is oddly enough causing me more distress than the bleeding (which i've had checked and it's nothing sinister).

It's a shame you had a reaction to the 100 patch. Hopefully someone can shed light on the gel+patch combination.  I do feel for you!

[Nas]

Yes it was a few weeks ago that I put the 100 on and was okay for a few hours, then the pain.

Somehow I need to find a way of increasing slowly, but get the benefits at the same time without the side effects. I was thinking of an additional 25 patch, which could then be cut in half to begin with!

Hope you get sorted too. What’s your plan?

[westie]

Hi Nas

In my experience it is a very fine balancing act!

Like you I struggle to absorb enough oestrogen on a 75 patch ( Estradot) and my meno specialist suggested I top up with a pump of gel. I started doing this but then was floored with stomach cramps as you have been so stopped. After a few days I decided to add the gel in again but started with a tiny amount to see how I went. This has worked and I now add about half a pump every morning which has improved my meno symptoms without giving me the stomach cramps.

It really is trial and error but at least topping up with the gel gives you the flexibility to add as little or as much as you need.

Hope this helps.

W xx

[Nas]

Hi Westie,
Yes a fine balancing act it is. It seems nigh on impossible at times.

Okay, the gel seems the most sensible plan, as I feel if I use a 25 patch, I will be chopping it up into tiny pieces with no knowledge of what the dose is!

May I ask what symptoms you were left with on the 75 Estradot? Mine are early waking, pounding heart and mild anxiety.

Thanks
Nas x

[westie]

Yes mine were those three too and it’s much easier to tweak the gel dose than mess around chopping up patches.

I wouldn’t say they have completely gone but are much improved now.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

W xx

[Nas]

Thanks Westie,
Do you have a prescription for both patch and gel then?
I’ve got some sandrena sachets which I will use to begin with,
Then will request the pump on prescription I think.

Xx

[Nas]

Blast, I’ve just used half a sachet of sandrena, which is one 25 mg pump of oestrogel.  Feeling a little wired now! So a quarter of a sachet it is tomorrow 

[westie]

Hi Nas

Yes I have a prescription for both.

Sorry you are feeling bad after introducing the extra gel. I found it best to add a tiny amount at first and very slowly build it. I reckon I am on about a quarter of a pump now and that’s fine for me but we’re all different.

W xx