Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lippyqueen]

Good morning all, i have been using Estradot 75mg patches for at least 8 years, following a hysterectomy.  About 6 months ago I spoke to my gp to explain that I was having breakthrough symptoms in the form of increased anxiety, sleeping problems and hot flushes.  She did a blood test which showed my oestrogen levels to be lower than she thought they should as I was using patches, so she suggested trying oestrogel as she wondered if a different form of administration might help.  I tried this for 3 months and could not get settled on it at all.  I was still getting the hot flushes and sleeping problems  and did not feel at all settled.  I increased it up to 6 pumps a day so my gp suggested going back to patches as I was so settled for so many years on these but she prescribed 100mg instead of 75mg.
I have now been using them for nearly 3 months along with Vagifem.  To begin with I felt much better.  No symptoms at all.  Now I am beginning to develop the occasional  flushes particularly at night which I can deal with but also sleep issues have returned.   I also have slightly sore nipples.  I am wondering if I could be taking too much oestrogen and if so, does it matter.  I have also just started Magnesium which I have read on here is very helpful for sleeping.   I am 66.
 Thank you all so much for your help, there is so many knowledgeable people on here, far more help in many cases than the doctors.

[CLKD]

Why did your GP 'think' ............ and change a regime which was, more or less, working  .  It may have been that your ovaries were pushing out oestrogen to upset the balance slightly. 

Keep up the Vagifem.  It's not HRT per se, replacement however to plump up the vaginal tissues which have dried due to a lack of oestrogen.  That can cause the body to become dry: inside and out. 

Blood tests are reliably unreliable 

[Lippyqueen]

Hi CLKD, she changed the dose because she said that the levels were a bit low considering I had an Estradot patch.
Thank you

[Amazing grace]

Hi lippyqueen, the too much/too little estrogen is really hard to know as symptoms are so similar, if you Google them you will see what I mean, as you've been on the higher dose for 3 months things should settle for you soon, the increase will definitely cause the sore nipples, I had this on starting hrt and whenever I increased it, it does eventually go took longer than 3 months in my case, I too had a hysterectomy and I am estrogen hrt, for me personally when a dose became too high I had symptoms of awful persistent headaches, nausea, very swollen breasts, insomnia, a strange jittery feeling and drenching sweats day and night, once I lowered the dose those symptoms subsided, everyone is so different though so that is only my own personal experience, if you feel good then stick with it, I think when the dose becomes too much you will definitely know, good luck hope you settle on the new dose x

[Lippyqueen]

Thank you very much for your reply.  I will definitely stick with it for the moment and see how I get on.
Xx

[pepperminty]

Hi,

also get the results from the GP on your levels as they say about the 300 mark is about average. You can have absorption issues ? Going by how you feel is best, but having a rough idea of your levels can be useful to know how you absorb.

PMXX

[Gilla999]

Agree with getting the test results although I think the level needed for each woman varies hugely. I need at least 800 (during luteal phase) to be well, however I'm "only" 43 and still having erratic periods, so I'm sure that number changes / lessens with age

[loonarider]

Agree with getting the test results although I think the level needed for each woman varies hugely. I need at least 800 (during luteal phase) to be well, however I'm "only" 43 and still having erratic periods, so I'm sure that number changes / lessens with age

Sorry to butt in. Do you up the estrogen during the luteal phase? Because I've been thinking about that recently.

[Gilla999]

Loona I've also thought about doing it! I definitely think it's worth experimenting given that naturally when you're still having periods your E would be fluctuating in a regular pattern as part of your cycle. I recall seeing someone else here a while back that does it. I personally haven't mainly because I've had a rubbish last 3 months where my own E has plummeted dramatically in the background so I've been trying to find the new right balance with my Lenzetto full stop. Would be interested to hear how you get on if you do give it a bash!