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[Pippa52]

KatherineW really about 7 weeks in from starting Oestrogel I really started to pick up.  I am now on 9 weeks and have just started increasing the dose again really slightly.  I am aiming on the Meno consultant's advice to get up to 3 pumps before my next blood test and depending on symptom control and blood levels she said she will see whether I can stay at 3 or increase a bit more.  It is so frustrating I so understand how awful you must be feeling.  If it's any consolation I was not functioning at all either until the dose started to kick in.  I had started getting a few minor hot flushes over the past few days so knew it was time to go up a bit more.  No fast heart beats though, sleeping well and walked for 40 mins yesterday with the dogs without feeling the fatigue or exhaustion.  Hang on in there - yes it takes time but things do improve.   I truly had exactly the same as you. the most awful anxiety and practically no sleep for what seemed endless when on the patches or spray.  What time of day do you put on your Oestrogel?  I only ask because, like you to start with I got a surge with the Oestrogen so I changed it to putting it on in the morning as it made me too wakeful in the evening and nightime.  I don't get the surge anymore now so am guessing my body has adapted to it and I make sure to put it on the same time every day.  I also used to split the dose but the Meno consultant told me not to but to put it on in one go and I found that helped even things out too. xxx

[KatherineW]

Thanks Pippa. I put the gel on in the morning after my shower, which is what I always used to do when it worked for me before. Just want to get back to that place! I'm on 2 1/4 pumps, but am not sure how much I can increase the dose as I have other health conditions that are affected by oestrogen (endometriosis, prolactinoma, migraine). I can feel the peaks and troughs at the moment and am hoping it will level out with time. Am literally counting the days. It's a fine balance.

Did you take anything to help you sleep or did it improve when the oestrogen levels started to build?

I hope the increase in your dose helps with the hot flushes. Katherine x

[Pippa52]

Hi KatherineW - totally understand re your issues with other conditions - I used to have endometriosis as well and I suffer from migraines.  The migraines on both patches and the spray were horrendous and pretty  much daily but have gone right down on the Oestrogel to a very occasional headache and much much milder.  No I didn't take anything for sleep apart from Bach Night rescue remedy but I also did meditate before going to sleep and found that did help calm down the anxiety a bit and I also did it when I woke up after a panic/fast heartbeat episode.  Yes that helped temporarily to calm the anxiety down some notches but otherwise no nothing else was not keep to take any type of sleeping pill.  I did take on Valium 2mg pill once and it helped for a day or so but no way wanted to get hooked on those. Sleep improved when the oestrogel started to kick in properly and the anxiety died right down as did the fast heartbeats. xx

[KatherineW]

Thanks Pippa. Like you, I'm reluctant to take any sleeping tablets as I'm not sure how I would react to them. Did you also have crippling exhaustion? I struggle to even sit upright, my head feels so heavy.

Have you started to increase your dose again yet?

Katherine x

[Pippa52]

KatherineW - think you are very wise re sleeping pills - the last thing we want is yet more things for your systems to deal with.  Yes I did feel really really tired but also so wired that I could't sleep so it was the worst of both worlds   I have increased the dose slightly and funnily enough not feeling quite as good but will give it time to adjust.  It may be that the level I was on was the right one for me - time will tell. Hope so so much you start to improve soon xx

[KatherineW]

Hi Pippa, I hope you are feeling a little better on your increased dose today. How many pumps are you on now?

I picked up my prescription today (with a green square on the bottle). Because I am still getting highs and lows on the gel, my GP recommended I split the dose. I am reluctant to do that because I read in your previous posts that your specialist advised against this. I always applied the full dose in the morning previously so am hoping it evens out with time. Katherine x

[alibeau]

Hello ladies!

I have been using Oestrogel for about 18 months and am definitely experiencing high and low periods.  At times I feel pretty good, sadly I am going through not so good period (fatigue, anxiety, headaches, aches and pains)....

I was using 3 pumps which worked well and have now increased to 3 1/2 pumps but I have a mixture of 'green' and 'amber' bottles which I feel is adding to my problems at times with trying to get the correct dose but I am trying not to fixate on this too much!!!

In terms of physical anxiety (nasty fluttery chest) I have found that the extra half pump is definitely helping and I still having 3 pumps in the morning and adding in the half pump at bedtime.  Just hoping my other symptoms lift soon too.

Not sure what the point of my post is  I guess I just feel your pain!!!!!

Ali x

[Pippa52]

alibeau - thanks so much for posting.  It's always really good to hear other people's experiences.  Trying to get the correct dose is really hard.  I had just upped mine by only a tiny amount but had a few  bad days after doing so ...therefore have cut out the tiny extra bit today and so far feeling a bit better. Total rollercoaster isn't it x

[KatherineW]

Hi Ali

Really interesting to read about your experience with the gel.

How are you finding having the extra dose in the evening? I have never split my dose before but my GP thought it might level out the highs and lows. Also, do you apply extra when using the bottle with the green square? I’ll be switching over from the amber square and am worried about maintaining the same dose after having problems with the gel earlier this year.

Katherine x