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[Katie7800]

Hello all,
I’m 45, and have been on HRT about 4.5 months, so still relatively new to it. I was on 0.5mg Sandrena sachets (and Utrogestan) and when I had a 3-month review chat with my GP she suggested increasing my dose as I was still getting occasional hot flushes and fatigue. I decided to very gradually build up the dose, as I am quite sensitive to the effects. I felt wired on 0.5mg plus a blob of about a fifth of a sachet, so I haven’t gone any higher. The wired feeling has settled, but I have had headaches on and off. I have in the past suffered from migraines (triggered possibly by the pill), and according to the London Migraine Trust these are caused by fluctuations in oestrogen levels. My question is this: if my ‘blob’ isn’t consistently a fifth of a sachet, will such a tiny change from day to day make a difference to oestrogen levels? Some days it might be a sixth, some days nearer a quarter. I tried buying some tiny syringes so I could measure accurately but they couldn’t suck the gel up properly. I am making sure to fold the top of the sachet over and then put in a sealable plastic bag, so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate. I make my ‘extra blob’ sachet last three days then throw it - and the remaining gel inside - away.

I have another question! I’m considering getting a Mirena coil for the progesterone, as I am still getting heavy, painful periods (coming at around 20 days). Does anyone know if this method is more or less likely to cause headaches/migraines?

Any advice would be very welcome x

[jorainbow]

It depends on the person! I had a coil fit 6 weeks ago for HRT and had 3 weeks of excrutuating pressure headaches that had me calling 111. They have settled to a thick headed feeling I usually get before each period with occasional stabbing pain. Dr confirmed it is the coil but should settle though I've made the decision to remove it this week.

[Losingtheplot]

Hello all,
I’m 45, and have been on HRT about 4.5 months, so still relatively new to it. I was on 0.5mg Sandrena sachets (and Utrogestan) and when I had a 3-month review chat with my GP she suggested increasing my dose as I was still getting occasional hot flushes and fatigue. I decided to very gradually build up the dose, as I am quite sensitive to the effects. I felt wired on 0.5mg plus a blob of about a fifth of a sachet, so I haven’t gone any higher. The wired feeling has settled, but I have had headaches on and off. I have in the past suffered from migraines (triggered possibly by the pill), and according to the London Migraine Trust these are caused by fluctuations in oestrogen levels. My question is this: if my ‘blob’ isn’t consistently a fifth of a sachet, will such a tiny change from day to day make a difference to oestrogen levels? Some days it might be a sixth, some days nearer a quarter. I tried buying some tiny syringes so I could measure accurately but they couldn’t suck the gel up properly. I am making sure to fold the top of the sachet over and then put in a sealable plastic bag, so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate. I make my ‘extra blob’ sachet last three days then throw it - and the remaining gel inside - away.

I have another question! I’m considering getting a Mirena coil for the progesterone, as I am still getting heavy, painful periods (coming at around 20 days). Does anyone know if this method is more or less likely to cause headaches/migraines?

Any advice would be very welcome x

Hi Katie,

I just want to say I am on this HRT regime too just the 0.5mg Sandrena 14 days and then utrogestan 14 days.  Currently on day 3 of Utrogestan. Sorry to hear that the increase is affecting you badly and I hope you get the dosage right for you or the right combination.
I haven't had the mirena coil myself but have read side effects can include migraine/headaches but everyone is different so you may not necessarily suffer these on it - its so difficult to know as all trial and error until I guess you try it xxxx

[Katie7800]

It depends on the person! I had a coil fit 6 weeks ago for HRT and had 3 weeks of excrutuating pressure headaches that had me calling 111. They have settled to a thick headed feeling I usually get before each period with occasional stabbing pain. Dr confirmed it is the coil but should settle though I've made the decision to remove it this week.

Thank you! So sorry to hear you haven’t got on well with the coil. I hope you can find an alternative, with no headaches… x

[Katie7800]

Hello all,
I’m 45, and have been on HRT about 4.5 months, so still relatively new to it. I was on 0.5mg Sandrena sachets (and Utrogestan) and when I had a 3-month review chat with my GP she suggested increasing my dose as I was still getting occasional hot flushes and fatigue. I decided to very gradually build up the dose, as I am quite sensitive to the effects. I felt wired on 0.5mg plus a blob of about a fifth of a sachet, so I haven’t gone any higher. The wired feeling has settled, but I have had headaches on and off. I have in the past suffered from migraines (triggered possibly by the pill), and according to the London Migraine Trust these are caused by fluctuations in oestrogen levels. My question is this: if my ‘blob’ isn’t consistently a fifth of a sachet, will such a tiny change from day to day make a difference to oestrogen levels? Some days it might be a sixth, some days nearer a quarter. I tried buying some tiny syringes so I could measure accurately but they couldn’t suck the gel up properly. I am making sure to fold the top of the sachet over and then put in a sealable plastic bag, so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate. I make my ‘extra blob’ sachet last three days then throw it - and the remaining gel inside - away.

I have another question! I’m considering getting a Mirena coil for the progesterone, as I am still getting heavy, painful periods (coming at around 20 days). Does anyone know if this method is more or less likely to cause headaches/migraines?

Any advice would be very welcome x

Hi Katie,

I just want to say I am on this HRT regime too just the 0.5mg Sandrena 14 days and then utrogestan 14 days.  Currently on day 3 of Utrogestan. Sorry to hear that the increase is affecting you badly and I hope you get the dosage right for you or the right combination.
I haven't had the mirena coil myself but have read side effects can include migraine/headaches but everyone is different so you may not necessarily suffer these on it - its so difficult to know as all trial and error until I guess you try it xxxx

Thank you! Good luck with your HRT journey too x

[Katie7800]

Hello all,
I’m 45, and have been on HRT about 4.5 months, so still relatively new to it. I was on 0.5mg Sandrena sachets (and Utrogestan) and when I had a 3-month review chat with my GP she suggested increasing my dose as I was still getting occasional hot flushes and fatigue. I decided to very gradually build up the dose, as I am quite sensitive to the effects. I felt wired on 0.5mg plus a blob of about a fifth of a sachet, so I haven’t gone any higher. The wired feeling has settled, but I have had headaches on and off. I have in the past suffered from migraines (triggered possibly by the pill), and according to the London Migraine Trust these are caused by fluctuations in oestrogen levels. My question is this: if my ‘blob’ isn’t consistently a fifth of a sachet, will such a tiny change from day to day make a difference to oestrogen levels? Some days it might be a sixth, some days nearer a quarter. I tried buying some tiny syringes so I could measure accurately but they couldn’t suck the gel up properly. I am making sure to fold the top of the sachet over and then put in a sealable plastic bag, so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate. I make my ‘extra blob’ sachet last three days then throw it - and the remaining gel inside - away.

I have another question! I’m considering getting a Mirena coil for the progesterone, as I am still getting heavy, painful periods (coming at around 20 days). Does anyone know if this method is more or less likely to cause headaches/migraines?

Any advice would be very welcome x

Just wanted to say if you look for a branded neurofen syringe for oral medicine for kids, usually given out free in pharmacies if you ask, it has a large enough hole to take the gel, then it has markings at each 0.25ml so you could keep the whole sachet in a neurofen syringe in a plastic bag, then accurately push out the accurate dose. It's a good idea to use a syringe but if you just break the point off a sharp you not going to get the gel in, neurofen have a blunt end plate with a bigger hole in it, different design.

I hated my coil (mireva) took it out myself, felt better within hours, I delayed doing that too long after the doctor refused to remove it because I didn't realise it's not that difficult at all. However, it gave me depression and fatigue, not migraines as far as I remember.

Both times I've been on oesrogen, both times Evorel, never had another oestrogen, migraines returned both times. Migraines started during pregnancy then came back until menopause when they ended. Evorel reversed that as well of course, I get migraines and periods now. Still got hot flushes and night sweats every single night now so I might just ditch it if they won't give me another. I'm waiting to get femoston, evorel is temporary, so was tibolone, but the menopause nurse said evorel is safer as a holding med while I wait for femoston. I could go back to only hot flushes and night sweats without having migraines and periods as well, I can't say it's helping.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and advice! I have actually tried the baby Nurofen type syringes and they don’t suck up the gel… perhaps the gel is a bit too thick. It’s a shame as it seems like such a good solution. I guess I’ll stick with ‘a blob’!
I didn’t know you could remove your own coil! Hope that wasn’t too painful. I also hope you find something that works for you. Sounds like you’ve had a difficult time. All the very best x

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I also use Sandrena gel and I have experimented with different doses. I  have the 1mg sachet but only using half the gel so my dose is effectively 50mcg. I have tried using syringes but without success, I also tried squeezing out half the contents and re sealing the sachet ready for the next day however I think some of the gel evaporated overnight because there never seemed as much gel as there should be. My strategy now is to squeeze out all the gel into two equal looking lines and then scraping off one line and rubbing in the other one. This is a bit wasteful as I haven't found a way to reuse the discarded line but at least I can see that I am getting half the gel each day.

I hope this is helpful and if anyone has any other techniques for measuring Sandrena gel it would be interesting to hear them.

Take care ladies.

K.

[Katie7800]

Hello ladies.

I also use Sandrena gel and I have experimented with different doses. I  have the 1mg sachet but only using half the gel so my dose is effectively 50mcg. I have tried using syringes but without success, I also tried squeezing out half the contents and re sealing the sachet ready for the next day however I think some of the gel evaporated overnight because there never seemed as much gel as there should be. My strategy now is to squeeze out all the gel into two equal looking lines and then scraping off one line and rubbing in the other one. This is a bit wasteful as I haven't found a way to reuse the discarded line but at least I can see that I am getting half the gel each day.

I hope this is helpful and if anyone has any other techniques for measuring Sandrena gel it would be interesting to hear them.

Take care ladies.

K.

Thanks Kathleen! I fold over the top of the sachet and then use a small sealable plastic bag (one of those bags that came free with Covid tests!) and put that in a small airtight tin. So maybe you could insulate yours a bit more and hopefully stop it from evaporating so quickly.
It really is a faff, this DIY gel-measuring. It’s such a shame the syringe idea doesn’t work, isn’t it. If anyone out there has a good solution, we’d love to hear it!
x