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[jadenatalie123]

Hi ladies, wondering if anyone has had a similar experience please? I've been on HRT since Feb after being diagnosed as POI (31). I have been on a mixture of patches and gel within this time. Im currently on patches 125mg and am still not feeling 100%, dry eyes, sleep issues, no libido, aching joints, low/flat mood, hot flushes etc! So i did a Medichecks blood test at home (finger prick)

I followed instructions as directed and i havent used any gel for approx 5 weeks (they said after 4 weeks should be fine to test)

My level is 2,663 PMOL!!!! absolutely ridiculous!!! what does this mean? is it accurate?!?! I personally do not feel unwell in a 'high estrogen' kinda way. e.g - no breast tenderness at all, not jittery or anxious, no headaches, no bleeding AT ALL for 60 days now (on mirena)

is this accurate?! i'm freaking out abit and ripped my 25patch off earlier in a panic!! To be fair, with my lingering symptoms i thought i wasnt absorbing the patch at all or needed a higher dose etc..

thanks for reading! x

[Hurdity]

Hi there - fingerpricprick tests are not reliable and even blood tests themselves are not reliable indicators of oestrogen levels.

However there is a phernomenon known as tachyphylaxis defined as ".... the appearance of progressive decrease in response to a given dose after repetitive administration of a pharmacologically or physiologically active substance" which the late Prof Studd highlighted. This means that in the face of what are known as "supraphysiological" levels of oestrogen ie levels higher than occur naturally, symptoms can recur. I'm not saying this is what's happening especially as you haven't had blood tests at a surgery - but just highlighting it.

When you were using a mixture of gel and patch, what doses of both were you using concurrently? Is there a reason why you've been given such high doses - though I do understand the need for sufficient oestrogen at such a young age.

Try not to freak out at this stage! Can your doctor (GP or menopause specialist?) help at all? With this diagnosis I do hope you are having specialist advice on NHS....

The feelings of flatness and low libido may be due to the Mirena coil - how long have you had it?

Sorry I can't help more but wishing you well in sorting this out!

Hurdity x

PS Absurdly, the forum software has replaced the word "prik" (with a "c") with a load of asterisks! How ridiculous!! I mean the world's gone mad! A fingerprik is a fingerprik not a male prik!!!!

[CrispyChick]

  I'm going to have to type fingerprick to check that out!!!

I can't really help, but I just want to say I use blood tests a lot, including the medichecks finger pricks! And I find them to be really accurate and comparable to how I am feeling.

I am in peri with lots of strong estrogen spikes. One of my bloods last year read at 2089. I have never supplemented estrogen. I felt horrific the day of that test. I now know why.

So, yes, you need to go and speak to your expert. Get them to re run the bloods, work it all out.

Xx

[CrispyChick]

Fingerprick. It worked 

[Hurdity]

Finger****. It worked 

 

I had to change my post because first I said to jadenatalie - why all the stars?!! Then when I saw my preview, I realised, hence the "prik" (that's fooled you software!).

Interesting your oestrogen was very high without HRT but that is presumaby one of the big mad peri spikes that happen when our levels fluctuate wildly?

Hurdity x

[jadenatalie123]

Hi there - fingerpric**** tests are not reliable and even blood tests themselves are not reliable indicators of oestrogen levels.

However there is a phernomenon known as tachyphylaxis defined as ".... the appearance of progressive decrease in response to a given dose after repetitive administration of a pharmacologically or physiologically active substance" which the late Prof Studd highlighted. This means that in the face of what are known as "supraphysiological" levels of oestrogen ie levels higher than occur naturally, symptoms can recur. I'm not saying this is what's happening especially as you haven't had blood tests at a surgery - but just highlighting it.

When you were using a mixture of gel and patch, what doses of both were you using concurrently? Is there a reason why you've been given such high doses - though I do understand the need for sufficient oestrogen at such a young age.

Try not to freak out at this stage! Can your doctor (GP or menopause specialist?) help at all? With this diagnosis I do hope you are having specialist advice on NHS....

The feelings of flatness and low libido may be due to the Mirena coil - how long have you had it?

Sorry I can't help more but wishing you well in sorting this out!

Hurdity x

PS Absurdly, the forum software has replaced the word "prik" (with a "c") with a load of asterisks! How ridiculous!! I mean the world's gone mad! A fingerprik is a fingerprik not a male prik!!!!

Hello Hurdity,

I was never using both gel and patches together. I’m on 125mcg of patch which for my age isn’t high my doctor said. I used the gel for a time to see if it would be more convenient for me. I did the finger prick test for my own sake really, im due to speak to my specialist again next week. To be fair though, I do find it odd that I have absolutely no ‘typical high estrogen’ symptoms, so it is very confusing! I’ve had the mirena in since Feb too, I’ve not had any bleeding really on the mirena either. I don’t believe the mirena is to blame as when I had the mirena fitted and started the 50mcg patches I felt amazing, back to my normal self again for about 6-8 weeks and then have been increased and increased. I’ve no idea what to think at the moment!

[RosieRay]

I have the exact same symptoms as you and so my dose has gone up to 125mcg but I can’t get estradot patches so I’m on 100 patch and one pump of gel which is a pain! I have no idea if it’s being absorbed or what’s going on. This has only been two weeks though and my levels were 250pmol.

Hope you get some answers !

[Evie606]

Hi ladies, wondering if anyone has had a similar experience please? I've been on HRT since Feb after being diagnosed as POI (31). I have been on a mixture of patches and gel within this time. Im currently on patches 125mg and am still not feeling 100%, dry eyes, sleep issues, no libido, aching joints, low/flat mood, hot flushes etc! So i did a Medichecks blood test at home (finger ****)

I followed instructions as directed and i havent used any gel for approx 5 weeks (they said after 4 weeks should be fine to test)

My level is 2,663 PMOL!!!! absolutely ridiculous!!! what does this mean? is it accurate?!?! I personally do not feel unwell in a 'high estrogen' kinda way. e.g - no breast tenderness at all, not jittery or anxious, no headaches, no bleeding AT ALL for 60 days now (on mirena)

is this accurate?! i'm freaking out abit and ripped my 25patch off earlier in a panic!! To be fair, with my lingering symptoms i thought i wasnt absorbing the patch at all or needed a higher dose etc..

thanks for reading! x

Hi there,

I came across a post in my own search which may be of use to you?

Did you use the same fingers you use to apply your gel? Even though we wash thoroughly, there can be residual hormone.
The person who posted used gel and got an extremely high reading on a finger prick test so got a follow up intravenous blood test and the results were completely normal.

E xx

[floraljo]

Hi, I'm also early menopause but probably it was poi as I had queried with gp a few years before. Before hrt, my oestrogen ranged from 113-1600. On hrt, it has been 650-2300. I asked my menopause gp about this and she said high spikes is common in perimenopause. If you are concerned, I'd repeat it at a different time in the month but she wasn't concerned.
My tests were done by venous sample not finger.

I was on 50 patch but due to a return of crying and flushes, and burning sensations in hands and feet, she suggested I try 75 even though my oestrogen result was high. As my anti mullerian hormone was <1 last year, previous gp said my final period will be very soon so I suspect that I may not be in peri stage much longer so a trial increase seems reasonable.

Have you has shbg and testosterone tested?

[joziel]

jaden... I think the first thing to do (before freaking out or changing any dosages) is to re-check that result using a venous blood draw....