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[Hopeful2]

Good morning ladies.

I'm looking for some reassurance please. I saw a gynacologist who did a blood test showing my oestrogen level was 316. So he said I could go up to 3 pumps of oestrogel to help manage my atrophy. I take my 2 pumps & utrogestan at night. So was going to start with 1/4 pump in morning working up to a pump as I get big sore spots where I apply it on thighs when I up it, then it settles once used to it. Really anxious about upping dose, but 316 isn't too high is it? I had worked my way up to taking 2 pumps for one month at the time of the blood test but that was a few weeks ago now still haven't had courage to up the dose. Thanks for your help.

[Joaniepat]

Are you using any local oestrogen (eg, Vagifem, Ovestin) for the atrophy? Systemic oestrogen doesn't always address the genitourinary symptoms, so an increase in local oestrogen might be more appropriate.
JP x

[Hopeful2]

Thanks for your reply Joaniepat. I tried ovestin but it gave me terrible prickling feeling down backs of legs. Oestrogel has made problems was atrophy bearable but not comfortable so was hoping 3 pumps would solve that. 3 pumps isn't too much is it?

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Hopeful2. I was wondering how you were doing. Well done on working your way up to two pumps of oestrogen! That is amazing. I remember how much your body struggled to adjust to it.

Three pumps is not too much. Is it possible to go as slowly as possible? So instead of increasing by half a pump, could you increase by a tiny bit? I do not use the gel so I do not know if that is something you could do.

You managed to get up to two pumps so if you wanted to I am sure your body would adjust to the increase.

[Hopeful2]

Thank you for your reply Flossieteacake lovely to hear from you. Hope you are keeping OK. Yes was going to do just a tiny bit and build up so anxiety won't go too crazy. Anxiety bad as usual dont feel ill ever be myself again.

[Flossieteacake]

Thank you for your reply Flossieteacake lovely to hear from you. Hope you are keeping OK. Yes was going to do just a tiny bit and build up so anxiety won't go too crazy. Anxiety bad as usual dont feel ill ever be myself again.

I really am sorry your anxiety is really bad. That makes it all the more difficult for you to increase your oestrogen. Would it help to increase your oestrogen when your anxiety is not as bad? I may be wrong there but just wondered if it would take some pressure off you.

[Penguin]

Hi if you are taking utrogestan on a sequential basis, then I'd suggest upping the estrogen at a time when you are already taking the utrogestan. For me, my anxiety and digestive things (which make the anxiety worse) spike more when my estrogen is unopposed.

[Joaniepat]

Thanks for your reply Joaniepat. I tried ovestin but it gave me terrible ****ling feeling down backs of legs. Oestrogel has made problems was atrophy bearable but not comfortable so was hoping 3 pumps would solve that. 3 pumps isn't too much is it?

There are other local oestrogens you can try besides Ovestin. I use Vagifem, which has been great for me. There is a list of products available under treatments in the main menu.
JP x

[Hurdity]

I agree re different vaginal treatments. For example if you want to stay with estriol, the generic estriol cream is 10 x weaker than ovestin and therefore can be used more liberally and the fillers are different too.

These are the fillers for Ovestin:


Octyldodecanol

cetyl palmitate

glycerin

cetyl alcohol

stearyl alcohol

Polysorbate 60

sorbitan stearate

chlorhexidine dihydrochloride

lactic acid

sodium hydroxide to pH 4,

purified water.

These are for 0.01% estriol cream:



Benzoic acid

Arachis oil

Glyceryl monostearate

Glycerin

Glutamic acid

Purified water


I use Vagifem (now generic Vagirux) and the 0.01% estriol cream, but as Joaniepat says there are others too.

As for the oestrogen reading - that is not too high - but it is a good reading - I would be very happy with that if you feel OK, and a local oestrogen now is probably the way forward rather than increasing your systemic dose, as it goes straight to where you need it

Hurdity x

[Hopeful2]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply 💐.

I've been using a tiny bit extra of oestrogel in the morning which has been going ok, I was hoping if I get up to 3 pumps I wouldn't need to use topical and it might help with my anxiety too which is pretty bad. Do you think this could work?

[Flossieteacake]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply 💐.

I've been using a tiny bit extra of oestrogel in the morning which has been going ok, I was hoping if I get up to 3 pumps I wouldn't need to use topical and it might help with my anxiety too which is pretty bad. Do you think this could work?

I think it is going to be tricky to treat your VA without any localised oestrogen but I know how sensitive you are to medications so it is always worth trying to see how your VA responds. It is wonderful you have been able to increase the oestrogel slightly.

[Hopeful2]

Thank you for your kind reply Flossieteacake.

I've been taking my 2 pumps at night on my thighs & the extra tiny bit on my thighs in the morning as I think you can't put more than 1 pump on one limb at a time is that right. Hope I'm doing it right?

My mouth is much dryer/sore since upping the dose hope that's just a coincidence,  but I best stay with it. Means so much to be able to chat 😊

[Flossieteacake]

I do not have any experience with oestrogel but I am sure somebody will answer your question.

The dry mouth is so annoying. I get that too. I just use extra mouthwash. They say sucking lozenges can help too.

It is good to see you posting.

[Penguin]

Hopeful2 yes, so if you were doing four pumps you could either split into morning and night, or start using your upper outer arms for the extra. However some women (me included) avoid arms given it's proximity to breasts. I found I got sore breasts when using it on my arms but then I'm super sensitive to estrogen.

I have had dry mouth, burning mouth, more reflux type stuff, since starting hrt at Christmas - all the stuff I thought hrt was meant to alleviate, it is confusing!!!

[Hopeful2]

Thank you both for your kind replies, much appreciated 💐