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[Bungo]

Am very late perimenopausal, last period was in January and on continuous hrt for a year. Got bloods taken last week to see if am absorbing oestrogel as my symptoms still come and go and my bone density decreased since last scan(main reason I'm taking hrt is for bone density). I used the 2 pumps gel on my  inner thighs that morning,applied using the cap of the bottle so hands not contaminated (usually use on arms)and got blood taken 7 hours later. Oestrodial was only 89! I know my powerlifting strength wasn't good that day and my weight had  dropped by a lb that week. Also my anxiety was through the roof. So low oestrodial explains that.Have had bloods taken a few times during the year and typically oestrodial was 170pmol so now reckon that was my natural oestrodial levels and nothing really from the gel. Or else I had an infection as my neutrophils which for years have been rock bottom  were up at 5. Could infection /virus cause big drop in oestrodial, does anyone know?
So either infection or im hardly absorbing the gel at all. At this stage I want to get bloods tested every month to see whether it was absorbtion or virus. I don't want to waste many more months  losing bone density, need to get right asap .  So sick of this journey now. I hate wasting months trying patches, getting bloods redone etc . If it's infection,.I don't want to be increasing the gel or trying patches for no reason

[CLKD]

Blood tests are reliably un-reliable 

Sometimes hormones rise and fall which can 'confuse' replacement treatments.  Weight drop of a pound: that could be the weight of a poo! 

If you aren't absorbing the gel, get a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic to discuss options? 

What makes you believe it's a virus? 

[Bungo]

Have had very low neutrophils (part of white blood cells) for years and years. Abnormally low in fact. And for first time ever they were high so something was going on  last week for sure.
Ill get bloods taken again in 6 weeks and see what hormone levels are.

[CLKD]

Let us know? 

[Pippa52]

I was on Oestrogel and my blood level was only 50 pmol and I was not absorbing it at all.  Meno consultant said I might as well not be on HRT at all.  Swopped to patches and my level is now 315 pmol on 62.5 worth of patches changed every other day. (I am post meno).  I think we all absorb different products differently and clearly for me Oestrogel did not absorb at all and I was taking 3 pumps daily.  Totally  agree with CLKD get a referral to a specialist Meno clinic it can honestly be life changing getting the right advice x

[Bungo]

Thanks Pippa. In Ireland so would have to pay 200€ to see menopause specialist and 80 per follow up visit. So you reckon no point increasing number of pumps of the gel ? If not absorbing 2 pumps, then 4 pumps isn't much use- 2 times zero is still zero 😀. I had bought 6 bottles of gel last month as cheaper than buying month by month. What a waste of money and plastic ! Which oestrogen patches are the best for eg stickiness and less faffing around?

[Bungo]

Thanks Pippa. In Ireland so would have to pay 200€ to see menopause specialist and 80 per follow up visit. So you reckon no point increasing number of pumps of the gel ? If not absorbing 2 pumps, then 4 pumps isn't much use- 2 times zero is still zero 😀. I had bought 6 bottles of gel last month as cheaper than buying month by month. What a waste of money and plastic ! Which oestrogen patches are the best for eg stickiness and less faffing around?
If not absorbing oestrogel, would I likely have same problem with divigel or lenzetto, do you reckon?

[sheila99]

You may be absorbing some just not very much. As you've already bought it you may as well increase and see what happens and change product next time. Some poor absorbers use 6 pumps. If your symptoms decrease it's doing something. You may find oral is more effective for you than transdermal.

[Bungo]

Thanks Sheila, I'm mainly taking for bone density as opposed to symptoms really so that's why can't really base on symptoms. I'm wondering now if reading last week was extra low as had taken an antihistamine the previous night. Also had heatwave and noticed the gel was much more runny than usual. So I'll wait 6 weeks before changing anything. Have spent 1000s on this stupid menopause the last 2 years😀