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[sjpercy3]

Thank you! That's good to know! I hope the E kicks in soon!

[Hollyboll]

Hi both
Lasla good to hear and hope it goes well - keep us posted. How long were you told until kicks in?
SJ - sorry to hear you struggling and now withheld.
I didn’t get implant last month, but because they still trying to work out what going in with my mad levels. I was back last week when they were considering again but blood tests had been lost so I’m now booked in again Weds and will report back.
But nobody mentioned shortage last week 😖. Were you told something different / specific/ new from the govt generally discontinued them years ago (on cost basis) so that only specialists (and I think not many) have been able to do for years?

[sjpercy3]

Hi both
Lasla good to hear and hope it goes well - keep us posted. How long were you told until kicks in?
SJ - sorry to hear you struggling and now withheld.
I didn’t get implant last month, but because they still trying to work out what going in with my mad levels. I was back last week when they were considering again but blood tests had been lost so I’m now booked in again Weds and will report back.
But nobody mentioned shortage last week 😖. Were you told something different / specific/ new from the govt generally discontinued them years ago (on cost basis) so that only specialists (and I think not many) have been able to do for years?

Hi, I wasn't told it was a shortage, just that they have put a hold on giving them out. The pharmacist said he has got them over from the US okay, but he hasn't been given the authority to release them to clinics and hospitals.
He said they are not being told why, despite probing for answers.
I know about issues in the past, that's why I'm worried 😟

[Hollyboll]

Me too now!

[Hollyboll]

Hi Laszla - just wondered how you are doing after a few weeks?
I’m back tomorrow to clinic for reconsidering E implant
X

[Hollyboll]

Hi again. Back to clinic today.

SJ - they said regulator is looking again at implants, so hard to get further stock in ie clinics ok with existing stock but no future guarantees. Said it wasn’t unusual, but I think was saying that not to worry me further (already challenging appt) and they did after all raise it to start with …

My crazy fluctuations still flummoxing everyone. Said implant still not yet safe for me yet.

[sjpercy3]

Hi again. Back to clinic today.

SJ - they said regulator is looking again at implants, so hard to get further stock in ie clinics ok with existing stock but no future guarantees. Said it wasn’t unusual, but I think was saying that not to worry me further (already challenging appt) and they did after all raise it to start with …

My crazy fluctuations still flummoxing everyone. Said implant still not yet safe for me yet.

Hey,
Thank you for updating me! Did you go to Chelsea and Westminster? I pushed for an appointment with them in a few weeks, I'm praying they have stock left over, but it doesn't look good.

[Hollyboll]

Hi. Nope I’m not at Chelsea and Westminster - but Laszla is and i think she was told no stock problems there? Glad you got an appt 1 I thought the list was closer to months/years so weeks is good . Keep us posted x

[sjpercy3]

Hi,
Oh I see. What is the plan for you going forward?
The list is very long, but I was told after my appointment with them in December, that I should be fitted in by March, so I pushed that point to the admin team and begged! However, they do tend to cancel appointments at the last min, so I am not holding out any hope until I'm in front of them!

[laszla]

Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.

I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...

Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.

Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.

sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...

[sjpercy3]

Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.

I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...

Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.

Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.
 sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...

Hi,
Are you noticing improvements in your symptoms now with the implant? I've heard that many women's blood levels come up, but they don't feel any different.

[laszla]

Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.

I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...

Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.

Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.
 sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...

Hi,
Are you noticing improvements in your symptoms now with the implant? I've heard that many women's blood levels come up, but they don't feel any different.

It's only been six days since I stopped taking the additional gel which I think possibly made my E2 levels too high so it's possibly too soon to tell.
That said, I don't feel as good as when I just had the Testo implant - that gave me a noticeable physical improvement.
My anxiety does not feel any better - that said I currently have a hideous life situation to compound everything so perhaps it's too much to expect hormones to mitigate that.
There's also the possibility that my raised Testosterone levels is responsible for not feeling good. When I had the first T implant, the blood level went up moderately whereas now it's gone up a lot - if you have 2 implants at the same time it's hard to pinpoint what is doing what...
But for me it's important to try everything just so that I don't live in doubt about options I haven't tried, eg implants

[Hollyboll]

Hi,
Oh I see. What is the plan for you going forward?
The list is very long, but I was told after my appointment with them in December, that I should be fitted in by March, so I pushed that point to the admin team and begged! However, they do tend to cancel appointments at the last min, so I am not holding out any hope until I'm in front of them!

SJ - this being bumped by Laszla's reminded me I'd not replied to you; very sorry.  Have you had your appointment yet? 
Good for you - I've learned the hard way and have begged (and cried) to admin teams too - in fact, to get into the clinic I'm now in I was calling the outpatient line about 3x a day for weeks ... and it worked as finally I did get a cancellation, but that was incredibly lucky as it's a tiny clinic with huge lists. 
Anyway ... have you had your appointment yet?  Please do let us know how you go?

[Hollyboll]

Hi Hollyboll, sorry you are still in a state of flux and cant go ahead yet with the implant.

I had mine on 1 feb and because I had a 50mg one and for years have been taking close of 100 mg worth of gel, I continued taking about 1-1.5 pumps of gel over the last few weeks since the implant as I was worried about not getting enough.
The hospital was a bit vague about the routine for transitioning off the gel...

Anyway I had my blood tested yesterday and my oestradiol was really high, just over 800 so I have completely stopped the gel.
My original consultant at Chels, Nick Panay, said I should aim for 600-800 but actually I have not felt good at all at this level so I am hoping the implant on its own will give me about 600 - on the gel Ive never achieved more than about 400-500 and only briefly.
My key symptom I'm trying to solve is anxiety and they know this at the hospital...
At least the experiment has been useful in that I know that 800 ish does not make me feel good and I would not have known that if I hadnt been topping up with a little gel over the last 3-4 weeks.

Oddly enough my testosterone was also much higher than last time (I had a second t implant done this time alongside my first estradiol implant). But since my SHBG is always high, my free androgen index is still within range.
I will test again in about a month - I'm postmenopausal so testing works well for me as I get all my hormones exclusively from HRT, it's different of course if you're peri.

sjpercy, no word at chels about any shortage problems so hopefully there is no issue...

Hi Laszla - sorry to hear things haven't been so great with E as with T, and about general life atm.  That's helpful for us to know to ask about the bridging period - I think I was told 2-3 weeks but have never got close enough to implant to focus on this.  My own experience is definitely that more E is not always better, although as you say at least now you know and can bring it down gradually - since I've been having a million bloods done, it's become very clear to me that the huge sudden changes are a problem as well as the actual levels.  Fwiw on T, 2 things I've been told: (1) The BMS now says total T is more important than FAI, and (2) when I asked about the T implant (thanks to your post) I was told that it doesn't give quite as steady a release as the E implant so you might just be in a spike atm?? (Consultant actually laughed at my suggesting T implant - one thing at at time, as you'd pushed for already, and in his words we've got work cut out on my E2 as priority!).  Hope you feel a bit better as it drops off a bit x

[Hollyboll]

Hi both - was prompted to think of you and wonder how you both getting on for 2 reasons ...

1. Have you seen this: https://thebms.org.uk/2024/04/update-subcutaneous-hormone-implant-therapy/ - looks like it will be OK and definitely fine in the short term

2. I had my first E implant about 10 days ago.  I was all positive and went into it with great mindset as taken so long to get here.  I was advised to taper patches over next 3 weeks.  But I am feeling diabolical.  Dizzy, light-headed and headachy, to point where I think I'm passing out ... in many years of very challenging peri/meno symptoms I've never had this before. 

I know it's early days but struggling badly!  So just thought I'd check in with you both.

SJ did you get your C&W appt?

xx