Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[boomerang]

Does anyone in Peri adjust their gel/patch doses according to what their natural cycle is doing ?
I’m curious really as I find one pump isn’t enough on the “bad days” and 2 pumps is too much on the “good days” so I’ve started alternating 1 or 2 pumps in (sort of!) line with what my body’s doing naturally.
I’m not sure HRT is really designed to work this way but just interested in others experiences.
Thanks and hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

[Mariab]

Hi there,
I have found that finding the right level in peri is very difficult, I've been going from 3 to 2 to 2.5 pumps over the last year to try and get level, however I don't think you can completely over ride your own system unless you have really high doses...
It is recommended to stay at one dose for 3 months but I think it's best to do what suits you

[Helen57]

Hi boomerang. Reading your post with interest as I have just started hrt last week and was wondering this same thing.
I seem to have a worse time the week of my period and just afterwards.
 Can I ask how you feel when you think 2 pumps is too much? I am on 2 pumps and I'm wondering if it's too much at this time in my natural cycle.
My main symptoms I wanted to get rid of was the anxiety and intrusive thoughts that have been bombarding me since April!  Thanks xx

[Minicat]

I actually do the same thing. Some days I’ll feel like my usual dose just isn’t cutting it, especially when my hormones are all over the place. I’ll add an extra pump when I’m having one of those rough days and scale back when things settle down. I’m not sure if that’s technically how it’s meant to be used, but it seems to work for me. I think it’s all about listening to your body and adjusting as needed.

[Seasidegirl]

I'm in month 3 of HRT and was peri with a  regular'ish cycle (aged 54 :roll eyes:)

I use Estradot 50 patches with a treatment plan to increase by half a patch if still symptomatic.  I've added half a patch 3 times in the 3 months,  twice I've felt better for it,  the other time I took the extra half off as I felt wired and jittery.  Each time it's felt OK I haven't felt the need to continue it so I'm still on 1 patch. 

Each time I've increased it was because my anxiety was increasing. 

I'm starting to think that it's the impact of my own cycle that is having the affect.  I'm going to tak to my private prescriber to see whether I can have gel or a spray so that I could add a bit more on those days when I feel I need it.   As PP has said I think if we are fairly switched on to how we feel,  this could be doable.

[boomerang]

Thanks for the replies - so interesting to hear others experiences.

helen57 you and I sound very similar, I started hrt 6m ago on 2 pumps, reduced to 1 and now back up to 2. For me I think my high oestrogen symptoms are early waking feeling panicky, physical panicky sensations, feeling jittery and wired and generally a bit odd!

minicat that’s what I do, I knock it down to 1 pump for a few days. Probably not intended but in my mind it works!!

Seasidegirl will be interesting to see what your prescriber says!

[Helen57]

Thanks boomerang. That's exactly how I'm feeling now on 2 pumps. I was okay on 2 pumps last week, when I started it, but that was around my period, so I think I need it then. I'm going to drop down to 1 pump today and see if that makes a difference. Hope you get your balance right. Xx

[Penguin]

I ended up giving up hrt after 15 months because I couldn't get the dose right in peri. When my estrogen surges, which is common in peri, I felt absolutely dreadful and like I was going crazy. It is really difficult to get it right with the fluctuations. Been off it since April now and actually feel better without, apart from when my estrogen dips super low when my period comes. But them my cycle is still reasonably regular between 26-31 days albeit lighter, so I think I'll wait until I get later into peri before trying again. There were some days when I felt great on estrogel but the spikes weren't worth it for me in the end.