Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Joesmum on August 21, 2017, 08:38:27 AM
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So I've done what my doctor wanted and have switched over to estrogel from the patches but I feel UTTERLY DREADFUL.
ive been doing exactly as he told me. 2 pumps am and 1 pump pm but I literally cannot function. I feel completely spaced out. Constant, awful anxiety. Can hardly walk in a straight line because I feel disoriented. Can't string a sentence together. Am filled with dread. Want to cry...
I didnt feel like this on the 50mcg patch at All. When I moved to the 75mcg patch I was beyond angry, hence switching to the Gel.
Today I've done 1 pump in the morning and will do 1 pump in the evening to see if I feel any better. It's just horrific.
My doctor felt at 52 and with no ovaries that I should be on 4 pumps! No way!!
Is this going to get better or should I just flip back onto the 50 patch and use a quarter of another patch to increase slightly to 62.5mcgs ( Hurdity suggested that)?
The patches give me energy but the the Gel doesn't seem to give me any sort of energy. It's weird. I can just feel myself becoming more toxic by the day as though my body isn't using it?
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Hi Joesmum,
For me too much Oestrogel sent me off balance and caused bad anxiety. You may be better with a lower dose or go back to 50 patch, if you managed to have quality of life.
I'v just started 5th month on Angeliq and doing ok but not out of the woods yet ???
Take Care Wxx
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I can't cope with large doses of oestrogen, it makes me a nervous wreck
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Agree too much oestrogen can cause jittery anxious symptoms.
I tried upping to 3 pumps and it sent me doo lally, horrible jittery feeling, over stimulated and anxious.
For me, 1.5-2 pumps is sufficient.
I also read that you should never cut patches as it effects the way it's absorbed through the skin, cutting it means the dose is administered all at once rather than gradually
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So sorry you're feeling like this. Hope that today was better for you. RR xx
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Know exactly how you feel when I went to see Dr Studd I was put on the normal routine that he gives everyone ie: high oestrogel & it sent me a bit doolally. It took over a month to settle but in that time I felt awful. I told Dr Studd & he wasn't really bothered. I don't do well with high doses. Can't you go back to lower patches?
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I would have a break for 24 hours then start on the lowest dose possible and see how you feel.
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Which symptoms were you trying to ease initially?
Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary?
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Joesmum - if you read your original post, you will see that the answer to your problem is there. You are simply on too high a dose of oestrogen.
Many women, and even many doctors, seem to think that more oestrogen is the answer - in my experience of over 25 years using HRT ( due to early menopause) I never did well on a high dose. The most I ever used of oestregel was 2 pumps per day and in fact I usually felt better on just one pump per day.
If I were you I'd drop to one pump per day for 2-4 weeks and then only increase if absolutely necessary. It is trial and error to find the sweet spot. DG x
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Lots of great advice for you Joesmum :foryou:
Just to agree with the start low, build up slow and perservere. Maybe one pump morning and evening with a thought to review in a week or two.
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I've been on oestrogen since age 32, I started on 1mg and had to go to 2mg (max dose) within 2 weeks to eradicate the night sweats. That worked for 13 years but it's only the last year or so I've realised I need a lower dose
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Ladies
so im wondering if its because it is not bioidentical? could you get the same estrogen from a compounding pharmacy over there?
I dont even know if i should be on estrogen but given that i basically HAVE NONE, i was put on 2 pumps estrogen (o.5 mg )
hmm.
im still not finding relief either, maybe it takes a long time to kick in who knows anymore.
Im sorry for your anxiety..
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Izetta - Oestrogel is bio identical. It is really dodge to use the compounded hormones from a pharmacy as they are unreliable.
It can take 2-4 weeks for the Oestrogel to work its magic and you do need to use it properly as per the instructions.
The benefits of any HRT will vary greatly and depends on what you are trying to control. Anxiety is particularly difficult to manage and requires a range of strategies to control.
DG x
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In my experience of using oestrogen physical symptoms, mainly sweats disappear within days of starting, more complex symptoms will need time I think (i.e. Anxiety, aching joints)
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I didn't feel good on the gel, but put it down to the ALCHOL in it, each day was getting more and more tired xx
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Joesmum I was just about to start a new thread when I spotted yours - so here goes ::) firstly I hope things have settled a little bit for you today x
I had coil fitted in April and went onto .25mg patches - they were too low likely because of the progesterone and I had to increase them swiftly. As I am so new to this game the ladies on here have me great advice. So I switched to sandrena gel and overnight I was a new woman. I ended up responding best to 2sachets per day - anxiety flew away almost overnight - physical symptoms took a little bit longer. Last week I had first appt at meno clinic. They were surprised I was using Sandrena and suggested I could switch to estrogel pump - which would be easier to control in terms of cranking up dose if I felt bad in and around certain times of the month. They also prescribed testosterone at my request. Started estrogel 2 pumps in morning and one in evening on Friday past. All weekend started to feel 'off' then bloated and no appetite- but felt like I'd ate a 4 course meal ( all day long!) fear of ovarian cancer crept in and this time I was able to recognise what was going on. So as an experiment I stopped estrogel last night and switched to Sandrena - everything back to normal - that quickly! I don't know or understand why that happened but I will experiment again after I return from hols - so that I can tell GP I at least gave it a go. I now have 5/6 full pump dispensers of gel if anyone can use them??
You know the change in your routine has caused the setback - so why don't you consider switching back and finding a way to increase patches if that's the best course for you?
DaisyB xx
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Dancing girl
Yes its used per the instructions and im not taking it for anything other than the anxiety and depression ive experienced.
My estrogen is bottomed out ero, zilch.., as is the progesterone and Testosterone. so that would mean that im taking bio to raise the levels obviously.
I don't think however that its capable of changing my mood, so far no results.
As Hurdity said, i need the right hrt amount and combination.