Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Turkish delight on February 07, 2022, 02:23:52 PM
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Hia gals,
I've just been to fill my Ogel script and still no stocks, I'm in Kent.
I've looked at the BMS website but no update since 20th jan 2022.
Have you been able to get your gel as normal?
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Hi, I have but I live up north. I hope you are able to get yours soon. x
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I live in West Yorkshire and got my new prescription today, but nowhere has it🤬
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I'm in middle England & had to wait a week as pharmacy said out of stock at first. Have you tried an online pharmacy?
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Yes it’s in short supply I’m also in Kent
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Picked mine up from an independant chemist i use last week with no issue, i am in Hampshire.
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Thanks, everyone for your replies and help, I'll have to check out some independent ones as mainstream pharmacies seem the worst hit, even my online option has none. I can see I might be galavanting all over Kent in the search.
Logie hi, that is very kind and so caring of you :-*
I'm not sure what the guidelines are on this, let's see what others say and if they know, and then I can PM you. x
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I can't get it in the south-central area. I've had to get back in touch with my GP to ask for Lenzetto or Sandrena instead.
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Can’t get Estradot patches here on south coast.
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Just picked mine up today, Derbyshire.
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Hi gals,
Still can't get my Oestrogel, it's starting to stress me out. I've been calling all the pharmacies around me every few days :-\
I am quite worried about changing :'( What alternative hrt have you been switched to? And Is the transition period from one to another difficult symptoms returning wise?
Thanks in advance for helping a sister out :thankyou:
TD
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My chemist managed to forfill my prescription this time but said it was a struggle to get oestrogel! They said they might have to put me back on patches if they can't get it next month! I've settled on the gel but I had the patches 1st and managed well on them. It's a bloody nightmare 😫 😕 😞!
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I wouldn't worry too much about changing. As long as you keep the same dose it should be pretty much equivalent. I changed from evorel to gel because of an allergic reaction, there was no return of symptoms
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There’s an email address in the BMS update which someone on this site pointed out to me. I took it to my chemist- they emailed with th & I now have got a supply after 4 weeks of worry!
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My chemist is unable to get any at the moment and have a list of ladies waiting for supplies 🙁 I have 2 weeks left so fingers crossed
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How much Oestrogel is it possible to get on one prescription? I now have two bottles a month on a one-month at a time prescription, which they won't issue it as a repeat prescription for some reason, so it's taking some planning. I've been advised to start requesting it earlier, to allow for delays getting it.
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Hi periwhat?, I used to get hrt on repeat every 3 months but at a review 2 years ago gp told me systemic hrt is no longer issued this way but vaginal estrogen is allowed on repeat, I was told 12 months worth every year, but it never happened I ended up having to request it every 2 to 3 months which was a pain, but this time at my hrt review in January this year I asked the gp about this and she said 12 months given on prescription until next review which she did, I doubted I'd get it reading posts on here given many can't, but I got 18 bottles of estrogel no problem, picked up from the chemist within 2 hours of prescription being sent, I'm glad I managed to get because I'd doubt I would get that much now, think different surgeries issue in different ways, I'm in Nottinghamshire.
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That's Amazing Grace, 18 Bottles, Welgel.
See what I did there.
TD
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Hi Turkish delight, ;D I did see what you did, very good made me smile :)
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;D
That is amazing, Grace! Perhaps it's the supply issue stopping them issue more than a month's supply at a time right now then. x
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Hi Ladies I’ve been ringing around chemists in my area (Kingswinford, West Midlands) I cannot find any Oestrogel I cannot find any at all - one of the chemists suggested they do a cream ?..
Any news on supply ?..
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Hi Patti….have you tried the Boots prescription checker ?
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What's dat Dotty?
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https://www.boots.com/online/psc/
You type in what you’re looking for and a postcode and it tells you where it’s in stock. x
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Oh that's really cool, thanks Dotty :-*
They still don't have any stock, but I've added the checker to my bookmarks so I can keep checking.
TD
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Turkish Delight….is there no stock at all the Boots chemists near to you ?
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Hi
I am on holiday in Tenerife and have got some equivalent gel oestracilin OTC. It was £11.25 so not too costly. I am hoping my chemist will be able to fill my prescription soon but at least I have some now.
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Well done Hopeful for thinking on your feet.
Dotty hi, I've been using the checker for boots near my home and a different address near work, but still showing no stock. I have some to get me through the immediate future so the major heat is off for now at least.
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Having gone through conversations with the GP practice about Sandrena equivalent doses and them having ordered this for me in place of Oestrogel, the Oestrogel then arrived at Boots the following day.
And then the Sandrena turned up as well and had to be stood down.
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Sod's law!
Glad you have some now.
TD
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Just to let you know that my local pharmacy where I have my prescription sent to said that I should contact my GP to get a different type of HRT due to the Oestrogel shortage. I had this problem a few months ago where I couldn't get gel and was swapped to patches, then back to gel when it came in again. Not sure if it's this that's caused it, but I've had a horrible period with bad cramping. I wish now that I had rung around and persevered rather than chop and change with my HRT.
I used the Boots checker this morning (thank you to the person who posted that!) and found a local pharmacy Boots that regularly get this in stock.
I rang my GP and they have sent my prescription through and I should be able to pick it up tomorrow.
There is definitely a shortage, but if you are prepared to do a bit of phoning around it's worth it!
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Hia,
That's good you finally got some.
I am uneasy about changing too. It takes forever to find your sweet spot with dosage, having to go up when symptoms come back after a while on a certain dose. Then shortage, then there's the whole Amber square, Green square topic. It's a moving target, you've got to be on your best game to just keep stable.
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Surely our questions should be WHY is there an oestrogel shortage??
The BMS should be providing this information as a matter if urgency for the large number of woman who are using this form of HRT.
Frankly, I feel it’s not good enough! The GP’s and pharmacists should know the reason and be able to inform their patients whether this is yet another temporary shortage or a long term problem so women can make an informed choice about changing to a different prescription or hanging in there with a lower dosage until supplies are restored.
Yet again I feel we are being given the short straw when it comes to menopause provision! xx
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Couldn't agree more Marchlove.. I've just started on this regime (2 months ago) and I think it seems to suit me so far (fingers crossed) so I really would like to have more accurate information on what the supply/manufacture problem is or how long it is to continue as I don't want the extra stress of wondering if I'll need to change to something or if I'll be in a constant panic about supplies. I totally agree this shouldn't just be shunted onto the women trying to access treatment and we shouldn't just accept it. I'm about to head out to collect the missing part of my oestrogel prescription as (nice local indie) pharmacy supplied me with 3 of the 6 my GP prescribed last week. Why should I feel I'm 'lucky' to even get this but might have trouble next time? If it were any other essential meds I sure more fuss would be being made. Makes me fume tbh...
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I have been able to get my gel from Independent Pharmacy. It's online and my GP emails them my prescription and they send it out to me free of charge. No problems so far...
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the bms has this on it's site
Besins Healthcare (UK) HRT products
Oestrogel systemic estradiol gel.
Besins Healthcare (UK) Ltd has seen a high demand for Oestrogel over recent months and in
order to meet this demand our safety stocks have become depleted. This means that all
new and increased weekly deliveries into the country are being used immediately to fulfil
current orders.
While we continue supplying Oestrogel to meet current orders and work to replenish our
safety stock, some pharmacies may report Oestrogel as out of stock at their local
wholesaler. This should be a short-term issue and supplies would normally flow through to
local wholesaler branches after a few days of such an occurrence.
We have increased stock of Oestrogel coming into our distribution centre on a weekly basis
that should be sufficient to meet current order quantities and we are doing everything we
can to manage and expedite supplies to pharmacies across the country through the
wholesalers.
Any pharmacies who are having any difficulty in obtaining stock can contact Besins Healthcare [email protected] with the details of their wholesaler and pharmacy account details.
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Thanks for that Hopeful. x
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The BMS statement is old news I'm afraid.
The 20th of January to be precise, and were about to hit March with no stock improvement and no newer update from BMS, I for one am not impressed.
"Short term issue" my behind!
The issues has and will affect every women on Oestrogel as it's spanning over months not weeks.
PS I not directing this at you Hopeful, I love that you are hopeful ;)
I had seen that BMS update a while back, and can't believe they haven't chased it and posted more recent info.
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Can't say I'm impressed either ...couldn't get the oestrogel I'm still owed today and pharmacist couldn't give much advice on when it'll arrive. Luckily I have enough to see me through 3 months so I'll keep trying for the rest and I have a review in April so I'll make a decision then if the situation is still like this. I just don't want 'added stress of whether I can score my drugs or not' to be a factor in my decision making when starting hrt was a difficult enough (but no-brainer) decision to make in first place. Seems a bit crap to me.
P.S sorry if I sound grumpy, I'm also not angry at anyone else on this thread and thanks for the nugget of info Gnatty, I may need to try that route.
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It could be a problem with the supply chain if it's imported.
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Hi Turkish delight
I knew the BMS statement was from Mid January- 5 weeks ago, but It may still be valid. It is not always easy to increase production and as we all know media interest in HRT and oestrogel now seeming to be the first option given must have increased demand. I know of 3 friends who have started HRT on oestrogel in the last 2 months.
It’s unfortunate the the alternative gel that is available on the continent is not available here, it seems the NHS has all their eggs in one basket (pardon the pun)
Hopefully the stocks will be distributed evenly amongst pharmacies. My pharmacy phoned Besins today and was told to email a certain person for more info, which they have done and are awaiting a reply, hopefully they get some clarity on the situation but I am not sure they will unfortunately. :'(
Of course it could be made worse by brexit and import problems. HRT seems to be constantly suffering supply problems :'(
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I managed to get two out of four bottles on my monthly prescription last week, this will last me two weeks. The pharmacist told me I was "lucky" to get those and they'll call me when the other two bottles come in. Hopefully before two weeks are up and I run out! It is a faff to be chasing this up every fortnight, and chasing GPs for prescriptions every four weeks. I would love to be able to access more at a time - it would save a lot of time and stress.
The pharmacist's line on it was that there is a sudden much increased demand for Oestrogel - possibly because of recent raised awareness of peri and menopause issues? - and also supply issues.
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I’ve been able to get my oestrogel up until this week. I’ve had the odd delay but this week the pharmacy said they would have to order me an alternative.
I would rather not switch so I used the Boots stock checker and then rang my local branch. I know one of the pharmacists there who happened to answer the phone. She said she’d had three huge deliveries lately but since the Davina McCall programme, she can’t keep up with demand.
She had one bottle left on the shelf which she put to one side for me and hopefully the other will be in stock next week 👍🏻
Ali x
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I’m in Birmingham and my pharmacy are having trouble getting Oestrogel. The pharmacist said it’s a manufacturing problem. It’s got me biting my nails and praying x
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My pharmacy told me they have 35 prescriptions to fulfill before mine for oestrogel and that I should phone around as many other pharmacies as I could. There doesn’t appear to be any information about when stocks will be in either anywhere it’s pot luck.
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I've requested Sandrena gel sachet instead of oestrogel, as no pharmacy able to supply Oestrogel in West Sussex Town. I may stick with them, as easier to transport and still able to adjust the dose. I requested 0.5 and 1 mg for ease of adjustment and believe that 0.75 sandrena is equal to 1 pump Oestrogel. Good luck with finding what you need.
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I got 4 bottles this week from a local pharmacy.
Besins have said there have been deliveries this week. x
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I got two bottles yesterday from my designated pharmacy (independent) - the second half of my last prescription. They had a delivery on Tuesday.
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I'm still waiting for the other half of a 6 bottle prescription from nearly a month ago (SE London)... no joy so far at my local indie pharmacy. They are doing their best though and have said they will put aside the 'owing' bottles when it does arrive, but lots of ladies in the same position. Thinking I may need to swap out for Sandrena eventually too if the situation is still precarious when I need to get next script... its just too tedious and added stress!
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Just had my 3 bottles posted out from the online pharmacy. My GP emails the prescription directly to them.
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I now have my prescription of oestrogel, but I had to use the boots stock checker then get my prescription released from my usual pharmacy so that it could be picked up by the boots branch.
Both pharmacies were really helpful, my own said they had no idea when they might get a delivery.
I wonder if boots has a special deal with besins as they seem to be able to get stock?
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Not sure, I've struggled with supply from Boots as well, when my indie pharmacy couldn't get anything. Boots eventually came through because they were able to ring round all their other local branches.
Saying that, local indie pharmacy (Yorkshire) just gave me my next four-bottle prescription, so it seems as though supply issues may be improving? I feel less stressed about it now I have enough in the house to last a couple of months as well.
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I can’t get any either and the alternative Sandrena is now out of stock too! I’ve been waiting two weeks already
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Still waiting for the other half of my prescription from a month ago. Think I'm going to have to ask for the script so I can look elsewhere. Really a cr#p situation all round..
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Was unable to get Oestrogel, or alternatives Sandrena/Lenzetto from any of my 5 local pharmacies tonight
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I contacted the British Menopause Society to see if there was any update from Besins about supply issues, when it would be sorted etc. This is the reply they sent me apparently from Besins. Nothing really new or concrete sadly.🙄
Besins Healthcare (UK) Ltd has seen an exceptionally high demand for Oestrogel over recent months and in order to meet this demand our safety stocks have become depleted. This means that all
new weekly deliveries into the country are being used immediately to fulfil current orders.
While we continue supplying Oestrogel to try and meet current demand and work to replenish our
safety stock, some retail pharmacies may report Oestrogel as out of stock at their local
wholesaler. We expect this should be a short-term issue and supplies would normally flow through to local wholesaler branches from the following weeks delivery.
Besin Healthcare is actually aware of the concerns that women will have if they are unable to fulfil their Oestrogel prescription, and we are doing everything we can to manage, increase and expedite supplies to retail pharmacies across the country through the wholesalers.
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This is getting ridiculous and infuriating. No one can benefit from us not having the hrt we rely on and need. Besins should at least give a real lead time for this "Temporary" blip, showing how they recognize how badly this affects our physical and mental health and gives them a date to shoot for and be held accountable to. I think Besins trotting out the same statement for months now is just a massive joke.
Lousie Newson on This Morning TV show also played it down saying it's just a temp thing. It will have affected every woman on Oestrogel by the time this so-called temporary cock up is sorted out.
Still can't get a steady supply myself, and don't see the point in changing when the shortage will move to the alternatives and has done bcz of their increased demand.
TD
:boobs:
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I have been having allergic red patches on Evoril Conti and was given a prescription for Estradiol gel and tablets. Went to my pharmacy to collect and they had only the tablets but said I could take because they had no supply of the gel. As I pointed out to the male pharmacist one half of the prescription is no good. Honestly, if men had to rely on something like this would it ever go out of stock?!
Still putting on the patches as I have a couple of weeks left but don't know what to do with the script they have given me as all pharmacies in a 30 mile radius have no stock. >:(
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My prescription has just arrived, the parcel was far smaller, it looked like It was just Utrogestan tablets. It’s Premarin 1.25 pills! I’ve never taken estrogen pills and usually take 3 pumps of Oestrogel. Does anybody know if Premarin 1.25 is equivalent of 3 gel pumps please?
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Hi VictoriaV, the dose seems okay, but is Premarin the only available oestrogen to replace Oestrogel? There must be better options.
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Hi Uptick, thanks for replying.
I agree that there must be a better alternative! I’d prefer to try Lenzetto before anything oral.
I’ll reduce gel until I can find a better route.
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Hopefully you'll get Lenzetto :great:
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Hi , just wondered if anyone has found any oestrogel with the online pharmacies or is there a total shortage ?
Just wondering if I should now ask for an alternative .
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Hi Meeka...have you tried the Boots prescription checker? x
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Hi, yes, it's a real pain trying to source the gel!! >:( Dr Louise Newson said on "This Morning" recently that she hoped it would be resolved soon.
My usual large chain pharmacy has not been able to source any, so I rang round a few local independent pharmacies - and nearly fell off my chair when one said they had Oestrogel in stock! It is not labelled Estrogel as my initial ones were, but it's not the Oestrodose one so hopefully will be ok. I'm using it to top up my Estradot 50 patch so it should last me a while until they sort out the supplies.
I did try the Boots prescription checker - it was hit and miss as to where and when it was in stock, but definitely worth checking it out...I put in different postcode areas in near to me as well!!
Good luck x
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[ quote author=Dotty link=topic=60745.msg854523#msg854523 date=1648718092]
Hi Meeka...have you tried the Boots prescription checker? x
[/quote]
Thank you so much for the help ladies , I just found a boots pharmacy not far from me with a couple in stock :) :) :)
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Now out of stock at the online pharmacy. Can't believe it! What a complete travesty of healthcare for women.
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Hi fellow oestrogel hunters!
I could not find any anywhere in North London. Called pharmacies everywhere, Baker Street, Marylebone, Hampstead Area, Old Street area, nothing at all.
So frustrating!
Good luck!
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I went to pick my gel up and I've been given Sandrena but the chemist said they were struggling to get that too.
Just hate running the gauntlet every time I pick my hrt up!!! It shouldn't be this hard !!!
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It is just so annoying, It's not as though we haven't got enough to worry about these days, now we have to worry about where and when our next medication hit is coming from.
I think the statement Besins have trotted out for 4 months, which is that it will resolve itself has proven to be untrue. It's not going to just right itself if there is more demand. They need to get on and expand production to service all the new orders.
TD
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Has anyone written to their MP about this? Diane Danzebrink is encouraging women to to try and get something done because clearly Besins don’t seem to be very vocal about readdressing this.
Here’s a link for letter templates if useful for anyone.
https://menopausesupport.co.uk/?page_id=13505
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Good idea, I'll look into it.
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My Boots checker lied lol!
I called to make sure my local had it as checker indicated they did. The staff there told me they have none, not even any for the 10 women they currently owe for :/
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I can’t get Oestrogel, Sandrena or Ovestin 😢
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I had to do the ring around this morning.
The big pharmacies like Tesco and Asda said they haven't had any in months!!!
It was looking dicey after that, things look to be worse than last month when I had to ring around to score my last hit.
Eventually, I found 1 place, going to get my hit now, so I'm ok until the next time I need a score!
Hope you all can get some soon.
Basins needs to fix up!
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Oestrogel back in stock... in Dubai.
https://twitter.com/middleeastmeno/status/1510916790385352704?s=21&t=OU0yDdw8d67QAfynrsXyYw
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Good to know. I managed to get mine too, but they are the less good ones :/
TD
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Hello ladies.
I saw a friend recently who had been keeping up with the news on HRT but thought that at age sixty she wouldn't be allowed to have it. She then looked on the symptom checker and realised that many of her problems were listed there so she contacted her GP. She was given a prescription and the GP told her that he had had seven women ask for HRT in that week alone! Could this explain the increase in demand and subsequent shortage? Or is it due to Brexit/COVID and the lorry park at Dover lol?!
I hope normal service resumes asap for us all.
Take care ladies.
K.
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcDZgOXFbrw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Hoping this link works.( This song has been in my head the last few weeks when I’ve been at my worst). Coming to the end of my gel and trying not to think of what that entails 😫
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I was unable to get any and had to go back to go and change to patches, on 3rd patch now, and so far so good 🙏🤞and it’s easier in some ways than gel, don’t know if that would be different for others, just my own experience x
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Good to know. I managed to get mine too, but they are the less good ones :/
TD
Hi TD, what do you mean by 'the less good ones'? The ones with the green square?
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This article is very interesting regarding shortages of estrogen.
2 factories in china closing and nhs price cap on supplies are thought to be reasons
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD005187/Whats-behind-HRT-shortages
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Hia Upticj,
Yes, mine are the green square.
Not runny or smelling more alcoholic as some have experienced but does definitely seem weaker :/
x
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I had trouble getting Oestrogel in Feb and only got half of my prescription. Put my prescription in 2 weeks ago and was told that they couldn’t get it. Put it in again last week and I’ve just collected the full prescription… phew xx
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Which pharmacy was that, Dotty?
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Hi Gnatty it’s the pharmacy attached to my GP surgery, but it seems that Boots had deliveries on Friday as I checked the Boots prescription checker and they were all showing as in stock at nearby stores . x
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Be warned that Boots don’t update their checker too often. I phoned 3 that all showed as being in stock just in case and I’m glad I did as none of them had stock. Definitely best to phone ahead. After 15 phone calls I managed to get my prescription 😵💫
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My chemist had delivery on Saturday, live in surrey
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Have you all signed Postmeno3’s thread ‘HRT shortages, MM action plan’ I think it’s called x
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I'm still waiting to collect half of an oestrogel prescription from mid-feb. I tried last week at my indie pharmacy here I SE London but still no joy ...I'm going to try again this week but this whole situation is horribly stressful...
It sounds like some deliveries might have come through now but who to trust when the standard line has been that the situation should be resolved 'soon' for months? Why doesn't Javid do something himself? This hrt tsar thing looks like a diversionary tactic to me..
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https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/what-to-do-if-you-cant-obtain-your-usual-estrogen-gel/
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Having only been on oestrogel for just over 3 months and not having had any negative issues so far (& I usually react to any and all meds!) I'm really reluctant to switch...ive dealt with too much meno sh#te for a decade to start messing with the only thing that's helped me so far, so soon into the process..I think i have enough gel to last until my next review so if I have to consider a change by then, I suppose I'll have no choice ... which really is crap. I read the article that (I think?) Uptick posted. The best most revealing explanation of the situation so far.
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Hi Jane_w, this has been sent to Health Products Regulatory Authority Ireland by Besins on 9th March 'We have been increasing our orders with the manufacturing site over the past months and expect to resolve supply issues by w/c April 25th.' https://www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/hpra-oestrogel-stock-shortage---ireland.pdf?sfvrsn=2
I suppose it's good news :)
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Yes Uptick’s link very revealing, thank you Uptick x
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Sadly, I think some ladies unable to get gel have been prescribed Lenzetto instead or have self-medicated with Lenzetto in the interim. Now Lenzetto is impossible to trace. It's had a roll-on effect.
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You're welcome, Marchlove :)
Estradot in short supply in Ireland until Mid July https://www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/estradot-letter-of-communication-mar-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=2
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I have been unable to get gel over last two weeks of trying. I’ve been given Evorel conti now and had to phone around a few chemists to get that. Boots said they had none and unable to order 😕 Managed to get from a local chemist in the end.
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I have managed to get some Sandrena gel now after two weeks of ringing around, am already steeling myself for the ring around in another few weeks time, again I think like lenzetto, a lot of oestrogen users have switched to sandrena
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The gov has issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) to limit dispensing to 3 months’ supply of Oestrogel®, Ovestin® cream and Premique Low Dose® to ensure women across the UK will be able to more reliably access Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/three-month-limit-for-three-hrt-products-to-ensure-continued-access
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I’m hoping that will help Uptick. My local chemist has removed me from their list for want of a better expression because they have too many ladies prescriptions waiting to be fulfilled with oestrogel. When the order comes in it all goes out again immediately. Before the shortage issues I had no problem so it’s the new uptake of HRT that is the problem in my area. Except it’s a not a bad thing as I’m pleased more ladies are accessing the hormones they need. I phoned around 15 chemists and was fist pumping the air when I finally got a “yes we have some.”🤣
I’m interested to know how Besins will increase their production, will they outsource to other production plants? That to me seems the only logical solution. 🤔 It’s just all taking so long.
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According to this report, a Besins spokeswoman said 'The target is to meet demand, including the increase in the average quantity per prescription and growing demand, in June 2022'
https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/uk/801039/firm-behind-popular-hrt-oestrogel-says-it-is-on-track-to-meet-growing-demand.html