Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: alibeau on August 15, 2022, 10:57:04 AM
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So, I'm just looking for a bit of insight really....
I've recently turned 50. Started with peri about 4/5 years ago. Started on Femoston 1/10 and then 2/10.
I've now been on Oestrogel (3 pumps) and Utrogestan (2 tablets orally for 14 nights) for about 18 months and I think it generally suits me well. I do have my ups and downs with symptoms but I stick with the regime.
For the past couple of months my 'periods' have been heavier (not overly heavy just more like a proper period, for the most part my bleeds had become very light since starting this regime).
I have felt a little low, quite irritable and also constant quivery internal anxiety.
I'm just wondering what's going on with my body in the background, does it sound like my body is having one last push of hormones? Should I reduce my Oestrogel a smidge to see if that helps reduce my physical anxiety? Or have I got that wrong?
I have always stuck religiously to not messing with my dosage, this became a little more tricky with the whole amber/green Oestrogel situation but I'm just wondering if a slight reduction may ease my unpleasant quivering?
Many thanks.
Ali x
PS Should have also said that my achy hips are getting really quite painful at times so I think I will need to speak to my GP about this at some point soon.
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Hi you may need to increase the Oestrogel as your own reserves of oestrogen May have dropped . x
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Hello alibeau
I too experience the jittery/internal physical anxiety, its horrible.
Is this down to low levels of oestrogen?
Jen x
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Sounds like your own levels have dropped so an increase may be needed.
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I too am having the same issue been on estrogel ages always stuck to the regime, I'm having those internal quivering anxiety feelings, I've also had ups and downs on hrt but recently things got worse, I tested and my estrogen levels were low, so 21 days ago I upped from 3 pumps to 4, now I'm suffering stomach bloating and swollen boobs, doesn't make any sense, I just can't seem to get a happy balance, hope you find an answer to the feeling, I thought low but with increase its still there with other problems added to it, I use estrogen only so definitely not progesterone causing it for me, hoping if I stick to 4 the side effects might subside x
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Amazing grace - I would increase more slowly, start with quarter or half a pump and build up if you need it. Some people seem to need a slower build up. You may (or may not) find that 4 pumps is too much.
Alibeau - I'm inclined to agree with the others that it's more likely you need more not less oestrogen. You can get large peaks and troughs in late peri which are difficult to manage but hopefully it means you'll be on a more even keel soon.
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Thanks Sheila, I will try that, thanks x
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Thanks everyone.
I am getting confused then as I presumed if my body had kicked in in the background that I may have too much Oestrogen not too low??!?! God this is all so confusing.... ;D
I will try adding a little more Oestrogel tomorrow then and see how I go....
Just to add I have found that a good walk really helps with the internal jittering, the benefit doesn't last long but whilst I am walking I feel so much better.... :)
Thanks again.
Ali x
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Good luck alibeau, hope the increase works for you, I know what you mean when you say it's all confusing, I agree about walking, I take my dog a walk every morning and the jitters settle while I'm out, but returns within a few hours if only it would last x
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Good luck alibeau, hope the increase works for you, I know what you mean when you say it's all confusing, I agree about walking, I take my dog a walk every morning and the jitters settle while I'm out, but returns within a few hours if only it would last x
Aww thank you!
Yes I try and get out on a dog walk every day, it helps in so many ways :)
Hope you manage to find a better balance with your Oestrgel dose too, good luck :)
Ali x
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Hello ladies,
Just a quick update from me in case it’s of help to anyone…
I increased my Oestrogel by about half a pump, a little less to begin with. So I am now using three and a half pumps a day.
My internal quivering/jittering has definitely eased off in the main but my achey hips are now worse than ever.
Does my hip problem tie in with increasing my oestrogel at all? Would just like to be as clued up as pos for if/when I speak to GP.
Many thanks.
Ali x
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So I’m struggling again :(
Looking back to this post, I’ve not felt ‘right’ since August. I increased my Oestrogel from 3 pumps to 3 1/2 and I posted back on here that it had helped my internal quivery anxiety.
I am using three pumps in the morning and half a pump in the evening.
The past few weeks my mood has been the lowest in a long time and it’s never been this prolonged either. I have a lot of personal stress to deal with and so I don’t know if it’s that or my hormones or both.
Yesterday I had a migraine and today I just feel wiped out, foggy and woozy and on the verge of crying. The internal quivering is back and unbearable at times…..
My get up and go has gone and I can’t wait to get back to bed, I think the anxiety is just leaving my exhausted.
I’m not sure what to do?
Any advice please?
Ali x
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Hi Alibeau
I’m exactly the same. I can’t seem to get along with Oestrogel recently. I can only assume it’s to do with the different manufacturers. I didn’t want to believe that it would affect me but it has.
I also agree that I’ve had dips before, but they’ve never lasted as long this one.
I’ve decided to swap to Sandrena to see if that helps.
I’m sorry I can’t help but can only let you know that you aren’t alone.
Take care x
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Thank you, I appreciate your reply and you have actually given me an idea…
I have one bottle of Amber oestrogel in my stash, I might start back on three pumps of that tomorrow and see if that helps at all…
I don’t want it to be true but I suspected last year that I didn’t get on with the ‘Green’ Oestrogel and when the extra half pump seemed to help I still wasn’t sure….
Would love to hear how you get on with Sandrena, I hope it works for you..
I’ve just had a good cry and a moan too so I am feeling a little lighter now!
Thanks again.
Ali x
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Let me know how you get on with the other bottle. At least it could eliminate if it is the gel causing problems.
What with the supply issues of most hrt medications this year, I will be glad when I can get a consistent dose applied for a few months.
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Thank you :)
Early days (only day two of Amber gel as opposed to Green gel) and I do believe my symptoms are improving?
Is this even possible?
I think I’ve had too many occasions now where I can see a link between feeling bad whilst on the Green gel that it surely can’t be a coincidence?
I’m just shocked at how much my internal anxiety has subsided and so quickly?
I’ll see how the next few days go… still feeling wiped out though so I’ll take it easy again today…
Ali x
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Hi alibeau
Just read through this thread and I’ve been the same. Been in 3 pumps Oestrogel and Utrogestan for 12 nights for 18 months now and recently I’ve been having high anxiety and low mood, and terrible insomnia during the Oestrogel only weeks.
What is the amber Oestrogel?
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Hi alibeau
Just read through this thread and I’ve been the same. Been in 3 pumps Oestrogel and Utrogestan for 12 nights for 18 months now and recently I’ve been having high anxiety and low mood, and terrible insomnia during the Oestrogel only weeks.
What is the amber Oestrogel?
Hi,
Last December I went through a rough spell whilst not knowing about the Amber/Green Oestrogel situation.
You can read up on here but basically there are two different batches of Oestrogel being manufactured. One has an amber square on the bottle, one has a green square on the bottle.
During my last rough spell, I was shocked when I popped on here and read up about the different batches as this seemed to tie in with my symptoms worsening whilst using the green square bottles.
I used Amber for a while, felt better but then my pharmacy started to supply the green square again.
I felt I might have become too fixated with the whole Amber vs Green situation and so when I started to feel rough again in August I increased my Oestrogel (green) to 3 1/2 pumps from 3.
This seemed to help a little but then gradually I have felt worse and worse. At my lowest, fatigued, really quite down. I didn’t want to put it down to the green/Amber situ.
Perhaps it’s all in my mind but I did try a blind test earlier this year and that suggested that I felt better on the Amber square also.
Sorry for waffling, I will need to ask my pharmacy if they can supply Amber rather than green to give myself a good stretch of time on Amber again but feel like a bit of a fool asking given that I believe the two gels are identical (I think)…..
Hope this makes sense, my brain is still a little addled ;)
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I think the Amber square bottle is manufactured in Belgium whilst the green
Is manufactured in France.
The ingredients have to be the same, so
The changes must come about from the bottle/pump dispenser or storage conditions.
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I think the Amber square bottle is manufactured in Belgium whilst the green
Is manufactured in France.
The ingredients have to be the same, so
The changes must come about from the bottle/pump dispenser or storage conditions.
Bottle/pump seem identical to me, I find the green gel slightly runnier than the amber? Seems crazy to me that the whole green/amber thing could be effecting me which is why I keep dismissing it, more likely my own hormones messing about in the back ground?
Anyway, I will stick with this amber bottle and see how the next few weeks pan out! Fingers crossed I feel better soon!
Thanks everyone xx
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Let me know how you get on with the Amber bottle?
I doubt we will ever get a confirmed answer from Besins about this which is a shame.
The worst thing for me on the green bottle was that it was giving palpitations and anxiety a few hours after application which I’ve not had before. Then at night,i started waking with night sweets, again not something, I’ve experienced before.
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Hi alibeau and everyone,
Thanks for replying, yes it all made perfect sense.
You’re experience sounds similar to mine. It can be really confusing when doing okay and then things change. I have checked my current bottle and it has the amber square. I’m unsure if I’ve had any green squares.
I hope things settle for you soon.
Take care :)
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I'm reading this thread with great interest. I'm the same - on oestrogel and symptoms (anxiety) have got much worse in last few weeks. I'd been doing well on 2 pumps per day up to about mid October. That coincided with me getting strong pain killers from the Dr for another issue and I blamed that for the upset and came off them, but nothing is improving and I wonder if the real issue is as you suggest with the oestrogel.
How are you getting on now?
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Hi Anne G,
My internal quivering has pretty much gone.... major improvement.
My underlying mood is ok but still not quite as good as it once was but I do have a number of personal issues which I have to take into account i.e. may be getting me down a bit.....
I've been having mild headaches but no migraines which is an improvement.
I'm still lacking slightly in the energy dept but when I do actually pull my finger out and get moving I feel ok.
So yes, generally I am doing better and have been using the 'Amber' bottle for almost a month. I am due to go and collect my latest prescription later today so I hope they are able to supply 'Amber' again.
I still feel foolish for 'claiming' this is all connected to the 'Amber/Green' issue but do feel I have established too much of a pattern for it to be a coincidence!
I'm off on holiday shortly so I am hoping the break will give me that final boost that I need!
Take care.
Ali x
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Thanks Ali,
That's good to know. I'm glad you are picking up.
My bottle has the green square - it does seem like a bit of a coincidence doesn't it. I've just phoned my GP to ask if I could maybe switch to patches for a bit to see if that makes a difference. Worth a try.
Anne x