Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Jett on August 10, 2023, 07:45:45 AM
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Hi everyone,
I have switched from Evorel conti patch to Mirena and Estrogel - there are a couple of things I was wondering about
1. I recently finished my first pump pack of gel - I am on two pumps a day. As I got to the end of the pack I started feeling a bit all over the place again - teary and anxious- does it get weaker or change as it’s about to run out?
2. I go camping quite a lot and the gel application is a bit awkward- is it possible to interchange between patches and gel or would that require readjusting each time - had anyone tried this?
I feel the gel is in the main quite good and more consistent. I think I may have been not absorbing the patches very well after two days as I felt ok when it was fresh but then was feeling a bit rough latterly.
Thanks for any advice
Jxx
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Although they say there are x metered doses I found the doses got smaller towards the end. I use patches now but I used to use a newer one alongside an older one so I could compare the size and compensate accordingly.
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When you get towards the end of the bottle make sure that the pump is coming all the way up before you push it down again .
You shouldn’t really alternate between patches and gel as the difference in type and absorbency might make your symptoms fluctuate.
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Thank you so much Sheila and Dotty, I really appreciate your advice.
Jxx
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Hi Jett, I'm by no means an expert lol, but I went back to Estradot 50 patches (had tried them before...) for a couple of months after using the gel for a long time. I notice my hot flushes are coming back so am going back to the gel when I finish this patch. Trial and error mehh!!
I always put a sticky address label on my bottle of gel for the count of 64 applications, which I cross off each time, eg. 1 mark for 2 pumps i.e. 32 small line,s so I know when it's nearly finished. (if that makes sense ???)
I am still trying after 4 years trying to hit the sweet spot with this HRT malarkey!!
Hope you find yours too.
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Thank you so much Julia, this is a great idea, I think this is what I need to do to keep track!
Jxxx
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I do similar to Julia except that I write on the bottle with a sharpie, I put the date I started it and the date that should be my last dose. I use three pumps a day so a bottle lasts me 21 days, this month I have 10/8 - 31/8 written on it so I know that after my dose on 31st I should throw it away and start a new bottle on 1st Sept.
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Hi - I travel quite a bit too and when I moved from Lenzetto spray to the gel I specifically asked for Sandrena (rather than oestrogel) as it comes in tiny sachets of 1mg and 0.5mg - I use one of each daily.