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[Tc]

Thank you hurdity. I've said it til I'm blue I the face about the high dose  low serum thing. I think they just dont want to be seen as prescribing out of the bounds of guidelines. 

It's the same with the lining thickness which you mentioned. I dont think they would be worrying about 4.2 if I had been on conti.  The cycle seems to bother them.  I think it's the reason they push the mirena with the implant.as it (the implant)  cant be removed and They dont trust the patient to take enough P to cover them.  But to be fair they see a lot of P intolerant women and maybe they view compliance as poor.  I've stopped taking it  a few times. Even on the cycle I didnt get to the 12 days, so I think they see that as an issue, maybe rightly given the fact they are implanting an unpredictable source of E.

I already feel a bit better this morning, thank you. . My relationship with utrogestan is over.  It's unfortunate  as it has benefits over progestins and  on paper it seems like the best option out of the P's but it  just doesnt agree with me at all.

I'm going to up the gel by half a sachet. Does it keep okay once opened?
Hope you are o.k best wishes xxxx

[KiltedCupid]

Tc - don't keep Sandrena once opened, I've just found out that it seems to lose potency so discard any leftover gel. Utro conti is impossible with low e, been there, got the t-shirt. Good luck with chatting to your gynae, hopefully once she has the full picture as you describe above she may take a different approach.

[Tc]

Thank you kilted. I already feel less shaky and sick this morning.
I thought maybe the gel didnt keep. 

I think patches whilst not giving me enough give a steadier dose than the gel. The gel seems to give a bit of an up and down delivery. Over 24 hours.  And I've come to realize that for me personally that realy effects me. Maybe because I dont have enough of a natural buffer to compensate for  these dips., they are more instantly and profoundly felt.

Ideally I would like to add a patch to the sandrena rather than increase the sandrena To me it makes sense it might by give me a  steadier "reservoir" so to speak which might make the daily ups and downs of the gel delivery less noticeable. What do you ladies think about that idea?

Xxx

[Hurdity]

Tc - don't keep Sandrena once opened, I've just found out that it seems to lose potency so discard any leftover gel.

Do you have any information about this? Intuitively I would very much doubt there is anything more than a very marginal difference in estradiol availability after a day of being opened (and immediately re-sealed). However I am happy to stand corrected if you have some studies which show otherwise!

With testosterone gel for example - OK a different hormone but probably goverend by the same principles - we are advised by gynaes to use portions of scahets and then fold it over and hold closed with a paper clip. My sachet lasts probably about 2 weeks - OK there might be a little deterioration towards the end but not so that I would notice, so was happy to go along with gynae's recommendations for testosterone at least.

Tc - I can't imagine what is going to happen to the estradiol after one day's brief exposure to the air...but as I said - I could be very wrong!!! Personally unless we have info to the contrary I would seal it with a paper clip and use the next day.

Also re the gel and the patch - yes that sounds like a very a good idea - and I think I have suggested it in the past - going on the experiences of others who have reported on here (ie not my actual idea!!!). I think other gynaes have suggested a mix of delivery methods too as it gets the best of all worlds - hopefully. Give it a whirl?

Hurdity x

[emuchops]

I have been on Sandrena 1mg daily with Utrogestan 200mg on days 15 to 26 for 4 months. My 'period' initially started a day or two after I had finished the progesterone, but has been coming sooner and today it's started even though I still have 3 days of the Utrogestan to take. I thought that the bleeding was supposed to happen once all the progesterone had been taken. Do I keep taking the progesterone for three more days even though I'm bleeding? Any advice much appreciated - 52 years old. Thank you.

[KiltedCupid]

Thank you kilted. I already feel less shaky and sick this morning.
I thought maybe the gel didnt keep. 

I think patches whilst not giving me enough give a steadier dose than the gel. The gel seems to give a bit of an up and down delivery. Over 24 hours.  And I've come to realize that for me personally that realy effects me. Maybe because I dont have enough of a natural buffer to compensate for  these dips., they are more instantly and profoundly felt.

Ideally I would like to add a patch to the sandrena rather than increase the sandrena To me it makes sense it might by give me a  steadier "reservoir" so to speak which might make the daily ups and downs of the gel delivery less noticeable. What do you ladies think about that idea?

Xxx

Tc - I used 3 leftover bits of gel so the oldest would be 3 days old, they were kept in a drawer with a hair clip sealing the top. Later that day I had an almighty crash. I was trying not to be wasteful with the gel in light of current shortages but I won't do it again.

I hope the Utro is out of your system now and you're feeling a bit brighter.

[Nairn]

Hi all

Just started the regime of 2 pumps of estrogel gel and 100mg of utrogestan 100 orally every night. 10 days in and the bloating/water retention is awful.  My legs feel like solid tree trunks, ankles disappeared,  tummy and boobs huge and everything just feels heavy. I was off HRT for 3 months and had no bloating at all so i'm really feeling it. Not sure if if the oestrogen or utrogestan.  Tried putting the gel on my arms rather than thighs but no difference.

Will this settle down? Meno consultant said it would take 3 months but I feel like a balloon, and thinking of coming off again.

Thanks

[Cassie]

Its more than likely the Utrogestan it bloats me terribly thus I only take 100mg for 12 days a month, could never handle it daily, its too awful.

[heavenlyblue]

Just an update after about 10 days of switching from 50mcg Evoril Conti to

2 x pumps Oestrogel
1 x 100mg Utrogestan
Testogel daily

No change in any symptoms apart from sleeping a bit better, assuming that is the Utrogestan.
I don't expect to feel any better with the Testogel yet, I know that can take some time.
And my Oestrogel dose is the equivalent to the 50mcg Evoril Conti I was on before and I felt dreadful on that but she couldn't up it until my BP was down.

Good news is that my BP readings for the week have been really good so I will email my private GP with that, so she should give me the go ahead to up my Oestrogel dose, I cannot wait!   I haven't felt well for nearly 3 years so any improvement, whenever that comes, I will grab with both hands :-)

[Ladybt28]

fingers crossed heavenlyblue - sounds like things are moving in the right direction however slightly.  I found gel/utro/T a slow burn, "feeling better" sort of just creeps up on you.  Its more a case of "I feel that same but I don't feel worse" and then one day you say "oh had 3 days where I felt quite good" but you didn't do anything different its just a build up of the hormones and the body settling into a bit of rhythm. xx

[Hurdity]

Hmm. See I feel very bloated this month too. It seems I react differently each time I use utro. However, the shitty side effects never go away. Can I ask you Cassie, do you have a decent withdraws bleed on that amount (the same amount I used last month and this)? I bled but not until 9 days after stopping the utro and it was a very light bleed. Not red, but dark.

Just to say here that I also am experimenting with using less progesterone when my cycles are shorter eg 5 weeks - so have been using 100 mg vaginally (for 12 days) and always get a good withdrawal bleed - well a bleed anyway with proper red blood! This is on medium dose patch. Doc is happy with this. I never get bloating really though - well I'm not sure what women mean by bloating? Is this abdominal or what? I do get enlarged boobs during the prog phase though....

Hurdity x

[Ladybt28]

I've been thinking about this since the other ladies have been posting.  My belly looks a little bigger (and is) than usual on the progesterone phase but I don't feel like I have a "bloated" feeling?  Then it goes down, its not very much though.

[Nairn]

For me bloating means swollen tummy and water retention especially in legs.  Although it's a little better this week as I have reduced to 1.5 pumps.   I think that is why you have to take the tablet orally at night on an empty tummy.  My consultant did not want me to have monthly bleed so that's why it's every night, and so far no difference to the bloating if the gel is applied to arms or thighs

One question, for those of you who are taking the tablet vaginally - do you use an applicator to ensure it's placed well?

[Nairn]

Hi Birdy

No I have not tried that - consultant never mentioned it and as I'm new to the regime I'm still getting the hang of things ! I can see the logic of the applicator though.

Thanks xx

[Hurdity]

No need for an applicator! You just get hold of those tiny little balls of progesterone and poke em up as far as you can with fingers! Many of us have only ever used them like this and they work fine.  They are designed for oral and vaginal use. Also applicators are not provded anyway with the 100 mg utro - only the 200 mg fertility ones (same product - used to be available for HRT as well but not with applicator!).

Hurdity x