Thanks for your replies.
Birdy,
I have thought about trying oestrogel but I'd still have the same problem with running out before the repeat is due as I'd be using more than I'm supposed to unless docs don't take much notice of how many pumps are used or precisely how long the pump should last.
My doc would probably let me try the gel if I told him I could be having absorption problems.
Hurdity,
I have no idea how far past menopause I am, how could I find out? It was only this month that my bleed was so light.
I have always been on a fifth sachet of testogel, the dose my previous gynaecologist (now retired) put me on 6 years ago which she said is the usual dose for women on HRT.
I have never had my hormone levels checked as both she and my gp said the tests are unreliable and only pick up the hormones the body makes, not the ones coming from HRT and that testosterone tests are designed for men therefore can't give accurate results for women. The only test I had was at the very beginning in 2012, a blood test which showed my hormone levels were changing towards menopause. I have had other blood tests since which showed thyroid as normal.
I take multivitamins daily and am not on any medications. My libido was fine up until recently and has always come back in the past when the patch was increased.
I'm probably still peri as the bleeds vary in amount and don't start on the same day each month. Since I've been on the utrogestan they start anywhere between the 17th and the 22nd of the month, this month it was the 23rd and the latest ever. I thought that HRT would make them start on exactly the same day each month. Most women start bleeding a few days after the progesterone course ends.
I have read about some women needing higher patch doses than 100, some are on 200. If I wasn't absorbing the patch dose very well, surely they would never have worked properly right from the start. I was originally on evorel sequi 50 then went up to 75 and started on the 100 2 years ago which have been fine up until now.
Since I started this post I found more info on the patches, seems I was reading about reservoir type patches which drop off suddenly, not the matrix type ones I use. This was a big relief to read as it should work OK hopefully.
Regarding the sticking, I've never had a problem with this apart from when I've cut patches into smaller bits then they do come off.
I have just ordered some sticky film called Tegaderm which is used for covering tattoos and bandages etc to keep them waterproof. Lots of women use it over their HRT patches and find it works really well. It comes on a roll and as individual patches similar to ordinary plasters. It should work well for women using those crappy Femseven patches I was put on some years ago which came off after one day!
I'm reluctant to go back to the gp as it took a while to find a good one at this new practice after I moved here just over a year ago. Two of the others stopped my testogel and Vagifem without even speaking to me first. He was recommended to me by a lady at the chemist and seems to be the only doctor here who is HRT friendly. I posted on here about 6 months ago regarding the Vagifem issue, he sorted it out for me and has given me longer repeat prescriptions to stop the other docs from interfering again.
Unlike the previous area I lived in, the meno clinic at the hospital here doesn't do regular check ups every 6 months. I only had to go once to get my testogel reapproved and was told I won't be seen again and was referred back to my gp, so I don't see a gynaecologist at all.
I'll keep up what I'm doing with the patches and let you know if it helps and thanks again.
