Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Jenny52]

Hi All,
I am a newbie on here and looking for some advice/help. Been on Oestrogel gel for 26 years. The formula has recently changed from only estradiol to estradiol hemihydrate which is making me feel SO ill.  I have a few of the old formulation left but trying to find an oestrogen only gel or patch that does not contain the hemihydrate is proving impossible.  Just wondered if anyone else has had this bad re-action at all and if so what do they take now? Can't get an appt (virtual one) with my GP for over 2 weeks so getting a bit desperate. ALso am wanting to come off the HRT now as have been on it so long but not sure the best way to start to wean off .  Just hoping there is an alternative for me to take - can't be in pill form as have had liver problems in the past so had to be either a gel or patch.  Would be so grateful for any help.  Many thanks x

[Uptick]

Hi Jenny52, welcome to the forum. As far as I know the two forms of estradiol (anhydrous and hemihydrate) are physiologically equivalent but everything is possible. What are your symptoms, exactly? How old are you? Have you had an early or surgical menopause or are you on progestogens?

The medicines.org.uk website lists all products containing estradiol and estradiol hemihydrate.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=estradiol

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=%22estradiol+hemihydrate%22

I think Evorel patch is estradiol, although Evorel sequi and conti are estradiol hemihydrate.

There are some discussions about this on Instagram and it has been raised that originally Oestrodose was manufactured with anhydrous estradiol and now both Oestrodose and Oestrogel are hemihydrate. Maybe you have been given Oestrodose repackaged as Oestrogel?

[sed]

I have only just started this gel (3 weeks) after having the mirena.  I am finding this very hard to work with.  Never know if I am having too much or too little.  What I do know is I feel awful on it!  This may be the regime that breaks the camels back, I am on 2 pumps and have added 1 pump a couple of times but can’t see a difference - trying for 8 months now to find something that works 😥

[Uptick]

Hi sed, sorry to hear it's not working for you. Where and when do you apply the gel?

[sheila99]

Sed, 2 pumps is the normal starting dose. It's more likely to be the mirena that's causing problems. What were your symptoms and how has it changed since you've been on hrt? It's early days yet.

[Hurdity]

Hi All,
I am a newbie on here and looking for some advice/help. Been on Oestrogel gel for 26 years. The formula has recently changed from only estradiol to estradiol hemihydrate which is making me feel SO ill.  I have a few of the old formulation left but trying to find an oestrogen only gel or patch that does not contain the hemihydrate is proving impossible.  Just wondered if anyone else has had this bad re-action at all and if so what do they take now? Can't get an appt (virtual one) with my GP for over 2 weeks so getting a bit desperate. ALso am wanting to come off the HRT now as have been on it so long but not sure the best way to start to wean off .  Just hoping there is an alternative for me to take - can't be in pill form as have had liver problems in the past so had to be either a gel or patch.  Would be so grateful for any help.  Many thanks x

Sorry to hear you're not feeling so good but it is very unlikely to be anything to do with the gel itself, since as far as I know the formulation has not changed for many years - do you have information abut this? Also there would be nothing in the slightly  different forms of estradiol that could make you ill ie one rather than another. Also I think sometimes the listing is inconsistent (re exactly which formulation of estradiol).

I woud suggest you tweak the gel dose if you think you are getting too little or too much - rather than let yourself get stressed about the exact preparation of the estradiol compound itself - it's not as though the filler ingredients have changed,  and rather than change to patch etc at this stage.

I do hope you feel better soon

Hurdity x

[sed]

Hi sed, sorry to hear it's not working for you. Where and when do you apply the gel?

I apply to my inner thighs - I applied in the morning and a couple of times 1 pump at night.  Then I got confused and applied 1 in the morning and 1 at night just in desperation of getting some ease.

[sed]

Sed, 2 pumps is the normal starting dose. It's more likely to be the mirena that's causing problems. What were your symptoms and how has it changed since you've been on hrt? It's early days yet.

My symptoms are the same but it seems to be everyday now with a backache thrown in so having to take more painkillers. I have had the Mirena fitted now for 4 weeks. I was using the Evorel Conti but after 3 months my symptoms were still there. 

[sed]

Sed, 2 pumps is the normal starting dose. It's more likely to be the mirena that's causing problems. What were your symptoms and how has it changed since you've been on hrt? It's early days yet.

My symptoms are the same but it seems to be everyday now with a backache thrown in so having to take more painkillers. I have had the Mirena fitted now for 4 weeks. I was using the Evorel Conti but after 3 months my symptoms were still there.

I should have added what has noticeably changed is my sleep is near back to normal since starting HRT 8 months ago.  Everything else is still lingering 😢

[Uptick]

Hi sed, sorry to hear it's not working for you. Where and when do you apply the gel?

I apply to my inner thighs - I applied in the morning and a couple of times 1 pump at night.  Then I got confused and applied 1 in the morning and 1 at night just in desperation of getting some ease.

You could try applying both pumps to outer arms from shoulders to wrists am or pm. I suppose one in the morning and one at night is not ideal to keep decent levels.

[sed]

Hi sed, sorry to hear it's not working for you. Where and when do you apply the gel?

I apply to my inner thighs - I applied in the morning and a couple of times 1 pump at night.  Then I got confused and applied 1 in the morning and 1 at night just in desperation of getting some ease.

You could try applying both pumps to outer arms from shoulders to wrists am or pm. I suppose one in the morning and one at night is not ideal to keep decent levels.

I will try this - thanks! Do you think an added dose at this stage?  At what point should I add a dose?

[Uptick]

I would just change the way you apply it for now and wait a few days to see if it kicks in. An extra pump should be added if symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats are not being controlled.

[Hurdity]

sed I think Louise Newson recommends splitting the dose for more stable oestrogen levels but I'm not sure of the basis for this?

Also there is research to show that spreading the gel on the largest possible area is not recommended as it can dry too quickly so I wouldn't spread it all down your arm from shoulder to wrist at all. I realise the area is not very precise though,  but just to be careful about spreading it too thinly.

Also I do know that many women apply to outer arms and indeed some are recommended to do so by their docs, and on the instructions, but of all the transdermal HRT (patches and gel) oestrogel is the ony one that says you can apply to upper body, the idea being that it should be applied as far from breasts as possible. Not saying its dangerous to do so, but personally I would not ( and did not when I used gel) apply to shoulders or upper body.


The other exception is Lenzetto which can be sprayed onto the forearm - but that is some distance from shoulder/upper arm.

I'm probably just being over-cautious but have always applied my oestrogen to lower torso.

Any changes to dose should ideally be discussed with your doctor unless you have been given free reign to tweak yourself?

I agree with sheila99 - if you are feeling awful it may well be the Mirena causing this and hopefully will settle. Maybe not adjust the gel dose until youve had the Mirena for a while longer, unless you are still getting flushes or sweats?

I do hope it all settles for you soon


Hurdity x

[Gnatty]

Hi Hurdity, I was wondering which HRT you have changed to if you are no longer using the gel? And whether it is a better experience for you?

[sed]

sed I think Louise Newson recommends splitting the dose for more stable oestrogen levels but I'm not sure of the basis for this?

Also there is research to show that spreading the gel on the largest possible area is not recommended as it can dry too quickly so I wouldn't spread it all down your arm from shoulder to wrist at all. I realise the area is not very precise though,  but just to be careful about spreading it too thinly.

Also I do know that many women apply to outer arms and indeed some are recommended to do so by their docs, and on the instructions, but of all the transdermal HRT (patches and gel) oestrogel is the ony one that says you can apply to upper body, the idea being that it should be applied as far from breasts as possible. Not saying its dangerous to do so, but personally I would not ( and did not when I used gel) apply to shoulders or upper body.


The other exception is Lenzetto which can be sprayed onto the forearm - but that is some distance from shoulder/upper arm.

I'm probably just being over-cautious but have always applied my oestrogen to lower torso.

Any changes to dose should ideally be discussed with your doctor unless you have been given free reign to tweak yourself?

I agree with sheila99 - if you are feeling awful it may well be the Mirena causing this and hopefully will settle. Maybe not adjust the gel dose until youve had the Mirena for a while longer, unless you are still getting flushes or sweats?

I do hope it all settles for you soon


Hurdity x

Thanks so much Hurdity for this.  I made an appointment to speak to a specialist who has agreed with you and I should continue to apply on inner arms or thighs.  I need to continue with this for 3 months.  My days are so up and down.  Wednesday was horrendous - yesterday was bad but okay and today is horrendous.  To be honest, I am not even sure HRT is helping me - I fear it is making me worse at this moment.  I will continue as long as I have the strength to or at least until I feel it starts tapping into my mental health (if it hasn’t started to already).  My body aches including chest ache is of the scale.  All sinister stuff has been ruled out.  At least when I was on the patches I would have at least 3 days.  I am also aware that a lot of my symptoms got worse when my dad died in October - the build up to his death my body ran on adrenaline and it could be my body is trying to climb back down.  So many questions with no answers apart from keep applying the gel and hope for the best.