I had to switch back to the combined pill yesterday as the pain I've been in since Sunday has been eye watering
![Cry :'(](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/cry.gif)
. Its facial neuralgia pain in the left side gums and teeth, like a constant throbbing which radiates over my cheek and under the chin. I think its nerves rather than joints or tendons like with TMJ, and I don't think its a facial migraine as lights aren't bothering me and I don't have sudden stabbing pains like with TN or any auras. Feels more like really bad toothache, plus cold drinks make it worse, but the dentist already checked me over recently when I had this for a few days at beginning of cycle. It vanished last time after about Day 4 when natural oestrogen started climbing.
I think because I am still having oestrogen surges up and down, the 1 pump of Oestrogel was too weak, so I had the surge downwards which this and the bloating may be symptoms of, so lower than it is post menopause. I should probably have gone straight to 3 pumps as think that is closer to the pill, but I am off to Spain next week so don't want to risk being in pain then (as paracetamol is barely touching it and I can't take NSAIDs), so will maybe try the Oestrogel at a higher dose another time.
doingmyheadin - I think a lot of peri ladies on here have had more volatile reactions to the milder hormones in HRT like Oestrogel, which is almost certainly to do with our own fluctuations. Hope it settles for you, do let us know how you get on, as I would like to try again at a higher dose later on.
I can also feel the adrenaline rushes starting to break through but am relieved the nausea didn't come back as I'd forgotten how intense my symptoms were pre-pill!