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[Catspelle]

Hi
Had TAH Dec 2015. Started on hrt oestrogel in particular in may 2016. All good to start with was on 4 pumps a day. About 8 weeks ago started getting meno symptoms again. Bad hot/cold sweats, very low mood, crazy itching, extreme fatigue and dreadful headaches lasting days. Am waiting for referral to specialist hrt gynae. Feel so very awful. Pharmacist refused me migraine tablets and suggested I stop the hrt as it was likely causing the headaches. What does everyone think? Can you just stop oestregel? It doesn't have the same long lasting effect like pills or patches it's only 24 hours. I'm going crazy here I'm gaining weight as well after losing lots after my surgery. Am feeling very very low. Has this happened to anyone else? Just want to feel well after surgery last year. Thank you all.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Catspelle - 4 pumps per day is a high dose and I'm wondering if it's actually too high a dose for you.  The average dose for most women is 2 pumps per day.  When I tried a high dose HRT I got headaches, flushes, felt jittery and awful. Why not try simply dropping to 2 pumps per day for a couple of weeks and see how you feel? 
I'm afraid weight gain often happens when meno hits - we simply have to permanently eat less.  DG x

[Salad]

I used 4 pumps of  Oestrogel well for about a year. I then had a really unsettled time and had to go up to 6! I was applying 4 in the morning and had symptoms back by 4pm, so needed more to get through night. Eventually my GP realised that I wasn't absorbing the gel correctly. I absorbed it too quickly resulting in a super high oestrogen level then the level dropped in the afternoon so my symptoms broke through. I swapped to patches which gave me better control and reduced the dose too.

Hope you feel better soon 

[Tempest]

Murphydurf and I both had this problem with Estrogel. It was the devil's own work for me, but it might suit some ladies ok. I just note that those who have problems with it, REALLY have problems and it seems to happen a while after using the gel.....

[Murphydurf]

Agree completely with Salad and Tempest - I too have been up to 6 pumps st times. My probs started about 6 months into using it but I didn't attribute it to the gel. You're NOT going nuts, you're just lacking oestrogen! I'm on patches (again!) and seem to have found a way (changing every 2 days) to absorb the oestrogen. Early days but I'm hopeful. I had a recent E reading of 86pmol on 4/5 pumps - don't let it get that low, I felt dreadful. Like you, I had all of the classic low E symptoms and ignored them. This is a REAL thing - some women just DONT absorb well. Get on top of it before you feel worse! Please keep posting and let us know how you're managing.

Mxx

[Dancinggirl]

Catspelle - I would ask for a blood test to look at the oestrogen levels before upping your oestrogen dose - you may find your levels are through the roof or maybe too low and either way the doctors will be able to advice from there.
If you are not absorbing the gel properly then your levels will be low.  On 2 pumps of Oestrogel my levels were nearly 600 pmol/l which is very good.  As I mentioned before, a higher dose gave me flushes and I felt awful  We are all different so the dose we need is different. DG x

[Murphydurf]

Hi catspelle - as dancinggirl says, a blood test will at least let you know what your levels are and how to proceed. I'd be REALLY surprised if those symptoms were due to high oestrogen. I got the list below from a hysterectomy site and it gives the main symptoms of low oestrogen. It's a brilliant site, I'll post the name when I find it.

Conditions of Low Estrogen Levels

Physical Conditions
* Atherosclerosis
* Headaches and migraines
* Vaginal infection
* Fatigue
* Hot flashes
* Night sweats
* Joint pain
* Vaginal dryness
* Dry dkin
* Loss of libido
* Thinning tissues
* Rapid heartbeat
* Bloating
* Lower back pain

Mental

Depression
Panic attack
Low self esteem
Mood swings
Memory Lapses

Mxx

[Murphydurf]

You may have already come across it, but worth a look if you haven't, it's got clear info on everything.

http://surmeno.blogspot.co.uk/

Mxx

[MIS71MUM]

Just a thought from an outsider looking in....if you have trouble with the gel as I did, gave me too much of a hit, then could feel it wearing off, wouldn't a patch be better.

The gel is absorbed straight into the skin on application. Surely a patch has a mechanism within it to deliver an even dose. This must be the case for HRT patches and Non smoking patches alike. So how about changing to patches?

[Tempest]

Catspelle, did you keep your ovaries? Depending on whether you did or not may explain what could be going to on now with your HRT if it's not a problem with the HRT delivery itself.

[Tinkerbellj]

These ladies know what they r talking about! I agree with all of the above. I have been on four pumps for nearly a year. I started on two. try dropping the dose and r u splitting it morning and night? or the patch might be better. I am tryibg patch again as the gel just wasnt cutting it. its such trial and error. hope u r ok . xx oh and my blooods were 544 pmol on 4 pumps a day. no idea if thats good or bad. again doc.just rolled her eyes!

[Hurdity]

Yes I agree with Tempest - it depends whether or not you kept your ovaries - I presume you did as you only mention TAH? This being the case your own cycle will still be happening and affecting your mood. I also agree that if you are still getting sweats and flushes on a high dose then a couple of blood tests would help just to check whether you are absorbing the gel as that is a high dose - although blood tests are not especially reliable and blood should not be taken from near to where you apply the gel.

If you also had BSO then maybe some testosterone would help - although that would not account for the sweats. The gynae I saw suggested adding testosterone could help with headaches. However this is only available off licence from some GPs and private gynaes.

Hurdity x

[Catspelle]

 :)thank you to all who replied good to,know I'm not crazy! Am waiting on blood test results and for gynae referral. Had pills then patches before oestrogel not keen to go back to either but I will do what I have to. Some really good advice thanks everyone. Will post results so it helps others. Catspelle

[Murphydurf]

Catspelle - I've just posted on love-vodka's thread which is also applicable in your situation. Get all the relevant info you need from your doc and base your hormone intake on that. Good luck.

Mxx

[Catspelle]

Hi got bloods back today I'm told my oestregen level is 256 but apparently they are not concerned that is low? I don't know if that's low or high I only know what I feel like! Can anybody interpret? For clarification I had TAH & BSO.
Thanks