Terrible! Not getting on with it at all well!
Thanks for asking everyone! Was just going to update this thread because yesterday I had had enough and went back to my lovely Estradot patches. Who cares about black marks? They are easily removed!
Exactly as you have found - it takes far too long to dry. This one is supposed to be rubbed in, unlike oestrogel which is just spread on. I think it depends on what the hormone is mixed with, because the same applies to testosterone gels. One is spread on (the one I use - Testogel) and one of them is rubbed in (think this might be Testim).
Charski, weathergirl, Florence - yes as you say after the initial rubbing in, a sticky residue is left which you have to wait to dry - but it doesn't - even after half an hour it's still tacky. Well I can dry it off with a hair dryer but then I worry about the effect of heat on the estradiol - can't be good, and I am sure would make it less effective either because of being destroyed by heat or because it isn't absorbed. Well I couldn't be doing with that and having to allow so much time in the morning before dressing. The T gel is easy as it's a tiny blob and also dries quickly. Oestrogel is probably different and maybe I would have got on better with that but decided as I had been OK for 11 years on Estradot - then that's the one for me!
I decided to try the gel because I wanted the doc to prescribe the dose of patches I had been using (62.5 mcg) which entailed cutting a patch, and her prescribing more - and she had previously said the extra 12.5 mcg wouldn't make any difference so both thought gel would be easier, and she wouldn't prescribe 75 mcg as she said I should be trying to reduce oestrogen dose at my age - which I did try!
However when I went to see her on Tuesday and said I didn't like the gel and asked for 37.5 mcg and 25 mcg patches - she then said she would prescribe me 75 mcg and I could cut off a bit! RESULT!!! She wanted to prescribe Evorel because of supply problems with Estradot but I said no, and that the dispensary could supply a different brand if no Estradot but at least would have this as first choice. Just using up the remaining 50 mcg lot until I get to dispensary.....
The other thing is that 1 sachet of 1 mg wasn't enough and I was getting hot again so had increased it to 1 1/3 sachets - even more to rub in.
Night_Owl - I don't find my patch runs down as some seem to report - I think it does depend on the individual woman to some extent. You definitely don't get the same peaks and troughs with a patch as it rises to a peak over 12 hours and then very slowly declines over the next week - but if changed twice a week as recommended the level shouldn't drop too low - according to what I've read anyway. When you take off the patch the level drops over the next 12 hours or so, and by the time that happens the new one will have taken effect keeping the levels more consistent.
Florence - as I've been using HRT for 11 years - for me it is working if I don't get flushes or sweats or feel unaccountably hot a lot of the time. If that starts to happen then the dose is too low - even at 65. I don't get other symptoms ( acheyness etc) until the level drops down lower and I don't get anxiety although I would be interested to know if my mood became lower with low oestrogen - I haven't given it time to find out and don't intend to - if i can possibly help it! I applied to inner thigh.
Hurdity x
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Topic: Eeek! Changing from patches to Sandrena gel after 11 years - any tips? (Read 12856 times)