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[Jillyb]

Hi, hoping for some advice on what to expect. I have been on elleste/zumenon with Mirena for just over 5 years. For the last 2 years I have struggled with recurring symptoms.
I have today been to see Dr Julie Ayres (lovely lady 😊) and she has advised swapping to gel so my levels remain stable.
I am unsure what to expect, Dr Ayres said I may have a transition period until the gel builds up but I would be grateful if anyone who has changed to gel could tell me what to expect. Am worried all my old symptoms will come flooding back 😳.

[Hurdity]

Hi Jillyb

 

Sorry I have no experience of tablets and only limited experience of gel  (I'm a patch gal!) - but the chances are that if you are not absorbing well from tablets then transdermal (gel or patches) should improve things. What recurring symptoms have you had?

If there is a transition period I wouldn't have thought it would last very long as transdermal HRT usually works quicker than tablets anyway - so hopefully if you do experience any symptoms it will be a temporary blip!

There will be plenty of members with this experience so hoping they will see your post....

Hurdity x

[Dotty]

I switched from tablets to gel and saw a great improvement in a month. The improvements kept on for the next few months, but certainly after a month I was able to function again. I went from a 2mg pill to 4 pumps of gel x

[Jillyb]

Hi, thank you for your replies, it is good to know others have switched with few problems.

Hurdity- my main problem is anxiety and palpitations with a few night sweats thrown in and a general feeling of yuck is the best way I can describe it. My Gp has been great but her way of dealing with it was to just keep upping my oestrogen so eventually I got to 6mg. Dr Ayres nearly fell off her chair when I told her. She has recommended 4 pumps to start with to see how I go. Bit worried about reducing the oestrogen so quickly but she thinks as it will be better absorbed I won't need as much. Here's hoping xx

[PeriPagan]

Hi Jillyb,

I've done the tablet to gel switch. i was transfered from Elleste to Oestrogel. You will feel the benefit quickly but don't be surprised if you have a few rough days at the start like me as it can take a while for gel levels to 'load' in the skin & body. Essentially my body was going 'Wheres the oestrogen gone!!!!!!.....Oh, there it is' 2 days later!

You'll also know if you're absorbing well fairly quickly too, though waiting those 2 weeks for the first signs of improvement can be an agonising time 

Hope this helps you. I'm moving up to 4 pumps a day after a chat with my meno specialist earlier this week. Like you my main issue is the crippling reactive anxiety & depression.

[Jillyb]

Thanks Peripagan
The anxiety is a monster isn't it! At the moment I can be fine for weeks then bam it's there when I open my eyes in the morning and can stay for weeks.

Hope the 4 pumps work for you xx