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[kdee69]

So I've never felt better than I have done over the last 8 months since I've been on Oestrogel and (now) Provera 2.5mg. I take it continuously as I'm 54 and menopausal.
I currently use 2 pumps per day. Over the past three days, however, I have felt like cr*p emotionally. Irritable, angry, sad, irrational, tearful and generally just sad. I haven't had these moods whilst on the HRT, only before when I wasn't!
Could this be my body saying I need a bit more oestrogen? Am I just getting "deeper" into the menopause? Would upping my dosage help? I don't want to do it if it could be something else. There's nothing at home or work that could be the reason that I can pinpoint.
Anyone with any similar experience that could post and I'd be really grateful

[kdee69]

I'm bumping in hope someone can add some advice x

[Bobidy]

I felt great on 2 pumps for the first few months but then started to feel rubbish again. I upped to 2.5, then 3 gradually and this seems to have done the trick. Sometimes I do 3.5.

That is the beauty of the gel. We can go up to 4 pumps (equivalent of a 100 patch).

I checked with Dr Newson first and she was happy for me to do it.

I think the key is to increase gradually and assess how you feel for a few weeks. Expect a bit of sore boobs, nausea and headaches with each increase but this should go quite quickly.

I'm still in peri so have my own hormones to contend with!

I hope this helps xx

[kdee69]

Thank you Bobidy. I will increase to 3 and see how I go. Appreciate you taking the time to reply xxx

[paisley]

Hi kdee69
Just wanted to add you aren't stressed about anything are you? Because stress can also lower your oestrogen. Just a thought xx

[Hurdity]

So I've never felt better than I have done over the last 8 months since I've been on Oestrogel and (now) Provera 2.5mg. I take it continuously as I'm 54 and menopausal.
I currently use 2 pumps per day. Over the past three days, however, I have felt like cr*p emotionally. Irritable, angry, sad, irrational, tearful and generally just sad. I haven't had these moods whilst on the HRT, only before when I wasn't!
Could this be my body saying I need a bit more oestrogen? Am I just getting "deeper" into the menopause? Would upping my dosage help? I don't want to do it if it could be something else. There's nothing at home or work that could be the reason that I can pinpoint.
Anyone with any similar experience that could post and I'd be really grateful

Could it be down to the continuous progestogen do you think? Maybe you are more susceptible to the side effects and also maybe more is getting absorbed into your system ( this varies due to digestion and other factors)?

How are you feeling after increasing the gel?

Hurdity x

[kdee69]

Hi Hurdity
Re the Provera, I suppose, maybe? The problem is I wouldn't really be able to isolate it would I? I've increased to three pumps now and I definitely feel calmer but not 100%. Could the increase of gel just be masking what is actually a Progesterone issue? On another note, I finally had my uterine scan yesterday (an earlier thread detailed I'd had dreadful clotting whilst on the wrong type of Progesterone) and the sonographer said all looked fine apart from a couple of fibroids. I need to make a follow up with the doctor. If I could ditch the Provera in full I would. ( like many of us I suppose) It appears to be a necessary evil.

[Sammiejane]

taking estrogen on its own also has it problems believe me because you have no balance not to mention hairloss weight gain irritability aniexty insomnia etc

so i think no matter whether you have the progesterone component every women is different and what works for one won't work for another!

for me i thinking of coming off hrt as has in some ways made me worse with mood swings headaches daily hairloss weight gain and the one problem i wanted it to solve it hasn't !

some women it just dosent suit the only problem is i'm only 40 so would need to protect my bones through supplements

[Anaise]

Estrogen dominance, I think that's what U have.

[Mary G]

It took years for me to realise my silent migraines were caused by oestrogen spikes (sometimes called oestrogen dominance) and hormone imbalance.   I need progesterone to stop the oestrogen spikes.   Perhaps other problems like hair loss and anxiety and are also caused by hormone imbalance rather than just lack of oestrogen?

I feel that randomly pumping oestrogen into the body doesn't work for everyone. 

[vintagefiend]

can i ask how long you've been on the provera , kdee?

[kdee69]

can i ask how long you've been on the provera , kdee?

Hi I think about two months now.

[Sammiejane]

hi mary g

can i ask what regime u are on ? and do u have a womb ?

i'm on estrogel 2 pumps and am going to start testosterone in couple weeks of it dosent help then i'll add in progesterone i personally believe i need a little of them all for me progesterone i've took before utrogestan and it suited me but only did 4 days and then was having flushes on it but i guess it needs more time to settle down but as i don't need progesterone i'm trying testosterone first in hope it improves my hairloss it could make it worse once i've tried all 3 hormones if hairloss no better then i'll stop hrt as this is my only problem and slight VA my menopause said changing gel to patch will make no difference as it's all estradiol and to be honest i've tried a patch it didn't suit went on estradot but hairloss got worse i like the fact of not having a patch stuck to me ! so we shall see

[Mary G]

Sammiejane, I do have a womb so I need progesterone for that reason but I also need it to balance the oestrogen to avoid hormone spikes which cause my silent migraines.

For many years, I thought I had suddenly developed progesterone intolerance at menopause but I was wrong, it was a case of the wrong type at the wrong dose with the wrong delivery system.  I thought I was going to have to opt for a hysterectomy to combat the progesterone problem but now I'm glad I didn't.

I use bespoke 50mg progesterone (only available privately I'm afraid) every day alongside oestrogen and testosterone and it's working extremely well.

Normally you don't need progesterone if you do not have a womb but some women find they need it to balance their hormones.   Because you don't need progesterone for womb protection, you could probably use a low dose of progesterone cream to get the positive effects and balance your hormones.  It could be the missing link in your case but you would need to take some advice as to the correct dosage.

If you send me a PM, I can give you the details of the specialist I consulted.

[vintagefiend]

Hi Kaydee,
I was using 2 pumps oestrogel and doing great...until i wasn't!!
like you, i suspect i've just got further into menopause- i'll be officially menopausal end Jan (ie 1 yr after last period)
so i've been bumbling around with increasing oestrogel- am currently on 3.5 pumps which i split.
i've also tentatively started testosterone- have applied small amount twice this week- felt a bit lousy after each application but, overall, i seem to be feeling better.
yesterday, moodwise, was the best i've felt in a long, long time- don't know whether that was the oestrogel, the testosterone or a combination.
today- ok- bit hard to say as unwell with a cold.
i asked about your prog because i find it impossible to cope with and will be having a hysterectomy because of this- but if you've been on it for 2 months then it sounds as though you don't have a problem with it.
i'm optimistic that now that i'm basically fully menopausal, i'm much more able to use the correct dose of oestrogel without my own hormones interfering.
do you think you're still ovulating?