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[nicky_boo]

Hi,

I really hope someone can advise, I am losing my mind!
I feel like I need to find my own solution, going through trial and error with my body but may be harming my body in the process. Nobody tests anything to give me advise on the right dosage. Keep referring back to Dr Reiss's book to understand if I am overdosing on oestrogen.

Although they are all oestrogen, patches and gel are different with different effects on the body. Is this correct?

I am 47 and peri, been on HRT since December 2018. This forum has been my bible since.

Very quick summary of my turmoil:
- I was peri, wasn't keen on HRT but started to have high blood pressure which wasn't linked to anything. Read somewhere that this may be hormonal and due to peri, started sequential HRT- with patches.
- Blood pressure calmed down. Yay!
- However, I didn't agree with progesteron part of the patches - moved to evorel patches and ultrogestan vaginally thanks to this forum.
- Have a history of endometriosis and I think the oestrogen dosage was too high. I had huge and painful breasts and stomach cramps and ended up with a big cyst. Gynae moved me to a 1 pump of oestrogel instead (ultrogestan stayed as it is: on days 15-26) and said increase the pumps as and when you need. Cyst went away within 3 months. Yay!
- However, leaving the dosage to me started my madness. I never know if it is too little or too much. I had absorbtion problems, increased the dosage gradually to 5 pumps. The way to know that I should increase the dosage is my behaviour towards my husband. I basically find him extremely irritating and withdraw from him. Increase the dosage and he is suddenly supportive and great and makes me laugh again. I turned into a crazy woman and I feel for him.
- To combat endometriosis, I had mirena fitted this January. I stopped ultrogestan.
- After the mirena or maybe it is because my levels are depleting too quickly, I started to feel I need more pumps (because I again started to feel down and annoyed with my husband) but I was covered in it with so many pumps! I thought about the days when oestrogen felt too much on patches and I went back to them -low dose patch and 2 pumps gel to top up and recently, just medium dose patches.
- The result is my blood pressure is up again! I don't want to divorce my husband though. Well, I am worried about my heart! Can it be mirena or recent changes to oestrogen?

What do I need to do? This trial and error is killing me and my blood pressure is a major concern.
By the way, I have no sex drive. I may need some testosterone. I wish somebody checked my levels to tell me if I am overdosed or under.

Anybody with an experience of going back and forth with patches and oestrogel? How did it effect you? Any advise would be so much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Love,
Nicky-boo xx

[Salad]

It can feel overwhelming 
Are you being supported by a Specialist?
I absorbed the gel too quickly giving me massive highs and then a dip later in the day. Patches were better but not perfect.
When I felt my GP and I had done our best to sort things out and things were not going well, I asked for a referral to an NHS Specialist. My GP was more than happy to do this for me.
The key was having a consistent dose to see what symptoms were alleviated and to ensure I was absorbing the Oestrogen as I should. Then being monitored for a couple of follow up visits.

I was prescribed a high dose - Estradot 200mcg three times a week, which my GP was then able to continue.
The biggest relief for me was finally having someone take control and getting a method that worked.

[nicky_boo]

Thanks for responding Salad. I will see a GP. I hope they will listen and understand.

[nicky_boo]

One thing I did not mention, I lost over 5 kilos (nearly a stone) in 2 months since Mirena - by strict dieting. Should this effect my oestrogen intake/absorbtion? One may think I should take less as there is less off me now. However,on the other hand, as fat tissues absorb oestrogen and I now have less, maybe I need more?

Any comments?

5 kilos is around 9% of my overall weight.