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[EllaAurora]

Hello ladies,
I've written in another thread about my recent struggles with Oestrogel (it seems to have lost efficacy despite rather high dosing 3.5 pumps).
 
Would be keen to hear if anyone has switched from Oestrogel to Sandrena and found better absorption/effect from it?

Grateful for your support! xx

[Epona52]

Hi,
I was prescribed sandrena gel in the summer after the estradiol gel shortage, they prescribed me six 0.5 sachets a day which was supposed to match my then 3 pumps of gel, I definitely felt a difference and not in a good way, I was like you unsure weather I was absorbing the estrogen gel, when I have resurched it I have read that it can just stop working, I've been on it for 5 years now but still unsure if I'm obsorbing it as well as in the beginning, try a little research, I'm sure I read it on the balance website
Good luck and best wishes

[Hurdity]

Hi there - I have never used estrogel though I use testogel (T gel) and in terms of applying it - they have pretty much the same fillers - both made by Besins - so alcohol based which dries quite quickly. Sandrena ( and Testim I also used as T gel) have different fillers and leave a sticky residue I found and take ages to dry - so this may well affect absorption. You may get on better with the stickier one as I find Testogel for example quite runny and sometimes gets runnier towards the end of the sachet - almost like liquid - which must affect absorption, whereas Sandrena ( and Testim) are rubbed in and a bit gooey.

Sandrena is also more concentrated so theoreticaslly easier to get more into your body ie don't need to spread it out so much maybe?

Not sure if this helps - but you can only try and hopefully I have highlighted differences in what they feel like?

Hurdity x

[Vive]

I tried rubbing it into the backs of my thighs this morning for the first time and I’ve felt a little high today like its absorbed more effectively 🤷🏼‍♀️ Not sure

[EllaAurora]

Hi,
I was prescribed sandrena gel in the summer after the estradiol gel shortage, they prescribed me six 0.5 sachets a day which was supposed to match my then 3 pumps of gel, I definitely felt a difference and not in a good way, I was like you unsure weather I was absorbing the estrogen gel, when I have resurched it I have read that it can just stop working, I've been on it for 5 years now but still unsure if I'm obsorbing it as well as in the beginning, try a little research, I'm sure I read it on the balance website
Good luck and best wishes

Hi Epona52, thank you for sharing. How are you doing now, did you change back to oestrogel or did Sandrena start working better for you eventually? I will check the balance website if I can find more information.
Hope you are feeling better now! xx

[EllaAurora]

Hi there - I have never used estrogel though I use testogel (T gel) and in terms of applying it - they have pretty much the same fillers - both made by Besins - so alcohol based which dries quite quickly. Sandrena ( and Testim I also used as T gel) have different fillers and leave a sticky residue I found and take ages to dry - so this may well affect absorption. You may get on better with the stickier one as I find Testogel for example quite runny and sometimes gets runnier towards the end of the sachet - almost like liquid - which must affect absorption, whereas Sandrena ( and Testim) are rubbed in and a bit gooey.

Sandrena is also more concentrated so theoreticaslly easier to get more into your body ie don't need to spread it out so much maybe?

Not sure if this helps - but you can only try and hopefully I have highlighted differences in what they feel like?

Hurdity x

Very interesting Hurdity, thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm now keen to try Sandrena after reading about the differences between the gels. Hadn't realised they are so different.

I've also found oestrogel to be quite runny, strangely enough even from the same bottle some days it seems runnier than usual. (not sure how that's even possible  )

I will try one more time with oestrogel to go up to 4 pumps and if it doest help then will ask for Sandrena. Quite comforting to think there are other options left to try.

thanks again xx

[EllaAurora]

I tried rubbing it into the backs of my thighs this morning for the first time and I’ve felt a little high today like its absorbed more effectively 🤷🏼‍♀️ Not sure

Hi Vive, interesting. Hope the 'high' was not an unpleasant feeling? Is Sandrena your first HRT or you switch from another product?

Let us know how you get on! xx

[Nik2502]

Hi

I couldn’t cope with sandrena. It gave me an awful high feeling that I didn’t like. And
made me anxious. Much prefer oestrogel.

Take care
Nik xx

[Vive]

I tried rubbing it into the backs of my thighs this morning for the first time and I’ve felt a little high today like its absorbed more effectively 🤷🏼‍♀️ Not sure

Hi Vive, interesting. Hope the 'high' was not an unpleasant feeling? Is Sandrena your first HRT or you switch from another product?

Let us know how you get on! xx

Hi ElleAurora, I’m on Estrogel (my first gel). The high wasn’t especially unpleasant but I think any higher and it would have been. I just felt jollier and had more energy but also a little bit wired. I have been putting it on my inner thighs for the last two months but definitely felt a little different after putting it on the backs of my thighs.

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies

I use Sandrena gel and it is certainly less runny than Oestrogel. As I have had bleeding and breast tenderness issues in the past with both products and also patches I assume that I do absorb HRT transdermally. I also reached a level of 600pmol/L with Oestrogel which is quite high.

I have wondered if the gel is actually contributing to my mood changes and I certainly recognise the sensation of feeling high. Unfortunately I also seem sensitive to the low that usually follows!

In an ideal world we would have a product that stabilises our hormones rather than crudely adding more when it isn't necessary and leaving us depleted when we are in need.
That is the dream ladies lol.

Take care everyone.

K.

[Epona52]

Morning ladies,
This has been such an interesting read this morning, I opted to stay with oestrogen pump gel and not the sandrena, the sandrena gave me the high jittery feeling and way too much anxiety!! When I went back to oestrogen gel I started researching and found that if you use more than 2 pumps you should rub one on each arm and if you use 4 pumps then rub one on each thigh as putting all the gel in one place doesn't get the desired effect,  I use 3 in the morning and one at night as any more at night kept me awake, I do believe the sandrena is much more concentrated and may suit other ladies, I personally couldn't tolerate its affects I felt like I couldn't sit still like I had been on a weird drug, I still believe though that if you have been using one product for a long time it can feel like it doesn't work anymore and the only way to tell is to stop, and I'm not brave enough!! These last two years have been hell for me, I've tried cbt and now ten weeks into counselling, I think menopause changes everything, I used to have a little bit of confidence, and love to see people, now I just hide and have become this anxious person, I know covid and shielding didn't help but menopause definitely has a big part to play, sorry to put it all out there and I feel for anyone in the same boat, I have my gp to thank for this website she told me about it and I have learnt so much and realised I'm not alone like it can feel,
X

[MIS71MUM]

I might make the switch to Sandrena very soon. As I use 5 pumps, 3am & 2pm, I really am running out of areas to apply it! The doseage that gave me a sense of well-being isn’t working for me anymore so need to try something else.
I’m hoping I’m brave enough to do it, just worried about side effects whilst I’m working though.

[Epona52]

Hi Mis71Mum,
You Are on a high dosage but I know some people go up to six, and like you say where else can you put it!! I totally understand what you mean about the wellbeing affects, I've read some women are brave enough to make the change of product and good luck if you decide to, we all deserve to feel better and balanced,
Best wishes
X

[MIS71MUM]

Thank You - Epona52.
I’m lucky in some respects in that my consultant will allow my oestrogen levels to be about 750 pmol. She will also allow me to have 3 monthly blood tests. Currently on 5 pumps, my levels are 330 pmol, I’m just not going to get to those levels on the gel.
At the back of my mind, I’m scared of not being in a good place at Christmas, so may leave a switch until the new year.
Good luck to you too!

[Epona52]

Hi Mis71Mum, 
Just a quick question do you have your blood test before or after applying gel, as when I had my last blood test in October my levels were 1076 after applying gel to my arm, back in March my levels were 189 and that was before applying gel, so my question is can we ever get a true reading of our levels,
Glad you have someone good on your side though it makes all the difference 
X