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[Flan747]

Due to start Sandrena this week after I get my blood test results and speak with my specialist to arrange dosage. I was wondering if anyone has had a good experience with this. I have been on oestrogel for some time and am not absorbing well. I have been told Sandrena is the superior gel! I am hoping this works as have now been on HRT for over 14 months and am yet to find the right one

[Hurdity]

Hi Flan 747

I did use Sandrena gel for a bit but it was instead of patches whoich I had been using for about 11 years - and I didn't get on with it. This is only because I didn't take time to try to tweak the dose as I knew that patches worked really well so i thought don't try to fix something that doesn't need to be fixed. If you are changing from one type of gel to another then this sounds like a good idea. Sandrena is more concentrated than estrogel so hopefully you use less of it for the same ammount of oestrogen. It is pretty sticky and takes a while to dry but perhaps therein lies its potential superiority in terms of absorption, for some women?  You can but try!

Good luck with it

Hurdity x

[Flan747]

Thank you Hurdity
Oestradiol result back today was 253pmol on 6 pumps so it seems I’m not absorbing much! I was 172 on 4 pumps. Specialist appt Saturday to discuss how much Sandrena to start with. I have the 1mg sachets which to be honest I have no idea about ! This is my last shot at it really as have tried most things. Thinking about Mirena coil as progesterone period of 10 days vaginally makes my life a misery!
Will keep you posted

[Flan747]

Any recommendations where to apply Sandrena ?

[Flan747]

So started on Sandrena this morning🙈 2 sachets in the morning and 1 in the evening! Also getting booked in for the Mirena coil as it appears the progesterone part of my HRT is causing some of my problems! Gel didn’t take long at all to dry is that a good thing ? Will keep you posted

[Sooze]

Flan747,

You say you’re on 3 sachets, is that 0.5mg to 1mg ones?  I’m on one 1mg sachet a day and it completely manages my symptoms.  I have on occasions needed to use slightly less than a sachet but never more.  I’ve never tried Oestogel so I can’t compare to that, but for me it’s worked brilliantly. I’m also using Utrogestan 100mg vaginally on alternate days (post meno with gynaecologist’s OK) which is doing its job with no noticeable side effects.
HTH,
S

[Flan747]

Hi Sooze it’s 1mg sachets and have been advised to up to 4 sachets in one week! I did think this sounded quite a lot but the specialist said as I do not absorb the gel very well I needed to go on a high dose although she did say Sandrena is the superior gel to use! I am wondering now whether to go with my gut feeling which is start lower and see how it goes
Any suggestions welcomed

[Sooze]

Flan747,

I’d start low and see how you go, leaving around a week between increases. I believe 1.5mg/day is the recommended ‘maximum’ dose and you might end up with irregular bleeding on too high a dose.  Just FYI I apply mine in the morning, to alternate outer thighs and wait for around 15mins before dressing.  It’s still sticky after that but the active ingredients are defiantly absorbed by then.  It makes no difference if I shower in the morning or evening, only that I don’t use any body lotion on the thigh I apply it to in the morning after I shower.  Shower gels don’t effect absorption for me.
HTH,
S

[Flan747]

Thank you Sooze
No idea what to do now! It all gets confusing especially when a specialist has told you what to do! I did have extreme peri symptoms and am petrified that these may return although I still feel rubbish I can manage day to day whereas before I couldn’t! Currently using 2mg AM and 1mg PM which now sounds a lot higher than recommended dose of 1.5mg a day.
Any advise welcomed! Will apply 2 this morning as await advice

[Flan747]

Sorry with all the questions! Does it matter when you apply the gel? Do you get a more even balance if you take it morning and evening ?

[Flan747]

Suffering terrible anxiety all day! Could this be change of medication or too much estrogen? I am at my wits end and no idea which way to turn! Any advice welcomed

[Hurdity]

Sorry I can't help with this - I've never to my knowledge suffered with anixety - although maybe I have but haven't called it that as I tend to be a worrier! I can imagine it is tricky changing from one product to another when you did not absorb the oestrogel. I'm also not familair with the idea of too much oestrogen - I've never had too much. It is supposed to be the feel good hormone but whether it can lead to anxiety if you increase too quickly I don't know. Other signs of high oestrogen could be nausea and tender breasts. Low oestrogen leads to anxiety or low mood in some women too....Any side effects from the increase (if this is indeed the cause) should settle though so hopefully you will feel better soon?

Hurdity x

[Flan747]

Thank you Hurdity. I am going to persevere in the hope that it is just where I am getting used to it and also hopefully where I am getting more estrogen as have been so low with the gel! Due to increase to 4 sachets so will see how that goes! Blood test booked in for 6 weeks time just to get an idea of absorption more than anything.
I have just read an article about applying it to your inner arms as the skin is thinner! Has anyone any thoughts on this ?

[Flan747]

Bump
Where to apply Sandrena?
When I apply to inner thighs it appears to dry fairly quickly which reading other posts does not seem right? Should I try the inner arm?

[Joaniepat]

If it's working that's fine. I don't think it's usual to apply either of the gels to inner arm. From what I remember of Sandrena, it doesn't take too long to dry, it just remains a bit sticky for a while, but you can get dressed regardless. (Neither of the gels worked for me and I now get better absorption from Estradot patches.)
JP x