Estrogel... When will I feel the benefits?

[NickyNora]

Just that really!

2 pumps a day week 3. I feel no difference. If anything more depressed

Please give me some hope!

How are you applying it @Flashinggreen and where?
It takes less than a minute for half a pump on each arm to dry. I apply as part of my morning shower/ apply make up/ clean teeth routine. I am standing in my undies usually and it's dry before I am ready to get dressed.

Take tablets if you wish but they have a greater risk of blood clots and you also have to take more in terms of dose to get a decent take up in the blood stream, as they are processed by the liver.

I’ve put it on my upper arms and shoulders Once and inner thighs other times. I tend to follow the instructions to the letter so waiting 5mins for it to dry...I think I’m feeling especially grumpy as my hot sweats have been worse since I’ve been using it waking at least three times a night.

Are you following the advice in the leaflet?
In some packs there is a guide to the template - area of skin to cover.
It's quite big- about the size of an A4 page. Possibly you are not covering a big enough area which could make it take longer to dry. If you use half a pump on each arm and a 2nd pump on inner thighs, it should dry pretty fast. Def doesn't take 5 mins with me and even if it did, I'd be in my undies doing other things like teeth cleaning.

The leaflet says let it dry for 5 mins

I don't care what the leaflet says. My own skin shows me when it's dry.
I've used it for 12 years.

You asked if I’d read the leaflet, and yes I have and that’s what it says. You’re obviously very comfortable using it after 12 years and I’m still finding my feet. And knackered from rubbish sleep.

Maybe you could try using half a pump on each arm/leg which is what I do which is why it dries in less than 5 minutes. And make sure it's spread over a wide area.

On me, it only dries in less than 5 minutes because half a pump spread over a large area dries fast.

But in any case, I can easily find something else to do while it dries because it is only minutes and the benefits are pills are huge. You can increase the dose as necessary and it is safer.

I hope you find it helps eventually.

So do you put it on both your arms and legs for each application or arms morning and legs evening for example @JinglingHellsBells?

I put a pump on each leg this morning after waking every hour last night, I have been using your palm tip as before I was putting on my fingers to apply it.

@Flashinggreen I put half a pump on one upper arm and half a pump on the other upper arm. Sometimes I use inner thighs not arms as I don't want it to transfer to my breasts accidentally.

The gel is absorbed via fat cells best which is why they say choose upper arms or inner thighs, where women tend to have fat.

You are also not supposed to rub it in, with your fingers, but smooth it in large broad strokes . I use my whole hand to apply it - mainly the palm.

Thanks for the tips, you do morning and night?

I answered that Flash in one of my first posts to you :)

Ladies please , can the Estrogel make you put on weight ?
I think it has on me , I stopped and I went back to be suicidal, angry and down !
Any feedback please

@LuckyElle No. It is a coincidence that during peri and post meno metabolism slows down. The only way out of weight gain is less food- especially carbs of any kind ( cakes, biscuits, bread, pasta, rice, crisp etc) and more fruit and veg.

If you have bread or cereal for breakfast, pasta or sandwiches for lunch and more carbs for dinner, it's probably too much.

@JinglingHellsBells I eat very well , almost a vegan a a so exercise .
So you think stopping the estrogel has made me more crazy again 🙈

Hi all!
Does anyone have advice for me?

Currently on 3 pumps Estrogel/200 mg Progesterone. Horrible insomnia: fall asleep easily but wake up and then am awake for hours. By morning, I am exhausted. My OB increased my dose a week ago (previously on 2 pumps/100 mg since July 2020 which didn't touch the insomnia).

How long for the 3 pumps to take effect? I am desperate for it to start working as I am fatigued every day. It's been a week, with no changes - should I request an increase to 4 pumps? And wondering too about if it makes a difference for insomnia re: when to apply the gel - morning or evening? (Have been applying every evening.)

Any advice gratefully accepted! Thank you.

ChocolateTruffleCake Has the insomnia improved?

ChocolateTruffleCake Has the insomnia improved?

How kind of you to check in @Ernieshere!

Yes, I am happy to say that my OB/gyne responded to my desperate emails (well, we all know that it's her secretary who is the gatekeeper!!), and she bumped the Estrogel to 4 pumps daily, and I am now FINALLY sleeping.

It is amazing how insomnia affects you: depression, fatigue, blues, anxiety, emotional, grouchy - I had all of that for months. Now I am starting to finally feel better.