confused .com please help!

[BigButtons]

Hello
I'm hoping someone can help answer some questions.
At 52 and have regular periods.
I had started getting horrible night sweats for weeks and was barely functioning. These have strangely, suddenly disappeared for no reason, but I am sure they will return.
I went to my GP yesterday. She initially prescribed me patches which I discovered are not being made so I asked her to change the script.
She was very vague about everything which was concerning as she was supposed to be one of the surgery's HRT experts.
Anyway she prescribed me estradiol gel ( 1 pump per day) and micronised progesterone 200mg a night for 14 days of my cycle.

She didn't ask me anything about my symptoms, medical history, medications might be on, nothing.
She told me nothing about how to take the medicines or what I might expect.
I have no idea when in my cycle I am supposed to start taking it. Am dues a period any day now. whether I use the gel everyday, where to apply it etc.
She has only given me enough tablets for 2 months. She had no idea how long the gel would last.
I tried femoston years ago and it was awful.
I am highly intolerant to progesterone. I had to give up on the mirena because it caused so much pain - as did the progesterone in the femoston.
I have heard I can use the tablets vagianlly and that that mights reduce side effects?
If anyone here is on this regime could you give me some tips?
Thanks

It's great you are now on this regime as it's one which most consultants favour.

There are some instructions in the items by the way. It tells you where and how to apply the gel and if your pack doesn't have a leaflet, it's all online as well. (Place= upper arms or inner thighs.)

The gel is used daily every day.

Utrogestan is used 12 days every month. (14 days is a bit OTT.)

see patient info here

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/352/smpc

Many women start a new 'cycle' by choosing to use it on the same day each month- eg 1st Jan or 16th Jan. Best time to start is on first day of your period if possible, but you will then have a withdrawal bleed 3-4 days after the last one so you might want to wait until day 15 after your bleed starts.

She sounds a bit stupid TBH. The gel pack says 64 applications. 2 pumps a day = 32 days (so that's how long the pump lasts.)

You can use it vaginally which means popping the capsules in at bedtime - they do ooze a bit so use pants in bed.

It's trial and error as to whether that way suits you best, or swallowing them.

They are natural progesterone so not synthetic like the Mirena or Femoston- so might work for you!

Thank you so much for replying! That's really helpful. I honestly thought the Gp was drugged up, she just wasn't 'in'.
Ok I will collect the script tomorrow and start with the gel then start the progesterone 16 days in, for 12 days . Does that sound about right?

also she said one pump a day- should I use 2?

If you read the leaflet in the pack, it says 2 pumps is the starting dose.

It's up to you really, that is the beauty of gel!

If 1 pump sorts your symptoms, stick with that but if not increase to 2 pumps.

If your own period is due soon it would be worth waiting till half way through your own cycle to start Utrogestan. If your periods were months apart, then it's ok to start any time.

Thank you so much JinglingHellsBells I am picking up the prescription tomorrow. You have been far more informative than the useless dr!

Good luck!

Sorry to be a pain but I have one more question. Picked the script up today but couldn’t ask the pharmacist as she was at lunch, can never get a telephone appointment with the go and the literature in the pack doesn’t help.
My period should have started yesterday but will come imminently ( judging by the cramps and blamed belly). Can I start the gel today or will that interfere with my period? I couldn’t stand to have it delayed any more as I feel like I’m going to pop!!
Thanks

Should have said bloated belly!!

Bigbuttons have a look at the menopause matters website
menopausematters.co.uk
There is lots of information on there and very helpful people who have probably had the same problems as you

@BigButtons You start the gel anytime then use the progesterone after 2 weeks for 12 days.