What dose of estrogen are you on?

[ladygindiva]

Hi just curious, how much estrogen most ladies are finding necessary to alleviate symptoms. I've pushed myself up to 3 pumps of estrogel daily and have been on estrogel for six weeks after an unsuccessful 6 weeks on evorel 50 but am still getting distressing symptoms. Do I need to go up to 4? The insomnia is still killing me, I quite frankly am not sure how much longer I can take this. Especially interested in hearing from women who are similar in situation to me, I am 46 and still menstruating fairly regularly so also using utrogestan 200mg x12 days.

Had a full hysterectomy 5.5 years ago.

Started the gel yesterday - one pump on each thigh so far but let's see how it goes.

Was taking elleste solo tablets for 5.5 years 2 mg a day. They worked but it was very up and down with weeks of feeling fine and then weeks of headaches and feeling not quite right.

I asked if I could try another form of oestrogen and spoke to a nurse practitioner who was brilliant.i have spoken to doctors in the past who have to been as helpful.

It does take a while to work if you haven't taken it before........

Hi, slightly different situation in that j went through surgical menopause at 38 but I’m on estrodot 100 plus vagifem 10mcg daily. The risks of transdermal oestrogen, even at really high doses, are really minuscule. You should push for as high a dose as you need. Can have transdermal plus vaginal plus vulval cream if needed. I know plenty of people on higher doses than me, there really is no need to suffer.

Thank you @RedLemon for your kind responses. It might be confirmation bias, but do you think research and knowledge about the menopause is improving rapidly over the last few years.
A cohort of journalists and media figures reaching and honestly talking about this certain age helps.
The Cornwall clinic is expanding and building new premises so clearly a demand.

I’m stable on 2.5 to 3 pumps of oestrogel a day. I was on 4 pumps per day for quite a long time after my complete hysterectomy, though, and still getting regular hot flushes & other symptoms. It took a couple of years for my body to settle down into not having ovaries, I’d say.

@KateOr absolutely! I’ve attended lots of talks and workshops on it for GPs and the demand is huge. I’m also on a GP forum where we can ask for peer advice and feedback on clinical questions on any topics and easily 40-50% of the questions relate to menopause and HRT.

Many GPs (not all, I really do know that) are aware we’ve failed our female patients on this over the past decade or more and are really striving to make up for that. To me it’s a feminist issue and it’s really heartening to see women empowering each other on this forum.

What oestrogen gels are posters using / recommending, may I ask?

@RedLemon ah bless you. My GPs are thoroughly crap.

Well, on women's health / menopause, at any rate.

@SpindleWhorl just what’s prescribed/dispensed by the pharmacy - usually one of two brands.

@SpindleWhorl the same as @UnderTheSkyInsideTheSea posted.

How much estrogen is in one pump? I take kliofem tablets which I 2mg of estrogen daily. Just wondering if a gel would be better 🤔

@Eyjafjallajokulldottir

How much estrogen is in one pump? I take kliofem tablets which I 2mg of estrogen daily. Just wondering if a gel would be better 🤔

1 pump is the same as 0.75mgs of oral oestrogen. 2 pumps is 1.5mgs. Remember it's not an exact science as women's skin is different and we all absorb it slightly differently.

There is a table giving the equivalent doses for gel, patch and pill online- I think it's on the website of Dr Louise Newson, or it could also be on the BMS website.

Thanks @JinglingHellsBells I'll take a look

Thank you, all.

@ladygindiva I’ve seen both Dr Grey and Newson, don’t ask! I found Newson to be very good comparably. I’m also in Cornwall and anxiety was my main symptom, it’s bloody hard, I’m on utrogeston 200mg 14 days and now on 3 pumps, soon to be upping to 4! Of gel… she said younger you are then more oestrogen you need…. Liz Earle is on 6 pumps! I was disheartened after 3 months that there’d been no great revelations but it can take some real tweaking and you have to wait ideally 3 months for each tweak to check if it works… good luck and shout if I can help

Thank you x

Fucks sake. Took a fucking utrogestan at 9 and a fucking sleepeaze a fucking hour ago. I'm on the max dose of estrogen and have been for weeks. I've had about 2 or 3 hours sleep max for the last 7 nights and no more than five hours in I don't know, a fucking year? Yet here I am, wide awake, listening to a buzzing sound in my ears, unable to sleep. Wondering what the fuck I did to deserve this. I'm a working mum of preschool aged twins and I am dying on my fucking arse. I literally cannot fucking carry on like this. Why???? Just why the fuck is this happening??????

Tbh, I ended up on amitriptyline so I could sleep. 5 - 10mg in the evening, a few hours before bed.

My latest crap GP has just canned it, because reasons, but I have an emergency supply for the time being. I maybe need it once every week or two to 'reset' to sleep.

I'm phoning the docs in the morning. Have already decided that I need to tell them they give me something to help me sleep or I top myself. I'm so fucking fed up with this. Do you think anti anxiety meds would help? Was on citalopram for post natal anxiety once before, seem to remember it helped me sleep.

Also considering melatonin. Have a friend who swears by it, but Sat's she has to buy it in from America or something. I'm going to Google it now.

Prescribed amytrptaline ( sorry for spelling) picking it up this afternoon. Fingers crossed I'll sleep tonight

I find that amitriptyline takes a few hours to work. A good tip from a MN poster was 'take it 12 hours before you want to wake up'.

Hope it works for you. What dose are you starting on?

He said to take one tablet ( not sure mg as not collecting from pharmacy till this afternoon) but if no success then up it to two the following night. So do you suggest I take it as I put my kids to bed at 7pm and head to bed about 10? They wake about 630/7

I was about to come on and recommend taking something for sleep. I am now on the 100 dose patch - upped from the Evroel Conti to the Oestrogen only patch and a 12 day dose of progesterone.

However, I had not slept in 3 months and like you, felt like I was losing my mind. I took melatonin and when they ran out (I had a weeks supply) I moved on to anti histamines. Now I seep and I feel more like me. I think it will still take time to see if the Single patch at a higher dose will work - but I am very receptive to hormonal change and had to be taken off the Mirena doe to my over reaction.

Keep us posted on how you get on.

I have tinnitus and sleep with a fan on or white noise such as a rainfall sounds app, have you tried this? Sorry if you have. Hope the pills work for you.

Thank you. I'm not sure antihistamines work on me, I believe sleepeaze are this type and they have zero effect.