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.

White noise annoys my dog ( yes he sleeps in the bedroom) and I worry I won't hear a break in, I was broken into whilst asleep years ago and have a bit of an obsession with this.

I'm in Cornwall too!! (Waves to everyone in Cornwall).

I'm a relatively new starter on HRT just finished my first 3 months, the doc didn't prescribe enough Estrogel alongside the 3 months of mini-pill so the last two weeks have been hell for me and I feel like I'm back to square one again and having to start again, not helped by my local pharmacy (attached to the docs) not being able to get the new Estrogel prescription filled (waiting a week today), very frustrating.

I was speaking to a young psychology student, just about to graduate, about the menopause and HRT and she hadn't heard of either at 22 years old. This is someone who wants a career in helping others with their mental health/anxiety. Alongside a lack of knowledge from the young female GP who prescribed for me last time (she went off notes made from a previous conversation with another GP) hence I presume the cock up with my HRT dosage now.

Anyway, to answer your question, I think I'm on .75mg Estrogel and double dose of desostrogel (mini pill), but will clarify if necessary later. I feel like I should be on more so will see how the next few months pan out.

Provision in Cornwall is, quite honestly, lacking and needs addressing as we know. Unfortunately, it's a poor county and we can't all find the money for private prescriptions and consultations. Maybe a topic for another thread?

I want all the dogs... Love your username
You're so right. Services are dire here. Maybe we should start a local campaign together.. When our hrt kicks in and we have the energy!

@ladygindiva

White noise annoys my dog ( yes he sleeps in the bedroom) and I worry I won't hear a break in, I was broken into whilst asleep years ago and have a bit of an obsession with this.

If one tablet is 10mg, you might want to start on half a tablet = 5mg, and see how you get on. I did, and it was fine. But I'm easily zonked ...

And yes, I would personally try taking it at 7ish in the evening.

Thank you spindle

Okay, I've finally managed to collect the Estrogel from the pharmacy and my dosage is 1.5mg to be increased to 3mg if necessary. Unfortunately they (doc?dispensary?) have only given me one pump pack which contains 64 metered doses of 1.25mg so I will be running out again before my 3 month mini-pill prescription comes to an end and no doubt I will have to wait at least a week again before I can get a new pump pack prescribed. I literally despair of the lack of thought by whoever created this prescription.

@ladygindiva

I want all the dogs... Love your username You're so right. Services are dire here. Maybe we should start a local campaign together.. When our hrt kicks in and we have the energy!

Yes! I think we should definitely create a support /campaign group, I'm sure others will join us.

I'm on oestrogel and utrogestan. I use 2 pumps in the first half of my cycle, then once I start the utrogestan I notice my mood slumps, so on the recommendation of Jingling, I increase to 3 pumps. I'm trialling it to see if it helps with my mood.

@IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld There is already a campaign called [hashtag] Make menopause matter- petition is online.

Cornwall ladies, if you're up in the border regions there's a very new group - Menopause Chapter Bude, Holsworthy & Beyond find them in Facebook.

Otherwise, ask around, it's become common knowledge locally which of our GPs have got a grip of the NICE guidelines. Also the GP receptionists may in this case be your friend, ask them who they or their colleagues would recommend - there are some great ones out there.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld There is already a campaign called [hashtag] Make menopause matter- petition is online.[/quote]
Thank you. It's depressing but unsurprising to see that campaign has been going since 2018 and the petition on Change.org still hasn't got enough names to go forward.

There's too much money to be made from menopausal women and private practice, health supplements and medicinal aids, the government has no interest in helping us on the NHS unless we ask. Menopausal women will remain invisible unless we push back harder.

Iwantallthedogs - was thinking this when I picked up my oestrogen gel last week. My oestrogen tablets were prescribed in either 3 month or 6 month batches and now I'm going to have to call the doctor every 3 weeks to ask for more and hope it's in stock!

They are 10mg. Haven't taken one yet, classic bedtime plus tesco delivery madness of an evening. About to take a half.

@IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld I agree it's not a good situation BUT it's not the government's fault.

GPs have the option of CPD. They aren't bothering to do it. Look at the workshops and training offered by the British Menopause Society- all listed on their website. Courses cost £100 or less. GPs and their practices can fund that- I have funded my own CPD over the years as do many professionals.
It would bring GPs up to date with meno and prescribing.

There is also the annual BMS conference over 2 days every summer- this year and last online. This has top consultants speaking and 'teaching' GPs. Again, it's not expensive.

It's really down to women to be more assertive and ask GPs why they aren't sticking to Nice guidance or getting trained.

Make Menopause Matter is more about making adjustments for women in the workplace. BTW I thought it did have enough signatures? Diane Danzebrink has had meetings with MPs on it. If you use social media (Twitter etc) you can retweet the petition.

Wee update, first night I took a half ( alone in charge of kids so terrified of overdoing meds) and got an improved sleep that made my day doable and last night took a whole 10mg and had an actual normal 8+ hours ( think I drifted off about 1030 or shortly after and woke at 715 when the kids did) so I am delighted. Feeling way less desperate about life! This amitryptaline really does help me sleep! Hurrah! Thanks for all your support.

Excellent, just a few decent night's will make such a difference hopefully you might be able to separate out and the tackle the biggest problems (hope that's not re-home the kids)

Not sure if this is still helpful as an older post but high oestrogen can apparently cause issues with the ears - tinnitus

I would suggest just having continuous progesterone without oestrogen while still getting periods. If you’re getting periods you hVe oestrogen. Progesterone helps with anxiety and sleep and is the first hormone to drop. It’s helpful. You just may not need too much

This is useful information and still relevant so thankyou

Try those sleep buds with an app. A low white noise can override tinnitus. Bose used to do them, now discontinued but Soundcore do a similar version which are very good. Sounds crazy to introduce more noise but a constant low noise can be easier to tolerate than the varying tinnitus racket.

Do you apply oestrogel in the morning? It can interfere with sleep if applied pm.

Sorry I've just seen a pp mentioned a sleep app. You'd definitely hear a break in, I hear our dog whining for a wee at 6am no probs. It's kind of a low level constant noise that your brain defaults to but any new louder noises are totally audible.