Estrogen Gel

[Applejack87]

I’ve just started estrogen gel menopause Dr recommended one pump to start along side progesterone . I’m finding the gel very good in the sense that it dries quickly , it’s only day five so I’m not expecting a big improvement but I was hoping that the progesterone would have helped with my sleep which is as bad as ever , I know that one size doesn’t fit all but I was hoping for an improvement
Any advice please

One pump is a very low dose. Normal dose is 2, potentially up to 4 if you’re a younger woman (younger women need more oestrogen). I would query this. It may be that you need more oestrogen to help with your sleep although the utrogestan (progesterone) does often help - that’s why they say to take it at night. I would query the oestrogel dose with your specialist.

I started on one pump for the first prescription and now that's been increased. It did take a while for symptoms to improve and I remember getting quite frustrated as I was desperate to feel "normal" again (whatever that is). I seem to remember maybe 3 weeks before I saw a significant change to my sleep and mood.

Try not to overthink @Applejack87. It's only 5 days!
Assume you are using Utrogestan every day as you are post menopause? (Rather than 12 days per cycle?)

Your dr is actually spot on because so many women come along here and complain of side effects by using 2 pumps straight off, so it's far better to start low and build up over a month or so.

Thankyou , I seen a menopause Dr she advised one pump to start & to ease into it .
I no longer have periods so the progesterone is continuous tbh I’m feeling quite nauseous this morning it might not be HRT related .
How long do women usually stay on one pump or is each individual different ,?

If you have paid to see the dr, these are the points they should talk you through - and ask them.

How long did they suggest using 1 pump?

To be honest it was an hours consultation I went with a list of questions , most of the time was taken going through my medical health
I actually got the HRT through my own GP as can’t afford it privately , the hour went so quickly although she did cover my questions without asking I felt as though I didn’t get enough time to talk it through , as you know going privately isn’t cheap & now I have to pay half of that for a follow up in a month or so she was very nice & said to email her any time with concerns but I do feel a bit short changed .

So you had an appt privately, but your GP has prescribed the HRT?
If this because the private dr wrote to them suggesting this was your treatment? (Or had you seen your GP before then and got HRT?) ( I might be muddling you up with another poster who had got her HRT ages back but was afraid to take it. :) )

It shouldn't take an hour to go through your medical history unless it's really complex, and she ought to have allowed time to tell you how to use HRT, but if she didn't prescribe it and it was from your GP, she might have not felt she needed to tell you what to do.

Sorry, without knowing who you saw and how you got the HRT it's tricky to advise! Does she not offer a quick email reply to questions without another paid for consultation?

Best thing is to keep going with 1 pump for a week or two then increase by half a pump, then up to 2 pumps if you feel you need it, later.

@Applejack87 progesterone makes no difference to my sleep.

Same here I’m at the end of my tether with sleep deprivation 😢