Anyone use oestrogel transdermal gel?

[Rollergirl1980]

This is my 2nd attempt at hrt. 1st was the lenzetto spray which did nothing.
I'm only on the first week so can't judge it's effectiveness but I hate the application. It's so messy. I take 3 pumps - 2 in the morning and one at night. I just find it so awkward. I have loads of gel left on my hand even though my upper arm back is coated. When I put it on my inner thigh I have to walk from the bathroom like a cowboy to keep it from rubbing on my other leg. Then I have to wait ages for it to dry but I can't sit down or get on with anything because it's so wet. It's a gross feeling and so awkward to do. At least the spray was easy to apply and quick drying.
Anyone get on with it? Am I just a big baby?
My other option was patches but I was told I couldn't get them soaking wet - we only have a bath 😢
I think if this starts to work I might suck up the annoyance.

I've used it for years. I use between 1 and 2 pumps but I split the dose.
That means I spread one pump over 2 inner thighs (half a pump on each.) It dries very fast. You don't have to apply your dose all in one go. I apply it after my shower and it dries while I'm doing my makeup etc etc.

*split the dose= 1 pump morning, half to one pump at night.

Why are you having to avoid getting it on the other leg? Maybe just call it extra rubbing in?

Oh I didn't see that about the other leg!

Do you mean you (think?) you can only apply it to one side of your body each time?

You apply it to both inner thighs or both upper arms at the same time.

Thank you. Splitting the dose is a great idea. Might change the two morning pumps to my thighs (as they're massive) and split a dose in the evening for my short arms ( aren't I a picture!!)
Great advice. Thanks so much!

Were you just applying it to one side of your body?

eg left leg, left arm?

You can do both sides :)

I take 3 pumps. 2 in the morning and one at night. So I was doing both arms in the morning and one thigh in the evening (as prescribed by nurse). It didn't occur to me to split them but I will now.

Another thing. Instead of rubbing it in like you would a moisturiser, spread it like you would putting butter on hot toast. I find it absorbs really quickly after a shower.

Any residue left on my hands I just wipe on my hips.

Yes, I do. I use two pumps and apply it to my thighs after showering. It soaks in within seconds, because I rub it over a large area and keep rubbing until it's all absorbed.

@Rollergirl1980

I take 3 pumps. 2 in the morning and one at night. So I was doing both arms in the morning and one thigh in the evening (as prescribed by nurse). It didn't occur to me to split them but I will now.

well, you are splitting the 3 pumps already in that you use 2 in the morning and 1 in the evening.

If you mean you were only using 1 pump on 1 leg, the nurse is a bit odd implying that's how to use it.

No idea about the gel. But you can get the patches wet, I asked the same thing on here and was reassured. Mine have been in the swimming pool, steam room and I sit in the shower so they get well soaked then too.

@JinglingHellsBells

Were you just applying it to one side of your body?

eg left leg, left arm?

You can do both sides :)

No, I was doing a pump for each arm in the morning and a pump for one leg in the evening.

@SusannaM

No idea about the gel. But you can get the patches wet, I asked the same thing on here and was reassured. Mine have been in the swimming pool, steam room and I sit in the shower so they get well soaked then too.

That's interesting. I was told you couldn't submerge the patch for too long which was why I chose the gel over it.

I rub it in until it’s pretty well all absorbed. It works better for me like that, rather than leaving it slightly damp on my skin.

There are different patches - some are quite large and crinkly - maybe it’s those you can’t get wet? I had very small patches before swapping to the gel, and they were fine in water.

I’m currently doing 3 pumps - all out into one hand, smush hands together to distribute onto other hand, then rub all over both inside things, with what’s remaining wiped over the top of my arms/top of back.

You get used to it. I just pop it on the fronts of my thighs or my biceps and then put my makeup or dress my top or bottom, by the time I am done its dry. The patches were convenient but I didn't like the black square they left on me which I needed baby oil to remove so rarely bothered. I used to put them on my lower back under my pant line where I couldn't see them and forget about them. I was a regular swimmer and they stayed put fine.

Just do it as soon as you get out of the shower
By the time I've brushed my teeth/put skincare on/deodorant (moisturised if I can be arsed) it's soaked in.

If you're in a rush, put your hairdryer on cool and waft over it. (GP advised this)

Thanks for all the advice. I feel more positive about it now 😊

Just coming back to say it's working much better. I'm doing two pumps on my thighs (doing two pumps together and rubbing hands together) and one pump split over both arms pm. Any excess I'm wiping on arms/thighs (opposite to where most of gel has gone). It's definitely less drippy and messy. Thank you all 👏