Transitioning from Sandrena to Oestrogel

[Butimstillhungry]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me with this...

I've been on Sandrena since July and this has been helping manage my symptoms. Started on 0.5mg, then moved to 1mg. However, I was starting to feel hot flushes, sleeplessness, etc. creep back in. Plus I was getting annoyed with how long the sandrena took to dry. So I spoke to my GP and asked to go on oestrogel, as I'd read that it's far quicker drying. She was happy to do this and put me on two pumps of oestrogel (1.5mg).

I've been using it for a week and it does dry incredibly quickly, which I'm delighted with. However, I feel like I'm not on hrt at all. Loads of hot flushes, anxiety, brain fog and a sore vulva, which is a new symptom for me.

I thought as I'm on a higher dose it would improve things. I've since read that 1.5mg is the starting dose for oestrogel whereas 0.5mg is the sandrena starting dose. Have I misunderstood things and I'm actually having less oestrogen now? Or can it take time to get used to a new gel?

I hope somebody knowledgeable can come along and help. I'm 43, if that makes any difference.

A dose is a dose. So 0.5mgs is the same if it's sandrena or oestrogel.

0.5 is not actually the starting dose for Sandrena, it's just an option for women who want a low dose. You can start on 1mgs just as easily.

It's just possible that even on sandrena you may have needed a higher dose now. you are only 43 and younger women often need more.

I'd give it another week or two of 2 pumps and then increase to 3 and see it that helps.

I started gel at 1 pump, upped to 2 for many years and now, as I'm decades older than you (!) and back to 1 pump.

Just experiment and see what helps.

Thanks for your advice. That's really useful.

I'll give it some time and see how I get on.