Oestrogel...Sandrena...then?

[WineWithAView]

I was on oestrogel, very happily, for about 18 months. When the packaging changed, all my peri symptoms came back. Completely fully, possibly even worse than they'd been before I was initially prescribed HRT. I'd been doing 3 pumps, so I upped to 4 but it made no difference.

I thought I was losing my mind until I came across the thread on here about different packaging. At that point, I switched to using Sandrena. My symptoms improved somewhat, but I'm still not right and not feeling anywhere near as well as I did on oestrogel.

Biggest issues are extreme brain fog, extreme tiredness (I work from home and I've fallen asleep twice today) and emotionally I'm absolutely on the edge.

I've been back to the Dr today. She's of the view that if I was ok on oestrogel and I'm now taking the highest amount of Sandrena, but I'm still not right, then it might be something else. She's booked me in for blood tests next week to see if anything else is amiss.

Personally, I'm sure it's all peri related, but wondered what more knowledgeable people here thought?

It seems different people respond differently to different HRT, so is it possible that I'm just not absorbing the Sandrena as well as the original oestrogel? The Sandrena not being as effective might just be due to absorption, right? Rather than HRT as a whole simply not being effective any more?

Dr mentioned HRT in tablet form, but that the risk of blood clots is slightly increased for that. If the bloods come back clear of other things, what other HRT alternatives could I ask to try?

Has anyone else not had success with oestrogel and Sandrena and then moved on to a third option with better results?

Thanks for any words of wisdom.

Also wanted to ask, does where you apply the gel make a difference? I used to apply the oestrogel on my upper arms, but I put the Sandrena on my thighs as per the instructions. Would this make a difference? I think I'll switch back to arms tonight and see...

There are various patches and a spray (lenzetto) you could try as other transdermal methods before trying tablets.

Hi I’m also on oestrogel and have been struggling since new bottles. Because I’ve had a mix of bottles so I’ve used a new shape then an old shape it’s been a tough one to work out. However, I spoke to my private clinic yesterday and they have advised that the new bottles people are getting their symptoms back which is ecactly what’s happened with me. Brain fog, painful joints , terrible moods etc. I’m on 6 pumps so this has really affected me. So read the article on it https://lizearlewellbeing.com/healthy-living/oestrodose-oestrogel-what-you-need-to-know/

not completely clear but helpful on what to do. Iv3 just emailed and reported it to besins and yellow carded it too. We need to speak up to raise awareness. X

@WineWithAView IIf you are perimenopausal and experiencing wild fluctuations in oestrogen, the amounts of estradiol in HRT formulations are not always sufficient to override them. Have you ever taken birth control pills? I think in some cases it is better to override ovarian function until it calms down, because increasing the dose of HRT is not always feasible, so in hindsight I would have gone back to BCP because my perimenopause was hellish! HRT for postmenopause on the other hand is easy peasy, low doses being usually effective.

That's really interesting @Azaleah. I was on the pill until about three years ago. Maybe two, I've lost track of it all. But I was getting increasingly bad peri symptoms regardless. I remember the first time I spoke to the Dr about peri menopause, she told me I may as well stay on the pill as it overrides oestrogen rather than just tops up your own fluctuating levels. So I did for a while. And was given anti depressants for the hot flushes.

But I was getting on a bit and it's not licensed beyond 50, I believe? So I started on HRT instead. Was happy enough with oestrogel and the coil. Not myself still, but pretty ok.

But then it changed.

I've been using sandrena since, but was on max dose and I'd say it was only about 50% as effective as the oestrogel had been. Also a faff to do the three sachets a night.

I started using estraderm patch 5 days ago. I wasn't particularly hopeful. But actually I'm feeling ok... And it is so much easier than dealing with the gel which I'm thankful for after two years of gel!

So hopefully this is it, and I've found the best thing for me for now. But bloody hell it's been hard. Wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Thanks for your thoughts.

@WineWithAView Great 😊 I hope Estraderm works for you. If not, keep trying the other patches, they're all different, just like us, wonderful bunch of women 🌸😁

I have moved to patches and am finding it easier. I’m not missing applying 5 pumps a day!
anyhow , my patches went out of stock so I’ve struggled a little and they are not due back in stock until Jan 24 apparently. Let’s just hope they don’t mess with the patches the way they have the oestrogel. My only pressure is to sort my histamine intolerance which is made far worse by oestrogen. And I’m also progesterone intolerant. So take every other day vaginally but am concerned this may not be enough but will see how I go. X x

@Birdwithaview73 Which patches are out of stock, if you don't mind my asking?

Estradot. I have scrounged what I can find in smaller doses but it’s not great. Tried another but it’s like going back to beginning each time u swap.

Thanks, I didn't know that. What are they saying about it? Blaming it again on menopause awareness and the rise in prescriptions? Or Covid? Or issues in China? This is going on and off for what, a decade?

Glad to hear the patches are working well for you Bird. I hope you can keep getting them, so frustrating that they're difficult to find.

I took oestrogen happily for years until they changed the packaging. Then it was like I wasn't taking anything, and a Private Dr told me that it was a common problem and put me on Sandrena. It has worked really well, though I am having issues right now, but that's because I had to mess with my dosage.

I does take about 3 months for anything to settle though. Good luck

So annoyed about this!
On the yellow square bottles I’ve been fantastic!
There is definitely a difference and the spiral logo bottle is just the same batch number as the other blue square that doesn’t work. Livid actually, this is our health and well-being!! Going to do what the above link suggests.

@zzzexhaustedzzz Hi! What do you mean by 'spiral logo bottle'? And by 'blue squares' do you mean green squares? Just curious 🧐

Lenzetto spray was a great replacement for oestrogel for me

Great 😊

sorry - last time I was on a thread about Oestrogel we found the batch number that had a small yellow square (near the number) was fine but a green (not blue !) square wasn’t as good. The packaging has now changed to a spiral design on the sticker but that’s still the suspect batch! So I’ve done what the link suggests and the chemists are going to specify the stuff that works. I’m Hoping….

If you are feeling exhausted it could well be underactive thyroid, I was like you absolute exhausted and drained and had to have naps. Have started on a low dose of thyroid meds and is helping but getting bloods done again in few weeks to recheck bloods for thyroid and if need med dose higher. Make sure you get full thyroid check and hope you find out what is going on.