Has anyone switched from patches to gel?

[petitdonkey]

Hi all, I recently switched from estraderm patches to oestrogel- I had hated the look and feel of the patches and it was compounded by a holiday to Spain where they just wouldn’t stay stuck!

my doctor told me to start with two pumps and that I could go up to four after a month but my hot flushes and low mood have returned so I’ve started using four. I know realise that will be two bottles a month! My doctors are so hard to get hold of (no face to face appointments) and the pharmacy is super disorganised.

I just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience? I don’t know whether to stick with it or move back to the patches… (doctor also moved me from 10mg of provera for 12 days of my cycle to 100mg progesterone every day…. Does that seem like a mad jump??!)

I realise I’m asking mumsnet rather than my doctor but getting an appointment takes weeks and is only by telephone!

Tried patches first, same trouble as you when it was hot, went to gel but i needed more so now on 2mg tabs.
100% better

I moved to gel and in the end it was the GP surgery’s pharmacy lead (female) who sorted out the correct dosage / repeat prescription.

The GPs all seem out of their depth for something that is such a common issue for their female patients.

Much prefer the gel as the patches kept falling off. Can’t have tablets.

Thank you both- interesting that the pharmacist might be able to advise me. I think I’m going to need to try to get an appointment. Was feeling great in July and now gone off the boil but that could just be the summer holidays!!!

I am in the same boat with regards patches. Am on 50 I think, once a week but they are driving me mad as keep falling off.
Those who switched to estrogen does it take long to dry? Do you just rub it anywhere such as thigh? I have no idea.
I assume it would still be gel and then utrogestan days15-26?

The gel dries really quickly - about a minute? I rub it into my thighs/bum/hips area.

Yes, the gel dries in quickly, perhaps longer when it's humid, but I don't find it any hassle. I apply one pump to my thigh.

I get a prescription for three bottles at a time now, which mitigates the prescription issue - I have a similar situation to you.

I recently realised though that I’d been trying so hard to make it last I’d been holding back on the pumps and underdosing myself. I’m braver now and it’s made a big difference.

I started with patches but as a swimmer, they don’t stay on so I switched to gel a few years ago.

couldn’t be happier. 2 pumps in the morning, 2 at night. Happy days!

I am also on Tostran about 3x a week too.

if your pharmacy is rubbish, get your prescription filled by an online chemist like Pharmacy Direct etc.

I use them and they are incredible

if you’re looking for advice, don’t forget to download the Balance app. Huge amount of information and resources

I tried patches and they didn’t work well for me I wasn’t absorbing it very well. I was delighted when I was switched to the gel. Never had a problem with it so far so good.

Interestingly I'm just about to swap from gel to patches - was on sandrena & at max dosage but still getting symptoms. Now I'm wondering if done the right thing?! Is the gel seen to be the superior form of delivery?

I did and it was disastrous! Like you I switched from patches to gel partly because I hate the look of the patch and partly because I thought it would be easier to adjust dose with gel. All my symptoms came back immediately on the gel. I felt absolutely miserable. I was a weeping, raging, bloated mess for the whole time I was on it. I tried cutting back the dose but that didn't help. Eventually I gave up and went back on patches. I felt better almost straight away.
I don't know what the deal is with the gel. I don’t know if some people just don't get on with it or if it was a problem with the batch (see the epic thread about problems with oestrogel).
I'm finding Estradot patches better than Evorel - smaller so less noticeable.

Sorry I haven’t been back, unwell child!

so I think that the four pumps is now kicking in and I do feel better but it certainly hasn’t been the magic fix I thought it would be. Four is a lot to absorb but I’m not very good at remembering at night so have been doing it all together in the morning. That then means I can’t apply moisturiser straight away or sun cream… I’m also anticipating it being quite chilly in the winter!!! That sounds so silly but the thought of applying it and standing while it dries us not appealing!

this whole hrt thing has been such a fumble in the dark- the amount I’m using now has been led by me and what I’ve read rather than my gp (which has consisted of phone calls only to a different person every time) - I wish that I’d bitten the bullet and seen a private specialist at the beginning. I only found out last month that there’s a certificate you can buy for your prescription- I had been paying each time until then. I also signed up to Pharmacy4U and had it delivered directly which was soooo much easier.

I do think I’ll stick with the gel for now but I have some remaining patches at home as back up.

@MzHz - some great advice thank you. I only just discovered online pharmacy snd it’s so much better. I hadn’t heard of the balance app so will download that now.