I have in my hands a small package of Testogel ... a bit nervous to use it! Tips to divide the sachet up?

[GlomOfNit]

Please hold my (carefully washed with hot water and soap) hand.

This was actually a lot less hard to get than I thought, my GP I think just got tired of trying to answer my perimenopause queries and complaints about non-existent libido specifically, and referred me to the menopause clinic at the local large hospital. A few weeks later I had a phone appointment with a menopause consultant (!) and we discussed my issues. Both GP and consultant made it clear (with an audible wink) that testogel was ONLY going to be prescribed for low libido and certainly NOT for low energy levels, brain fog etc, but coincidentally, some women did indeed find these things had improved too, as a totally unlooked-for side effect.

I'm trying hard not to expect a magic wand here. I know that it won't always have a really palpable effect. I've been told it takes at least 8 weeks to kick in, so nothing is going to happen for a while yet! (I will have bloods booked as per the consultant's instructions, and after this initial 4 month supply, will then have to persuade my local NHS GPs to prescribe it - assuming it's going well for me.)

My first hurdle is - how the hell do you divvy up this rather plump sachet of gel into 8 equal parts?? I've got a bulldog clip around the centre which is a start, but worried that as soon as I open one end it's all going to leak out. And no, I do not possess pharmaceutical scales

(FYI: have been on HRT for just over 18 months. I take 1.5mg Sandrena gel daily, this was titrated down from 2mg by the same meno consultant who thinks my pesky palpitations may now be down to too much estrogen rather than depletion. I take 2 Utrogestan pills for first 12-14 days of my cycle. I do use oevestin cream on/in my fanny.)

You are over thinking it! I've been using it since August.

Use scissors to open it, otherwise the glue sort of doesn't tear properly.

I use an ikea food bag clip to keep it closed.

I squeeze out a pea sized amount (big pea).

Sometimes I've underdosed so on the final day I squeeze the tube dry and whack it on.

I use whichever part of my body is available. If I'm post shower I do my leg or stomach, if I've remembered halfway through the day I whack it on my forearm with my sleeve rolled up until it dries.

I've never thought to wash my hands first either!

Just a pea sized blob each day and use a clothes peg to keep it closed. That said, the dosing instruction from my GP was one whole sachet once a week. I had visions of me coming out fighting every Wednesday 😂

no, that was a sort of joke - you're recommended to wash hands AFTERWARDS.

😂

thanks everyone. I've calmed down a bit now. It's not been that hard to gauge a roughly pea-sized blob - I guess when I get to the end of the sachet and see how much is left, I'll know!

@GlomOfNit sorry, I was being thick!!

Glad to hear it's going OK for you. I've forgotten to use mine twice this week. Also I accidentally squirted a good two pea size blobs into the sink by accident when the packet opened funny.

Not going well this week!

Hi, glad to hear you got this prescribed.

I think I need testosterone, how do I go about it? My GP isn't fond of making referrals or helping me.

I am in surgical menopause after radical hysterectomy 5 weeks ago (aged 53, I hadn't begun the menopause when I had surgery). I have had zero menopause symptoms but am prescribed and using Oestrogel. I'm not sure I need it, it's giving me a tension headache and making my tinnitus much worse. Maybe my body was already quite low in oestrogen and also I eat a lot of vegan products that are high in phyto-oestrogens... who knows.

I don't have any hot flushes or night sweats or mood swings.

My symptoms are feeling tired all the time, zero motivation, and my body is achey. I just want to lie in bed and sleep all day and night. I feel very depressed about this as I was hoping the surgery would make me feel so much better as I had terribly gynae issues and was bleeding every day. But I feel awful. I've gone back on my antidepressant. Maybe my body is missing the other hormones that ovaries produce such as testosterone?

You might need to get your oestrogen levels to settle first. Otherwise go to GP ask for a blood test to check T level (free androgen index level is what you need to know) and then ask for T to be prescribed.

I took the exact same approach and my GP said yes.

I assume you have your iron and B12 levels up to a good level after all the bleeding? That would contribute to the fatigue if not.

@Agree GPs can prescribe off licence. From what I understand it is for libido rather than mood or sharpness. Perhaps you could focus your next chat with the GP on the libido aspect. I find it's been great for more libido and less brain fog so good luck !

OK thanks for this info. I'll let my surgery heal and the oestrogen settle, then ask my GP.

Yep got my iron and B vitamins covered and plenty Vit D etc.

Good luck. T has given me lots of energy.

This is good to know. Gives me hope, thank you.

I've had absolute zero menopause symptoms in terms of 'low oestrogen symptoms' (in fact oestrogen is giving me a tension headache and worsening tinnitus). I feel so low, no energy, no motivation, achey from head to foot same as if having flu (I don't got flu or a cold), also very very depressed and tearful. Good news, I've totally lost my appetite - bonus as I need to lose a bit of weight - but for me to lose my appetite is a serious thing indeed.

I've started taking my antidepressant again (came off it approx 6mths ago in case it was causing the tinnitus, it wasn't). But when I stopped taking it, it made no difference anyways.

As for physical health, I'm really 'on it', I eat strictly vegan since 30 years and take a lot of supplements to cover the gaps in my diet, ie iron, vit D, iodine etc, plus an Over 50s meno vitamins supplement.

Also on top of all that surgery was very physically traumatic and worse, the treatment in hospital was literally seriously abusive, so I'm traumatised by the whole experience. I should start a new thread but it's traumatic having a hysterectomy and all that it represents about life. For me it is anyway.

@Agree the oestrogen is what stopped my endless hopelessness and crying, once I got enough of it.
Perhaps you need a bit more than you are on now.

'no motivation, depressed and tearful' was my biggest menopause symptom.

Ah, thanks for this info.

Did you have any hot flushes or night sweats or the other main symptoms listed? The reason I got to wondering is because I haven't had any of those. In fact I keep feeling abnormally cold.

Yes I had night sweats. But my peri meno had been progressing for about 3 years.

I've also developed an awful set of prolapses which I didn't have pre peri meno.

And the sobbing and depression were absolutely the most standout symptoms...

I would walk the dog in the woods for an hour, just crying.