Has Sandrena changed?

[ByOchreFawn]

First time poster but have often checked threads on here and had lots of good info. Anyone else feel like Sandrena has changed recently? I’m early 50s. Full hysterectomy 18months ago. Took a while to find the right HRT but have been doing really well on 2mgs of Sandrena, a small amount of testosterone plus vaginal pessary twice a week (all approved by private gynae). Just the past few weeks I’ve noticed I’m more tired and started to get brain fog at work. Have now got crushing anxiety - it’s bloody awful. I remember feeling like this before I got my HRT sorted and just wonder if either I’m now not absorbing Sandrena or has the formula changed (like oestrogel?). I got a new prescription back in Feb with a black strip on the boxes (sure this wasn’t in the old boxes) and could be coincidence but reckon I’ve been feeling worse since using them. I’m back to being hot in bed too so defo feels hormonal. My GP ordering blood tests but in the meantime I’m wondering if anyone else had same recent experience?

my guess is you may just need to up your dose.

How much we need changes over the years and you may need more as you've had a hysterectomy.

Thanks Jingling. I’m already on max dose I think so will see what the blood tests say. Not sure if GP will prescribe a higher dose or whether they’ll suggest a patch. Will report back.

A better option @ByOchreFawn might be Oestrogel. You can go up to 4 pumps which is 3mgs.

Or 3 pumps which is half way between 2 and 3mgs.

That gives you far more flexibility than a patch.

Blood tests are not accurate. My consultant (private, for many years) won't do them as they say they are pretty useless and estrogen needs 24 hr monitoring to show anything.

Thanks Jingling - appreciate it. I’ve tried oestrogel before but preferred Sandrena - took less time to dry. I have heard that lots of ladies were struggling with the new oestrogel formula too but don’t know if that’s still an issue. Will chat to Dr next week.

That's interesting. I know someone who hated Sandrena and said it took ages to dry.

I've not noticed any difference myself with any of the newer bottles of gel, although I've yet to start on the very latest one. The formula hasn't changed only the shape of the bottle and the label (this has happened many times over the years. I've used it for over 15 years and there have been various bottle shapes.) The only question over the years was if the European version- Estrodose- was the same but it seems to have disappeared off the shelves now.

Hope you get on okay whatever you choose.

Thank you - appreciate your comments and experience.