4 pumps and symptoms are back - where do I go now?!

[FusionChefGeoff]

Hot flushes , night sweats, rage, dry eyes, brain fog - all back but I’m already on 4 pumps of Oestrogel.

Will book a call with GP but in your experience what comes next - is it Testosterone? Will that help the symptoms that were previously well managed with Oestrogel??

Following as I am experiencing this. I had my first day time hot flush ever and my libido has just tanked.

@FusionChefGeoff
This might not be a helpful answer, but I went to a private menopause clinic to get the prescription I need for symptom control. I’m on 200mcg of oestrogen now (and appropriately high progesterone to balance it).

My GP will not initiate any HRT above the max. NICE guidelines (100mcg for estradiol). Although they are agreeable enough to prescribe the regime started by the menopause specialist.

I think a GP will likely only prescribe testosterone for low libido (as this is what it’s licensed for in the UK) and not for the symptoms you’ve described. If they will even prescribe it at all. I think it’s a postcode lottery, luck of the drawer thing, from what I’ve read.

The NHS seems to think that a one size fits most perspective is a satisfactory way to treat humans. And I say that as a (professionally frustrated) senior specialist NHS nurse. Individualised care - in principle yes, but only to a well-defined point. Annoying if you are not one of the ‘most’
(Sorry for the rant!)

I had testosterone added by a private clinic but there were also keen on me having much higher dosages of the oestrogen patch if the symptoms of peri returned. I feel stuck between my GP who says 100mg maximum (on which I feel so depressed) or the private clinic advising go up to 250-300 patch which helps but I feel uneasy on this dose as it feels so high. I feel like I’m having to find my own way with this between different guidelines. Hope your GP can help you with this.

You might need to try a different a “delivery system” as such. Gel might not be absorbing well for you for whatever reason so a patch or pill might work better.

Also consider any other potential causes for the symptoms (albeit they do sound very menopausally!)- so maybe get a set of general bloods etc.

Is it likely that gel would suddenly stop absorbing when it had been fine in the past??

I exercise (so get very sweaty) most days (gel goes on after that) so I’d be concerned patches wouldn’t work either