Estrogel 2 weeks

[Smiley2022]

Hi all, I’m two weeks into using Estrogel 2 pumps everyday , but I have now started having period pain/ cramps , feeling sick , light headed and feel generally unwell.

The obvious thing to do is to go see my gp, but just wondering if any of you ladies have experienced this?

Will it ease the longer iam on Estrogel or should I go down to one pump to see if I feel any better ?

im worried that it starting my Endo back up

Ps I also have the mirena in situ ( 6 months ago)

Thanks in advance

Tina

[Lindle]

You should be on systemic progesterone/ progestin with oestrogen HRT. The mirena works locally on the endometrium (womb lining) and very little is released into the circulation so that isn’t suitable as the progestin part. Oestrogen only is associated with endo recurrence and rarely malignancy.

I suffered horrible symptoms with oestradiol - crippling head pain, brain fog, dizziness and overwhelming fatigue.

Are you on HRT for unmanageable menopause symptoms as you don’t need to be on it at your age otherwise?

[Smiley2022 in reply to Lindle]

Hi thanks for your reply

Sounds like Gp’s really don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to treating endometriosis then do they!!!

Which is sad because who else can we get readily available guidance and treatment from !!

She prescribed the Estrogel gel because of unmanageable perimenopause symtoms

So I should be on progesterone or a progestin also , that sounds like it makes sense

Il book In to see my Gp again next week

Thanks

Tina

[BloomingMarvellous in reply to Smiley2022]

Try asking for bio identical progesterone rather than progestin. Many use Utagestan ( not suitable if you have a peanut allergy ) either orally or vaginally but the latter every other day as the strength absorbed is x2 than processed orally. I don’t tolerate either version of that and now use Cyclogest - off prescription as they call it - at the same rate and that’s a whole lot better. If you are perimenopausal your levels will yo yo madly still and that in itself can bring on the symptoms rather than the gel itself . It’s worth bearing that in mind while trying to puzzle it out. Perimenopause/ menopause hormone extremes can really drive the inflammation of endo and adenomyosis so trying to level it out a bit actually is useful. It’s not really much of a discussion in medical circles as it’s mistakenly seen that menopause automatically confers relief from the disease. It doesn’t. You may find Louise’s Newson’s site helpful as she’s got great info and it might be better for you to be on a cycling regime rather than continuous at this point. Everyone is different.

Keeping things as even metabolically as you can is a real help. It can be tackled in multiple ways some which may feel a bit brush off but really aren’t if they help you with equilibrium. I found Curable App helpful , Hypopressive breathing, gentle walking and changing my life pace when possible . You’ll find your bag. If you’ve not delved into it Katie Edmonds book is a good call to put in some nutritional bolsters if you aren’t already there. Especially Omega 3, Milk Thistle and proper hydration ( I do between 2-4 litres daily ).

[Smiley2022 in reply to BloomingMarvellous]

Hi Thankyou so much for your input, guess everything is trial and error

Feel so fed up right now all I want to do is cry 😢😢

I will certainly ask gp for utrogestan alongside the estrogel

A bit worried about the cycling regime compared to continuous because does that mean I would have a bleed ??

Guess I could try continuous first !!??

I’ve looked on Louise newsons site before but will have another look

I’ve listened to some of her podcasts too👍

I’m already taking omega 3 which I think helps a bit , need to up my hydration though

Thanks Tina

[BloomingMarvellous in reply to Smiley2022]

Will DM you.

[Smiley2022 in reply to BloomingMarvellous]

Thankyou x

[Flewks]

hi, slightly different situation as I’m in chemical menopause by pro-stap but when I started HRT it set off my endo pain, spotting, nausea and overall felt really unwell it was awful, I lasted 3 weeks and my GP told me to stop it when I explained how unwell I felt. Apparently it’s common for HRT to set off the pain 😔 my consultant has told me to keep trying different types. Also you need to be on combined HRT hopefully you are on progesterone too?

[Smiley2022 in reply to Flewks]

Hi thanks for your reply

I feel your pain , must be so frustrating for you , knowing you’ve gotta keep trying different hrt’s and not knowing until you try whether it’s going to make your pain come back and make you feel unwell

Back to the gp again this week for me then

Fingers crossed for us both 🤞🤞

Tina

[Aussie79]

Hi Smiley2022. I'm on the same combo. I initially started on Oestrogen patches and I had the same symptoms as you're experiencing now. I also had headaches. My GP suggested switching to Oestrogel and start with one pump to minimise the side effects of HRT Oestrogen, especially if you're sensitive to it.

I was on 1 pump for about two weeks then I increased to 2 pumps with no adverse effects.

[Smiley2022 in reply to Aussie79]

Hi thanks for your reply , glad your okay on two pumps

Maybe I Needed a more gradual approach

Although everyone I’ve spoke to thinks I should be on progesterone also as the mirena is only localised

Guess it depends on how bad endo is and how your body deals with the extra estrogen

Il speak to my gp when I can get an appointment

I’ve come off the gel for now as I feel so awful 🤣🤣

Tina

[Aussie79 in reply to Smiley2022]

It's a nightmare, isn't it?! I feel your pain. I was prescribed the patches and Utrogestan and patches privately by Newsom clinic and they cautioned me against the Mirena, which my Endo specialist consultant recommended. I felt horrendous on both. Sick as a dog and nasty headaches. I took the patch off!!

I guess it's the case of not one size fits all, and it's worth speaking to your GP so I hope your appointment goes well.

And I was advised that you're probably more Oestrogen deficient in perimenopause than in the menopause, which was why newsom prescribed a higher dose of patch 😳

[Smiley2022 in reply to Aussie79]

Hi thanks for your reply , yeah I think it is definitely not one size fits all

Like you say we’re all going to be in a different stage of peri/ menopause , some needing more or less estrogen than others

The estrogel was starting to make me sleep great just before it caused me endo flare up , so I must need the extra estrogen

Tina x

[Aino26]

I'm on estrogen and progesterone. I'm on zoladex so temp forced menopause. I had my 2nd jab on Tuesday. Is been a rough ew weeks to say the least. I have been told it takes a few weeks for HRT to kick in. If you're not menopausal, you need progesterone to protect your womwomb when taking estrogen.

[Smiley2022 in reply to Aino26]

Hi thanks for your reply

I was on Decapeptyl in 2022 had the injections for 5 months , only started add back hrt,after 4 months in ….unfortunately side effects were too much for me and the hrt didn’t help so came off them

I now have the mirena coil in which provides progesterone to protect my womb

Thanks

Tina

[Victoria81]

Hi. I’ve just come across your post as I’m in exactly the same boat. I started on 25mg patches two weeks ago and over the past few days I’ve had definite endometriosis symptoms - lower abdominal pain/pulling, lower back pain, heavy legs, fatigue, nausea and diarrhoea.

I had conversations with my GP and gynaecologist about the risks of endometriosis reactivation while on HRT but I didn’t expect it so quickly or at such a low dose. I’ve recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I’m finding it really difficult to untangle whether my symptoms are caused by that or by perimenopause. I’ve been trying to get relief for symptoms for quite a long time now and had thought HRT might make me feel a bit more human so it feels like a bit of a gut punch that my endo’s popped back up to say hello. It’s been fairly well behaved since I had my current mirena fitted last Jan.

Did you manage to get any advice or a resolution? I hope you’re feeling much better and that you’ve found a treatment that works for you.xx

[Smiley2022 in reply to Victoria81]

Hi Victoria , sorry your struggling !!

I ended up stopping the estrogel altogether and having the mirena coil removed , tried Decapeptyl again but alongside hrt this time , but side effects were too much for me and still didn’t feel well

I’ve had a hysterectomy now ( 6 weeks ago) and feeling much better 👍👍

Hope you find a solution x🤞🤞