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
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?
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
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 ).
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
Will DM you.
Thankyou x
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?
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
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.
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
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 😳
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
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.
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
2 weeks to go!
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Numb patch on tummy nearly 2 weeks after lap
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Laparoscopy in 2 weeks
