Besins Oestrogel has a new bottle. Might be a coincidence but since using it my sleep has gotten worse. I’m getting more tingling and numbness in my fingers and toes. Concentration is worse. Also increased issues down below. I don’t know if it’s the concentration of oestradiol being dispensed or maybe this bottle is now dispensing less product.
I apply 2 pumps daily and have done so since starting last October. Now contemplating taking a 3rd pump but I’m not sure. Any ideas anybody?
Are you talking the pump bit? If so that’s what I’ve been using…….and you are right my sleep is worse and a little dry (TMI🙈) down below. Take an extra pump! That’s what I’m going to do now I’ve realised. I suspect if you go on the menopause group there will be others with the same issue.
I’m taking off as much as it dispenses. At least I think I am. We should report this via the yellow card scheme. Why oh why did they have to change it?! 😩
what do you mean “taking off as much as it dispenses”?
Well I push the pump down in one go and scoop off as much as I can off the dispenser. Unless there’s something else I need to do? Sorry I misunderstood what you said. I wasn’t referring to anything wrong with the pump I just think maybe it’s dispensing less than it used to or maybe there’s less hormone in the product now even though it states the same amount.
Having dispensed some gel just now it looks a lot less than what used to come out of the previous bottle. However, I can’t remember 100% correctly.
It maybe that they have increased the concentration which they have done with Testogel? Same company... less slime but also less mg in the sachet as they sneakily reduced the size at the same time 😕 seems to be the latest in cost saving
Well the bottle still states 80g and 750mcg as a dose. Sorry to hear about your Testogel. Is it even legal to do that? Just wondering what benefits you experience from taking Testogel if you dont mind me asking? I've been wondering about it.
Not that then...(750mcg would be the whole bottle each dose is 1.25g which gives you the 80g) Which should give you 0.75mg of Estradiol per squirt.... can't imagine they could change the strength without a huge hoo-ha (0.06%)
Thinking about it when they did this with Testogel the prescription needed to be altered as they just said 'no longer available' it was the Pharmacist told me as the surgery just shrugged 🙄
I prefer less slime to be honest, just means a sachet lasts 8 days rather than 10 so it's the NHS getting kicked again. Testogel gives me a bit more oomph, helps with mood, libido and retaining muscle mass as I was becoming a real flake... I was looking to keep all my hormones balanced rather than 2 out of three.
If you wanted to give it a try the magic key word is 'libido' which your GP can prescribe for and will then test your levels, which they don't do before bunging the other hormones at you 🤷♀️
I agree. Less gel. I just give it another squirt. It won’t harm you. I used Testogel. It did nothing for me 🤷♀️
SarahJane1471,
How are you getting on? I’m on 3 pumps now and I’m feeling rather desperate. Waking up at night, joint and nerve pain, anxiety, hair loss and no hair growth. Skin is paper dry.
I’m fine . Still on 4 pumps. I’ve been on estrogel for 6 yrs now. For the first couple of years on 2 pumps then up to 4. As your estrogen levels drop more through menopause you will need to increase your dose.
SarahJane1471,
I’m not seeing much relief from 2 pumps. Been on 3 for a bit. How long does it take to see a difference from a dose increase? I may need to up to 4 at some point. Seems like a lot. Given I’ve only been on HRT for 6 months now and based on other people’s experiences I thought I’d be ok on 2 pumps too and stuck with it until now.
I’ve got achy muscles and joints. The tingling in my extremities that started last year and initially died down is back. My skin is like paper and nothing helps. My hair has stopped growing it only sheds and that alone is petrifying to me. I’m waking up at 3-4am daily now with anxiety.
How about swapping to Lenzetto spray it's body identical and no slime!?🤗
Eeyore100,
I’ve been considering that but then I’m not sure how to switch. Not sure what the equivalent of say 3 pumps would be as different sources say different things.
What’s your experience of this?
It would just be a straight swap as the active ingredient is the same.. estradiol it's just the carrier you are swapping
I swapped from patches to lenzetto as the patches weren't hitting the spot, I read all the comparisons but the fact is you need to give it a try to see how you absorb it really, I never fancied the slime... the good thing about lenzetto is that it's easy to discreetly add a top up if you need it and just feel your way.
The fact you are feeling off means you are sensitive to your levels so you just need to trust your instinct
Nowadays I'm tuned in to when my level is dropping (if I've forgotten) which is a great way of knowing I'm keeping it to the minimum... I find 2 squirts in the morning and 1 in the afternoon works for me. 🤗
Edit... I wouldn't get too fixated on number of doses as it really depends how well you absorb it, which is like all the other supplements we take rather impossible to gauge without blood test.
I agree. You just carry on upping the amount until the symptoms go. I friend of mine uses 7 pumps. 🤷♀️ . TiggerMe is right . No need to fixate on the amount. You need what you need 😃
I'm concerned that Seren is ignoring thyroid levels, so upping might make her feel worse because it could be worsening fT3/4 levels, symptoms are so similar
Many of us need to up our thyroid meds when we start using HRT
Good point. It was the other way round for me. HRT first then Levo 4 years later. So I was stable on HRT. There are so many different types of estrogen to try. BUT yes, check the T3T4 👍. Also the only way I’ve tolerated T3 was started on a minuscule amount. It’s been so worth it.
SarahJane1471,
Good to know. I tried that but even the smallest amount caused me issues. God knows why I’m so complicated. I’ve started taking some Selenium each day to help conversion.
Eeyore100,
I’ve bought a Medichecks Wellwoman test so we’ll see how my test results are. Well at the same time as starting HRT my GP did reduce my dose from 100mcg to 100/75 🙄. Having said that I’ve got my energy now than ever before. No increase in thyroid meds ever did that.
Good idea to do your own testing as every little change alters the balance and it falls to you to pick up on it and insist a review as they just don't monitor us well enough.
HRT made me feel great for a bit but then I needed to up the others to regain balance
Be sure to stick your results up 🤗
SarahJane1471,
Is it necessary to take/apply oestrogen all in one go or can you apply some in the morning and some at night?
some people split it but I just apply in the morning. I rub shoulder to wrist on both arms until it goes tacky then clean my teeth and it’s dry. I guess the rubbing hard helps my bingo wings 😬. If you want you can do 1 pump each arm then 1 pump each inner thigh.= 4 pumps 🤷♀️
Oh yak.. it loses my vote at the 'tacky' bit 🥴I shall stick with a little squirt 🤣
Hi All
At what time do you take your levothyroxine and estrogen? Do you have to leave a time gap or is it OK to take at the same time?
I take them both pretty close to one another. I don’t have the time to leave a gap on most days. You don’t need to allow a gap between transdermal oestrogen and Levothyroxine. It’s oral oestrogen that can interfere with thyroid hormones.
Thank you. Have you found taking Estrogen and Progesterone has changed your thyroid results at all?
I don’t actually have a latest set of results to say. I’ve only been on HRT for just under 6 months.
I had to double my T3 after starting HRT
Thanks for sharing your experience.
OK. Thanks X
Oh and by the way, I take transdermal oestrogen and progesterone so they definitely can affect thyroid hormone levels
Thanks, I am taking transdermal spray and Utrogestan too. X
Transdermal progesterone - Crinone vaginal gel - for me as I don't tolerate ubtrogestan
Anybody having problems please report them via the Yellow Card Scheme, the more people do it the more likely they are to take notice and do something about it:
It takes 2 minutes. Thanks.
Today I’m experiencing continuous tingling in my hands. This actually started last year and I noticed it improved when I started HRT. Although it never went completely. It seems to be worse than before today.
Does anyone have issues with peripheral neuropathy? Can this be caused by being hypothyroid? 
Hi Im new, diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism
TSH going down instead of up with lowering of levothyroxine
