Menopausal, perimenopausal, not sure, come join me!

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’m a week in on gel and I’m getting on OK with it. It’s easy to remember to do as I get dressed and seems to dry pretty quickly. I was worried about my skin reacting to patches and I’m not allowed the tablets due to BP + fatness.

[Ruby]

I put my gel on before my night-time wash/teeth/moisturiser etc. And it's always dry by then. Well. I say that but I quite often forget and end up sat on the side of the bed, knackered, waiting for my sticky arms to dry.

[Marth]

My GP said any change in ones HRT regime can trigger bleeding. She said the doubling of my progesterone won't stop my periods, it will just have the proper protective effect for the amount of estrogen i take.

[Luce]

My lady said to rub the gel in 30 times over which is bizarrely prescriptive but to be fair it is dry by then. I think I’m going to give the patches a go though.

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’ve not rubbed loads because they say to wash your hands after and I decided I’d be losing some potency via my palms that way, which now I think about it is a weird thing to think and an entirely reasonable thing to think too.

[Luce]

I quite often forget to wash my hands after. I've not given any of the boys tits yet, though, so hopefully am safe.

[Bella]

I’ve been on HRT for about 12 months and have been feeling awful lately, totally anxious and feeling very lost with life. I insisted on some blood tests last week and they came back and my estrogen levels were too high so I’ve reduced my pumps. I’m knackered. Forgetful, bloated and generally pissed off with life. I’m also suddenly experiencing imposter syndrome at work as I’m basically an emotional wreck. I’m hoping the reduction will give me a break

[sally maclennane]

I’ve been on HRT for about 12 months and have been feeling awful lately, totally anxious and feeling very lost with life. I insisted on some blood tests last week and they came back and my estrogen levels were too high so I’ve reduced my pumps. I’m knackered. Forgetful, bloated and generally pissed off with life. I’m also suddenly experiencing imposter syndrome at work as I’m basically an emotional wreck. I’m hoping the reduction will give me a break

I hope the reduction helps. How many pumps of oestrogen were you taking?

I think imposter syndrome is very common, I feel like it a lot.

[Bella]

I was on 4 pumps as I spoke to my doctor about feeling anxious so she told me to increase it… I’m not sure they understand the consequences of messing around with somebody’s hormones… its life or death for my husband

[Luna]

I thought two was the maximum? Were you getting break through periods?

[Bella]

Yes! All the time and I moaned about that too and still they didn’t say anything! I literally had to sit in the doctors crying and begging for blood tests as I felt I had constant pmt

[Bella]

I’m on 3 pumps now and I’m now thinking that’s too much?

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’ve been told two would be the max dose for me, and I’m on one for the time being until my three month review.

[Bella]

Interesting. I might try and speak to my doctor again.

[Ruby]

Oh I have 4 pumps. I was told I could do 2-4 pumps so I just went up to 4.

[sally maclennane]

I thought it was 2-4 too, I've always stuck with 2 but I might ask to go up to 3, see if it'll improve my mood.

[Bella]

Just be careful ladies as I’ve had a horrible time and too much can make you bleed, have constant pmt etc Also the unbearable bloat I was going g to say that I would prefer puberty but actually at least in my 40’s I can happily not give a shite about certain things that used to leave me crippled with anxiety as a teenager so I will take menopause

[Luce]

I’m on 1 pump per arm so I guess 2 pumps or 1 dose? I don’t know. My nurse was talking about how too much oestrogen could make things worse so I guess this must be what she meant. Sorry Bella, that sounds shit, hope things improve!

[H1ppychick]

I’m on one sachet of 500 microgram, I don’t know how that equates to pumps?