Sandrena help

Thank you btw. . I'll see what happens, this particular GP seems to be anti oral oestrogen. If it doesn't work out I'll argue to get it back. I felt pretty good on the Progynova, energised even. My liver has been going pretty good too, but oral oestrogens can raise liver enzymes... a endocrinologist put onto the Progynova in the first place. *sighs* I'm not entirely sure what to think anymore.

But, I'm going to follow the advice below and see if it improves any, if not, I'll think about options.

Highly tempting to go back to what I know actually works, but I'm willing to consider and try alternatives (so far not impressed).

It's a bit weird, you'd think with that name it would have progesterone, but really it's just straight up oestradiol valerate. Judging by the taste when you have it on you tongue just before you swallow it, it's gotta have a good amount of sweetener in it too. 

I've been on Premarin in the past at .625mg daily, but was switched to Progynova (out of the two, it's now my preference). Premarin is a fairly different compared to Progynova, it's still straight up oestrogen but it's a horse oestrogen, which I believe is more potent though a little more harsh on the liver (as roughly explained to me by a doctor). Is it alright if I ask what dose you're going to try? Also, is it still Premarin? 

Hi, the one I'm trying next is Zumenon which is also straightforward estradiol valerate. I've been told to try 2mg on a morning and 1mg on an evening, upping to 2mg on an evening if necessary which is much higher than standard. I've been on Elleste Solo before, 2mg per day but found it peaked quickly and then I would drop low. I think that's why Premarin works better for me as it builds slowly, however I have thinning hair, fatigue, aching joints and tendons and weird tingling and muscle cramps so far from perfect! Doctor said if next plan doesn't work, only option left is implants.

I'm almost 47. How long is it since your surgery. I will be 2 years in June.

Have you tried magnesium for the muscle cramps, are you getting enough B vitamins (especially B12 which can help with neuropathy), iodine (especially needed for thyroid function) and zinc. All of the above can cause a number of the symptoms you're having. As an aside, corticosteroids can also cause some of those issues.

The Zumemon may not be too different than the Elleste. But the twice day dosing can make all the difference. That's why I was taking 4mg, it was 2mg morning and 2mg evening, because it felt like it was trending low by late afternoon. Just be warned, that the evening oestrogen may make it harder to go to sleep (that's what I found). As usual mileage varies! Injection is another possibility, personally I hated the idea of weekly injections though.

I didn't say it in my original post, I'm 36 and it had to be done a little over 5 years ago.

Hi thanks for feedback. Have tried vits etc...weirdly the cramps only seem to be with Premarin. Just realised that it's Climaval tablets I've been prescribed...just moved house and changing doctors so will be a couple of weeks yet.

Are you going to go back onto the tablets? In UK, we only have option of implants rather than injections and I don't really fancy them.

You are young to have gone through it. Hooe you get some relief soon x

Also, how were you feeling on the whole on 4mg if E? Apart from sleep issues were you feeling good?

You're welcome . On the Progynova, I actually felt really good, I'd even say energised and alive. Biggest issue was a very decreased alcohol tolerance, it did improve, but basically I couldn't have more than a glass or two of wine (max). The only other issue was antibiotics, apparently they decrease the absorption *sighs*, so going onto a course would start the menopausal symptoms up again. It's possible my body is odd, but I think it also helped me lose a little bit of weight (could have been other factors, but I did take off about 8kg over a 5ish month period)

Would love to go back to the tablet at this rate, but I'm going to give the gel the remaining 3ish weeks. Pending on blood tests, I might be able to convince my new GP to let me go back. As of yesterday, I've started applying the gel to my thighs, hopefully that help stop it feeling really spikey. I'm not sure if pellets are as big a thing over here, it seems to be oral, transdermal or injection. There are some compounding pharmacies that can make lozenges and creams with a valid script. My endocrinologist didn't like transdermal because absorption rates can be unpredictable. 

Thank you, I'll admit that at first it sent me into a bit of a spiral but with time and counselling I managed to pull myself out of it. I feel like the hrt helped a lot too! Btw changing doctors is never fun! Hopefully you do really well on the Climaval (it's oestradiol valerate too)

No, the pellets are now a behind the scene thing.  Drs would just tell you (if they knew anything about the pellets) that they are no longer available and never offer them.  I had to chase it up myself.

 

If 'over here' is Australia, that is where I am from.  However, my gp is now enlightened about them and has offered them to other patients (she told me so).

 

You're right, I'm in Australia (I sure I said that). Pellets are something I can look into, I'm in the hunter valley and compounding pharmacies are few and far between sadly. They all seem to be around the coast, to my knowledge even Newcastle only has one. However, my local pharmacy has said in the past that it can have compounded scripts sent to the one in Newcastle (my old doctor gave me a compounded vitamin script before she retired) which are then sent back for pickup.

I was referred to one in Sydney, a couple of thousand miles from me.  I phoned them, and had to post my original script by snail mail, pay by c/card and received it in about a week.  I also asked to speak to a chemist who knew something about menopause and got some good advice about it.  They used to put a lot of info on the web but have now reduced it so web not so helpful.

 

I am waiting for my latest pellet implant to kick in, that is why I am still messing around with patches and gels!!!!

Also, gels and patches should be applied to fatty parts of your body, not a tendony, veiny wrist.  If you go down the pellet implant path, it should also be implanted in a fatty area of your abdomen.

 

Thank you for that small wealth of information . No one really explained what to do when it was decided to change me over, I was given a choice of patch or gel. I sort of went with the gel, because in the past I've often had dermatitis from adhesives.

I've been applying it to my wrist and about halfway to my elbow as was suggested. Honestly I'm not surprised if the pharmacist hasn't used it, it seems to be a fairly male dominated industry (said pharmacist was male). Surely stuff like this should be common knowledge given the number of women taking hrt *sighs*.

Taking your advice, I'll start applying it to fattier areas. I'm thinking thighs are possibly the best bet and hopefully that'll tone down the spikes and dips. As for pellets, didn't really know they existed. How long do they last for?

When the pellets were available on prescription from chemists, a 100 mg? was said to last 12 months.  However, they would only last 9 months for me.

The ones that I have been getting from a compound chemist last much less than that, and eventually I was told by the chemist that they are only meant to last 4-6 months.  I do find them much more convenient though, and the body takes only what it needs.  But I have worked out that my body is very oestrogen needy and I use it up quickly, as I do the patches and gels (twice a day).  Now I know when the pellet is running out.

First I get head sweats, and sometimes full body sweats at night (for a long time I put that down to summer but they have occurred in the middle of winter too).  The confirming symptoms are when I suddenly feel a wave of anxiety or agitation or depression come over me.  This make me realise that the oestrogen has run out.

The pellets take me 3 weeks to kick in and while I am waiting I use the patches and gel. I know it is working when I get a 'surge' in the breasts, so I stop the patches and gel and let the pellet take over.

 

Hi I use sandrena gel...I think you have been misinformed as it doesn't get applied to the wrist it is meant to be applied to ur inside forearm the size of the spread is meant to be 2 times ur hand size...so basically from your wrist nearly up to your bend (elbow) I apologize for not knowing body part names . To avoid irritation or low absorption you swap arms daily. Not sure if this helps