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[Grumpymum]

Well I feel very down now! After having tried various patches, FemSeven, Everol and estradot, and having an allergy to them, the doctor agreed to giving me oestrogel as the chemist was having supply issues with the estradot.  My mood certainly improved over the weekend with the thought of getting to try oestrogel, i think I saw it as my last great hope! I used it for the first time last night on my inner thigh as instructed in the leaflet and awoke to feeling itchy where I had applied it. Hoping I was imaging it, I looked in the mirror to see a big rash on the application site.

I feel so disappointed! I am going to try a different area tonight, maybe my upper arms as my skin there should be less sensitive. Do I have an allergy to oestrogen, and not the adhesive as I originally thought? Maybe I will have to go back to the estradot, once the chemist have got some in. At least the itching is limited to a fairly small area.

I feel very reluctant to go back to oral HRT, as I didn't get much symptom relief from those and also I keep reading how transdermal methods are 'safer' regarding blood clotting etc, especially as there is a family history of heart attacks etc.

Anyone else had a similar problem or can offer any words of wisdom? 

[Annie0710]

As an allergy sufferer of many things (anaphylaxis and mild skin/breathing reactions) I really feel for you, have you tried/thought of taking an anti histamine daily ?

Annie xx

[Grumpymum]

I do, Annie! I get a hay fever/dust allergy, with blocked sinuses and phlegm throat (sorry!) so I have taken one for some years now. I am not usually allergic to creams, perfumes and the like. The thing I find very strange is my mum who is allergic to lots of things managed to have HRT patches 20-30 years ago with no problems and thought they were marvellous.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Annie0710]

Bless you, I am on my first week of patches with no problem and being latex allergic this worried me, I think you need to speak to someone who can help professionally

annie xx

[Grumpymum]

I am really not sure whether I should stick it out (forgive the pun!) with the patches despite the itching, or go back to an oral HRT. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[peegeetip]

Hi Grumpymum

I've been told a few times that "side effects" will normally appear relatively soon after you start on a drug.

Then they will taper and either be there or resolve into the background.

In terms of blood clots there have been ladies using the oral route for years with no side effects after the first few months.

If you too have used the oral HRT for years without much fuss then I don't see where the worry is coming from.
Unless you have another of these docs that panic us unnecessarily.

Statistically you have a much greater chance of a blood clot after a flight, sitting at a desk all day or even a long car journey. All of these have the potential to slow the blood in parts of our body and set off a clot.

Thats not to worry people but its just a fact of life when we dont move about.

The risk like HRT / Birth Control is minimal, so we have to keep things in context.

I'm much more aware of other more pressing health issues that a lot of us just ignore or take for granted.

Hope that helps balance things more.

Take care.

 

[Grumpymum]

Thanks peegeetip for the advice. I have only been on oral HRT last year when I started my HRT journey, three months on elleste duet 1mg, two months on 2mg and one month on Femoston. None really helped much with my symptoms, so that was one of the reasons why I wanted to try patches. There is a history of heart attacks and clots in the family which is making me feel concerned about it. My GP is someone who thinks ladies should be on HRT for the least amount of time and I didn't want to give her ammunition as a reason why I should stop it by 55.

[Salad]

Hi Grumpymum

How frustrating for you!
I was allergic to HRT tablets and the gel stopped working after a year so I now have to use patches.

The first patch I used was positively painful. Red skin and so sore but things have improved since.

I'd decided that whatever happened I would persevere as the HRT symptoms were so much worse than having a sore buttock