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[Optimist]

Hi all, wonder if anyone can help.
I trialled esradot for about 14 days due to using everol 100mcg (I have the Mirena) and the patches being enormous and getting through about 4 months worth in 2 mths in the hot summer we had.
I felt fab on them and my mood was so elevated I was laughing lots, loved the long suffering OH, then on  day 5, I had what I can only explain as a hormone crash; hot sweats, night sweats, bad back, all over joints aching, felt fluey.  This continued for about 7 days and I was back to rolling out of bed etc. It did subside a bit and I started feeling a little better but my back was so bad I had to stop running/HIIT exercise which keeps me sane. The flushes has decreased and were much better also. I had an appointment with the meno specialist anyway and she told me that the ingredients were different and that's why I felt rough and gave me another prescription for the everol. Back on those a few days, joints no longer aching, back much better after 7 days and back to the gym eventually. But...my mood is just flat again, no emotions, no libido at all, don't want OH near me, hate the world etc.
My mood all along on the estradot was so much better in general it was the other things that caused issues but I wonder if I should have persevered?
Can anyone else relate to this and did they persevere with the estradot and it was okay after a few weeks?
The ingredients in estradot are slightly different with the adhesive but it states estradiol 1.56mg/10cm2=100 micrograms per 24 hours whereas everol is much bigger of course and states 6.4mg estradiol with absorption 100 micro grams per 24 hours. Is this different amounts of oestrogen?
Tempted to go back on them and maybe build up by doing half and half for a while then 3/4s etc?
Would like to be happy again. Hope all are okay as can be xx

[Hurdity]

Hi there Optimist - sorry to hear you had varied success with Estradot vs Evorel. You are right - yes the patches are different sizes and contain IN TOTAL  different amounts of oestrogen but the design of both is such that ON AVERAGE  the dose is the same ie the same amount of oestrogen is delivered in both of them which for a  100 mcg patch is 100 mcg per day - irrespective of the TOTAL amount of oestrogen contained in the patch.

The oestrogen is exactly the same ie estradiol but of course the area of skin that it is going through is different so even if you absorb well from patches - a lower concentration patch with a larger area may give you a different dose than a concentrated patch over a small area. Remember that the dosage (100 mcg/day) will be based on the average of a certain population of women in the trials on that product before it went onto the market - and if you look at the product info ( google SPC and the product)  you will see the wide variation in absorption (usually expressed as + or -).

I presume you were changing both twice a week? Paradoxically some women experience hot flushes when INCREASING oestrogen dose by too much (this has happened to me in the past) so maybe this would explain what happened with the Estradot. especially as your mood was better.

I'm probably biased as I've been on Estradot for most of the 11.5 years I've been on HRT and I love them! I did try Evorel to start with but the norethisterone did not agree with me.

The other possibility is if you are still peri-menopausal - it could have been coincidence and your own cycle coming into play just at the point where you started the Estradot and messing up your hormonal stability.

If you liked how the Estradot made you feel - then it does sound like a plan to swap back again and take it gradually - I know what you mean about the patch szie - i thought 50 mcg was big but 100 mcg Evorel must be mahoosive and quite difficult to ensure they are well stuck - I can press my Estradot down ( which I do whenever I think about it in the loo!) with a couple of fingers and it's fine!

I don't know if this helps but hope it does a bit and hope you feel better soon whatever you decide?

Hurdity x

[Perinowpost]

Hi there Optimist

Your Meno specialist is right they are made from different things: Evorel are made from Mexican yam and Estrodot are soy. 

Personally when I switched I couldn't tolerate Estrodot (apparently it is the silver birch family) and I obviously can't get along with it.  As with much hrt we are all different in our biochemistry, and it all comes down to knowing yourself and your own body. 

Als, don't underestimate the mirena side effects (did your symptoms coincide with insertion) it is notorious for causing flat mood/low libido/weight gain, if not trust your instincts and go with the hrt that agrees with you; I know I've spent far too long on hrt ‘s that don't suit and to be quite frank it's just time wasted.  Wishing you well x

[Optimist]

Thanks so much ladies.
Hurdity; I Googled as you suggested. Not sure I understand some of the science but seems to make sense re the pmols etc, certainly not bed time reading!
Perinowpost; I have often wondered re the Mirena and think that I have to have a high dose of oestrogen to counteract side effects of progesterone. I've been really intolerant of it and trialled several hrts.
I'm going to trial the estradot again but I'm going to do it slowly over a few weeks ie week 1 75/25 everol/estradot week 2 50/50 etc and see how I go on it. If I can get the balance of better mood and no aching/flushing it's a win win so I'll remain “optimistic” (even 2+ years on) that I'll get it right 😊👍🏼.
Many thanks ladies I'll keep you posted x

[Optimist]

Just to update ladies, now using estradot 100mcg on its own and mood definitely lighter, some libido also!!!! I used 3-1 ratio first everol/estradot then 2-1 over a course of 2-3 weeks. Glad I tried that as I didn't get the same hormonal crash feeling as before.
Love these little estradot, much less invasive.
Just have to face the embarrassment now of going back to GP to ask for estradot as I'd been given 6 months supply of everol 😱 . Wondering if the pharmacy would swap them...
have a good day xx

[Hurdity]

Thanks for the update Optimist - so glad you like the Estradot!!! I think patches do give a more consistent dose than gel for some women because gel does depend on the area of skin you spread it on, and body/ambient temeprature etc whereas patches just stay the same pretty much (although maybe slight variation with body temp maybe?). Maybe also your own hormones are fluctuating less now too? Whatever the reason it looks like they suit you so fingers crossed you remain as stable as possible now!

I don't think you can return any medication once dispensed but if it hasn't been labelled maybe? If you returned to the pharmacy they might just throw them away?

Hurdity x