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[Vicky81]

Hi all
So...I really need to be honest as I'm really struggling.
So from 7th May I started crying spells again after me being on 65 patch fir months.
So in a panic I started upping and downing the patch. Crying and more anxiety came.
I then got gel and started adding gel to my patches....one day 4, next day different amount...this went on for a week.
Anxiety mounted.
My friend who I met on here then suggested sticking to a plan to get balanced ....that I can't cho n change and said add gel to patch.
So recently I've been doing 64 patch started with 4 gel for 2 days then 2 gels for 2 days.   Yesterday being the last day.
I have tapers off my AD with wed being the last day of it as it made me so much worse I couldn't take it.
The side effects have still been affecting me even yesterday I'm crying so hard ...feeling very anxious and hormonal.....but my partner says ive still got the side effects to leave my body yet....gp thinks a week.

So...I know I've been stupid, but it appears the gels have been making me jittery.
I woke at 2am with anxiety in bed again...and sweats on my chest which I had months ago when dose too low.
But the last week I've been worse than ever.
So this morning my partner said vicky I think the patches are your best bet....they've always done you the best yiu just need to stick at a dose.
My crying and mood has been so bad and I havebt been  showering hardly my anxiety has been so bad.

So would you all agree to the patch for me at say 80mg? I've always known if too high so cute them down.im also calling gp at 8.

Please can you help me I'm in desperation ....just want reassurance that you feel i shoukd stick with the patch....my friend said people can get jittery off the gel and can name anxiety worse? Xxx



So....of course now the 65 is too low

[Dotty]

Hi so sorry to hear you are struggling.

It’s not a case of gel being better than patch or vice versa. It’s which one suits you. I’ve been on gel for 6 years and have never experienced what you describe.

You have to be patient with hrt and take things slowly. You shouldn’t need to be cutting patches as the dosages they come in should be fine. I think you need to either carry on with the combined pill on its own or stop it and use the oestrogen patches or gel with progesterone.

Your body needs to settle down after all the swapping and changing.

What is your GP or menopause specialist advising ? x

[Vicky81]

Yeah I vut the patch from around a year ago as I was told you could and it worked for me as I found 75 too high way back when
I told my gp about using both she said reluctantly ok....but because I've been so bad, very low, anxiety is bad that I dont go out....that I dobt know what to do ...or which method

[Vicky81]

So did you find the gel worked quickly dotty? How long did it take you to feel right? Did u have anxiety.

[Dotty]

https://www.earlymenopause.com/information/topics/hrt-vs-birth-control/

This article explains the difference between the pill and HRT . The pill overrides your own hormones. HRT adds in hormones, so by taking both you are doing both which won’t work.

[Dotty]

Hi hrt doesn’t work quickly for most women unfortunately. It’s a matter of finding the right dose and sticking to it until your levels have increased to a level where they control your symptoms.

Yes I had anxiety and every other symptom under the sun. It took a few months but once I was on the right type and dose the symptoms started getting better slowly. I saw improvement within a month.

[Vicky81]

Awww thanks dotty....so would you suggest I stick on the patch as its always worked well in my favour alongside the pill

I needed the patch once on the pill as I was still getting sweats a bit at night

It's just thus anxiety it's so bad

[Vicky81]

Dotty were you very low and crying?

[CrispyChick]

Are you under a specialist Vicky?

As someone who is struggling like hell with peri - I completely empathise.

That said, I am also surprised you are adding a patch to the pill. You just said on the pill only you were still getting some sweats at night.

We're those soooo bad??? I just wonder if adding the extra E in patch or gel, whilst stopping the sweats, is making other stuff a lot lot worse.

I truly believe that when in peri, we cannot eradicate everything. But it's picking what works best to get us through.

As aside - I've tried most pills over the last few years - and some actually give me night sweats!

I think you need to speak with your specialist, if you have one. Xx

[Vicky81]

Crispy- the pill has worked so  good along with a cut down patch until 4yh may.
I started to vet symptoms again ....and it's got worse.
I've been messing around with doses as there is no doubt I was dipping in oestrogen.
Never had sweats on the pill .

So I your opinion would you just up the patch and stick to it?

[Vicky81]

Got gp ringing as can't seem to make my mind up what yo go with

Please advise me all I'm really in a bad way

[CrispyChick]

So, if you had a specialist give u the patch on top of the pill. Then I'd stick to the original dose they recommended.

And stick. The first month might not be great. But all the changes cause as many symptoms as the things themselves. Trust me - I have changed so many things during this hellish peri myself. It causes turmoil. I get it. It's desperation. Xx

[Vicky81]

Just to tell u all....i started on the gels 3 then 4 by a meno clinic in 2022....my very first go at it.
At 8 weeks I was still no better the gynaecologist said go on patches as u shoukd have had some improvement.
Ever since starting 50 patch with pill I went on and up.
But now I'm back to how I was....I got to 65 patch brilliant then after few months this dip or fluctuations have happened......

Please advise me as I'm alone ...mo females that I can talk to. You think upping the patch and sticking?

[Vicky81]

Thanks crispy- but he issue I have is the dose now....65 went too low ....do you mean stick with what dose the gp now gives me cos I need to increase no doubts

[CrispyChick]

Ok. Then yes. If GP increases. Stick stick stick.

Although, if you are under a specialist, I'd think they'd be better placed to advise. Perhaps your GP could ask their advice. Xx