Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Scampidoodle on March 03, 2024, 05:35:35 PM
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Hi I wondered if anyone has had any experience with patches and oestrogel in terms of which has a more consistent dosing?
I’m ultra sensitive to oestrogen, even my own. Tried Estradot patches but ended up coming off after a few months. Following having covid I could even feel a boost in oestrogen (via jittery anxiety) on patch change day!
Trying a tiny amount of gel now, literally tiny. But I feel a boost of jittery anxiety about 20-30 mins after each application each morning. Seems to last at most 2 hrs but it’s horrid.
Wondering if patches would be better and whether gel gives you a big hit each morning compared to a patch?
I’ve been prescribed evorel so I can cut them smaller. I only need a tiny dose of oestrogen. I have histamine and mast cell issues so I cannot take a high dose at all.
Thanks!
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Hi Scamp
I found the gel too much for me . However i guess you could use a small amount. The patches work well for me..
Moon
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Hi too much in what way? I’m glad you’re better on patches! X
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I’m definitely better and more level on patches - Estradot 100 mg. With gel I would feel jittery in the morning after using and then by evening I was getting a flushed face and aching legs, even though I was on 4 pumps/day.
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Yes that’s what I’m getting! The jittery anxiety!
When you have a patch change do you feel any sort of boost on that day?
I don’t know if it’s me being ultra sensitive. I know you must have some left in your system from the old patch and then get a boost from the new one. But I also know it’s not common to feel it!! Seems to be an issue since I had covid in December
Thankyou x
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I haven't tried gel, but like you I'm extremely sensitive to many medications, including oestrogen.
I'm currently cutting up evorel 25 patches and using 1/6 patch.
I've found that if I change this daily, I can avoid any ups and downs. I put a bit of tegaderm film over the top to help adherence.
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That’s very interesting! I was considering cutting the evorel up into 1/8 of a patch!
Can I ask how you ended up down this road? Feel free to pm me if you would prefer.
I liked Estradot but it’s too small to cut up.
Does the Evorel not stick on very well?
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I've recently switched from gel to patches. My doctor told me the gel is an immediate release and the patches are slow release. The gel gives you more options with the dosing but you are getting an immediate hit of oestrogen, which can be too much for some of us, especially if you are on a high dose, that's why I've switched to patches. The problem with patches is the availability and how well they stick, plus you are very limited to the doses available. It's still early days for me with the patches but I do think I prefer them to the gel.
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Thanks Arya. I’m on tiny dose but do certainly feel that hit! I might change to patches again but a different sort. I can’t cut Estradot smaller than a quarter but I’ll have a go with Evorel!
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Hi Scampidoodle
Going by my previous posts you will see that i too struggle with the jittery physical anxiety feel - i hate his feeling its by far the worst.
I found the gel too messy and the patch has been by far the best - but dont do what I did - up the patch to the full 75!!! I always went up slowly - cutting my 75 patch down to around 60 - 63 - 65 - seems to work well alongside Yasmin pill (to hopefully stop or reduce fluctuations) To note - 50 patch was too low for me.
My advice would be to go very slowly on the patches, but give each dose around 2 weeks to settle - if still very jittery its too high xxx
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Thanks and yes I agree the jittery anxiety is the worst. Doom, dread, fear! About literally nothing!
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I haven't tried gel, but like you I'm extremely sensitive to many medications, including oestrogen.
I'm currently cutting up evorel 25 patches and using 1/6 patch.
I've found that if I change this daily, I can avoid any ups and downs. I put a bit of tegaderm film over the top to help adherence.
I’ve just measured out a full pump of gel and compared to the pump I do and it’s approx 1/6 of a pump! So very similar dose to you shorty. I press the pump down and when you do it stops slightly before you then press more heavily to get the full pump going. I do this initial tiny pump to get 1/6.
My evorel is in the post but I’ll give the gel a couple more days to see if it’s an initial issue or longer term xx
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It’s amazing
My GP said there was no way the oestrogen cream was causing my crippling anxiety as it was being applied internally and not via my whole system I just couldn’t understand why I’d turned into a pathetic crying trembling mess after a couple of weeks and now reading these posts I really believe it’s the meds I was on Estraderm patches for years with no problems but my gp took me off and I went into a horrible menopause for years and never been right since Problem is I don’t seem to be able to clear my system now The atrophy is just as bad the anxiety isn’t going despite medication for it and on and on it goes Such ignorance from the medics
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That’s awful for you. Why did they take you off estraderm?
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I also find the gel gives a hit when I apply it in the morning, but also that it wears off overnight and it feels like it has run out at certain times of the month before the 6am application. I am interested about the patches now if they are slow release as they might enable me to do a really low dose of estrogen but it be released consistently. Are they bio identical as well?
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Hey Penguin
My understanding is all oestrogen forms of hrt are bio identical, avoiding anything that begins with Prem, as these are derived from horses urine.
This was something I needed clarifying from my drs prior to commencing any form of hrt due to my personal ethics.
Hope someone with more definite knowledge can confirm this is the case ?
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I also find the gel gives a hit when I apply it in the morning, but also that it wears off overnight and it feels like it has run out at certain times of the month before the 6am application. I am interested about the patches now if they are slow release as they might enable me to do a really low dose of estrogen but it be released consistently. Are they bio identical as well?
What do you feel with the hit, Penguin?
I’m also wondering re the patch giving more consistency. No big hit. Just need to figure out if I can cut it up very small!
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Yes pretty much all bio-identical. Some of the tablet oestrogen is estradiol valerate but this is quickly metabolised into estradiol so is bio-identical to all intents and purposes. All patches and gels are estradiol.
Scampidoodle - I agree with others that patches are more stable. I only used gel for a couple of months but stopped not because of getting a hit, but because my flushes came back - so I've pretty much used patches for the whole 16 years I've been on HRT, and most of the time on much the same dose.
Re cutting up patches - I have found that nothing sticks quite so well as the edge of the patch as it is made - once you start cutting it, I find the edges begin to peel off a bit more especially the pointy bits. For the last few years I've been cutting about 12.5 mcg off from the Evorel to give me approx 62.5 mcg, but the cut edges can come away a bit - though I regularly have a feel to make sure it's stuck down!
I've tried 4 brands of patch and I would say that Evorel sticks the best though I can't remember about Elleste Solo. The one that sticks ;D in my mind is Estraderm which is MAHOOSIVE and was like going round with a plastic bag stuck to my backside! So if you're after one that you can cut up practically into more manageable smaller pieces for a more consistent dose, than tiny slivers of patch - then that's the one! And - it does come in a 25 mcg dose :) .
Hurdity x
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Thankyou hurdity
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I never have a hit when I change my patch, I just feel the same all the time. I’m so pleased I changed from gel to Estradot.