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[Gilla999]

I've hit complete rock bottom over the last few weeks of horrific anxiety, insomnia, to the point where I am now under the daily care of the local NHS crisis team, one step away from becoming an in patient.

As previously this has been triggered by huge surges in my hormones (especially Estrogen) to very high levels, which seems to have a catastrophic impact on my brain and body. This time around it was triggered by coming off the 4 day trial of the contraceptive pill and the resulting surge in hormones. I'm very, very scared and have never been in this bad a place before.

I am considering switching from my 1/4 of a 25 Evorel patch to a tiny dose of gel - measuring it out on mini scales. Although i don't think this is going to fix the overall issue, I do feel that the patches are giving me big peaks and troughs (on patch day) and also because I have a bath daily, although I try not to get it wet I think there could be be some patch dumping happening there too. All in all I don't find it a stable method of delivery and found Lenzetto which I used to use much more smooth, but I developed a dermatitis rash to it.

I fully realise it's a very unique experience but is there any consensus at all about which is stronger out of patches and gel? I'm terrified of more upheaval and just wondered if anyone had any experience to share

[CLKD]

I'm replying to keep 1 page open as again the thread has multiplied itself!

So sorry that U are suffering 

[CLKD]

How were U during your menstruating years?

Dr Kathleen Dalton did a lot of research and supported women via The National Association of Pre-menstrual Syndrome so it may B worth while dropping by the web-site and asking if they can give advice.

 

Do any of the mental health team have menopausal knowledge? 

[Minusminnie]

Have the mental health crisis team been able to prescribe or organise a prescription for something to address your lack of sleep ?

[Nas]

Gosh Gilla, things sound awful.

Are the mental health team knowledgeable in hormonal health?

Personally, I found the gel to be far stronger than patches. I would immediately feel this surge of hormone/ adrenaline through my body on application which didn’t agree with me. Patches I found much smoother and gentler.

Do you need additional oestrogen, if the surges are making you ill? How does the 1/4 patch help you?

Can you afford to see a private medic, who would be able to take over your care?

Obviously we are all individual and respond to hrt preparations differently. But for me, gel felt much stronger.

[donnacrichton]

First of all I am sending you the biggest hug ever.

I was in your position in 2011 and did end up getting admitted into a psych ward for three months. Like you the estrogen rollercoaster was torture.

 Best bit of advice I could give you is please don’t keep changing your dose. I measured gel with a syringe and cut patches by millimetres. I done this for nearly three years looking for any relief. The more I changed things the worse it got. I was  on this page daily hoping for answers.

In hindsight I created so much more symptoms by changing doses and between patches and gel.

I have been on patches and pretty stable since covid but still have anxiety. I have fatigue and joint pain and popped on here just for some advice. I adjusted my patch down 25mcg and bang and the old rollercoaster has began. I had forgotten how awful it was and I wish I had left it alone.

The good news is you know it is the estrogen that is the rollercoaster I thought I was going mad as nobody had a clue what was going on.


I’m not sure if you are in Peri and completely post menopause. I was peri and managed to get a specialist to give me a drug to stop my ovaries from working so I was only getting the hrt. I ended up with my ovaries removed all very drastic but as I say I did cause myself a lot more trauma. Check if you can be seen by a menopause specialist as GPs are nowhere near to understanding what is happening ❤️

[MrsMitch]

Hello Gilla, I'm so sorry you're in a tough place, sending you a huge hug. I didn't get on with patches as they always came off and although I stuck a waterproof clear dressing over the top, I got a nasty rash with each patch until I was covered in sore patches!
So I changed to gel and once I got the dose right (trying again to sort that, but that's irrelevant to this conversation) I found my sleep gradually returned to normal and my other symptoms subsided gradually.  Personally I much prefer the gel over the patches. I hope that helps a little, I do wish you well and hope you get sorted.

[Nas]

How are you today Gilla? X

[discogirl]

Hi Gilla

You've been on my mind as I've following this thread, I hope you're okay x

[joziel]

Gilla, I hope you're okay. This whole thing sucks.

With the patches and gel, I don't seem to absorb gel very well at all. On 6 pumps of it I had only 330pmol and when I increased to 12 pumps, I was still around 330pmol - so wasn't able to absorb more of it.

The patches I absorb much better. On 200mcg patches plus 6 pumps of gel I was 890pmol, which is higher than I was aiming for (450-650pmol) - which means that 2x 100mcg patches got me from 330 up to 890. So I've now cut out the gel and am just on the patches and will re-test again in 6wks. I might need 150mcg on the patches, we'll see.

[sfreesto]

I couldn’t cope with gel, it was jittery highs shortly after application followed by joint pain lows. For me patches have been better as I seem to have a more steady release. From what I understand though everyone is different.

I hope you feel better soon.