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[kittydaydream]

Hi all I’m desperate for advice please!
Ive been on 100 estraderm for a couple of years and was ok ish on it, I had mirena fitted in august 2024 and went downhill with overwhelming fatigue/anxiety, I had bloods done couple weeks ago and E had gone from 400 to 120! So does this mean I’ve not been absorbing? I’ve tried gel for a couple of weeks but I hate it! If I re start the gel estraderm will absorption still be an issue or is it worth trying another patch?

I would be really grateful for your advice 🙏

[bombsh3ll]

It is definitely worth trying a different brand.

If there is no improvement in symptoms and blood levels then either increasing the dose or changing to oral if you don't like gel would be the next option.

Funny this coincided with having the IUS - I wonder if this has potentially made your skin oilier?

How are the patches sticking?

I found hypafix or softpore adhesive dressings over the top very helpful. Also using rubbing alcohol on the application site to strip the oil beforehand, and heat bonding the patch to your skin are a couple more tips from the IVF community.

[kittydaydream]

Thank you for the great info! Funny you say about oiliness, my skin really is at the moment! I’d like to try estradot but apparently that’s in short supply so may I could ask for Evorel x

[joziel]

I'd try another brand of patch. I hate the messy time consuming gel application thing.

The problem is there is a shortage of Estradot 100s at the moment. I am having to wear EIGHT 25 Estradot patches, to make up my 200mcg dose - because I refuse to switch brands after everything I've been through.

This is all such crap... (They are even out of stock on the 50s now.)

[bombsh3ll]

T

The problem is there is a shortage of Estradot 100s at the moment. I am having to wear EIGHT 25 Estradot patches, to make up my 200mcg dose - because I refuse to switch brands after everything I've been through.

That's awful, you're a human collage!

I just don't see that kind of medicine shortage ever being tolerated for any product used by men!

[joziel]

Exactly. What's even worse is that I previously tested on 200mcg (2x 100mcg) patches plus 6 pumps of gel at 880pmol.

I just re-tested on 100mcg plus 2x 50mcg (still 200mcg but made up with different patches) plus 6 pumps of gel - and it was 660pmol.

The first test was done during my period, on day 3. The second test was done on day 19 (mainly to check P levels). So you'd think the second would have the higher E level, if anything...

So now I've no idea what's going on, and whether due to the grimy ring around each patch maybe, when you wear multiple patches to make up a dose, there is actually less surface area involved... So maybe I'm not getting as much E as with a bigger patch.

Arrrrggg. You spend so long trying to get this just right and then this kind of thing happens. Who knows what's going to go on when I end up on these 25s I just got... Maybe I will stick an extra one on!!

[kittydaydream]

Oh Lordy Joziel! That’s ridiculous! It’s really frustrating as I’d really like to try estradot! Maybe I’ll ask for Evorel
Thank you 🙏

[kittydaydream]

Out of the three years I’ve been on hrt I think I’ve felt reasonably good for 6 ‘months! I’m so fed up of it! Every hange takes so long then if it doesn’t work you have to go through it all over again!

[joziel]

I think Estradots are the best patches because they seem to stick best and they are also the smallest. But... also not available right now unless you want to use a ton of 25s. Which you could ask for...

[kittydaydream]

Thanks Joziel I called the pharmacy and they can’t get it at all! I also wondered if low oestrogen can cause period like symptoms- I feel like my body is fighting to produce one but then I have a mirena and nothing happens! I get lower abdomen discomfort and an upset stomach! X

[joziel]

It might be worth trying Evorel in that case. It is what Dr Newson herself uses so can't be too bad  (Although I think she uses 2-3 of them because they do wrinkle!)

Are you signed up with the Pharmacy2U who deliver your NHS prescriptions via Royal Mail? It's great, no more going to pick stuff up. Just order in the app and it arrives in the post for free. Check it out.

I give them a call each month to see what Estradots they have in stock, before I request my repeat. So far they've always had SOME. Then I tell my GP (this time via the NHS app note box) what Estradots they have in stock, and she prescribes me what I need that month, using that. I wrote her a little explanation about not wanting to switch brands...

It is working so far.

Then I have access to CloudRX private pharmacy via Newson Health, who often can get things in stock which other pharmacies can't. Although even they didn't have Estradot 100s....

[kittydaydream]

Great tip I’ll set that up x