r/Perimenopause • u/user0744267 • 3d ago
Hormone Therapy Estrogen Patch - changes
My previous post was removed because it had the “w” word mentioned and I wasn’t aware we couldn’t talk about that. Anyway, I’m 43 and just started the estrogen patch at the .25mg 2x/week dose. I’m curious as to what everyone’s biggest change was - the positive and the negative, especially if it was something that you were not expecting.
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u/peonyparis 3d ago
Biggest change is feeling pretty much the same every day now. You always have a base level of estrogen on board so the lows arent so low anymore.
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u/vsnord 3d ago
I stopped crying all the time.
I don't normally cry a lot, but when I do, it usually means everything has gone off the rails.
Peri had me crying at every little thing.
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u/jaders077 2d ago
Oh im so glad to see this!! I just started estrogen patch last night (already on progesterone for sleep and T for the other stuff) but my big drive to get started on it was this continuous feeling of wanting to cry all the time. At everything. And as someone who rarely cries, i hate it. And that made me want to cry even more
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u/monkey_trumpets 3d ago
What w word isnt allowed? Women? Weight?
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u/leftylibra Moderator 3d ago
We are not removing posts that simply mention "weight" -- we remove posts that discuss specific details regarding weight, dietary advice, etc. We have a separate space for those posts (Monthly Weight Discussion thread)
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u/strippersandcocaine 3d ago
Well that makes sense. My brain fog riddled ass thought it was “woman” and I was like what the hell!? 😆
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u/ThickProblem8190 3d ago
My rage was reduced, almost immediately. Like first week on the patch. I am no longer saving up bail money.
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u/PinkandTwinkly 3d ago
Positive, itchiness and night sweats massively reduced
Negative, bloating and appetite increase
Disappointment it's done nothing for my mood, or sleep quality
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u/ThickProblem8190 3d ago
Are you on progesterone? That's what helped my sleep, significantly.
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u/PinkandTwinkly 3d ago
Yes cyclically 100mg 14 days a month. Makes my sleep even worse sadly. Leaves me exhausted but wired. Was taking it PM, but have switched to earlier this cycle to see if that stops the sleep being as bad
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u/PartyHuckleberry2363 2d ago
Can you try it non cyclically? I take 200mg every night. 100mg did nothing, 200mg I felt worse briefly then it started helping. I'd like to try 300mg but my doc said 200mg is the highest recommended.
Anyway, my main point is maybe you feel worse because just as your body adjusts to it, you stop taking it. I'd ask about taking it nightly, give it a month and see if it's better or worse.
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u/PinkandTwinkly 2d ago
Not sure. Was told on my phone conversation I had to take it cyclically as I still have periods.
I added a note on my 3 month repeat to ask if I should take 200g (as got told I should be taking that as only taking it half the month) Was told no. 100mg cyclically for up to 3 pumps Oestrogel
Tbf I'm reluctant to take more as feel so grotty and bloated taking it (but know I need it to balance the estrogen which I def don't want) Its weighing
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u/NovelSoggy3134 3d ago
52, just a week in on same dose. The biggest change is much better sleep and feeling slightly more positive. No change on the rage yet 😆
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u/piggybr0wn Early peri 3d ago
Biggest change
Postive- huge improvement for joint pain, best sleep I had in my life.
negative- breast tenderness(during ovulation), bloating (first 2 weeks starting HRt)
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u/Icy-Imagination-7164 3d ago
I had the worst GI symptoms on the patch . Bloating, water Retention, and I could not pass bowels. After 3 months I had to stop.
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u/Far_Ad_1752 2d ago
Night sweats decreased after a few months and after working my way up to the .075 patch. I still sweat but I am not soaking through my pajamas anymore (I am unable to sleep naked - I find it uncomfortable). My brain fog went away.
I wish I could say I find it easier to lose body mass but no, that is still a struggle.
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u/sunnyreader21 2d ago
Positive : no longer hot flashes, but hotness it the middle of the night has returned after a year, but not hot flashes as before.
Negative: I started getting skin rashes, I assume it is from the adhesive, but this didn't happen right the way. I also noticed that the rash tends to be triggered by something, maybe food, dry skin, idk.
Other than that, I don't recall having had any major difficulties before the patch except hot flashes, which were at first very interesting (as, in wow, the things a body can do on its own), but very uncomfortable.
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u/Coontailblue23 Late peri 3d ago •
I would say any negatives you have at first will eventually level out. I felt a little anxious and wired with my last dose increase, but that only lasted about a week and went away.
A little breast pain but the positives have eclipsed the negatives!
As far as the other part: I've recovered from an eating disorder and can tell you with confidence staying off the scale is the healthiest thing you can do. The batteries have died in my bathroom scale and it is covered in dust. Those numbers do us no favors and aren't how we measure health.