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[clare663]

Hi all. Im 49 and 5 yrs post meno. i started on Evorel conti patches 5weeks ago. i had to start on 1/3 patch and work my way up to a whole patch after 3 weeks. all has been ok but now i feel like im going backwards with awful low mood and anxiety! is it too much, is it too low, shall I give up on the patch or do I hope it improves? i know I Cant carry on feeling like this!
any ideas anyone?

[Ljp]

I use oestrogel, not patches, but it might be too much too soon? Maybe worth going back a stage and staying there a while?
No doubt others will be along to offer advice too.
But I know with the oestrogel, if I use too much it sends me into a slump!

[Sooby]

Clare,

        try half a patch and see how you go but give yourself a little time for things to settle back down again. Sounds like a little too much too soon. Or perhaps just a little too much for your needs. You felt fine on a lower dose so reducing the dose should have you feeling fine again soon.

[clare663]

Hi and thank you. I increased the dose as even though it got me to a happier place it hadnt stopped my hot flushes. I am due to change my patch tomorrow so I will take your advice and cut it again.

[Dancinggirl]

clare663 - welcome to MM
Did you read the leaflet?  did your doctor suggest you start by cutting the patches up?
As you are post meno then you need to use the whole patch and change them as the instructions say so you body gets the right amount of hormones to alleviate your meno symptoms.
It is very early days and as you have been oestrogen deficient for many years it is going to take a while for the hormones to do the magic.  Be patient - if in 3 months you are not feeling better or you are geting bad side effects then you need to try a different HRt type.  The progesterone in these patches is synthetic and taking it all the time can bring some low mood, so many of us choose to use a sequential HRT which means you only take progesterone for half the month but means you get a withdrawal bleed.   You may be someone who would do better with a Mirena coil and then add oestrogen as gel or patch. Stick with the patches for a few weeks to see how it goes - things may settle. Keep us posted.  Dg xxx

[clare663]

Hi Dancinggirl. I read on hear about cutting the patches as after 1 day of starting on them I felt so sick I ripped it off. I had a check at week 4 with the GP and she said that was fine to gradually bring it back up and by that time I had already gone onto the whole patch as I was feeling fab. I was woken during the night last night and had such an awful time trying to go back to sleep because my heart was racing and this morning I feel quite sick again! I have put a whole patchy on again this morning and will try and go with it but Im panicking as my daughter gets married in less than 4 weeks and I dont want to feel like this on the day! xx

[Dancinggirl]

Hi clare663 - the initial side effects as the body adjusts to the hormones can be quite alarming I know - palpitations, strange tingling sensations etc. are quiet common and as you have gone so long without oestrogen it may take a bit longer for things to improve. What a shame you weren't advised to use HRT earlier!!! Being oestrogen deficient so young is not good - at least you've got some HRT now.  I'm afraid it can be trial and error till you find the right balance but for now I'd try to persevere with what you have at the moment.  I have to say when I tried these patches I got a surge on the first day it was applied and then this tailed off quite quickly - so had a fluctuating effect - however for you this effect will probably subside once your body has built up the hormone levels.  Do expect some spotting or even some bleeding as this is common in the first few months on a continuous HRT regime and is quite normal - this should settle in the first 3-6 months.
Have a look under the TREATMENT section on MM to get clued up about your options. We all have to find what works best for us - many women love the patches you are using and do really well.
You may do better on pills or as I suggested have the Mirena fitted and use some gel each day to give the oestrogen - this gel can be adjusted to your needs.  Try to relax and not panic at this stage - do some relaxation if possible and I'm sure you will start to feel good in the next month or so.  Dg x

[clare663]

Hi Dancinggirl. I have had two attempts at HRT before. The first time I was in peri and the tablets sent me doolally in a week! The next attempt was a combined tablet which I perservered with for 6 months and each month the periods got more heavier and more painful and I ended up a crying wreck so stopped taking them. I then managed well off the Hrt for over 2 years before the anxiety and tearfulness came back so back to the GP I went. It was me notwilling to take the HRT because of the previous two attempts and i was scared! x

[Dancinggirl]

Ahh, poor thing - you haven't been helped through this journey, have you!!! Finding the right HRT can be really tricky and often needs specialist help. Do discuss the option of the mirena - it might be worth giving it a go.  I have problems with bleeding and cramps as well and it is a real nuisance - I did have a Mirena for 4 years in my 50s (I was post meno) and did OK with it.  Keep us posted.
 Dg x

[Lizab]

clare663, I don't have any advice for you but wanted to say that I ripped my patch off at first too! First time I put it on in the evening, woke up the next morning feeling really weird, lasted til lunchtime and ripped it off. About a month later tried again and all went fine. Then, a few months later, went to increase the dose, applied the patch and ripped it off and went back to the lower dose after 24 hours. Again, gave it a few days, tried the higher dose again and have been doing well on it since. In those first few months I was very up and down. One day fine, the next day awful, and sometimes changing by the hour. Some of us are very sensitive to the hormones. It does level out.

[clare663]

Hi Lizab, thank you for your reply. I did put a full patch on yesterday and this morning I am not anxious but feel quite sick. this may be coincidence but I felt sick yesterday morning too. Hopefully this will ease like it did yesterday morning. I guess with my own hormones fluctuating I will get the odd side effect with the rise and fall.