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[HaRuHaRu]

Will Estradot patch ever become readily available again?

I’m on HRT for PMDD & Perimenopause and it’s not going well.

I started on Evorel 100 patch and felt like it could be helping but I then started getting bad skin reactions to the patch so switched to 4 pumps of Estrogel. I’ve never felt l the benefits from the gel like I did with the patch.

I do think it’s helping in some ways but not with PMDD which has really bad again.

I would really like to try Estradot 100. But it doesn’t look like that’s ever going to be readily available?

This is more of a moan than anything really. I’ve stared the HRT journey about 8 months ago and it’s been a rollercoaster with reactions and flooding etc and as well as issues with the oestrogen patch, I also couldn’t tolerate Utrogestan at all orally and not much improvement vaginally. I now use Cyclogest 200 for 12 days which is an an improvement in terms of side effects in comparison to Utrogestan but I don’t feel like it’s a long term solution.

I feel like I’m losing hope with all of this after starting off so hopeful.

[CLKD]

Morning.  With depression I found the blips harder to deal with than the over all illness, the 'will this ever improve' thought patterns.

Who over sees your HRT regime?  Hopefully some1 will be along with more knowledge! 

[SarahT]

Hello, I think with have been on the same posts as before...

And never apologise for having a moan. Moods are one of the worse symptoms and can be extremely severe.

 My cyclical moods got horrific, very dark thoughts and just hell. I did increase to 125 patch and this did slowly begin to make a difference. On speaking to my gp who understood these moods were hormone related I also added in a low dose AD ( mirtazapine)

Initially these were prescribed only for the literal phase, the run up to my period. But it made such a difference I take it each night. Was prescribed a 7.5 dose but this was too strong for me and believe it or not I just take a 1\4 tablet, about 3.75. I now get pms, much more  manageable. Obviously being peri my hormones are still fluctuating so I may need to adjust things. It's been hard, a year of so many ups and mostly downs but I did persevere and feel more stable atm.

Worth thinking about an AD to support things maybe. Alo there is a pmdd website but you probably know that.

Sorry it's hard for you. x

As for estradot, , my local Boots says not available until January. insane. I am starting to take my prescription to any chemist I go near hoping they may have stock.

[HaRuHaRu]

Morning.  With depression I found the blips harder to deal with than the over all illness, the 'will this ever improve' thought patterns.

Who over sees your HRT regime?  Hopefully some1 will be along with more knowledge!

CLKD thanks. Yes when hope goes there’s not much else.

I see a private GP who’s a hormone specialist - she also works in Dr Panay’s private clinic. I have other health issues too so I wanted to see someone with specific PMDD knowledge as well as having some understanding of other health issues. Ive been due to make a followup appt with her for a long time but I’ve not arranged it yet - even that feels too difficult - partly because my head is such a jumble and I want to get it clear - to remind her of my history and what’s gone on up until now with HRT - and to ask for some blood tests before seeing her (not even sure what tests to ask for) - it’s expensive and I don’t want to waste the appointment. But I know I need to sort it out.

[CLKD]

Morning.  I understand the being overwhelmed feelings, it's easier to put things off.  Would you B able to send an e-mail with your current symptoms, ask the question about the next appt. and the pre-appt blood tests?  Or have a telephone call to get issues sorted which will clear your head?

I am surrounded by boxes which need sorting - slight meander but it's easier to put off because then I have to find 'homes' for stuff.  Our spare bedroom is FULL not the quiet space it began. when I brought furniture from my childhood house!

..... and breath.  I find making lists helpful, which reminds me!

[HaRuHaRu]

Morning.  I understand the being overwhelmed feelings, it's easier to put things off.  Would you B able to send an e-mail with your current symptoms, ask the question about the next appt. and the pre-appt blood tests?  Or have a telephone call to get issues sorted which will clear your head?

I am surrounded by boxes which need sorting - slight meander but it's easier to put off because then I have to find 'homes' for stuff.  Our spare bedroom is FULL not the quiet space it began. when I brought furniture from my childhood house!

..... and breath.  I find making lists helpful, which reminds me!

Thanks CLKD, I have lists coming out of my earholes! They’re more a hindrance atm as it’s so jumbled - I sort of want forget my notes and start again but also want to go through and consolidate things as I’m sure there’s useful info in them… Yes I think an email to her first is a good step, thank you - break it down a bit - outline my health history to remind her - my symptoms and HRT journey to date - my current issues/ concerns - bloods test question - and then make an appointment to discuss next steps. I’d kind of prefer a phone appointment but also think sometimes it’s good for the doctors to physically see you as a real person in front of them.

Good luck with sorting through boxes and finding places for things - I know that feeling! Bit by bit…

[HaRuHaRu]

Hello, I think with have been on the same posts as before...

And never apologise for having a moan. Moods are one of the worse symptoms and can be extremely severe.

 My cyclical moods got horrific, very dark thoughts and just hell. I did increase to 125 patch and this did slowly begin to make a difference. On speaking to my gp who understood these moods were hormone related I also added in a low dose AD ( mirtazapine)

Initially these were prescribed only for the literal phase, the run up to my period. But it made such a difference I take it each night. Was prescribed a 7.5 dose but this was too strong for me and believe it or not I just take a 1\4 tablet, about 3.75. I now get pms, much more  manageable. Obviously being peri my hormones are still fluctuating so I may need to adjust things. It's been hard, a year of so many ups and mostly downs but I did persevere and feel more stable atm.

Worth thinking about an AD to support things maybe. Alo there is a pmdd website but you probably know that.

Sorry it's hard for you. x

As for estradot, , my local Boots says not available until January. insane. I am starting to take my prescription to any chemist I go near hoping they may have stock.

SarahT yes, I think I was feeling more positive when we’ve interacted in the past. I was actually starting to reply on your recent post about CFS but what I was thinking wasn’t making so much sense when I was writing it, so I haven’t commented yet.

I’m considering AD’s but I’m so sensitive to all these things and I’d rather get HRT as stable as I can before adding anything else (been about 8 months so far).

I’d be like you and want to take a minuscule dose and to just take in the weeks leading up to my bleed but it’s confusing atm as I don’t think my HRT cycle is synced with my natural cycle anymore and I don’t think its being suppressed by the Estrogel like it was on the patch, so I’m getting what feels like two cycles of PMDD at different times if that makes sense? At least before I could plan around when I knew my bad weeks would be but it’s not so easy atm.

Next cycle I’ve decided to start the progesterone as soon as PMDD symptoms start and see if that makes things more synced/ reset. Who knows.

Do you know if they mean Estradot will be readily available in January rather than scarcely available?! I’m pinning my hopes on it working better for me. Crazy you have to go from chemist to chemist in the hope to get some.

Ps it is really good to hear that things are starting to feel more stable for you now. 

[SarahT]

Hi,

Am no expert on any of this but are your two times of worsening moods maybe ovulation and actual period? I.e every 14 days? It seems my own cycle refuses to alter and at age 57 I am still 28 days apart each month, so the lead up to periods is easy to track. As I say My AD does is tiny, but right now effective as such are my current symptoms and cycle.
It's good you plan how to try to re sync your own cycle to have a clearer idea of when to expect the worse. I agree trying to stabilise the hrt first is a good idea as well. In essence I also did that,  going from 100 to 125 in a pretty small time scale then adding on the AD as a support. The difference for me I guess is that I coped ok with the increases.

As for the Estradot supplies I have had no luck at getting any from chemists I have visited. They seem helpful, but clueless as to when supplies may become available.
This afternoon I wrote to the manufacturers of Estradot to see if they can shed any light. It makes me feel so vulnerable. Having taken a year to get to this level after a terrible mental health and anxiety and estradot has been my best result. I will of course post should I hear back from them.

Wish you well, let us know how you get on and do post when you need a bit of support. X

[HaRuHaRu]

Hi,

Am no expert on any of this but are your two times of worsening moods maybe ovulation and actual period? I.e every 14 days? It seems my own cycle refuses to alter and at age 57 I am still 28 days apart each month, so the lead up to periods is easy to track. As I say My AD does is tiny, but right now effective as such are my current symptoms and cycle.
It's good you plan how to try to re sync your own cycle to have a clearer idea of when to expect the worse. I agree trying to stabilise the hrt first is a good idea as well. In essence I also did that,  going from 100 to 125 in a pretty small time scale then adding on the AD as a support. The difference for me I guess is that I coped ok with the increases.

As for the Estradot supplies I have had no luck at getting any from chemists I have visited. They seem helpful, but clueless as to when supplies may become available.
This afternoon I wrote to the manufacturers of Estradot to see if they can shed any light. It makes me feel so vulnerable. Having taken a year to get to this level after a terrible mental health and anxiety and estradot has been my best result. I will of course post should I hear back from them.

Wish you well, let us know how you get on and do post when you need a bit of support. X

Thanks SarahT

Pre HRT and to start with on HRT my lead up was easy to track and my cycle was regular until I had an extended flooding bleed for a long time and I think/ presume that’s what’s made the HRT cycle and my natural cycle out of whack now.

I’m now on day 8 of my HRT cycle. My bleed stopped on day 5. And for the past two days (days 7 & 8 of HRT cycle) I’ve started having pms symptoms: sore boobs/ cravings/ headache/ insomnia/ tearful/ anxious/ pms fatigue and cramps - could this be my natural cycles ovulation? It’s not full on PMDD right now but feels like pms/lead up to period feelings starting to build. This used to be my best time of month symptom-wise. I’m gonna give it another day or so and if the symptoms continue or get stronger then I’ll try starting the progesterone sooner, I think? Or maybe I should just start tonight? Then maybe/ hopefully when I bleed next time I’ll have the relief I used to get after my period.

Thanks again. Xx 

[SarahT]

It could be your own cycle kicking in by sound of it. When so was on the 100 patch I was still in bits with the severe pms and dark moods. When I went up to the 125 patch I started to feel it lessening, I think I have had 4 months on the 125 now and although I still get pms and my moods dip is is so much better than before. I actually told the gp I did not feel safe with myself anymore prior to that. Still can't get over how our  hormones seemingly turn on us.

I hope that someone else may be able to advise you on the progesterone side of things.  Couldn't tolerate utrogestan, it made me feel like I was two different people for half each month. I went and had the mirena coil fitted as for me, the steady release of progesterone seems to work better, a bit more stable.
I really feel for you, the massively severe moods have always been my worse peri symptom.

I hope the next day for so brings some relief x

Ps Estradot  has apparently changed manufacturers, so I have now written to the new supplier ( Sandoz I think ) and if I hear back I will advise what  they have to say about availability

[HaRuHaRu]

It could be your own cycle kicking in by sound of it. When so was on the 100 patch I was still in bits with the severe pms and dark moods. When I went up to the 125 patch I started to feel it lessening, I think I have had 4 months on the 125 now and although I still get pms and my moods dip is is so much better than before. I actually told the gp I did not feel safe with myself anymore prior to that. Still can't get over how our  hormones seemingly turn on us.

I hope that someone else may be able to advise you on the progesterone side of things.  Couldn't tolerate utrogestan, it made me feel like I was two different people for half each month. I went and had the mirena coil fitted as for me, the steady release of progesterone seems to work better, a bit more stable.
I really feel for you, the massively severe moods have always been my worse peri symptom.

I hope the next day for so brings some relief x

Ps Estradot  has apparently changed manufacturers, so I have now written to the new supplier ( Sandoz I think ) and if I hear back I will advise what  they have to say about availability

Yeah I know the not feeling safe with myself feelings too well - v scary. It’s good to hear there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m feeling like I’m slipping so I decided to start the Cyclogest tonight and treat it like it’s day 15 again. I hope I’m doing the right thing.

I could try going up to 5 pumps of Estrogel but I feel like the 4 pumps just isn’t working like the Evorel 100 patch did - so I think I need a different delivery method.

I need to email my specialist to discuss options and arrange to get my oestrogen tested to see if I’m absorbing - and any other tests that might help.   

I’m not keen on the idea of the coil and weirdly my specialist didn’t think it was a good idea for me when most specialists seem to push for it.

Thank you for the Estradot update and for taking the time to reply again. Xx

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on.

[HaRuHaRu]

Let us know how you get on.

Thanks CLKD. Will do. I had disturbed sleep last night but not insomnia. Woken up feeling groggy like I do when I take cyclogest. Will see how it goes this next cycle and what my specialist says when I eventually contact her. Hope your sorting boxes is going ok. Xx

[CLKD]

Tnx.  Have transferred my energies from boxes to garden weeds/shrubs etc.  ;-)

[SarahT]

Good idea to email your specialist for advice both on the oestrogen dose of method as you know it's a bit of trial and error to find what works best, which is hard enough with out  the fluctuations to factor in.

When my moods were at their worse and I didn't feel safe , I found it better to stick being physically close to my OH, just for reassurance, when I was a bit panicky and vulnerable.  Despite feeling scared my gp felt rightly obliged to ask if I knew numbers to call if things , just for some reassurance if it spiralled down. I hope a different form of hrt may help you get to a better stability.

Am hoping I will finally end my natural cycle and the pms may even wane.  Here's hoping anyway.
Take care