Any tips for keeping patches on?

[reup]

I’ve just been prescribed femseven sequi patches. I followed the instructions and after 2 hours it was curling and coming off and had air bubbles. I’ve only been given 2 months worth so that’s now down to one months worth.

Can I put a plaster over the top or what?

Also it says don’t wear tight clothes so that would mean tights, leggings, exercise trousers? That’s not very realistic?

I’m so desperate and I was told I couldn’t have tablets so this is my only hope (my symptoms are extreme depression, anger, crying a lot, waking at 4, aching all over, thinning hair: dry mouth - not hot flushes)

Any top tips?

Thanks

[Battyoldbat]

No help with the patches I’m afraid, but I’m just curious as to why you were told you couldn’t have tablets? My gp said they weren’t allowed to prescribe patches at their surgery, it had to be pills as they are much cheaper!

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

I’m on a similar patch and at first they did keep coming off. It’s better now, I’ve been on them about 6 months so think I’m getting a bit better at it 🙂

I’ve found that if I shower, then make sure my skin is really dry, they stay on better.

Can’t help with the tight clothes question though. If my instructions say that, I must have missed it.

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Batty my GP gave me a load of info and let me decide. I’ve got a Mirena fitted so patches seemed the obvious choice.

[ineedaholidaynow]

I thought the tight clothing bit meant don't put them where eg knicker elastic, top of tights would be, if that makes sense.

I use similar patches and haven't had that problem. Do get horrible black marks though.

[reup]

Thanks the knicker elastic things makes sense.

I’m not sure which particular thing made me not suitable for tablets. She had a tree diagram for working out the best toe - I’m still having the odd period, I’m type2 diabetic with a family history of heart disease and stroke.

[KaliforniaDreamz]

Hi reup - i had femseven for 3 months and though they helped my terrible moods they fell off!! bloody terrible adhesive.
I am now on Evorel sequi which stay on but don't help my terrible moods.

GRRRR

[Jasminedes]

Transdermal methods like patches and gels are recommended if you have risk factors (in my case being overweight).

[mrsreynolds]

Try heating up your skin with a hair dryer first then applying the patch

[Dorje]

Why don’t you try an oestradiol gel?

Go back and talk with your GP and see if she’ll swap the patches prescription for an estrogen gel. It’s exactly the same stuff as a patch, only in a pump pack.
I’ve not had any problem with my gel. Two pumps a day on arms and legs: same dose as the patches but with no irritation or loss of dose due to a patch falling off.

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

I use transdermal patches and I've rarely lost any. I mainly wear dresses for work so I wear tights a lot.

I put mine on my upper thigh. Where are yours?

More than five years' use.

[KaliforniaDreamz]

It's specific to Femseven - my pharmacist said he has had so many complaints about them that he has written to complain - to the manufacturer i presume.
My evorel patches stay on.
They just don't work.

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

Wow that's crap KD. Yes, I use evorel.

[Terrylene]

Wash, dry thoroughly.

Warm patch up, apply patch and hold down for 2 minutes.

Use hair dryer if necessary.

[Hotheadwheresthecoldbath]

I have given up on the femseven patches.Go back to your GP,I tried the patches that you change each 3-4 days,they stay on but didn't work for me.Im now just trying out gel.
Theost frustrating thing is that the femseven made me feel good apart from the dropping off.Plasters on top don't work as if the patch adhesive has given up you can't tell.

[KaliforniaDreamz]

Hothead i am esactly teh same as you - Femseven worked for me but fell off soswapped to evorel which didnt work so now i am trying gel and progesterone.. how's the gel working for you?

[Hotheadwheresthecoldbath]

I'm on day five and to be honest not good.Lots of hot flushes,waking a bit at night ,spotting and some absent mindedness.
The thing is that because when the femseven worked it was very good I am now aiming for something as good.
At least the utrogestan is OK.
How are you doing on the gel?

[Hotheadwheresthecoldbath]

It may take a while to stop checking to see if a patch is still in place every time I change or go to the loo.And no modifying what you wear in case the waste and was in the wrong place.

[KaliforniaDreamz]

I just got it today and the pharmacist said no harm in removing my last patch and having a day off as it were! so i shall start tomorrow.
I did try to find info on any other patch that was similar to femseven as i agree they were good.
i am desperate for this gel to work...x

[KaliforniaDreamz]

i am going to give it more than 3 months tho - i wonder if that's something to think about?

[Hotheadwheresthecoldbath]

I'm going to give it a few months,,,though the femseven started working after a week.Ive got a follow up in a month with my GP this time as I am now having joint problems which are getting worse.
I don't really want tablets as I am bad at remembering to take them.I put my gel sachet next to my toothbrush!

[wilmawebb]

I've been using femseven conti patches for the last 2 months and have so far not had any problems with them falling off.

I put the new one on after a warm bath having washed the side of my hip with plain soap rather than anything moisturising and dried it well. I hold the patch in place for a minute or so and then go to bed.

I nearly always wear skinny jeans or leggings and it seems ok. I also use the cross trainer and go swimming and it's always stayed put.

Hope this helps.

[Hotheadwheresthecoldbath]

I have tried just about everything but even though I have had some stay on for the 7days when you remove them it was obvious that there was no adhesive in the middle.I used them for 4 months and went through 8 months of patches some of which fell off after 2 hours.

[KaliforniaDreamz]

Really frustrating when they worked well.
I had sequi so i wonder if the conti are better at staying on?
a trickle of water would get inside my patch and leave welts on my backside. it was painful itchy and UGLY!!

i shall start the gel this eveing.
i dont know why i am procrastinating......

[reup]

Thanks for all the tips.

I’ve used up 2 months worth in less than a week.
First patch - 2 hrs (just washed skin )
2nd patch - 5 days ( washed skin but pressed on for 2 mins not 30 seconds)
3rd patch - half a day. (Washed and cleaned with surgical spirits, warmed with hair dryer, pressed on for 2 mins)
Currently on 4th patch - put on thigh - previous ones were on hip/bottom/stomach

So I’ll now have a gap before I get to see dr or get another prescription. Also I still have irregular periods - I gave it a few days after when I thought my period would be due, before starting. Then it started 6 days after that - so not sure how that will affect it.

I’m so pissed off with it all - it’s made my mood even worse having to try and sort it out and organise going to the drs, getting new prescriptions though I can’t see the point as they aren’t staying on. I lost a lot of weight last year so my skin is fairly wrinkly so maybe that’s adding to it.

[reup]

Also I have no idea if the actual hrt has worked as they won’t have been on enough!