Oh shit - I think I've been using my hrt patches wrongly! Evorel Sequi

[SkunkButtRug]

I've been prescribed Evorel Sequi at long last as was getting no sleep and was a general ratbag/sweaty/ achey person due to peri symptoms.

But I think I've been doing it wrong and I can't believe I've only just realised...

So I thought you put 50 on for two weeks and then the conti for the other two weeks of the month, so:

Wednesday 50 patch on, then change on Saturday to another 50 patch, then Wednesday Conti patch on, then Saturday another Conti patch.

I have adhd and have trouble with instructions but I honestly thought I'd understood his correctly. The leaflet is confusing me.

Is the above right? Have I done it correctly? Can't get through to the doctors as they are receiving a large number of calls at the moment.

I would really appreciate some advice if you have used these and know what's what. Feel so daft.

I didn’t even realised there were different patches in the box until 2 months later 😁

I put the Conti on on Tuesdays and the 50s on Saturdays.

I can honestly say I have not felt a difference.

Writing in the box what patch to take on each day really helps to avoid confusions.

You do two weeks of one then two weeks of the other. I’m not sure what you have done (did you alternate weekly?) but I imagine there’s not a huge issue. The combined patch is just to ensure you get enough progesterone to protect your womb from
cancers, I think. I’d switch to two weeks of one, two weeks the other at the end of your current box.
I put reminders in my phone for change over day and what patch it needs to be.

This is from the instructions.
You will use the oestrogen patches for the first 2 weeks of your monthly cycle and then the combined patches for the second half of your monthly cycle.

So two weeks of the silver backed patches and 2 weeks of the clear backed patches.

Just to add you follow the order they come out of the packet.

@Emog21 Are the oestrogen the Conti or the 50s?

There's oestrogen in all the patches, but the conti ones also have progesterone. Just use them in the order they come out of the box and change the patch on Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday etc.

You do two weeks of one then two weeks of the other. I’m not sure what you have done (did you alternate weekly?) but I imagine there’s not a huge issue.

I think I have! 🤦‍♀️ I haven't really noticed any difference tbh but thought it probably was something I need to address. I feel such a numpty. My short term memory is so bad and I did mark on the box the change days but clearly not what the patch is. I frustrate myself so much sometimes!

I think of it that the Conti ones continue on from the 50s. So you use up four 50 patches, then the four Conti patches. That works for my menopause-ravaged mind, anyway.

That said, I'm very diligently following the instructions but my period/bleeding is pleasing itself and turning up in no discernible pattern.

I think of it that the Conti ones continue on from the 50s. So you use up four 50 patches, then the four Conti patches. That works for my menopause-ravaged mind, anyway.

'Continue', of course. FFS of course it is! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I am so daft.

Thank you so much!

@SkunkButtRug I also find them confusing. It was ok when my period always came on day 1 of my oestrogen only patch, but now it likes to arrive halfway through the second progesterone week 🤷‍♀️

another tip from me- if you end up having to replace a patch, (mine always get sweated off inside my running leggings 🤮) I use one of my boxes as a box of spares (mark this clearly and store away from the rest) so it keeps my current box in sync. I learned this from experience!

They're in the right order in the box so if you always take the one from the front you should be using them correctly.

I see.
Thank you all so much.
I really hadn't devoted time to actually sitting down and working it all out. So much other stuff gets in the way with work, family commitments etc.
This is a good reminder to centre myself some of the time!

Yeah follow order they are in box. Two weeks Evorel two weeks conti, you should bleed after finishing conti. Make sure they are placed below waist on bum, thigh or hip. Change patch twice a week.

I did 2 weeks of each but then started alternating them after I'd been on them a couple of years as I got fewer periods that way and it's less progesterone than switching to Evorel conti when you take the progesterone containing patch all the time

I got these last month from my really informative private gp ( stupidly expensive but needs must during this time )
she said you should only be on the evorel sequi for a year and then move over to the patch that you dont bleed from same brand ( sorry brain isnt what it used to be for the name)

if there was ever a plus side of this its no more periods so im hoping and praying the year goes fast 😂

Try speaking to your doctor about the other patches as think it will help 👍

My menopause clinic said you can be on Sequi for 5 years, then should swap. I don't tolerate high doses of progesterone so interested to see what is available when I do eventually have to stop.
I might ask about alternating the Sequi patches if that helps reduce periods - it would be so good to reduce the bleeds

You change them twice a week and just out the next one on, as it appears in the box. Don't take them out of the box. Then you don't need to think about it!

Also, no bleeding here and I take them as prescribed.