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Menopause

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The patches which were handling my symptoms seem to have stopped working - what are my options?

5 replies

InfradeadToUltraviolent · 16/08/2024 11:12

Im 54. I went on Evorel Conti patches (which are 3.2mg Estradiol and 1.2mg Norethisterone) twice a week a couple of years ago after a year of cyclical tablets (which I hated).

The patches have been great at completely eliminating my hot flushes, poor sleep and general panicky feeling-shit up until now. When I had to come off them a bit to have breast lumps checked out (benign) all the symptoms came flooding back to the extent that I really feared for my ability to function.

But over the last few weeks I've been seeing the return of the old symptoms, not at their worst, but noticeable.

The first time I put it down to hurriedly slapping a patch on the same place I'd had the old one instead of rotating, and just replaced it early on the other thigh, but I've been getting general menopausal symptoms fluctuating over the week ever since.

I've not really researched dosing much, just been happy to take whatever my GP handed out, so I don't know what my options might be. Are there higher dose patches? Should I ask to switch to a pump?

Does HRT sometimes just stop working?(please don't tell me that). Is it normal for doses to need increasing so far into menopause?

TIA

OP posts:
clarepetal · 16/08/2024 11:23

I've upped my patch and gave been on hrt for a year and a half

Droolylabradors · 16/08/2024 11:26

What number patch is it?

I'm on a 100mcg patch so even though I still have flushes, gynae has recommended venlefaxine instead which I've declined.

Apparently there is a condition where your symptoms can keep returning and you can't keep on top of it with ever more oestrogen (beyond normal licenced levels).

I had a private blood test via consultant after 12months on highest dose and my oestrogen was mid 600s so I am definitely not getting any more prescribed!

InfradeadToUltraviolent · 16/08/2024 11:30

They're 50 microgram a day equivalent.

OP posts:
Droolylabradors · 16/08/2024 11:32

Then go and get the 75mcg equiv. I went up after two months from. 50, then 4 months I went to 100mcg.

GP okayed it each time straight away.

Timeisnevertimeatall · 16/08/2024 11:35

I'm also experiencing this Infra - my internal temperature control has just stopped working and I'm constantly getting hot flushes, but with an awful urgency about them. My head has started sweating terribly again and I'm really struggling after a shower in particular. I went into the patches from gel (as that totally messed with my MH) following a hysterectomy.

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