Started Estradot - experiences?

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I started Estradot (50mg) a week and a half ago. I have been on utrogestan for the past 2 years anyway (very successfukky treated my adenomyosis - taken pv to avoid any begative side effects).

Am 46 and I would say justinto peri.

Since starting the patch I feel a noticible shift into utter exhaustion. Will this settle?!

I didn’t absorb the patches, took me nearly two years and a private blood test to get my GP to believe me. I do absorb the gel though. I just always remind everyone that just because you’re sticking them on, it doesn’t mean they’re working!

Thank you, they’re doing something…so far just making me more tired than ever!

Anyone else who felt very tired at first (much more so than before) but then got their every back, am more, after settling into it? If so, how long? A couple of weeks?

Did you have any trouble getting Estradot prescribed or finding them in pharmacies? I was interested in them because people say they are smaller and stick better than others and I tend to get a lot of itching with that sort of thing, so was considering asking for those ones specifically (I haven't started any yet as my doctor wants to wait until I've had another appointment that I've been waiting for for a year now!). But with the shortages reported, I wasn't sure whether to bother trying to ask for those ones specifically anyway - I'm trying to do my research now so that I can ask for the right thing when I do go. Is it better to ask for these to start with, or get given whatever the practice usually prescribes (presumably the bigger ones that are easier to get)?

No problems getting it at all, I think the shortages were a while ago now.

They are tiny! And stick well, the easily cope with hot baths, exercise classes etc.

Are you in the uk?
According to the SSPs they are all unavailable until 10th October, when they will no doubt, extend the SSPs again

Double post deleted

@TakeMeToAnIgloo I’ve had to go back onto Evorel patches and get an allergic reaction to them.

Everodots are tiny in comparison and stick much better. When I first started on them I had to cut them down as I was getting too much eostrogen so I must absorb it better with them.

I can’t get estrodot and I prefer them from the massive itchy other ones!

Do you think it's worth asking for them when I start, or are they likely to say no, i can't choose, or no it's pointless beacuse you can't get them, or no because the pharmacy will give me something else anyway and it's not good to chop and change? I don't know how receptive my GP would be to me asking for something specific just because it's smaller, but I do have sensitive skin and lots of itching, so there is another reason
I might not be able to start them until October or November anyway, if then, as I have to wait for another appointment at the hospital first( that I've been on the waiting list for for ages) before she'll even discuss it. So by the time I am finally able to get them, it could be that they are more easily available anyway.

some of the dosages seem to be available when you look online at some pharmacies but I don't know if it's actually accurate. Usually the 37.5 I think, and of course I don't suppose that would be the one I'd start on, would it.

I’m in ROI and had no bother getting it.

They seem to be the most popular choice! I’m 2 weeks in, when should I start feeling the benefits?

@TakeMeToAnIgloo
Of course you can ask for what you want! And it shouldn’t matter if you change what you are on for whatever reason. Are you not on any HRT yet or waiting to go
from gel to patches or something?

You can check whether Estradots are available with the cpe.org link I posted up thread.

I'm not on it yet, no. My GP wants to wait til I've had an appointment at the hospital for something before she'll discuss it, but unfortunately the waiting list for that appointment has been almost a year. So hopefully within a couple of months I'll be able to consider starting it, but I don't know whether I get much of a choice about things like specific brands - I don't for other medicines, it's all very much what the first/cheapest option recommended by nice is. She very much follows protocol about trying things in exactly the order that they have to.

I may not be suitable anyway, and am not totally convinced I want it (the more recent results on dementia risk, for people with genetic links, have be somewhat worried) but I'd like to at least be able to discuss the options soon.

I've been on Estradot 50mg for about 6 years although last few months had to switch to Evorel as Estradot not available. I've had no problems with either, in fact they're brilliant IMO! No more hot flushes, sleepless nights, anxiety, depression, etc etc. My only suggestion is don't use bath oils if you want them to stay on, and don't put body lotion on the the bit where you're putting the patch either. Personally I have trouble getting them off when they need replacing.

the pharmacy 2U website shows them as in stock, but I don't know if that covers nhs prescriptions or just private ones

I found some on Chemists4u (I think) but only 37.5mcg available.

How long did they take to work when you first started them?

When I first started on HRT (gel and utrogestan tablets) I noticed a change within a couple of weeks, but it was entirely positive. I’ve since had a mirena fitted (hooray, no more ‘periods’ and remembering to take pills) and changed to patches (hooray, no more standing naked in a freezing bedroom waiting for it to dry).

The exhaustion you mention in your opening post could be a coincidental virus or something, or could be that your HRT dosages aren’t quite right yet. I know that progesterone can give some women some unpleasant symptoms.

Thank you. I’ve been on utrogestan (pv) for years anyway so am used to that.

Onto week 2 so we’ll see! I’m definitely sleeping much better!

Also to note that I get on really well with utrogestan, lovely and calming. Maybe because I take it pv. When I tried it orally it gave me very bad anxiety dreams.