It's no good - the natural supplements were not really helping me and I was getting really fed up of the hot flushes, and waking up two or three times a night with them, and the mood swings, etc, and I have also had some recent issues with libido and orgasm, so I decided to see my doc and he started me on Femseven patches (oestradiol). This is my first week, so I hope they are going to start working pretty soon.

I really didn't want to go down the HRT route, but enough is enough. As the doc said, I needed my life back. I will certainly give them a good trial. I was on Vagifem a while ago, and although they appeared to help with vaginal dryness, they did little for other symptoms, and that is the least of my worries at the moment.

When I see him in two months, I will ask for some blood tests to see what my testosterone levels are. I've read that low libido is a symptom of low testosterone, but I will see how it goes with just the patches for now.

Has anyone else had these particular patches? Did they work well?

First off, I havent used those particular patches, so can't say how they will work.

However, I do use the estrogel and prometrium. Both bioidential hormones.

Anyways, don't feel like you have "failed" because you had to "succumb"!! I would have done this naturally if it were possible, but it just wasn't. I think some bodies need hormones more than others, the body chemistry is different. There isn't anything wrong with that, it is what it is, and there is no shame in it.

If I had lived a century ago, I would have been one of those that "took to my bed" and wasted away, and probably would have died of starvation!! There are others on here that would have been locked up in Bedlam, the insane asylum!! So I thank god for hormones, they have saved a lot of women!!

I think I need some testosterone added to my hormone replacement, but my doctor has refused it to me....if you do end up taking it later down the road, I sure would like to hear if it works!!

Good luck, feel better and enjoy your life!!

Thank you for your words of encouragement, Floater. I certainly hope the hormones save me, otherwise I don't know what to do. I will give them a good trial this time (I stopped and started the Vagifem a couple of times and wasn't consistent). I am not at the end of the first week yet, so there is probably some time to go before I feel any positive effect.

I will certainly report back if and when I try testosterone. At present I am trying a testosterone-booting supplement called Tribulus terrestris (which is designed for body-building, I believe), but I've only been taking it for a couple of weeks so nothing to report on that yet.

Go for it! You are not succumbing ...you are trying to feel better ! I use Estrogel and vaginal P ! I am trying cycling at the moment since my body hates the P.
I have a testosterone implant and my libido is off the charts!
Good luck!

Best wishes!

Sharon

Dear DH,

Taking medication to give you some semblance of a normal life is not succombing. It is a demonstration of good sense and good health.

I salute you for taking charge. Please stop feeling like you have failed in some way. You have done the very opposite.

All the best,
Marcy

Thanks, Sharon and Marcy. I guess I was just a little scared of HRT, especially as my sister has had breast cancer, but the doc knows about this family history and didn't appear too concerned. I was just at the end of my rope with the hot flushes. Today I don't seem to have had as many flushes as usual, and they didn't last as long and were not as intense, so something could be working!

Well, I've had the Femseven patches for almost two weeks now, and I think they are having an effect at last. Gradually, the hot flushes have eased off and I can sleep much longer now. If I wake up it's only to go to the loo - not for a hot flush. And I'm getting no flushing at all during the day now. I even tried having a glass of wine the other day and still no flushing. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am!

The only problem is they don't stay on too well if you don't get it right first time. The first one was fine, but the second one only lasted a day, and the third.... I used up a whole month's worth in just over a week. One patch should last a week. I bought a clear waterproof dressing to put over the top in the hope that this would help it to stay on longer, but I had a reaction to that and now have raised wheals where the edges were. When I next see my doc I might ask him if there is an alternative patch that doesn't need to stay on as long, or whether a cream would be better.

I'm so glad you are doing better! Isn't it great to get some sleep?? You could switch to the Estrogel so you don't have to deal with a patch !Take care!!

Sharon

DH,

I was also going to suggest switching to the estrogel. Then it is a simple matter of applying it after your shower in the morning. Or if you forget to shower, or want to shower later, just put it on when you get up. It also gives you a little more freedom concerning your dosage amount. You can raise it and lower it at will. It would probably be cheaper for you in the long run!!! You won't go through a month's worth in a week.

I am glad you are finding some relief from the annoying hot flushes!!

Sooo....... the patches are definitely having a positive effect on lots of things. I am sleeping better (although I am taking Melatonin, this has not had this good an effect before), hot flushes are non-existent (apart from one 'almost-flush' just after I get into bed - not really a full-blown flush, and a hot feeling if I get a bit stressed), and my mood swings appear to be declining a little. I'm still waiting for the libido to kick in!

But....... the patches will not stay on for the whole week as they are supposed to. And when they do come off the red patch left behind lasts ages (I still have signs of the very first patch I used almost four weeks ago). I went to see my doc last week and he wanted me to continue with them and just told me to take some anti-histamines for the allergy and use some moisturiser on the site where the patch has been, but they aren't really itching and I hate taking more drugs just to alleviate the side-effects of another one.

I think I'll be off to see him again. I spend most of the time now worrying whether they will stay put or not. I can do without the angst.

DH,

I am so pleased you are finally feeling better! Isn't it great not flashing to beat the band? I am like you, I still get hot right around bed time and if my SO cuddles up to me during the night I will wake up too hot. Other than that, I feel like a normal person. I would still like some T to help with libido but we shall see!!

Keep posting your experiences!!

Thanks Floater. It really is a blessed relief to be free of the flushes.

I also get a bit warm if H cuddles up, but at least I don't have to pull away any more. Aside from the low libido, I dreaded any intimacy as once we cuddled up I would have to break away and take another five minutes to cool off - what a turn-off that was!! And the Tribulus terrestris supplement hasn't made any difference to my libido yet.

DH,
I'm glad you are feeling better, but sorry you're having trouble keeping your patches on. Which waterproof dressing did you try? I use a Tegaderm over my Climara patch--without it, between showers and exercising everything else I do, my patch would fall off in a couple of days. I notice that my skin always looks red under my patch, but it doesn't seem to bother me. You could talk to your doctor about a different type of patch if you can't use the dressing--some people say the Vivelle Dot stays on better. I've thought about trying Estrogel too, but other creams I've tried don't seem to work for me. I like the constant, steady delivery of the patch. Best of luck and keep us updated.

Skiergirl,
The dressing was a Tegaderm type dressing, but the only one I could get was one with a dressing pad in the middle, so I thought I would give it a try. It did help to keep the patch on, but the red wheal that came up around the edges of the dressing was incredible - really raised and bright red and itchy - so that had to come off.

The patch I put on on Friday morning has already come adrift. I was going to get a repeat prescription to last me while we're on holiday, but I think I will get another appointment to discuss alternatives.