Need tips for keeping estrogen patch in place

I am on the 0.1 Vivelle dot. My TAH was October 6th, 2009. I was doing wonderfully on the patch which I started 3 days after my surgery. Then a week ago I switched from putting the patch on my rear end to my abdomen. During the two times I put the patch there (over a week's time) I felt a definite change, as if I wasn't getting the same amount of estrogen. Because of bending and movement the last one didn't stay sealed to my skin and bubbled up. When I talked to the pharmacist she told me I wasn't getting the estrogen and to change the patch and put it back on my rear end. I felt an immediate difference that day. I wasn't aware that the absorption was better but that makes complete sense. I read on someone else's post that you can put Nexcare water proof skin over the patch. If you have any suggestions about how best to keep the patch adhered, please feel free. It is sometimes difficult to get it completely sealed, edges included. I really appreciate that it is a bio identical and I have not had any hot flashes or night sweats to speak of with it so I was dreading having to have it adjusted but putting the patch back on my rear end seems to have helped. The only thing I have noticed in the past week or so is difficulty sleeping (waking ever 1 1/2 hours). I'm thinking if I wasn't getting the full dose with the patch on my abdomen for that week it may take me a week to get back to normal. Any suggestions you have would be welcome.

Hi,

Just a little input, I'm up to the .1 Vivelle Dot Patch, no problems with it sticking. I also place it on my rump, which seems to obsorb much better for me. I'm am having problems where I feel like I'm running out of estrogen before my change date of 3 1/2 days. So with the comments I've read on Hystersisters I'm planning on starting to change my patch every 3 days to see if that will work better. It seems for me the fluctuations cause migraines and we don't want to go there. Overall I'm doing WAY better since working my way up to the .1 patch.

I put two small strips of surgical tape over my patch. Before I started doing this the edges would curl up, and twice the patches came off altogether -not fun.

when I put my vivelle patch on, my pelvic area, not the abdomen, where any part of the waist of pants can rub it off, I make sure after I shower that I put no lotion, no perfume or body spray on the area where the patch is going to go and make sure my skin is completely dry. the skin still can remain warm and slightly damp even after drying off with a towel. so I have to wait longer till it's totally dry. THEN I put the patch on and it never comes off.
I often wondered why the woman who put it on their back side don't ever question why the pharmaceutical company who produces the patch says to put it only on the front of our bodies?

there MUST be a reason they say only to put it on the front, other wise they would state that we have the option of using it a different way?
maybe there are dangers to using it any other way?

It's just my thoughts and not intended to insult anyone's use of the patch the way they prefer to use it. I was just curious?

	Quote:
Originally Posted by lintek when I put my vivelle patch on, my pelvic area, not the abdomen, where any part of the waist of pants can rub it off, I make sure after I shower that I put no lotion, no perfume or body spray on the area where the patch is going to go and make sure my skin is completely dry. the skin still can remain warm and slightly damp even after drying off with a towel. so I have to wait longer till it's totally dry. THEN I put the patch on and it never comes off. I often wondered why the woman who put it on their back side don't ever question why the pharmaceutical company who produces the patch says to put it only on the front of our bodies? there MUST be a reason they say only to put it on the front, other wise they would state that we have the option of using it a different way? maybe there are dangers to using it any other way? It's just my thoughts and not intended to insult anyone's use of the patch the way they prefer to use it. I was just curious?

Interesting - I don't know why but the surgical nurse, my OB and the pharamacist say that the rear end is an acceptable alternative but that other than the abdomen or rear end I shouldn't put it elsewhere. Perhaps it is because the absorption would be different. It has been mentioned there is a 20% higher absorption rate on the rear and I know my body can sure tell the difference.

Thank you for sharing this info with me.
My dr. nor anyone ever told me this other than the woman at this site.
It's a personal issue for me being that both of my sisters have had breast cancer, and just a few months ago I had to have a bilataral breast biopsies performed because of an abnormal MRI and Ultrasound that was recommended.
but not the mammo.
I have to be watched now that these abnormalities do not change into a malignancy.
My breast surgeon urged me to get off the estrogen patches but I declined her advice because I simply can NOT handle the effects of not having any estrogen in my body. I thought we only had to worry if we were on HRT mixed with another hormone and that estrogen alone was no threat to the risk of breast cancer.
but by doctor said "no" that's not true.
so if I were to get a 20% increase of absorbancy, does this mean that the effect of the drug is higher in my system?

I was put on the 0.1 mg at the start and was never lowered, so I fear getting anything higher in my system, being it is already at the highest level the patch is made.

I'm not by any means arguing the situation, but I personally am questioning for my own well being, especially with my family history.
I am just surprised the phamplet that is made specifically for the prescription does not state to put it anywhere else on the body? it says to only put it on the front.

Better yet, I probably could contact the company that makes the patches and ask them directly. I'm sure people do this all the time?

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it.

sincerely,
Linda

I can certainly understand your concerns and would definitely recommend calling the mfr. They should know better than anyone else.Each patch only has a certain amount of estrogen so your body can only absorb that. Apparently some women have a difficult time absorbing the full amount if placed in certain areas. I would definitely be interested to hear what you find out because it is an important issue and who knows if the pharmacist or doctor really know the details.Thanks!

My Dr, and Hormone Specialists both recommended to put the patch on my rump. I put it on my abdomen as directed by the phamplet included in the Vivelle dot box, but noticed I would run out of estrogen before it was time to change the patch. With recommendations from my Hystersisters and my doctors I changed to the rump and it seems to obsorb much better. My hormone specialists said that because the rump has more fat it obsorbs better??? They also recommended that I change the patch more often than the manufacture recommends if needed, so I guess it boils down to whatever works for you.

The prescribing information says to put the patches on the lower abdomen because that is where you get the absorption rate stated on the package. It is not unsafe to put them on the rear, it just delivers on average about 20% more there, so the manufacturer cannot guarantee the correct dosage if you put it there. However, the manufacturer did do studies in front and rear application to check the pharmacokinetics of absorption in each location -- that is the source of the 20% number.

I hope this helps.

s,
-Linda

If I'm not mistaken, if you read that pamphlet that comes in the Vivelle boxes, on one of those graphs where they show the absorption rates on different days for each dosage, within that graph doesn't it also show absorption for one dosage if placed on the rear? I think it may be the .1 dose?

I always dry off my skin with the blow dryer after towel drying...this both dries the skin and warms it up. After I press on the patch for about 30 seconds, I point the blow dryer at it and warm it up for about 5-10 seconds (warm, not hot) and press again....this seems to work very well for me.