Terrible Side Effects on Patch-No HRT Route?

Am I the only one who is reacting to Estrogen in general, even the bio-identical one. I am posting in this forum to see if any of you were on Estrogen and felt worse on it than off. I am only 42 and worried about not being on anything. However, the whole time I was on Vivelle Dot .1, then .05 then went off I was sick. Tried to go back on a half of my .05 so it would be lowest dose and all the same symptoms returned. I had severe tinnitus, head felt full, headaches, anxiety, moody, sore teeth and gums. The two weeks I went off I felt better so decided to give it another try.

Within two days of going on the lowest dose I was really sick again with headaches, etc. Can I just not take any estrogen as this is the mildest and easiest form I would think. I have not tried just Progesterone cream by itself. Should this be an option?
For those of you on nothing, what do you do about zero libido and vaginal dryness. I am worried about the symptoms of being off HRT just as much as being worried about being on them.

Any suggestions out there. I feel like I am the only one who cannot take the Vivelle Dot. I have had digestive issues the past year and really don't want to try the oral route and I am worried the same problems will come back with any Estrogen. My Gyn is no help. I made an appt with a new Doc but cannot get into her until Aug of this year. Thanks
Take care
Julie

--There is a lower dose v dot - .25 you might want to try.

--for vaginal dryness, you can use a local cream or suppository containing estrogen (premarin, estrace, vagifem are a few)

I have not found libido to be a problem,so long as I prevent the vaginal dryness. 1gm (1/4 of an applicator) once or twice a week keeps my tissues just fine

Dorrie

Hi Julie 8,

I'm just 10 days before you. I was put on Climara .1, had awful headaches and that "full head" feeling too. I then went to Vivelle Dot .1. I kept all the same symptoms as Climara, but added the ringing in the ears. (B/P was normal though).

The headaches were finally too much to bear; so I went to my gyn to see if he could help. (I am so stubborn thinking that I just needed to get used to the Estrogen, that I suffered needlessly) Maybe put me on some other type or dose.

He told me it sounded like an Estrogen reaction and to drop the patch for a week and see how it goes. He sent me home w/ low dose patch samples just in case things got worse. I could slap one on.

I feel soooooo much better and have only had one headache and it only lasted 20 minutes. I am so happy so far. Still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but happy for now. Just wanted to share that w/ you to show you that it's possible to react to estrogen, regardless of what type or strength.

Now all I have to do is get OUT of the habit of putting my hand on my forehead and b****ing. 3 mos of headaches kind of made me kind of nuts. Well...more nuts.

Much Love,
AnnieWoof

Thanks for the replies. I did try the lower dose by cutting the .05 in half which I assume would be close to the lowest dose available and same reactions came right back. Annie - thanks for the note, now I don't feel so strange. I hope I can do well off the hormones. Are you adding any progesterone, testosterone, etc???

Right now I am having very little hot flashes but do feel tired but I am just starting to exercise again so maybe when Spring finally gets here I will feel better. Keep me updated on how you are doing going without anything. I still have a faint headaches but nothing like before being on estrogen. Also, the ringing in ears and sore teeth and gums have almost gone away so I know it is Estrogen even though my Gyn thinks I am crazy.
Take care
Julie

Hi.

Just a quick answer.

Nope. Not taking any hormones of any kind right now. I may add some as the Dr. tells me. Right now I am just taking lots of Calcium/1000mg minimum and bunch of other good vitamins, making sure my magnesium is adequate. (It's in my Calcium Tab).

We'll keep in touch. Like you, all my tinnitus and loose teeth in the morning are gone gone gone. That was freaky by the way...wow.

Hang in there and stay in touch w/ your Doc. And if you aren't comfy, by all means - change Docs. Most Insurance Companies allow for this in fine print.

So far so good! s
Love,
Annie

I am roughly 10 weeks post op, and until now wasn't having too many problems. About 2 weeks ago I developed a sore spot on my gum and shrugged it off to denture problems. It kept getting worse so on Saturday I visited the dentist, and he said it was a severe fungal infection (Thrush I assume) on the entire upper gum. He said it looked like my mouth was burned. I said it felt like a bomb had been let off in there.

I have been reading some information regarding premarin and the nutrients that this HRT depletes. Some of these depleted nutrients/vitamins are ones that help us not to have fungal infections. I am wondering if there is a connection here.

I ran out of premarin a few days ago, and have decided that with all I am reading about premarin I am not getting the refill. Hope going cold turkey isn't going to do me in...but I prefer a hot flash to a raw mouth any day of the week.

Just wanted to say that for me a patch was a disaster--much as you're finding--while I'm happy as a clam with my little estrace pill.

Many do fine with nothing, but if you feel you wouldn't be fine with no hrt, you might try the oral route first.

Trish

What problems did you have on the patch? I am going to a new doctor who said she could not see me until August. She is a menopause only doctor but I found her email and told her all the problems I am having and she was nice enough to have her office call me and fit me in March 8th. Would like to know what your problems were on the patch and how they were relieved with the pill.

Thanks for all the replies. I keep writing down notes for my new doctor. I hope I like her. I mainly like the fact that her total focus is menopausal women only and she is involved in the big study going on right now with hormones so I am hoping she will provide me with some insight over my regular GYN.
Take Care
Thanks Everyone
Julie

Hi! I had a lot of the same symptoms you are describing. I cut the patch in half, quarters, etc. Didn't seem to make a difference. The "full head" and gum symptoms were all there. After Premarin, then compound cream, then the patch, I gave up. Feel much better, except for the severe hot flashes and night sweats. I've been drinking Silk Soy Chocolate Milk and it has helped those enormously!! Fewer hot flashes and definately less severe. I sleep better thru the night with only an occassional "kick off the covers" moment. I've been drinking the soy milk for about 6 weeks but it helped me almost immediately. Really yummy, too! I started a good multi-vitamin yesterday. I haven't had good luck with vitamins in the past, I'll see how it goes. I think I may add progesterone OTC cream at some point, but plan to add one thing at a time so I can monitor effects and know what is/isn't helping.

Bottom line, I feel much better without ERT than with. My body is responding well to the soy for now, so I'll stick with that.

Finally I find a description of my symptoms. I never thought about them being hormone related! In the last couple of months I have been dealing with the worst headaches that start at the back of my head near the neck and then spread towards my eyes. I also have the "full head" feeling. I've visited my primary physician, chiropractor, massage therapist and now a physical therapist in an attempt to help my headaches. Only thing that helps is sleeping. I have been on ERT since surgery in September because Dr was worried about my bones. I am on the patch (Climara .1 then switched to Vivelle dot .1) I asked my primary doctor if he thought it was hormone related and he said possibly and offered to change me to some pills. After reading this post I think I will talk with my GYN and see what his thoughts are.
I am 29 - do you all think that is too young to go without ERT?? I will check with GYN, but just curious what you all think!! Thanks in advance-

Dawn