Been putting patch on wrong - oh no!

OK, I know there's no excuse, particularly when there's such good info on this site, but I realized yesterday that I have been putting my Vivelle dot .075 patch on wrong! I am 3 1/2 weeks post SAH-BSO. My doc started me on the patch on the day I came home from the hospital. I was still SO loopy from pain meds (or that's my story & I'm sticking to it), that I just told my DH "just stick it on my back" (or that's his story & he's sticking to it!), and so he put it between my shoulder blades. Then we've left it that high when we changed it. I'm really surprised that he didn't read the instructions that came with it, which clearly said to put it below the waist. He's normally a read-the-instructions-kind-of-guy (and honestly a really wonderful husband, by the way!). I kept intending to get back on the site to find out where to put it, and I've had such complications that it was yesterday before I felt up to searching the site. I've had a bladder infection and been on some strong antibiotics that have caused nausea. (Although I've been off the meds for a few days now, and I'm still nauseous!)

So how bad is this? What does that do to the absorption rate? Can the patch and/or placement cause nausea? Thanks in advance (and sorry it's so long!)

Hi!

I'm glad you figured out that you and DH were sticking that patch in the wrong place! Now that you know better you have a couple of choices.

The directions for Vivelle suggest sticking it on your abdomen and that's a good starting place. You'll want to alternate it from side to side on your tummy. If you start having consistent symptoms of menopause you might consider placing it on your rear (buttocks) and alternating it from cheek to cheek. That's because you can get more absorption from the same dose on the back versus wearing it on your tummy. What you don't want to do is alternate from your tummy to your rear. The fluctuating level of hormones could be unpleasant!

Here's a link to a list of symptoms to watch for to know if you have too much or too little of estrogen.

Nausea can be a side effect of using estrogen but it should subside with use. If it doesn't, be sure to contact your doctor.

I hope you feel better soon!

s

Thanks for the suggestions, April Dawn!