this hormone patch won't stick and I am moody

my doctor is so unsympathtic! I am on my second type of patch HRT. i cannot get anything to stick and I am an emotional wreck.
i had a breakdown and seems like i just cannot recover

Hi!

Are you using a brand name patch or a generic patch? Generic patches tend not to stick as well, and a patch that won't stick isn't going to help you out with your menopause symptoms.

I use Vivelle Dot and I don't have any problems keeping it on. It's changed twice a week. I make sure my hands are clean, dry, and free of any oils, lotions or powders. The area you are going to put the patch also has to be clean. Sometimes I rub the area I'm going to apply it to with rubbing alcohol, sometimes not. I apply the patch and then hold it down with the palm of my hand for several seconds. I change my patch before I bathe rather than after, as my skin is much dryer at that point than it is after towel drying.

If you have tried all of that and still have problems, ask your doctor for another form of estrogen. There are so many options and there is no need to suffer with patches that won't stick. It would get expensive replacing them each time, too!

If you want to know about other estrogen options, check out articles #10 - 13 in this link to the Hormone Jungle Articles. If your doctor isn't willing to work with you to find the right hormone therapy, you'll want to find one who will. Maybe you have a family physician who would be willing to help.

Hang in there! I hope you get something to help soon!

s

Hi,

I was on Vivelle and had issues with it sticking to me. I found if I took hot showers, once I was out of the shower,the patch would fall right off, plus I had a reaction to soap getting under the patch and re-sticking to my body, not fun. Then I went off them all together and tried premarin and got sick from that med. So after a while I went back on Vivelle and realized that as long as I took cooler showers, it didn't come off or bubble up, so I was on it and when the pharmacy refilled the prescription they gave me Estraderm and that would not stay on at all.
I just recently was put back on Vivellebu this time it is Vivelle dot. It's so much better. I went into the hot tub this weekend for quite a while and when I got out of my suit, no issues with it peeling off. It was wonderful. It is tiny and looks like a small piece of tape. I have only been on this patch for about 1 week now, but so far so good.

s
Kristi

bless your heart. you are not married to your dr. my opinion is to find one you love and have your history transferred. i have had trouble with the seven day patch sticking and it's a problem due to prescription coverage when i have to open a new one. try bathing first and cleansing the patch area with alcohol or astringent to remove oils. i had the best results that way. you may have to go to another method. you'll find what works for you but first and foremost a dr. sensitive to your concerns. blessings.

I have also found that using the rubbing alcohol helps alot with it sticking.

Too, if I shower before bed, I apply the new patch next morning-that way, I know my skin is dry and clean.

Having had my Vivelle Dot fall off before, I know how bad it can make you feel and you have my sympathy.

Sorry too that you had such a rough time in surgery. I also lost everything and barely escaped a transfusion. I was fortunate to have gone into surgery with a good hemaglobin. It will take you awhile to bounce back. I'm 8 1/2 months post op and really starting to feel good.....FINALLY.

I send a Hug to you.

Sweetpea

Hello sisters.
I am so glad to find this discussion on the Climara patch not sticking. I really thought it was my extended hot flashes or the possibility of taking hot showers that was the cause of the fallen patches. I am going to call my doctor in the a.m. to see if he can give me something with a little more stick to it. This patch also is generic and hopefully I can get something like the Vivelle Dot. I think for all I have researched, the Climara and the Vivelle Dot are basically the same form of patches. Any comment from my sisters?

Also, I am so sorry you had a horrible surgery snsusa. It sounds like you are still feeling crappy. My surgery was May 17th and I feel so free. I lost everything in my surgery and was very close to a transfusion, but luckily my hemaglobin count was great during surgery. I would love to talk with you if you want to talk. Hang in there...it'll get better for you.

Hi!

Climara and Vivelle Dot both contain the bio-identical estradiol. Climara, changed once a week, is soy based and Vivelle, changed every 3 1/2 days, is yam based.

I hope this helps you!

s