Good News For a Change!

Just thought I would share some good news since I have been struggling so terribly with hrt over the last year (having tried Estratest, Climara, Triest, Biest, progesterone, testosterone all in different doses and delivery systems with major problems). About 2 1/2 weeks ago I started on Vivelle Dot patch and am on the .075mg patch now. And for the first time in three months I have not had even ONE migraine or major headache since on this hrt! And what's more, the hot flashes and continuous sweats have gone down considerably...not totally..but a HUGE improvement over before! My mood has improved and the irritability has gone down considerably as well. And while I still have some fatigue (hey, I just had abdominal surgery two weeks ago), my energy level is definitely better than it was. My chronic nausea has gone down as well and my appetite is improving. I am so excited that my symptoms are improving finally instead of getting worse and worse as time goes on. My only major complaint right now is the insomnia is still there, although I am falling asleep pretty quickly, just waking up several times a night. And the leg cramps, low back pain, and achy feet are still bothersome, but can't say if that is from hormones or not at this point, or whether it is a hormone besides estrogen that is lacking. The point is though that I am finally getting somewhere with estrogen replacement! I think I have finally found an hrt that I can tolerate and is going to work for me! It may not be perfect yet, but that I can tolerate it at all and beyond a tiny dose is like a major miracle! I am extremely sensitive to estrogen and had a terrible time when trying to increase the dose of all the other hrts I tried over anything more than a baby dose. I am not sure why I am doing so well on Vivelle when I did horribly on Climara (maybe because one is synthesized from yams and the other from soy?), but who's complaining!

I also might add that I have been taking the following vitamin supplements on a daily consistant basis now since starting the Vivelle Dot (for other health reasons): Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, B complex, vitamin C, Zinc, vitamin E, multivitamin. I believe this too may be making a difference and helping the Vivelle Dot to work better, and vice versa.

Anyway, just thought I would let you all know that while I am still far from balanced, there is hope! And hey, even if one hrt seems very similar to another you have tried without success, you just never know if it may still work for you. I was skeptical of Vivelle Dot after having a terrible time with Climara (and I mean even within the first few days I felt horrible and worse), and this turned out to be the best hrt for me yet! Guess you gotta keep an open mind in the hormone jungle! Thanks for listening!

I'm so glad to hear that you are doing better - Im also learning to listen to my body and make changes as needed... Keep up the great work!

I hope you continue to make progress and that you've found your path out of the Hormone Jungle. It's great to hear some good news! Thanks for posting to share!

s

That's great news Naturebound! I am happy to hear you're doing better.

Hey Naturebound, that is great news. I hope this one works out well for you. Give it some time for the insomnia. Your levels are probably pretty low and it's going to take some time before your body adjusts. I can't remember, are you sensitive to testosterone cream? Let us know how you are doing. Glad your eating and maybe you can put on some weight....take care.

Hi Naturebound,
I wonder if the patch you are on is the same as the UK version I am using called Femseven?
My dose is also .075mg, it was the first ERT I tried and 'BINGO' !!!! it worked for me so I have not had to struggle like you with finding hormone balance, I really feel for you as our surgery dates were quite close.
I hope you find complete balance with this one, the only side effect, but it could be from the surgery, is that I have gained 18 pounds in weight but my friends and family say I look better for it, I am more curvy now and I am very pleased with my boobs ha ha !!!!

I wish you all the best on this patch and I hope it continues to work for you.

Naturebound,

Wonderful news!!! I love my vivelle dot. I hope it continues to work for you too and you have many days ahead!!

Keep on hanging in there!!

Take care,

soothankful

That is SUPER news!!!

My insurance has decided not to cover my Vivelle but covers Climara. I am so afraid to change, but who knows, I may do better????