Patch won't stay in place

I had a TAH/BSO + appendectomy (due to severe endo on my appendix) just over two weeks ago. There were also endo lesions on my small bowel which were left alone.

My doctor has put me on Climara Pro because of those remaining endometrial lesions. (I don't quite understand why - but I have a post-op appt on Monday and I'll ask him then.) I requested the patch because I have a hard time remembering to take pills on a daily basis.

However ... I can't get the darn thing to stay put! It stays in the same general location, but puckers and loses adhesion to the point where I'm on my third patch in two weeks. Am I doing something wrong when I apply it?

When I see him on Monday, I'm going to ask for a scrip for the pills instead of the patch - because I can't get it to stay in place. Does anyone have any recommendations on remembering to take the pills on time? Can I take them at the same time as my cholesterol medication?

I tried shaving the area first to remove all those fine hairs. Wash well with soap and water, let dry, then I put it on. If I so much as touched the sticky side anywhere I had problems. Good luck

I found that using rubbing alcohol on the place I was going to put the patch and let it dry first. I found that changing my patch before I got in the shower helps. Also, many of us use the tegaderm waterproof bandages or bandaid brand ones that cover it. Just a thought. Good luck.
Janelle

Hi!

Your doctor most likely prescribed the combination patch Climara Pro because it contains both estrogen (bio-identical estradiol) and levonorgestrel (progestin, a synthetic progesterone). When endometriosis has been diagnosed, it's not unusual to have a combination hormone product prescribed as progestin (or progesterone) can help counteract the effect that estrogen has on endo. (Estrogen feeds the endometriosis.)

There are some things you can try to get your patch to stick better. You need to be sure your hands and the area where the patch is going to be applied are clean and free of lotion, oil and powder. The area can be cleaned first with some rubbing alcohol but if you do that, be sure it dries completely before applying the patch. Position the patch in an area where it won’t be rubbed off by clothing and where it won’t crease or stretch with movement.

After sticking on the patch, press firmly with the palm of your hand to ensure good contact and to help set the adhesive. If the patch starts to come loose before it is time to change again, try pressing it back in place with the palm of your hand and then give it a blast of warm air from a hair dryer, being careful not to get too close to the patch and your skin with the hair dryer.

Some women find that covering the patch with a Tegaderm bandage is effective in keeping the patch in place for the prescribed amount of time. If you still have problems after all that, maybe your doctor can change your prescription so that you can change the patch more frequently. Or, as you say, a different hormone therapy could be tried instead.

If you switch to pills, pick a time of day that's easy for you to remember it as part of your daily routine. You'll need to ask your doctor (or your pharmacist) if it will interact with other medications you take.

Let us know what your doctor says, okay?

s