Vivelle Dot and uneven delivery

Not sure why I'm posting this. Just sharing an observation, and curious to know if others have noticed the same thing. I'm using the Vivelle patch and have been on it long enough to notice a pattern:

Day One: Return of hot flashes. Not many, mainly at night. (Is this due to lower estrogen? Patch isn't yet delivering full dose?)

Day Two: No hot flashes, but headache. (Now I'm guessing patch is at peak of delivery, and I'm getting a surge of estrogen.)
Day Three: No hot flashes, no headache. (Dosage is finally just right. And the porridge too! )

Time for a new patch...and the cycle repeats.

I've tried a lower dosage, but it wasn't enough.

Where are you placing the patch? You may have to move it to your backside for increased absorption.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by lrmctexas Where are you placing the patch? You may have to move it to your backside for increased absorption.

I'm placing it approximately where an ovary would be located, but slightly lower. I've tried the back, but can't recall why I switched back to stomach. I'm kind of on the skinny side, but definitely have more fat on belly.

I found that I get a more even delivery if I move it towards my hip bone than in the middle of my belly, if that helps. I also leave my old patch on for 4 hours (to a half day if I flake) while the new one gets up to speed. It really helps.

I, too, have heard you should leave the old patch on for a few hours

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try moving patch toward hip bone and leaving the old one on a few hours. Makes sense!

I was not able to continue on vivelle for the same reason. I felt a huge estrogen surge within hrs of putting it on and within 40 hrs headaches and meno. symptoms were returning. i tried switching areas and actually it was worse.
I am now on 1mg Divigel and so far its working great.

NJ, I will keep the Divigel in mind. I'm thinking the Vivelle just might not work for me. I certainly can't get it regulated and that's frustrating.

I change my patch everyother day so I don't end up with migranes or hotflashes. When I changed it twice a week by the end of the third day I had a huge migrane and at night got hot flashes. Changing it everyother day has been a lifesaver! Good luck!