HELP, having HRT issues, excess estrogen anyone?

HI all, it's been a while, but knew you guys could help me out.
I am 5 mos post-op (LAVH/BSO on 5 Jan, 2004) and came home from the castle with a .05 vivelle dot patch as well as my ususal 20 mg/day prozac.
Two weeks later the patch was upped to .075, but it didn't take long and I started showing signs of depression (lethargy, apathy, fatigue, insomnia, moodiness, weepiness). My Dr reduced my prozac (he figured he would need to since it was originally used for ovary/estrogen stimulation) and soon after that I started having menopausal symptoms. We upped the vivelle to .1 mg. My big complaint is that every time we mess with any of my meds, I start breaking out like a teenager (hairline, jaw, behind ears--I wear glasses, which doesn't help) but once I adjust, the skin clears up.
I've been on this dose for three weeks and am still not cleared up, am intolerant to heat, my sleep patterns are 'off'.
What are the signs or symptoms of excess estrogen? I'm wondering if this .1 is too high.
Anyone else out there on anti-depressants, prozac in particular, and how does it affect your HRT? Is there any hope of getting this 'just right' or will I have to settle for 'close enough'? Has anyone had a too high estrogen Rx and had to have it reduced?
Any and all stories, theories, ideas will be welcome.
Thanks, and be blessed today,
Linda

Hi Linda

I don't have any experience with anti-depressants but I've got a fair amount of knowledge about HRT.

First, to answer your question about signs of excess estrogen, here's a link that shows symptoms of too much/too little .

One thing we tell ladies in the Hormone Jungle is that making too many changes too fast is counterproductive. After surgery hormone levels fluctuate a lot, whether you're on HRT or not. Your body is adapting to surgery and the loss of those hormone-producing ovaries. Even though they're gone there was a residual amount of hormones that your body used so you can see how shifty those hormones can be!

Next question is, where are you putting your patch? Is it on your abdomen? The reason I ask is that if it's there, as directed by the package, that's fine. If you've put it on your backside (not as directed but perfectly acceptable) you end up with up to 20% more absorption on the same dose. So, if you have it back there and feel you're getting too much you can, in effect, lower the amount of the dose you're getting by moving it to your abdomen.

Another common mistake made is switching patches and dots from front to back. As explained above, that causes a shift in the amount absorbed and upsets the balance you're trying to achieve. So, decide if it's going on the backside and alternate cheek to cheek or on the tummy, left side or right but *never* rotating from front to back.

That's probably more information than you needed but it's good stuff to know and might help someone else struggling to figure this out.

Patience goes a long way with HRT though I know it's easier said than done. It took me a little over a year to get balanced and any changes made were done after months of sticking to any particular HRT. Unless you're having a severe reaction, an allergy, or have a medical condition that warrants a change it's far better to give the HRT a good chance to do its job than to chase symptoms before they've had a chance to settle.

s

April,
Thanks for the link. I haven't gone to it, but any info will be helpful. I am putting the patch on my belly, but would rather have it on my backside. If this is too high, then putting the lower dose on my bum may be just what I need.
I didn't mention this in the first post, but my ovaries only functioned properly for the week prior to and after ovulation-- just enough to kick out an egg. Then they basically shut down the week before and after my period.
I've had plenty of time to experience meno symptoms before I even had surgery. I'd been dealing with this on a major level six years, and off and on for almost 15. I was on the low end of estrogen when I went in to the castle, so I responded quickly to the first patch.
I guess I was just so eager to stop feeling like crud, that I may have jumped the gun some.
I'll try to be more patient, but it's not one of my strongest virtues.
Thanks again, Linda