Patch or pill?

Hi all-

all this HRT is quite confusing. I had a TAH 9 days ago. My dr suggested estradiol patch. This also comes in pill form. My problem is $. Walmart has the pill in their $4 category, where the patch isnt. Has anyone tried both? or either? I want to take whats best unfortunately Im out of work, with no income, and my insurance is about to roll over and I have a high deductible( which i chose bc ive never been sick in my life, who would have ever thoiught Id end up with such a mess?)

thanks in advance

Hello!

You'll find threads about both methods of delivery and as you'll learn as you read, some members really like the patches and others don't, preferring other methods of delivery, including the pill form. What works really well for some of us doesn't work well for others, which is why it's good we have so many options.

The generic estradiol pills are definitely the cheapest you're going to find so if cost is a factor, you may want to start out on the pills, rather than trying the patches if you know you won't be able to continue using them. Keep in mind that whatever form of estrogen you decide on that it can take time to adjust and it's not unusual to have symptoms during the balancing process. It's helpful to keep a journal of symptoms so you have a written record to share with your doctor. Your doctor can use the information to make changes to your hormone therapy, if needed. Your doctor may even have free samples for you to try, so consider asking about that.

I hope this helps!

Some of us use the estradiol pill with a vaginal or sub-lingual delivery. You don't need as much when you go through the skin so a month supply could last you two months instead. One bottle of estradiol pills lasts me 2 months. I pay $2 a month for my estrogen. :O) I do the vaginal delivery. I do it this way because I am in this for the long haul. I know I will be on HRT for a long time and I do not want the long term effects of oral estrogen.

the estradiol pill with a vaginal or sub-lingual delivery? ok im lost please explain. Im 38 so will be on HRT for a bit as well.

This is all so overwhelming, i know what my dr wants but I need to be as informed as I can... thanks sisters!!!!

The pill can be used to transdermally pass estrogen into our bodies. Sub-lingual is passed through the mouth tissue, under the tongue, and vagina delivery is the same as it is passed through the tissue in that area. The pill is inserted into the vagina where it dissolves. The mouth is the same, you just have to make sure that you do not swallow and let is pass through the tissue. The estrogen is absorbed into the blood stream. You use about 1/4 of the estrogen with a vaginal delivery that you would use if you would use taking it orally. I think you need a bit more when taking it sub-lingual than you do vaginally. I have used the patch, gels, and Femring (a vaginal ring). Vaginal delivery is my favorite delivery. It keeps my vaginal tissues nice and healthy without adding another prescription. When I was on the patch and gel I needed another prescription for Vagifem, which is a low dose estrogen to target the tissues down in that area, to keep them healthy. It is definitely the most cost effective way for me. Keep in mind, some Dr's do give out sample patches to patients who may not have insurance. They are flooded with samples of patches. So, I am not trying to push anything on you. :O) Just trying to inform you. Good luck!

ok, i think im getting it, so is t one prescription for one pill that you use for the mouth and vagina? anbd i know the vagina becomes dry, are there other other issues which the pills help with.

I was thrown into this whole TAH thing and had only 3 weeks to process the idea, I ws concentrating on the surgery and recovery itself and now am getting around to the HRT.

Yes, it is all the same pill. It is just put in different places. I would say that the main benefit that the vaginal delivery gives would be the vaginal tissues. There is also issue of the bladder. Our bladder suffers without estrogen and targeting that area helps. I was like you, I didn't have a lot of time to process and do research before my hyst. It happened pretty quickly.

I would like to recommend some books to you. There are a couple of books that I read after my hyst that changed the way I looked at HRT.

It's Our Ovaries, Stupid by Elizabeth Vliet
Natural Hormone Balance by Ussi Reiss

You can find both of these on Amazon.

Hugs!!