Wellness

[pegsue]

I am supposed to pick up an estrogen patch from the pharmacy today.  Wondering if anyone can give me any encouragement-LOL. 

I am 53 and had a hysterectomy over 5 years ago.  All is fine except the last several months I have had night sweats which weren't so bad at first but got stronger-with a vengence!!  This has affected my sleep, hubby's sleep......I call truce!  I took OTC Estroven which seemed to help some but then just suddenly stopped helping.  Then I switched to AL womens wellness and nothing.  So my doc prescribed the patch.  

Here are my questions-how long did it take for you to start seeing any results?   How did it make you feel-any better?

Also, did you gain, or lose, any weight?  I have gained some weight-seems no matter how hard I try to eat well and exercise 5 days a week (most of the time twice a day including cardio and strength training) it still crept up and I fight so hard to lose and keep it off. 

Last question-how long did you stay on the patch?

Thank you for any replies.  I will say that I honestly would hear women talk about these night sweats and hot flashes and I thought "omg, how bad could it be"....well now I know!

[Tinkrbl44]

Well, it will depend on the dosage of the patch as well as your individual body.    Not sure exactly why you need "encouragement".    This is a solution to a very aggravating problem.   You should see results within a week, and mostly likely less time.   This is a huge blessing for many women.    JMO

[IMW]

Patch worked like a miracle for me. Was on it ten years.

I did gain 5 lbs. immediately, the amount stayed constant.

The patch really was like a fountain of youth for me inside and out. My skin glowed, I had mental clarity, etc.

Just keep your checkup appointments and feel good!

[pegsue]

I used the word encouragement because I am nervous about HRT.  I hear and have read negative things about HRT and it just makes me nervous.  That is why I reached out here.

[Azcowgirl]

I started with the patch, then pills, finally settling on the cream which I still use. What a wonderful relief from night sweats and flashes. I still fight constantly to keep my weight where I want it, in spite of exercise and careful eating like you. Good luck, I hope you find it to work well for you.

eta....I get wonderful sleep because of it also ! 

[2blonde]

Unless you have a high risk for breast cancer, you should not worry about HRT.  The increased risk is very small anyway.  I don't use the patch.  I still have my uterus, so I've been taking two pills (estradiol and progesterone) which are a different form of HRT than was used in that women's study from years ago.  I've been taking these ever since menopause (17 years ago), and I doubt that I would ever get an hour's sleep or have any energy at all without it.  My OB/GYN totally approves.  I'm 68 now, and still weigh 105 and continue to jog, bike ride, and lift weights.  I'm also extremely small boned, so I need the estrogen to help keep my bones strong.

[itsmagic]

@pegsue  I have been on the lowest dose estrogen patch for a long time. I had a complete hysterectomy many years ago but have never been able to get rid of the hot flashes and night sweats.  I also have heard the bad things about HRT so I have tried going off for several months and the night sweats came back with a vengeance.   For me the patch worked pretty much right away.   I have not had a problem with it causing  weight gain. 

Best of luck to you!

[HerRoyaLioness]

When I was on the patch, I did not gain weight and my severe symptoms began to improve within the first few days.  I stayed on about a year, but I was working at an OB/GYN office at the time and was able to try a variety of HRTs.

I do have to tell you I did eventually get breast cancer, but it was NOT, I repeat NOT estrogen positive.  Totally different type.  My sister who was never on HRT did get estrogen positive breast cancer. 

My GYN dr thoroughly researched the studies when they first came out about HRT causing breast cancer and found some variables in those studies that could have influenced the outcome.  Everyone panicked at the time.  You do need to be doing follow up visitis with your dr, as with anything, there can be other side effects.

Just my experience and please make sure you go to a GYN specialist for this.

Wishing you well.

[151949]

I used patches for 5 years - every year he decreased the dose then at the end of the 5th year he said no more. I never understand why some women want to stay on this stuff forever. Anyway I did have some slight reaction to the adhesive and had to move the patches around to different sites each week. My relief from hot flashes & depression was within 24 hours. When he did take me off my patches I had a brief period of bad hot flashes but it wasn't long. I still have some mild , tolerable ones 10 years later. I'm so glad I had a great doctor and feel he did all the best possible for me . I didn't want HRT but my depression was so bad I was thinking of suicide so the doc felt it was absolutely necessary. Thank goodness that depression has never come back.

[Kachina624]

I also had a hysterectomy and was on HRT for about 20years.  I stopped cold the day the news came out about it contributing to causing cancer.   Never had a single symptom after I quit which leads me to believe I didn't even need it.   My doctor called me a day or two later and told me to quit the pills.