Femseven / tegaderm dressings

Hi, I am considering pellet therapy. Could you please let know what QOL improvements you noticed. I am finding it difficult to get info other than what the pharma companies provide which I tend to be skeptical of. Thx Shana

Much appreciated!

Hi there Karen,

I haven't heard of the pellets... can i buy them over the counter or are they prescription only.

Utrogestran is made out of wild yam too so I'm guessing i may have similar side effects... 😦

I'd also like to know how they helped your quality of life too.

Thanks,

AJ.

HI AJ I have no more sadness feel completely balanced, metabolism quicker, no hot flashes, sleep all night, no indigestion etc etc.. more energy.. I have no negative side affects from the pellet.. what are your side affects?

I had my procedure in the US.. A clinic that is specific to this.. $300 every 4 months ..

Thanks k

The US are so much more supportive than the UK. W e desperately need more education around the menopause i think as, unless you're referred or have a very understanding GP then you're kind of stuck with not much help when HRT balancing hormones isn't straight forward!

I seem to be progesterone intolerant as i've tried quite a few regimes now.

The utrogestran, which is a bio identical yammbased product is giving me a terrible time... I'm feeling very nauseous, I ache all over, I feel complete exhaustion and kind of feel like I am getting the flu all the time when I am taking it. I am supposed to take it for 14 days each month but never manage that as i end up so ill.

I'm very pleased you feel so well karen as it's really nice to hear a positive story!

I hope it continues to help you.

AJ. x

Hi AJ,

I am also taking Utrogestan 100mg Capsules & Estrogel . This is my 3rd shot at HRT, i started with Evoril Conti which gave me too many side affect, one being bleeding, then got switched to Femseven patches which seemed to work apart from the lack of staying power. So now i have just finished my 3 months on the Gel & the Capsules I shall also be asking my GP to put me back on Femseven & i shall try the Tagederm dressing too.

I agree with you about the lack of Specialists where HRT is concerned, although the doctor i have been seeing is very helpful to my needs she is just a GP and a locum at that, so it is hit & miss if i can get an appointment.

When i first went to see my GP she wanted to put me on a low dose of anti-depressants which she said she recommends for all the women that go to her with HRT symptons.

Regards Kay

Thanks AJ Im so sorry your going through this afterall its about quality of life... i really do feel for you as i was miserable.. first thing dr's want to do is put u on anti depressants.. whicj mine tried...i had to investigate all my options available and figure it out.. i FLy to US every 4 months to have this procedure which takes 3 minutes.. i just couldnt believe the out come!! i hope you find what works for you and whats available that works as well... keep me posted

cheers k

Hi Kay,

Your story nearly mirrors mine!

I started out around a year ago on Evorel Sequi patches... I lasted 6 months before giving up with really bad side effects... then tried the Femseven for 3 months with no side effects before finally giving up as they just would not stay put!

Now I'm using Evorel oestrogen only patches and adding in the utrogestran, two at night (supposedly), for 14 nights (again supposedly) - I only last 10-12 days as I just feel so unwell. Also, last night i only took one as i cant stand feeling so ill every day. 😦

Anyway, what I do want to tell you is that I have heard that the Femseven manufacturers are actually looking in to the glue thing as they've had so many complaints about the patches not sticking well... fingers crossed for this solution but until then I'm going to ask to switch back to Femseven and try the tegaderm thing as some have said it works well..?

I really hope we both find relief doing this as I really don't know what next if not and i do not want the mirena coil!

Good luck!

AJ. xx

Hi Karen...

You fly out for your treatment only? So you don't live in the US?

So could you tell me a bit more, I'd like to know how you came across the treatment and clinic, also - they obviously see you as a private patient or does it work differently over there with insurances etc?

The pellet treatment takes 3 mins only!! Did you have to have lengthy tests before hand?

Sorry for all the questions but obviously its helped you so much that its very interesting and i haven't heard of this treatment until now.

It's not done in the UK?

Thanks for your kind words o understanding as it helps to know I'm not the only one... none of my friends really understand as they know me as the lively and happy person I once was and had always been and now, although I carry on as I will not let this beat me, I'm like an old woman! At 46! So upsetting.

AJ. xx

I'm also in the US. Can you provide name and location of clinic?

Hi AJ,

Yes, our situations are very similar.

Thankyou for the heads up on the Femseven.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Regards Kay

HI AJ Listen i was desperate!! a runner skways joking happy.. i stArted ri get anxiety sadness intense sadness.. hot flashes i could suffer through but mentally was losing it.. cry over nothing.. could not sleep at all.. indigestion so bad i felt my chest heavy etc etc thought my heart had issues cause felt like couldnt breathe.. literally falling spart..horrible ..given anxiety meds etc etc.. i had to do my own research like u after 3 years of it?? so i listened to podcasts websites lije this one.. read etc etc one day my hair dresser shared how great she felt from this hrt pellet? i thought thats crazyiness im bot doing that.. but desperate i called clinic gave it a shot and bang on.. it worked ..

so they test your hormones first..ex estrogen alone shld be btw 50-100.. mine was 5... they match the pellet accordingly to your blood work results..so i live in states in winter and CAD in summer.. regardless i fly there it its pellet time and i pay for it..so blood work there at clinic then 3 days later fer pellet inserted .. insurance does not cover bio identical hrt

i dont mind helping cause i know how bad i felt... um 100% now!!! these clinics are all across the states.. feel free to adj me anything related k

TOPSAIL MEDICAL NC 910-270-0052

best of luck

Yes I'm on Femseven patches and they don't stick well.....they catch on sheets/clothing after few good days of staying in place!

Hi Retsina,

I'm just about to try Femseven again with tegaderm patches over the top.

Previous to the Femseven patches I was isung Evorel Sequi, these stick, stick, stick!! They stay on a dream and it's sometimes hard to get them off... you also change them twice a week rather than weekly. I had terrible probs with the progesterone in them though as its different type and i had to discontinue them. I then tried the Femseven but they did not stick as i said... but they didn't give side effects... or was that because i didn't get the correct dosage as they kept falling off!!!!?!

So then i tried Evorel oestrogen only patches continious with added in utrogesterone tabs for the last 12 - 14 days of the cycle... these have given the same side effects with added nausea and complete drowsiness!!!

So... on friday i start the femseven with tegaderm. If that doesnt work, i'm not sure what to do.

I really wish i lived in the US and could have something unique made up to suit me!!

So up to you if you want to try Evorel Sequi patches first and see if they suit you before giving up on HRT? They'll defo stay on so that's a plus.

Let me know how you get on, either way - good luck!

AJ. xx

Thanks I will ask my GP about Evorel Sequi. It's difficult to know what to do about any of this menopause stuff! Seems many of us get side effects with HRT of some sort but then going back to the sweats etc is a no-no!! I feel guilty keep going back to my GP to ask about something else. I tried tablets but I had nausea on them which I put up with on and off for a while and then abandoned them to patches......I wish they would stay on!

Evorel will stay on, defo!

Apparently usually its the progesterone that normally causes side effects... and I've had terrible side effects with all I've tried except Femseven sequi but, like you, i just could not keep them on.

I'm putting all my prayers into these Tegaderm patches!

The progesterone gradually builds up over the months and by month 4 I'm nauseous, my boobs are agony and so swollen and generally feel teary and down... I really wish i could feel great! When my mother was using HRT she turned into Wonder Woman the whole time she used it! She used Estracombi patches (same drugs as evorel) but they aren't made anymore and obviously wouldn't have suited me anyway!

Not fair!

Oh well... tomorrow is another day! Hope it's a good one!

AJ. xx