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Tablets or patches?

Posted , 7 users are following.

mel25860
mel25860

Hi there, I have been taking elleste 1mg combi for approx 3 months now and although I think I'm feeling a bit better there has been no significant improvement in my low moods. I have been researching and it seems that I may need a higher dose of oestrogen and many of the articles I've read have said that patches or gels maybe the better option?

Has anyone had experience of both types and what are your thoughts? Thanks so much

0 likes, 38 replies

38 Replies

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  • caroline_19506
    caroline_19506 mel25860

    Posted

    I use the gel on a low dose what I hate is the side effects of these things
    • Jan999
      Jan999 caroline_19506

      Posted

      When I used patches apart from them always falling off (in 1991) I had dreadful migraines but as soon as I was prescribed tablets they stopped. HRT is very much trial and error and what suits one may not suit someone else but what we have to be careful not to do is make comments that aren't correct because we know that HRT in all forms is safe providing there aren't any contraindications. Research has shown that women on long term HRT don't have raised liver function (tablet form and patches) and the main reason for the new up to date NICE Guidelines is to discredit a lot of the flawed research that some people insist on referring to. 
    • Jan999
      Jan999 caroline_19506

      Posted

      When I used patches apart from them always falling off (in 1991) I had dreadful migraines but as soon as I was prescribed tablets they stopped. HRT is very much trial and error and what suits one may not suit someone else but what we have to be careful not to do is make comments that aren't correct because we know that HRT in all forms is safe providing there aren't any contraindications. Research has shown that women on long term HRT don't have raised liver function (tablet form and patches) and the main reason for the new up to date NICE Guidelines is to discredit a lot of the flawed research that some people insist on referring to. 
  • caroline_19506
    caroline_19506 mel25860

    Posted

    You must know slot then I tried tablets once before and had several lots as none of them were suitable I kept getting headaches too gel is much better this time round
    • Jan999
      Jan999 caroline_19506

      Posted

      It's good you found something that suits you caroline. The research we've been doing has found some ladies struggle to find a form of HRT that does suit them and some put up with the occasional migraine because it is better than suffering with daily hot flushes/flashes and low mood.
  • spotty1
    spotty1 mel25860

    Posted

    I've tried gel, tablets and patches and find each of them have slightly different effects.

    I currently have an estrogen implant and I supplement that with part of an  estrodot patch (half x 75mcg patch) twice a week. I would have preferred to take a Climaval estro tablet daily but the doseage is slightly too high and the tablet isn't easy to cut exactly.  I used to use the gel, supplementary to the implant, but that didn't help with joint pains. Using the patches has sorted that issue out.

    From my experience, all the different forms affect me slightly differently. I've also come to the conclusion that the estrogen supplements do not quite provide everything that my (almost completely) failed ovaries did. The ovaries seem to have produced something that isn't quite replicated by the HRT that I've tried, whether that's a different chemical completely or simply a side effect-free amount of estrogen.

    My headaches, migraines and low mood were resolved by the addition of testosterone supplement. Without the testosterone I get extremely depressed.

    • caroline_19506
      caroline_19506 spotty1

      Posted

      Yes that's true I get achy legs that matron woman thinks she knows everything I've had gyne problems for years
    • Jan999
      Jan999 spotty1

      Posted

      I have osteoarthritis and find HRT helps with my joint pain where painkillers failed. Your comments about testosterone is interesting and something some ladies could benefit from as you have. It's something they should be discussing with their GP.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 caroline_19506

      Posted

      That "matron woman" doesn't just think she knows everything, she does and you may have had gynae problems for years but I've also had gynae problems and worked in gynaecology for over 40 years!
  • caroline_19506
    caroline_19506 mel25860

    Posted

    Yes most of the hem well where I live they are
    • Jan999
      Jan999 caroline_19506

      Posted

      I hope they are nice everywhere caroline because when dealing with such sensitive issues compassion and empathy are paramount however in all jobs there's always one who isn't as there is in nursing. 
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