I Hate Taking Hormones

[@Diana]

For your rash, use some 1% Cortisol cream, it is an non prescription item and will give relief quickly.

thank you !

Yea, I've heard some people do have issues with getting a rash when using the patch. It's probably the biggest deal breaker that keeps people from sticking with it. Which is too bad because if you're like me and don't get a rash from it, it really is a great and convenient option. You might want to try alternating areas before giving up on it. Always putting the patch on the same area makes it worse.

yes i changed from one spot to another, and still have rash lol 

you are so lucky with no rash issue ! 

[Cindy]

Isn't that excessively high? lol


Dunno, I think it was even higher three months ago. Doc said the pellet didn't need to be replaced until it went under 800 whatevers so presumably that's the baseline...??

I think that baseline tends to be higher on pellets and is of course constant, mine is around 800,

Maybe another reason that pellet girls are happy girls

[immortal gypsy]

While I can understand the frustration of having to take the hormones in pill form, (oh for a magic wand to give me the form I so truley desire). Take it from someone who has been on medication for the majority of their life, it will become mundane and you soon will not notice it. They are just one more on the pile of medication I take to get through the day

[luna nyan]

Dunno, I think it was even higher three months ago. Doc said the pellet didn't need to be replaced until it went under 800 whatevers so presumably that's the baseline...??

He's expecting mine to be around the 400s.

And yes, I hate popping pills, so I switched to a pellet as well.

[JaneNicole2013]

Sometimes I get tired of popping the pills, but after waiting to do this for 40+ years I'm still more grateful than bothered. I think it's amazing how much those little pills can do.

Jane

[Jenna Marie]

I don't mind the taking it that much, but I have a TERRIBLE memory. I'm lucky I ended up on the patch, so at least I only have to remember to "take" it twice a week (and sometimes I still forget for a day or so, oops). Oh, and the rash was a problem for me until I started scrubbing the area with rubbing alcohol first; for me at least, I was getting a rash from soap/dust/skin oils/etc. being trapped under the patch.

[Sarah Louise]

I take so many medications, that hormones are "just one more".  I don't mind taking them, but I DO Hate "Needing" to take them, I wish estrogen was naturally flowing through my body.

[@Diana]

I don't mind the taking it that much, but I have a TERRIBLE memory. I'm lucky I ended up on the patch, so at least I only have to remember to "take" it twice a week (and sometimes I still forget for a day or so, oops). Oh, and the rash was a problem for me until I started scrubbing the area with rubbing alcohol first; for me at least, I was getting a rash from soap/dust/skin oils/etc. being trapped under the patch.

my hubby told me to use medical wipe to clean up first , but still some rash (bleeding sometimes) because of the dirt/black sticky thingy that i had to scrub off everytime ughhh >_<  .. i want to continue using patch , will see, maybe i will use it again tomorrow night (every Thurs night & Mon morning)

also my gyn doctor told me to use the cream insert inside vagina, i feel a bit tickle lol, so i dont use it often 

[ath]

I got switched to shots last week. In fact, today is my day to give myself my second shot, in about an hour or so.

I like it way better than taking sublingual estrogen. 4x a day sucks compared to 1x a week, even though I now have to stick a 1.5" needle into my thigh to get my hormones.

I also feel much better, and another thing is my nipples hurt -way- more than before I went on shots, and they already hurt before.

Still twice daily on spiro but I can deal with that.

[immortal gypsy]

I take so many medications, that hormones are "just one more".  I don't mind taking them, but I DO Hate "Needing" to take them, I wish estrogen was naturally flowing through my body.

It probably helps that we had that 'discipline'? beforehand. But yes why do we NEED to take them. Oh why did all of us on this thread inherit the stupid annoying distasteful even 'y' chromosome

[Jennygirl]

It probably helps that we had that 'discipline'? beforehand. But yes why do we NEED to take them. Oh why did all of us on this thread inherit the stupid annoying distasteful even 'y' chromosome

As far as it pertains to the subject at hand, I don't feel any resentment over my chromosomes when it comes to hormones. The only time I am ever even reminded I am even on HRT is when it is pellet implantation day (which happens only 3 days a year). If you struggle with pills/patches/shots, I highly highly recommend checking implantables out with your endo.

[@Diana]

As far as it pertains to the subject at hand, I don't feel any resentment over my chromosomes when it comes to hormones. The only time I am ever even reminded I am even on HRT is when it is pellet implantation day (which happens only 3 days a year). If you struggle with pills/patches/shots, I highly highly recommend checking implantables out with your endo.

Jenny .. what if i get implant (again) and I can do VFS with Dr.Kim , i have to stop taking hormone 2 weeks prior before operation .

is that mean i have to ask my gyn to take implant out ? what do you reckon 

[Jennygirl]

Jenny .. what if i get implant (again) and I can do VFS with Dr.Kim , i have to stop taking hormone 2 weeks prior before operation .

is that mean i have to ask my gyn to take implant out ? what do you reckon 

The way I timed it I was nearing the end of a treatment cycle, but Dr. Kim said not to worry about pellet implants at all- they don't have nearly the same clotting risk. That said, I probably wouldn't go under the knife for anything right after a fresh implantation.

There is a slightly higher risk of clotting with high levels of estradiol, but not nearly the same as oral which converts to estrone in the liver (this is where the severe clotting risks come from as I understand it). High levels of estrone = gnarly side effects

[Ltl89]

It doesn't bother me too much.  It's only annoying when I am on the run and forgot to take them.  Then I got to take everything at once sublingually which is just a minor inconvenience but annoying all the same.   Overall, I wish I could get off the pills, but it's the only method that would work for me.  Patches are just irritating and not as effective from what I hear, injections are terrifying for me, and pellets are way out of my budget.  I literally pay no copay for my oral estradiol and spiro, so that was the deciding factor for me other than my fear of needles.  If only there was a way to get pellets covered by insurance. 

[Jennygirl]

If only there was a way to get pellets covered by insurance.

True that. Then I might actually GET insurance

[@Diana]

The way I timed it I was nearing the end of a treatment cycle, but Dr. Kim said not to worry about pellet implants at all- they don't have nearly the same clotting risk. That said, I probably wouldn't go under the knife for anything right after a fresh implantation.

There is a slightly higher risk of clotting with high levels of estradiol, but not nearly the same as oral which converts to estrone in the liver (this is where the severe clotting risks come from as I understand it). High levels of estrone = gnarly side effects

oh yes, thats so true, about the clotting , thanks Jenny ! 

[Ltl89]

Though, is clotting a big risk considering that even higher doses are fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things?  Just wondering what the real chances of developing dvt are.  My endo is super aware of clotting and probably only put me on the dose that I am because I'm younger and don't seem to show problematic signs conducive to clotting.  Still feel concerned about it all though because she told me one of her patients had a stroke.  Kinda scares me a bit. 

True that. Then I might actually GET insurance

Yeah, it seems like it's more in the experimental phase right now, right?  I've been intrigued by many here, but it seems like its all still a new way of administering hrt.  It seems like very few endos do it that way (I notice almost everyone that does it is from Australia excluding Jenny).  Maybe I'm wrong in that which is very possible because I know very little on the subject.  If it were more widely available and more affordable, I would really consider switching over.  I'm not too fond on using oral forever.

[@Diana]

yeah the implant one is quite pricey .. i cant remember how much does it cost here, around AUD$150+ i think ... and medicare doesn't cover

[FrancisAnn]

I've been on little 3.5 day patches. They work great for me but soon I'm going to a pellet so there is nothing to think about or change.

[Jennygirl]

Yeah, it seems like it's more in the experimental phase right now, right?  I've been intrigued by many here, but it seems like its all still a new way of administering hrt.  It seems like very few endos do it that way (I notice almost everyone that does it is from Australia excluding Jenny).  Maybe I'm wrong in that which is very possible because I know very little on the subject.  If it were more widely available and more affordable, I would really consider switching over.  I'm not too fond on using oral forever.

Actually pellets have been around since the 1930s

http://www.collegepharmacy.com/images/download/PelletFAQ.pdf

This document is a great read for anyone interested!