Problems With the Patches :(

[RedheadWhovian]

I'm worried. I was just prescribed an estrogen patch instead of the pill, which I was taking for 11 months, and the things keep peeling at the edges. I put them on a couple inches below my belly button, and the flabbiness of my skin while sitting, bending over, etc. gives it a rippley effect, and makes it peel. (I'm not even overweight. I'm underweight XD) Can someone help? It's not coming off completely or anything, but it gets warped, and the shower usually makes it peel even more. I want to make sure I'm doing it right. My estrogen dropped recently, which made me so sad, and now I am worried that if I'm not doing htis right, it's only going to drop more. 🙁

[Tessa James]

Hey RHW,  I had the same problem and tried several different brands and in my experience the Vivelle dot worked best.  Actual peeling off makes them ineffective but the ripply effect is not a problem as long as they adhere to your skin.  Patches provided a more consistent blood level than PO (by mouth) and I hear that pellets may be the premium way to go.

E levels in Cis women fluctuate wildly so do hang in there.

[RedheadWhovian]

Hey RHW,  I had the same problem and tried several different brands and in my experience the Vivelle dot worked best.  Actual peeling off makes them ineffective but the ripply effect is not a problem as long as they adhere to your skin.  Patches provided a more consistent blood level than PO (by mouth) and I hear that pellets may be the premium way to go.

E levels in Cis women fluctuate wildly so do hang in there.

Hi Tessa! The vivelle dot? Not sure what that is, sorry! Should I send a pic or something? Every time I am sitting down, it gets warped, and ripply. Am I even sure it's working properly? D: And sorry, pellets?

[Dena]

I remember a thread and a post. Here is the link to it thanks to the site search.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,215714.msg1910024.html#msg1910024

[Michelle_P]

Thank you, Dena!  And I still haven't lost one since I started doing that.  When I peel off the paper cover and did it right the patch is still nicely seated, no lifting or anything.

The nearest I've come to losing one was when I messed up the small tape that keeps the tape cover from sticking to the patch.  It stuck, and tugged one corner of the patch up.

[kittenpower]

I just picked up my patches today and will be starting them tomorrow. I read the leaflet that was in the box with the meds, and it says that you are supposed to peel one side of the patch and apply to your skin, and press on it for a few seconds; and then peel the other side of the patch, press it on your skin for a few second, and the press the whole patch against your skin for several more seconds. You may be doing this already, but I thought I would mention it just in case. I considered the pellets, but decided against them because there is a risk of infection every time you have them inserted, and if they are causing problems it's a hassle to try to have them taken out; and the provider wanted to wait a month after implanting them to check my hormone levels, so I would have no way of knowing if my levels were extremely high during that time, and the reason I wanted pellets in the first place was for consistent estrogen levels, so my levels could have been over a thousand for the first couple of weeks and then started dropping, and by the time my levels were checked at 4 weeks after insertion could be in the 200-400 range and I could have been misled into thinking that my levels were 200-400 all along. No thank you.

[RedheadWhovian]

I just picked up my patches today and will be starting them tomorrow. I read the leaflet that was in the box with the meds, and it says that you are supposed to peel one side of the patch and apply to your skin, and press on it for a few seconds; and then peel the other side of the patch, press it on your skin for a few second, and the press the whole patch against your skin for several more seconds. You may be doing this already, but I thought I would mention it just in case. I considered the pellets, but decided against them because there is a risk of infection every time you have them inserted, and if they are causing problems it's a hassle to try to have them taken out; and the provider wanted to wait a month after implanting them to check my hormone levels, so I would have no way of knowing if my levels were extremely high during that time, and the reason I wanted pellets in the first place was for consistent estrogen levels, so my levels could have been over a thousand for the first couple of weeks and then started dropping, and by the time my levels were checked at 4 weeks after insertion could be in the 200-400 range and I could have been misled into thinking that my levels were 200-400 all along. No thank you.

Thank you for the advice! Should I be worried that my levels are at 140? X_X I always hear everyone around like 200-400, and I've never even broken 200, at the max dose of the pills. Is it possible that the fact that my body won't have any of it indicates it's wrong for me or something? I'd be devastated to no end.

[Miyuki]

I use Tegaderm Film 🔗 [Link: amazon.com/gp/product/B001PLYV5I/] over my patches and it makes sure they stay perfectly in place every time. I also apply them on my rear since supposedly the absorption is better there. It also helps to clean the area where you apply the patch with rubbing alcohol to remove the oil from your skin to help it stick better.

[stephaniec]

I use to have that problem all the time until I started using medical tape works quite well for the shower and sweating .

[kittenpower]

Thank you for the advice! Should I be worried that my levels are at 140? X_X I always hear everyone around like 200-400, and I've never even broken 200, at the max dose of the pills. Is it possible that the fact that my body won't have any of it indicates it's wrong for me or something? I'd be devastated to no end.

140 is fine if your testosterone is low enough, and you are noticing feminizing effects from it, but from what I have heard 200 is the target goal for most of us with 400 being the upper limit of where we want to be. Just because your levels aren't higher it doesn't mean that the medicine is wrong for you it could be the dosage isn't high enough for your body type, or the route of administration isn't allowing you to absorb the medicine adequately; some Docs prescribe a combination of drugs like shots with pills to increase absorption, but you have to be careful because if your estrogen levels become too high you could have health problems from it like gallbladder disease, so we have to have our hormone levels checked regularly. Also, estrogen levels that are too high can cause estrogen insensitivity. So just be patient, and hopefully these patches will work for you, and if you aren't happy with them you can try something else.

[luna nyan]

if they are causing problems it's a hassle to try to have them taken out; and the provider wanted to wait a month after implanting them to check my hormone levels, so I would have no way of knowing if my levels were extremely high during that time, and the reason I wanted pellets in the first place was for consistent estrogen levels, so my levels could have been over a thousand for the first couple of weeks and then started dropping, and by the time my levels were checked at 4 weeks after insertion could be in the 200-400 range and I could have been misled into thinking that my levels were 200-400 all along. No thank you.

A few things on pellet:
It's a very small incision and it's no worse than a deep scratch!  Very unlucky if you get an infection!  For me, patches would be worse as I've gotten contact dermatitis from the electrolysis strap, and I suspect patches would do the same to me.

And it'd take about 3 months before e levels peak on a pellet.  Which reminds me it's probably time for me to have another test and update.

[Sophia Sage]

I had terrible results with the patch -- while I struggle to imagine how such a tiny dose can deliver the kind of results we need, maybe my skin was just not terribly good at absorbing the stuff.

Maybe you should ask for injectables, Redhead?

[KayXo]

There is no such thing as an ideal level for anyone. 100-200 was an arbitrarily chosen range, an approximation of levels of premenopausal women when really, certain things like pregnancy, the natural course of reproduction, variability across women, different population characteristics (ciswomen vs transwomen) have been overlooked. Levels also fluctuate from one moment to another so that it could be 140 (? please state units, pg/ml or pmol/L) and then 70 at another point in time and yet 300 at another time. Focus instead on how you are doing, feminization, things you can feel and see for yourself. These will tell you if the regimen is working for you and share this info with your doctor to help them guide you better.

Obsessing about numbers will drive you crazy, not worth it and no sense in doing so.

Just think for a moment, does everyone react similarly to the same concentration of alcohol in the body? No, so it's the same thing for estrogen. 😉

[kittenpower]

I had terrible results with the patch -- while I struggle to imagine how such a tiny dose can deliver the kind of results we need, maybe my skin was just not terribly good at absorbing the stuff.

Maybe you should ask for injectables, Redhead?

There's a back order on estradiol valerate where I live, and that's why I'm switching to patches.

[Sophia Sage]

There's a back order on estradiol valerate where I live, and that's why I'm switching to patches.

Estradiol Cypionate is still widely available.  Same bio-identical estradiol, just a different ester of it.  The dosing of it differs from EV, something to research and discuss with your endoc.

[Tessa James]

Hi Tessa! The vivelle dot? Not sure what that is, sorry! Should I send a pic or something? Every time I am sitting down, it gets warped, and ripply. Am I even sure it's working properly? D: And sorry, pellets?

The Vivelle dot is a brand of patches that i found works very well and I tried a few.  I get the twice a week type and had problems with the once a week patches.  In addition to below the belly button using your upper butt backside works too.
I stay away from my lateral hip as they can get messed up in bed when I side sleep.  Again don't worry about the e numbers or that wavy ripple effect as long as it remains in contact with your skin.  Are you feeling Ok and seeing some feminization impacts?

[Mariah]

I had that issue as well and it's why after 6 weeks of patches I switched to shots because the patches just were to much of a problem especially with the rash they were leaving. Hugs
Mariah

[kittenpower]

I had that issue as well and it's why after 6 weeks of patches I switched to shots because the patches just were to much of a problem especially with the rash they were leaving. Hugs
Mariah

I have sensitive skin and I'm worried about getting a rash, so I still haven't applied one of my patches; does anyone have any tips for preventing a rash. And it seems like prepping the skin with alcohol before applying the patch would cause irritation by drying out your skin too much, and then adding tape on top of the patch could also irritate your skin and make the patch less breathable.