Do I need to up my patch dose?

[KBird01]

Hi All,

I've been on Evorel 25 patches for 12 months now. (I have a mirena coil for the progesterone) I was unable to tolerate a higher dose than 25 and this dose did help with many of the symptoms I was experiencing.

I recently had a recurrence of some symptoms, including a couple of hot flushes, but mainly chronic brain fog, tiredness and feeling pretty grumpy.

I know it's that time of year, but thought I'd see if increasing my dose of Evorel would help, or whether this was due to another cause (e.g. low vitamin D). I have now raised my dose to 1 1/2 patches and whilst this hasn't helped my symptoms much, I'm not experiencing any of the side-effects I had previously with a higher dose.

So this is a long-winded way of asking, could I be now in the menopause (I'm 55) and whether my hormone levels would fluctuate at this stage, causing the symptoms? If that's the case, should I expect to need a higher dose of HRT patch?

I'd be grateful for any pointers to good information about hormone levels/hrt at the end of peri and entering the menopause.

Hoping all that makes sense - my brain is scrambled at the moment! 🤪😆

[Belle76]

Hi you have some choices you can up your patches to 50 and give it 3 months, or maybe ask for the gel and add 1or 2 pumps with your patch. Or try adding some vitamin D and give that a try. All depends on what you want or cope with.

Sounds like you may need a change in your HRT tho

[KBird01 in reply to Belle76]

Thanks Belle76 . I'm already taking quite high doses of Vit D and co-factors as my levels were a bit low. I think I'll just try to increase the patches gradually for now, as I didn't react well to the 50 patches.

[DylanTheRabbit]

Hi, it sounds like maybe you do need to up your dose. When you speak to your GP about it, ask if they'll run blood tests to rule out other causes of tiredness. Mine seem to want to do that anyway and I was advised to take an over the counter iron supplement along with HRT. Like you I have a mirena, which makes adjusting the dose of oestrogen really simple, but leaves me in the dark about how far through menopause I am as I have no periods to go by.

[KBird01 in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

Thanks DylanTheRabbit Is this usual, that as time goes on, I would need to up my dose? Do you know where I can find any more info about this - i.e. end of peri/start of meno and HRT doseage? As you say, it's been great having the mirena, but no idea now re: what my periods might or might not be doing! 🙄

[Dollymae06 in reply to KBird01]

Download the balance app by Doctor Louise Newson she is a menopause specialist and Gp. Also buy Davina Mcall book it is really informative. X

[KBird01 in reply to Dollymae06]

Thank you! 😊

[DylanTheRabbit in reply to KBird01]

I've seen it mentioned in a few of the places others have pointed you to, so I guess it's not that unusual.

I've found these videos on the menopause support website particularly informative, especially the one with Dr Lionhardt about how hormones affect each other.

menopausesupport.co.uk/?pag...

[Belle76]

have you heard of dr Louise Newson she’s quite informative and I think there’s a site called menopausal not mad

[KBird01 in reply to Belle76]

Thanks Belle76 I'll check that out. 😊

[Dollymae06]

Join these groups Menopause and me and Menopause support group. These will help you.

[KBird01 in reply to Dollymae06]

Thank you 😊

[BeeHoneyB]

Hi,

How were you administering 1.5 Evorel patches did you just cut it? Just interested as I’m on 25 with Mirena not seen much improvement so being upped to 50 in the next month.

[KBird01 in reply to BeeHoneyB]

Hi BeeHoneyB Yes, I just cut the patches. They do snag on clothes a bit more when they're small bits though, so there's more danger of them falling off too soon. I think I'm struggling with much above 25's to be honest, although I know lots of folk are much better on the higher doses. Good luck with it. This does seem as much an art form as a science! 😉

[BeeHoneyB]

Ahh thank you I might try it! It’s all a huge learning curve! The only thing I’ve really picked up from reading and watching online information eg Davina and Dr Newson is if it doesn’t feel like it’s benefitting ask for an increase or change of product. Good luck