Estrogen patches - advice needed

ellieraine · 12-15-2004, 07:47 AM

About me.....dx Nov 04, been on Met 500mg daily since Aug, been suffering terrible IBS/stomach problems for past 6-8 weeks, been passing blood in stools, taken off of Met last week and blood/stool samples taken, results not known yet.

Ok.......went to see specialist yesterday about PCOS and she has said to stay off of Met until get results of stomach probs then back onto 500mg daily.

She said that my estrogen levels are dropping before and during my period which is why I feel so tired/depressed/fed up and low around that time. She has prescribed Estradiol (Estraderm MX) - 50mcg patches to boost my estrogen levels during this time. I need to use them a few times a month before my period.

I've read all of the info that comes with them, but all it talks about is HRT and the Menopause. I am 28! So, am a bit worried about starting to use these....

Was wondering if anyone else has had problems and needs their estrogen boosted during their cycle......and what they do to help??

Any advice appreciated, thanks

Chrissy · 12-15-2004, 03:32 PM

I have heard of this and know a few non pcos girls doing this. They are using it for the same reason. One is in peri menapause and the other uses them for mesnstral migraines. Both feel great on it and have not had any bade side effects, although I do n't know how much is in their patch.

RunnerDuck · 12-18-2004, 06:37 PM

I just read a book called "It's My Ovaries, Stupid!" by Elizabeth Vliet, MD - she's an endocrinologist who treats hormone issues. Very good book. She seems to use estrogen patches a lot and goes into great detail about what effects either too little estrogen or sudden drops in estrogen have on the body. The problems you describe are in line with what she said, so if she's right, the patch should help you.

I'd love to find a do who would let me try an estrogen patch... I'd love to know if it would have any effect on my completely absent sex drive. According to her in women, testosterone is not enough for a sex drive... you need estradiol to prime the pumps, too. So that would explain how my testosterone can be sky high but I'd rather clean my gutters than have sex...

Good luck with the patch!!!

Chrissy · 12-19-2004, 12:30 PM

I hear you! I am on Avandia and by the looks of my skin and hair my test. is on the fast rise. My drive is very down since I dropped the bc pill. I was even on a 25 mcg. pill too. Estrogen must play a role.

RunnerDuck · 12-19-2004, 11:28 PM

Eeeeel! How long have you been on avandia? I am hoping to go on it in January... met isn't working for me... i want to have periods dammit!!! But I don't want to make my PCOS even worse...

Chrissy · 12-21-2004, 11:33 AM

I have been on it this time 3 1/2 months. I do cycle so that is the good news. I even ovulate sometimes. Everyone is different. My dr. suggested the avandia with bc pills but I will take only one since my objective is to cycle and eliminate acne and hair.

Chrissy · 01-02-2005, 10:08 PM

Just had my hormones run on day 6 of my cycle and my RE called me to let me know my estrogen was low. 30 I think. From what I read that is too low. She was surprised at this and is waiting for DHEAS and testosterone to come back. She is thinking I may be progestin dominant so this may be why such skin problems on Avandia. Interesting though, I try to get away from bc pills to find out the estrogen was probably helping me. I'm only 39 yeeks!!! I'll know the rest of the story in a few days when my labs return. Anyone else experience this. I thought pcos girls had high estrogen. It would figure I would contradict the norm here. My whole endocrine system defies the norm.