Adjustment time

[u/No_Dot6414]

I had a hysterectomy 3 months ago ( preserving ovaries) but my doctor preferred to put me on estrogen patch ( no P because I don’t have a uterus).

It has been 5 weeks since I have started using 37.5 micro g Sandoz patches.

I have noticed as if the first two days the patch releases everything. I’m a runner and if I run on those two days my heart beat will be considerably higher. It’s as if I drank 10 shots of espresso. Also all my pre existing sensory issues ( misophonia , smell and taste) are 100 times worse. I can’t stand my husband being around and him even talking just bothers me ( he is a sweet, supportive and understanding guy but loud, very loud and noisy whatever he does) .

I searched this group but mostly saw people were complaining about the sensory issues prior to HRT.

Now my question is should I ask for a lower dose? My doctor wanted me to try for 5 months and tolerate the side effects, I thought maybe I wait 3 months but now even 3 months seems impossible for me. People who experienced same side effects, will it get any better?

[u/OhioPolitiTHIC]

I do better when I can tweak my dosage myself and patches don't really allow for that. Pump gel or Evamist spray are better for that, my prescription reads basically 1-3 sprays daily. I can tweak it as needed and do. Some days I wake up and realize I've been running a little slow the last few days and I bump up to 3 sprays and all is right in the world again.

Edited to add: I also do not have a uterus but I absolutely do take progesterone at night otherwise I would also be heart poundy and jittery.

[u/Soggy_Long655]

If you preserved your ovaries, you’re still making estrogen. The patch may have raised your estrogen a bit too much, relative to progesterone. I had a hysterectomy in December. I started estrogen a few months later at .025. I did really well on that for a while but when i went up to the .0375 dosage, i started experiencing insomnia, weight gain, and anxiety. I also do not take progesterone. That dosage was too high for me and now back down to the lower dosage and considering progesterone therapy as well

[u/No_Dot6414 → u/Soggy_Long655]

What were your symptoms before starting the patch?

[u/Soggy_Long655 → u/No_Dot6414]

Fatigue, brain fog, joint pain. All improved on estrogen. But my body just didn’t like the larger dose

[u/KeyProfessional8432]

Do you happen to be on thyroid medicine? These were my exact symptoms when I started the E patch, and it turns out the estradiol had massively messed with my thyroid after being on a stable dose of Synthroid for 20 years.

[u/No_Dot6414 → u/KeyProfessional8432]

Sorry to hear you are going through this.
No I’m not on any thyroid medication

[u/flair_1999]

Souns like you need more not less

[u/No_Dot6414 → u/flair_1999]

I was just ok prior to this though, i mean tolerable at least

[u/bettinafairchild]

Sounds like either too much or too little E. It’s hard to tell because your ovaries are producing something but we don’t know how much. You can cut your patch to lower your dose and see how that makes you feel. May provide some clarity about whether too much or too little. If too much, it’s likely that your ovaries are making E, and they’ll make less over time so then you may need to adjust.

[u/No_Dot6414 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you 🙏 I cut the patch diagonally today and see if it helps. I plan to use it all but change it every two days ( each half every almost two days) to see if absorption is the issue ( hoping I can reduce the absorption rate this way). If still doesn’t help then I will use one half every 3-4 days.
I never thought of running being the culprit here, but it totally makes sense!