It's Finally Happening!

[AlysonShaw]

I had my first visit with the endocrinologist today and barring any craziness with my blood work, I'll start HRT in a few days.

I do have a question though. The doc is going to prescribe me an estrogen patch instead of a pill. Does anyone have any experience with both? Did you notice much of a difference?

[Laurie Ann]

Alyson,

I have been on a patch for three years and I love it so easy just change it twice a week.

[sandra-leigh]

The patch is not without its difficulties, though. I have muscle work done every week on my lower back and hips, right where one would normally put the patch, so I have ended up skipping putting it on much more often than is good for me.

[Bree-asaurus]

From what I've heard, the pills are probably cheaper... but that's all I can say as I do IM injections.

[christinac]

Not to get too far off subject, but what is the pro's and con's of one over the other? Say for example, patches over injections or patches over pills.

[DanaM64]

From what I've heard, the pills are probably cheaper... but that's all I can say as I do IM injections.

Besides the cost, from what I have read (still waiting for my appt), is that there is less risk of side effects (the bad ones) when using the patch or injections than if you are taking the pill. Though some have mentioned in the past they have seen faster results using them also.

Personally I will be going for the patch at first, I'm figuring if the dosage needs to be changed it will be easier to remove the patch than doing a blood trans-fusion! :) pardon the pun... On a side note, I'll be to busy picking out something to wear to try and remember taking the pill everyday!

Good luck!

[christinac]

My biggest issue with pill form anything is that a lot of them are so hard to swallow unless you chase it with five gallon of water.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

For starters don't worry about it too much..

remember that your progress will be incremental and this is forever...
the estrogen will get there sooner or later!!

The patch is a totally valid choice...there are +/- for everything...

i went from a topical cream to a pill to shots over about a year before i found the right scenario for me...your body will tell you the right answer...

BTW, what about testosterone blockers??

[Aprilrain]

I'm on pills. You need to be diligent in remembering to take them, i was taking them three different times a day but now i only take them twice a day. As for swallowing them they are tiny, 5 gallons of water is not required, however you shouldn't swallow them anyway, put them under your tounge and let them dissolve. I never took Spiro but I here it taste bad! Cyproterone doesn't taste like anything but I just swallowed those. I no longer need an anti androgen. progesterone is a bit bitter but not a big deal. Take it at night because it makes some people tired.

[AlysonShaw]

He mentioned that there could be some liver issues with pills and that's why he usually goes for the patch to start off with. And I'll be taking spiro to go along with it. He didn't mention and I forgot to ask about progesterones. I guess I'll just wait and see about how everything goes for the first few months. I'm just too excited!

[christinac]

I was studying a well know herbal program once ( not naming names because there are several closed threads on it from 2008) and one of the things I read is that the liver breaks down almost everything (medication, supplement, and etc.) taken in pill form from 100% down to as low as 30%.

[Julia_in_Pa]

First off Alison congratulation's on your progress.
I've had many friends who started on the patch only to become frustrated at their lack of adhesion to the skin.
Nine out of my eleven years on HRT I've been injecting beta-17 estrodial.
It's the best estrogen one can obtain concerning trnasition.
The benefit of injecting is that you only have one pass through the liver like patches and unlike oral estrogen which passes through the liver twice prior to entering the bloodstream.
Just my 2 cents for you.


Julia

[Bree-asaurus]

I was studying a well know herbal program once ( not naming names because there are several closed threads on it from 2008) and one of the things I read is that the liver breaks down almost everything (medication, supplement, and etc.) taken in pill form from 100% down to as low as 30%.

The amount of estrodiol in the pill accounts for that breakdown.

[StaceyJane]

Great news on starting HRT.
I've been on the patch for over a year and sometimes I get a rash or the area around the patch gets itchy.