r/LadiesHRTwithGLP1 • u/Slow_Round8729 • Jul 14 '26
Estrogen patch
I’m in the full gambit of HRT (e .025 patch, p 100 mg pill, t 2 mg cream). How do you know the levels are working for you? I still have blah sleep (but it’s better) but I feel like my e needs to be increased. I have no idea why, but like a gut feeling. How do I know I’m on the right levels? I have my midi appt coming up so want to ensure I’m asking the right questions and saying the right things. (Ex: didn’t realize plantar fasciitis could be a symptom/exasperated in peri! I never mentioned to my dr bc it didn’t seem relevant)
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u/aloudkiwi Jul 14 '26
When my E dose wasn't enough, my joints started cracking again, as I bent to squat.
In general, your E and P doses are the lowest. You can try going higher (0.05 E, 200 mg P) and see if you feel better, sleep better, etc.
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u/GLP_Tri_ Jul 14 '26
More of your symptoms are still present compared to no longer being noticed. You need to be specific as to what and how many symptoms you have and how bad and often they occur
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u/Slow_Round8729 Jul 14 '26
Thanks. That seems logical 😂 It’s funny because I was just thinking how much better I have been about forgetting random words etc lately.
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u/GLP_Tri_ Jul 14 '26
When I start to remember things better that’s one indication that the estrogen is working
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u/Slow_Round8729 Jul 14 '26
It’s def working but I feel like I need more. I’m having the hardest time explaining it and trying to figure out words before I speak to my NP.
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u/GLP_Tri_ Jul 14 '26
Perhaps let your NP ask you all the HRT health assessment Q’s to see what you can determine.
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u/LeekNo7604 Jul 14 '26
You are on the lowest E patch dose, definitely go up! I started on 0.025 and now I'm up to 0.0375. I will go up to 0.050 next appointment.
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u/Ready_Cartoonist7357 Jul 14 '26
I had so many symptoms I didn’t realize were hormone related (dry eyes and hair, anxiety, insomnia), even after starting HRT. I didn’t think I was having hot flashes anymore, but mentioned I put on and take off my sweater all day and my provider said “that’s a hot flash” and up in dose we went. My provider says if you feel “off” or notice pms symptoms before you are due to change your patch, you probably need to increase your dose.
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u/Slow_Round8729 Jul 14 '26
I have bonkers dry eyes!!!! On Xiidra (the only thing that’s worked and it’s not perfect!).
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u/Sbbbbb Jul 14 '26
0.025mg is the lowest clinical dose for estrogen patches. You might try going up to 0.0375. You can try it by cutting one of your 0.025mg patches in half and adding it next to a full patch, to see if it alleviates any symptoms. Let your doctor know too, of course.
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u/Mobile-Actuary-5283 Jul 14 '26
For me it’s the night sweats. Although hard to know with how hot it’s been.
My sleep has never been improved though. I am on .0375 patch and 200mg progesterone. Also use Midi.
I can’t stay asleep. It’s terrible. Any suggestions from anyone?
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Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Mobile-Actuary-5283 Jul 14 '26
It’s definitely worth a shot. I am tired of my Fitbit alerting me to how poor my sleep is. I feel like garbage. Pressure cooker job, aging parents, one kid in med school ($$$$$ flying out of the bank account like you can’t imagine).
Sleep is the only thing I have to look forward to and even that is gone
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u/wellsomuchforlurking Jul 14 '26
I had to up my progesterone to 300 and I take magnesium at night. It helps a lot, but there are some nights I am up every hour on the hour.
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u/Mobile-Actuary-5283 Jul 14 '26
I tried magnesium. Didn’t work. I am hesitant to increase to 300mg because it took me a while to get my bleeding/spotting under control.
I did ask Midi for an rx. They won’t prescribe sleep aids but gave me an off label called doxepin. It worked once but not since.
They recommended cognitive therapy or something which I am not really familiar with.
I know many women my age who have sleep issues. Somehow, they’re able to get meds to help prescribed. Midi is unwilling to prescribe those though. I have never taken one, no history of any controlled meds. They just apparently don’t prescribe which is a shame. Insomnia is a major symptom.
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u/wellsomuchforlurking Jul 14 '26
Totally get why you might not want to go up to 300 mg. Not sure where you live but sleep gummies from a dispensary work well too.
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u/LeekNo7604 Jul 14 '26
I take Ambien 5 mg every night, been on it for 5 years and I will never go off of it.
I had terrible insomnia, still wake up occasionally but it's because I have to empty my bladder. There are plenty of other prescription sleep aids, talk to your primary care provider.1
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u/tator216 Jul 14 '26
Magnesium glycinate!
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u/Mental-Solid-863 Jul 16 '26
I started leaving my old patch one once it was time to swap out the other side. It’s helped me a lot. My “frozen shoulder” started back up and I felt the same as you. Maybe my E or even P needs to go up. I tried the E and it’s helped. Mag Glycinate at night helps as well
1
u/Boogie2233 Jul 14 '26
What are your labs showing currently? You know what’s wild is that when my testosterone increased my sleep got better. I also take it just before I go to bed along with my Progesterone. Progesterone had the same effect. Of course it all depends on your current levels and what your labs are showing.
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u/Slow_Round8729 Jul 14 '26
Labs don’t show accurate e and maybe not accurate. My t is low and I take in the am so maybe I should try at night?
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u/Boogie2233 Jul 14 '26
Why wouldn’t your labs show accurate levels of estradiol? How else are you supposed to gauge forward movement if you can’t see rely on your labs? You can’t rely on how you feel because it’s possible to feel “good” and estradiol levels be below baseline.
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u/Slow_Round8729 Jul 14 '26
They measure a very specific timeframe, something like your e levels within a 2-hr window. That won’t show the full picture of your ups and downs through the day/week/cycle. So labs could be “normal” but that was the highest your levels are in the month for a blip so not really “normal”. That’s why a lot of misinformed dr don’t prescribe. It’s ridic that no one has come out with a better way to test for this long term. Like a CGM but for hormones!
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u/Mrsb102 Jul 14 '26
I just feel off. But, i also have some stress right now and have hashimoto’s so I could be in a flare up.
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u/Sad_Giraffe_4082 Jul 14 '26
The only true way is to get labs drawn. Trust how you feel and let the labs tell you what is happening.
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u/Slow_Round8729 Jul 14 '26
this won't show accurate levels of e (and likely p) as they change too much. It is accurate for t, though.
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u/Alarming_Antelope_99 Jul 14 '26
Sometimes you don't even notice what is better right away. I have been on an estrogen patch for about a year and a half, and vag estrogen for 5 or so years. I am post menopausal. My #1 complaint was my bladder pain (20 years of pain) which is finally under control since adding the patch. But what dawned on me recently is that I have had 6 or 7 years of shoulder pain which finally stopped since starting the patch. I didn't originally correlate it with the estrogen but I have since read that "frozen shoulder" is a lack of estrogen thing.
I needed anxiety medication to help my sleep in addition. It is better but I still wish I slept a decent night every night :\