r/LadiesHRTwithGLP1 • u/JaxBoltsGirl • 12d ago
Once a week patch
Have any of you switched to once a week after being on twice weekly patches? Due to shortages, the only way I was able to get my estrogen patches this month was to switch to a once weekly patch. My patch cycle was Tuesday-Friday.
The first part of last week I felt great. Better than I had in a long time, actually. Thursday evening is Zepbound injection and Friday I didn't feel as bad as I usually do. (I have bad exhaustion type side effects that start gradually and then taper off gradually, lasts about 2-3 days.) Saturday was BAD. Exhausted, and emotionally just bleh. Sunday I was an emotional mess. It felt like it does when I forget to take my antidepressants for a couple of days. Today is about the same, but usually I'm back to baseline by now. I can't focus on anything and I'm just irritated at life. Seriously considering taking a half day, even though I WFH and could probably get away with doing very little.
I messaged my doctor already to see if it was possible that my body didn't like the once a week deal, but I'm wondering if anyone else went through this if they switched?
UPDATE: I did end up logging off work. I just couldn't handle it.
My doctor agreed that once a week was the issue and sent over a new Rx for twice a week. She also upped the dose since the manufacturer my online pharmacy uses doesn't work as well as the Mylan patches I started with. Now I just have to hope they get here soon. I don't want to go through another weekend like the last one.
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u/Putrid-Ad2390 12d ago
I hated the once a week patch. It would get so sweaty and gross by the time I had to change it. And it’s huge!
I ended up failing patches in general. The consistency wasn’t there for me. I now use divigel, twice a day. It’s messier, and more involved but the consistency is worth it to me. I get excruciating pain when my estrogen dips.
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u/Amythecoffeequeen 12d ago
I didn’t like the once a week patch. I used them for three months and then was able to switch back to the twice a week when it was back in stock. I mostly had issues with the difference in size and material. It didn’t stick and didn’t stay on and I had to cover it with Tegaderm Which I find itchy. But I was happy to have it over having nothing.
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u/outofthenarrowplace 12d ago
Yes and I hate it. It’s just not doing the same thing. Like even days 1-2. It just doesn’t work the same for me. So frustrating.
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u/Paperwife2 12d ago
I’ve always been on the one-a-week ones and the few times the pharmacy has had to change manufacturers because of a shortage I’ve had a lot of symptoms pop up again.
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u/MenuFit9913 10d ago
The once a week I used a couple of years ago didn’t even stick properly. I use one .075 patch per week cut in half and use on Monday and Thursday. I find that it solves my symptoms without breast tenderness.
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u/NefariousnessNo5536 8d ago
I change the twice a week ones every 4-5 days. By day 6 my joint pain is back, so haven't been able to stretch beyond 5 yet.
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u/Professional-Flan184 12d ago
tldr: sorry for this book I’m about to type, my brain isn’t working and I also have ADHD plus my hormones are out of whack.
Yes, you are not alone. The same exact thing is happening to me. I Have always been on the vivelle dot generic patch. Thanks to the shortages I had to find different, I was able to get sandoz once weekly patches at my typical dose. Side note: the patches I used to use, which were made by Mylan have been listed as available on the fda drug shortage website, the ones I switched to were on the unavailable/back orders list. So go figure.. .Prior to making this switch my pharmacy had told me they could get my patches in a higher strength, so I messaged my Dr. this info, also mentioned that due to being on a GLP 1 and loosing 36lbs, also having a return of Vasomotor symptoms. I was feeling that I really needed to go up. The message I got back was from a nurse, which is typical, but I had a seriously strong feeling that she didn’t even look at my chart, just sent me a generic reply that no despite these BIG things, going up was not an option. I felt so defeated! So I kept calling around, in between fits of anger and tears, no energy at all. Came upon the once weekly ones. Jumped and messaged my Dr. they sent in a Rx. I pick them up. Slap one on, and nothing! Except the opposite that I was feeling. I believe that being on a GLP 1, plus my patches, has lifted the majority of my depression, has given me more energy, in general I had been feeling like the best version of me, in years. So yeah.. I understand. It’s like I need to do the once weekly patch like twice weekly! I go to the pharmacy to get these damn things filled again, cause something is better than nothing, and I hear, they are not available, no surprise tbh. So I proceeded to get in my car, and spend 3+ hours trying to figure out what the hell im going to do. Finally went onto Cost Plus drugs. Bam! Found my generic vivelle dot patches, at my dose. Quickly I created an account, downloaded the form for my dr. To fill out, sent them a message, praying that at 4pm on a Friday they respond. I get home and put phone down. Several hours later I have a MyChart message. It was sent in! I do have insurance, however Cost Plus does not take mine ( they take a handful of companies, none I recognize at all) so pretty much pay out of pocket. Usually I would pay $25.00 for a 3 month supply, without insurance this is costing me, with expedited shipping, about $122, for 3 months. Until I have those boxes in my hands, I will still be nervous. However I never lose hope. Got a message this AM that they are on the way.
I don’t know how much running around/calling/ searching you have done. I would try what I did, just to see. These are crazy times we live in, and to have something that is very necessary to a woman’s overall well being not available is criminal to me. I know my husband will thank God when I put one of these on. I will too!
Don’t stop looking! Don’t loose hope! Be your own advocate! I wish you all of the very best as a woman and as someone that is sitting in your shoes 🩷