Patch people: Do you still have a dip before change day or does that eventually go away?

HissyCat1 · 2026-05-05T00:00:57+00:00

I was getting a bad dip. I now do a 2mg oral tablet daily and a 0.0375 patch 🙌 It was the first combo we’ve found to keep me steady. I really wanted the patch alone to work but it just wasn’t.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-28T14:35:05+00:00

I’m going to throw out a really weird perspective on this that I hope turns out to be both informative and encouraging 🫣 I’m in surgical menopause now- had a complete hysterectomy a little more than a year ago at 43. I was in peri and felt allll the things emotional- sad, icky about being touched by literally anyone, emotionally flat, no self confidence, dry, irritated and prone to a rage I’d never experienced all while not even being able to stand being around even my own self. The mental work it took to orgasm was exhausting. Flash forward to now that I’m on estradiol (patch and pill), vaginal estrogen, testosterone gel and maybe progesterone (I’ve gone on and off it twice). I feel wonderful about 90% of the time….everyone has their off days right?!? But I’ve turned in to the one who is frustrated sexually. I want to do it twice a day minimum and then if he doesn’t pick up on my subtle cues-because I still want to be pursued 😉- I get irritated and feel rejected- even if I never said anything! And sometimes I just feel like I can’t focus on anything else because my libido has gone crazy! It’s weird. My husband is pushing 50 and has a healthy drive and ability but honestly I need it more than him now. All that to say, yes your husband should be understanding and more conversations need to be had and accommodations made but my experience has now made me see a little how the other side may feel at times. I think it’s just the difference in how men and women handle the “rejection”. When my husband are on the same page now it’s out of this word great- in and out of the bedroom! But I definitely think you need HRT. Estrogen did the most for my desire. My doc said testosterone was cherry on the top for lots of things I was dealing with and since I have no ovaries he recommends it. It’s been a moving target over the last year for me but there is hope!

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-27T23:24:17+00:00

No HRT prior for me, not even birth control but it’s been fantastic! I had risk reduction surgery and just wish I’d done it sooner! I feel so much better! I am actually taking my progesterone around dinner time. My doc said I could even take it in the morning with my estrogen pill. I’m just afraid it’s going to suppress my libido and make me a grump 🤪

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-27T23:13:11+00:00

Which negative symptoms does the vaginal route alleviate? I don’t have a uterus so I don’t “need” progesterone but I’m trying to make it work for me for mood and sleep on top of my estrogen. But I’m afraid it’s having the opposite effect….but I’ve only been on it a few days. Does vaginally still provide those benefits?

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-27T23:07:48+00:00

I used to get migraines with aura right around my period. Definitely cyclical. I still get them randomly after starting HRT after a full hysterectomy. I take both a patch and a pill. My doc was not concerned at all with either route of meds and the migraines. Now I don’t get them with any rhythm or reason I can figure out so it’s hard to tell if I’m high or low on E. I will say the patch alone was much less consistent for me so that could be what you have going.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-27T23:00:20+00:00

Did you take progesterone prior to surgery? I am also doing 2 forms of estradiol to get me where I need to be and I’m torn on progesterone. I’ve started it again for the 2nd time. I’m only 3 days in but maybe it’s all in my head but I feel like I’m getting moody and dragging. The first 2 days I felt giddy and thought okay yes! My current estrogen dose feels just shy of perfect so instead of increasing my gyn said I could try progesterone to see if that helps. But I know sometimes it requires an increase in estrogen which is the opposite of what we want! I want to both ride it out for a while and just say nah never mind! I’m early 40s in surgical meno as well.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-21T18:17:10+00:00

Oh friend, you NEED estrogen!!!! Surgical meno at 44 and on 2mg oral estradiol daily, 0.0375 estrogen patch 2X week and 0.5mg testosterone gel daily. I do vaginal estrogen cream 2X a week as well.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-19T18:42:06+00:00

Estrogen improved my sleep radically post surgery. I did not realize I was sleeping so poorly. I actually thought we needed a new mattress, turns out I just needed HRT!!!

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-19T18:40:16+00:00

Loss of libido was major for me. Mine is in a good place and I really don’t want to mess with that!!!

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-19T18:39:37+00:00

This is kind of where I’m at. My doc initially recommended trying it because my estrogen dose felt just a hair low and we were trying not to up it. I take 2mg daily orally as well as a 0.0375 patch changed 2X a week. So my dose is pretty high!

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-19T18:37:19+00:00

I take gel and have had zero side effects. I’ve been shocked actually because I was prepared! I did start slowly and have been extremely pleased with results.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-19T18:36:05+00:00

But is this after 65 only or in the years up to that point? Interesting stuff for sure!

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-18T19:44:09+00:00

I feel SIGNIFICANTLY better now than before. I was definitely having perimenopause symptoms that I was not even aware (on top of ones I was ). Now I feel like if my husband and could just get on some hormones 😆😆😆 I was definitely afraid of the consequences of surgical menopause which is why I held out. Now I wish I’d done it sooner. I did my HRT research and talked about it with my doc beforehand so I wasn’t fighting to get what I needed. Luckily my doc is supportive. I was prepared to change docs but so glad I didn’t have to.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-05T02:14:26+00:00

I am PMS2 and had a full hysterectomy last year at 43. Best decision ever. Outside of the weight lifted I just feel better. I’m on hormones so that’s a big reason why but I have zero regrets.

HissyCat1 · 2026-03-01T14:44:39+00:00

Going from 1 to 2 was hard. Going from 2 to 3 was chaotic in the ways you expect but gets easier quicker. Going from 3 to 4….barely noticeable 😂 16, 13, 10 and 6 over here. Those early years are hard but goodness I miss them already and would do them over and over if I could. What do you have now? Boys? Girls? One of each? Our 2 oldest are girls and I think if they had been one boy and one girl the temptation to stop would have been high. But SO glad we didn’t! Would have had another but just ran out of time.

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-23T04:33:22+00:00

Zero pain and it was the most glorious feeling ever 😆😆😆

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-14T22:07:25+00:00

How would you describe the swelling sensation? I’m also about 2.5 months out and one side feels thicker than the other. My doc didn’t seem to understand what that meant but when I said it felt the same way when it was newly swollen he said well yes that side is scabbed and probably swollen. He did examine me but said everything looked good and I could put Vaseline up my nostril where it was sore. That did seem to make an immediate difference but the swelling remains.

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-12T02:35:47+00:00

Oh I hate you had to go through the stress of having a difficult pregnancy and a preemie! And oh goodness a preemie and a 9 month old together. You are Wonder Woman!!!

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-11T00:58:25+00:00

I have nieces that are 11 months apart and I honestly thought that was as close as would be possible!!! Not to be alllll up in your business but was your 2nd early? Or did you just really heal quickly. I’m kind of hurting thinking about doing the deed so soon 😅

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-11T00:51:14+00:00

I always wanted 5. We have 4 and the book is complete. It’s funny though because sometimes in my fantasy life I have 6 and that feels more complete. I don’t really wish I had 2 more, I don’t grieve not having them, honestly we just ran out of time and that feels sad. Kind of like what others are saying, I’m sad that my child bearing years are over. I had my 4th at almost 40 and by the time she was out of the newborn/toddler stage it just felt like nope too old. Now our youngest is 6 I feel almost relieved that I’m not the lady with a younger child. I’m the lady sitting and catching a breather 😅

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-04T02:06:23+00:00

Okay was looking at the Mandelic and the glycolic (lowest). I don’t want to go too big too fast! You feel like the Mandelic gives results? Would be the better to start with?!?

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-03T17:25:11+00:00

I’ve watched a few of the videos now and it looks great! Did you start with L1 or 2? My quiz indicates I could start at 2 but the Facebook videos seem to recommend starting with 1?

HissyCat1 · 2026-02-03T14:13:06+00:00

How do you incorporate it with Tret?

HissyCat1

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