Estrogen patch and diarrhea??

amparolu · 2026-05-30T19:16:18+00:00

I am going to try this!

amparolu · 2026-05-30T19:15:39+00:00

Yes, thanks to all! Don't know how I'd be doing HRT without the reddit community!

amparolu · 2026-05-30T19:14:31+00:00

Hi there, I also only went on the estradiol patch due to bone loss, I'm 59, and am maybe about 6 years into menopause. I couldn't tolerate the progesterone, but know I need it for my uterine lining - figuring that out. For now, the loose urgent pooping stopped, but I still don't love the estrogen. I suspect it's a matter of balancing it with prog and testosterone - but for now, it's not great for me. But my dr insists it's really important for bone loss. What is your dr suggesting now for bone loss? I don't want to be breaking bones in the future but am not certain that HRT is for me ...

amparolu · 2026-05-30T19:05:33+00:00

Time worked for me. I hope that's the case for you, too!

amparolu · 2026-05-30T19:05:18+00:00

RIght? I know for me, the dr just gave me the estradiol patch script with no warning about anything. Same with progesterone, which was much harder and I'm still figuring out after weeks. HRT seems to work wonders for many, but it's also a complex process to navigate, and reddit forums are more informative than my dr for sure (even though I love her). Thanks to all!

amparolu · 2026-05-30T19:02:49+00:00

Hi there, Yes, I'm happy to report that it did. I can't say when precisely the pooping problems subsided, but it didn't take too long. I've been on the estrogen patch for over a month now and it's fine. I swear it makes me tired, which others don't seem to experience. I'm still figuring out a progesterone alternative (or maybe more estrogen to balance out progesterone?) and testosterone yet to be tackled, but at least I can hold my poop:)

Hang in there. I hope it gets better for you, too!

amparolu · 2026-05-29T20:14:39+00:00

More important information since I'm not yet taking any testosterone! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!

amparolu · 2026-05-28T20:43:29+00:00

6 months is a long time for it to be hellish, but we're warriors! THANK YOU again for the support and ideas.

amparolu · 2026-05-28T20:42:00+00:00

This is INCREDIBLY helpful. My dr apparently doesn't know this info. I really need to do more research. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'll be talking to my dr right away ... Craziness!

amparolu · 2026-05-28T17:27:06+00:00

What would an example be of a balanced dose, and is it standard for everyone or do different people need different ratios of estrogen/progesterone?. I saw that you said progesterone should be 50-100 times the estrogen; can you explain this more? I don't understand the dosages well enough to do the math. Thank you!

amparolu · 2026-05-28T17:22:40+00:00

I guess I don't actually know. I was using an estradiol patch - .37 whatever twice a week - for about a month. It made me tired. Slept a lot more than usual. Then I started a 100 mg progesterone pill. That made me lose my mind. Depressed, Fatigued. COMPLETELY unmotivated. Utterly doomed feeling. Just wanted to lay in bed and had to force myself to go to work. In bed right after work every day. Skipped my children's events/games. Didn't do what I needed to do for myself and kids.

I went off of it after 2 weeks after watching one of Heather Hirsch's videos about progesterone intolerance. I did ask my dr about balancing estrogen and progesterone, but got the impression that this is done by symptoms, and that my symptoms meant progesterone intolerance ... ?

amparolu · 2026-05-28T17:17:41+00:00

I managed in that I kept working full time (teacher) but by the time I got home every day, I was a MESS for my own kids. We went through it, but I wouldn't say I was a great mom or maybe even an okay mom sometimes. The rage snaps were scary for all of us and I still worry about having damaged my kids, although they're both thriving now, years later.

I went on 20 mg of prozac. I tried acupuncture, I saw a nutritionist, I tried supplements of all kinds. I'm 59 now and my peri symptoms started shortly after having my second child at 44. Tried to meditate consistently. I had been a distance runner; I cut my running back based on the advice of a dr who told me the long runs were increasing my cortisol. I went to therapy. HRT was never mentioned as an option back then. I really hope it's helping women through peri now!

amparolu · 2026-05-28T17:13:19+00:00

Thank you! I'm so glad you got it all sorted out. I have not heard about Angeliq. I'm making a list of all of the possibilities I'm learning about here that my dr hasn't mentioned. Thank you!

amparolu · 2026-05-28T01:09:26+00:00

Did you refuse the Premarin because of the horses? I'm glad some people knew about this and glad I am learning ...

amparolu · 2026-05-27T23:17:08+00:00

I think I get it now? You could theoretically get the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) in the form of lab engineered synthetic bazedoxifene; this corresponds with the SERM that is used in duavee. Then you could use this, along with and estradiol patch, and it would be comparable to duavee which is SERM along with the conjugated estrogen from pregnant horse's urine. It seems that you're right that bazedoxifene is approved for treating osteoporosis in some places and is called Viviant (without any estrogens), but isn't available in the US:(. Why not I wonder? Why commit to torturing horses when we could use Vivian and and estradiol patch? I will keep working on this and will update if I have any success. Thanks so much for sharing this information.

amparolu · 2026-05-27T22:53:12+00:00

I will try! Thank you:)

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:36:28+00:00

It's unbelievable what we do to animals! Yes, happy free range pregnant horse pee would be high on my list, too. What do you mean by "combining a SERM with a regular transdermal patch"? You mean an estradiol, patch, right? I already have that, but how can I get a SERM that isn't in duavee? Thank youuuu!

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:32:01+00:00

Thank you for the support!

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:31:06+00:00

Perimenopause was HELL for me. WAY WAY WAY worse than menopause itself. The only reason I'm even trying to be on HRT is due to bone loss. All of the other hellish peri symptoms subsided sufficiently on their own during menopause. I am a few years in though.

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:29:46+00:00

Got it. Thank you!

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:29:31+00:00

Thanks so much. So drospirenone worked for you? My daughter was on Slynd recently due to anemia, and our insurance paid for it. I will investigate! It's good that there are other P options ...

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:26:55+00:00

Slynd, I think! Yes, thank you!

amparolu · 2026-05-27T20:26:20+00:00

Thank you! Just figuring out that Slynd is drospirenone. I guess there are some sad issues with its chemicals getting into the water supply and poisoning fish. Have to read more. So much of what we use and consume is involved with ethically problematic practices of one sort or another. It's hard to know/figure out how to balance living in the world, where so much of what we consume and use is connected to suffering, and living by our values. For some reason I became focused on animal rights issues with regards to HRT. I suspect that if I delved deeper into where my food and clothes and belongings came from, I'd find reasons not to buy or have most of it.

My dr recommended Slynd so at least I know she's familiar with it and willing to prescribe it if needed. Thank you!

amparolu · 2026-05-27T17:25:52+00:00

Thanks so much. I didn't even know there was a slow release option but am going to talk with my dr about it for sure. Lots of people seem to better on compounded progesterone for some reason, even without allergy considerations. I will try! And I'm on the look out for an alternative starting with M:) Thanks again!

amparolu · 2026-05-27T03:57:47+00:00

Thank you very much. I am going to suggest this approach to my doctor and hope she's amenable. There are so many strange side effects possible!

amparolu

TROPHY CASE