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Vivelle Patch

justfortoday
  • By justfortoday
  • Posted January 5, 2009 at 10:01 pm · 14 replies
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

Hello. I am new to group. Was wondering if anyone had experiences using this estrogen patch to replace low estrogen.

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Exercise Acid reflux Back pain Alli Progesterone Osteoporosis Mevacor Hysterectomy Boniva Forteo Fractures Actonel Pain Estrogens Hypothyroidism Climara

14 replies

Mary0429

I have been using it for years...it is a little expensive but I liked the fact that it bypasses the liver and I thought it wouldn't be as bad as taking a pill...it is just a little patch and it doesn't irritate the skin like some I have tried.
Cheers!
Mary

idie

I have been on the Vivelle patch also besides taking
Prometrium every two months. As Mary0429 says,
it bypasses the liver and is apparently the synthetic
version of bioidentical hormones. I am taking this
patch for my osteoporosis since I cannot take any
of the bisposphonates. It has stabilized my severe osteoporosis which is good enough for me right now.
My gyno thinks for now this is the way to go. Let's
just hope that something that is less toxic than what
is on the market right now, is available in the near
future......something that will help us all increase
our bone density. Edie

wilsonaa

Edi --
I am currently on Actonel, but since starting it two months ago have experienced muscle/joint pain and an increase in the back pain that I already had before I was diagnosed with osteoporis. I really don't know what to do. I see my doctor on Friday and want to tell that I want to come off of it. I wake up at night with my joints hurting.

I am NOT currently on HRT, but am considering it. I had a complete hysterectomy 9 years ago and was on HRT for a short time, but then stopped after all the controversy and the Womens Health Initiative. I used the Vivelle patch before. Have you had a scan since stopping the bisposphonates and taking HRT for a period of time? I really think this is the route I'm going to have to take. I was trying to keep an open mind, but I really don't even want to try another bone building drug.

Thanks for your input.

Andrea

idie

Hi Andrea,
I only tried Actonel and Fosomax each for two weeks and
had to stop because of terrible intestinal side effects.
Because of the Women's Health Initiative, my previous
gyno took me off Vivelle - years ago. My subsequent
Dexa scan showed a serious drop in bone density (after
three years of not taking anything) so now my primary care
physician wanted me to go on Forteo immediately, but I
was not ready to do that. My new gyno agreed with me
and put me back on Vivelle and Prometrium. After not
having my bone density checked again for two or three
years, I finally had one in September 2008 and it showed no
decrease at all which I was so relieved to find out.
I don't know what your T-scores are - mine are -3.3,
I think, or maybe -3.4 - not good, to say the least.
But for now, my gyno thinks I should continue on
the Vivelle/Prometrium. I walk 5 miles 5 days a week
at least and two of those miles I walk with the Exerstrider
poles, so perhaps this helps. It is pretty frustrating to
have to experiment with drugs and methods hoping
that we increase our bone density and all of us just
don't really know what will make a difference. It is
good that we can share info on this site and learn
from each other. Hope this helps a bit. Edie

Alli

Re: vivelle patch what strength would be best to start off or what strength is recommended??

wilsonaa

Thanks Edie!

My T-Score is -2.5. What is the Prometrium?

My problem right now is my back is hurting so bad that I can't even walk any distance so I've got to get to feeling better so I can begin an exercise plan that includes walking. I am so frustrated but I think the Actonel has just exacerberated my back pain. I am so frustrated. I know the doctor is just going to want to try me on another drug and I am very hesitant. I have severe acid reflux also.

My mother (who is now deceased) had severe osteoporosis and was treated with Forteo for two years and had excellent results. She tolerated it well, but I'm not convinced it didn't cause the brain tumor that eventually took her life.

I will not have another Dexa scan until September so I have a long wait and I'm very freaked out by this whole ordeal and not knowing what to do. I definitely think I want to go on a low dose estrogen right now. Just don't know whether I want to do the bio identical or synthetic.

Thanks so much for your reply.

Andrea

idie

Hi Andrea,
a friend of mine who is 51 yrs. old has a T-score of -2.5
and her doctor put her on Fosteum. She will begin to
take it in the next few days. I will let you know, how
she tolerates it. She also had to stop taking Fosomax...
it affected her digestive system.

Prometrium, by the way is a brand of micronized
progesterone that is supposed to prevent cell overgrowth in
the uterine lining in perimenopausal and postmenopausal
women, who still have an intact uterus. You can google
"Prometrium" and get all kinds of info about it. I have
inquired about the natural bio-identical hormones, but
didn't get far with it when talking to my gyno. He just
knows nothing about them and as you know, doctors
like to refer to studies that have been conducted. Look
up Dr. Christiane Northrup - or check out her books at the
library. She, I believe, prescribes these hormones.
Someone on this site goes to her office, perhaps you can
type in Dr. Northrup in the "search" box and find the
posting. With a T-score of -2.5, I am surprised that you
have back problems. Perhaps you can ask some of our
very helpful and knowledgeable PT's regarding your
problems. Lucy Buckley and Sarah Meeks have been
wonderful in giving advice and info.

The strength of my Vivelle hormone patch is 0.025 mg,
which is the lowest dose, I believe, you can get. This info
is also for "Alli", who inquired about that.

Hope this is of some help to you. Edie

huessysignoret

I have begun using the Climara patch at a very low dose (.o25) , which is also a bio-identical hormone, in combination with natural progesterone cream (which is available at a low dose without prescription.) I am post-menopausal, and have bad reactions to bisphosphanates. I've just started this, but it is a protocol used by my sister with tremendous success. It was pioneered by the late Dr. John Lee, who believed it could increase bone density by up to 15% per year. My sister, who is also post-menopausal (we both had total hysterectomies in our 40's) has bones that are virtually perfect. Some doctors scoff; some are willing to give the idea some credence. I have no adverse side effects. It sounds as if some of your other respondents have used similar approaches with satisfactory results. Good luck!

idie

Hi Huessysignoret,
I am interested in the natural progesterone cream. Did a
doctor suggest the amount you put on your skin, the
strength of the cream and the frequency of usage? I am
a bit concerned about the Prometrium I am taking.
Maybe the natural progesterone cream would be better!?!

Has your sister found any studies on these natural
creams?
Edie

huessysignoret

I'm sure she has, but she lives in Vermont, and probably hasn't updated any for years. The cream I order is formulated as per the recommendations of the late Dr. John Lee (really, he died a very short time ago.) Probably it would be best to Google him and see if you can find his work. I, on the other hand, was interested in your use of Prometrium, of which I'd never heard. I'll be glad to share more info about the cream (e.g.,where to get it) if you'd like to email me: psimon45@bellsouth.net

Pam

wilsonaa

Hey Edie,

I saw the doctor today...she did not think the Actonel was causing the muscle spasms in my back, but she did want me to stop it and she also stopped my Mevacor (cholestrol med) since it can cause muscle spasms. So now I am on muscle relaxers to try to get these spasms under control. Once this is done, she wants to try me on Fosomax or Boniva. But, I've got to start back on my Mevacor first and slowly.

When I asked about the hormone patch, she said my condition was BEYOND that...and that hormones would do nothing for me. ??? (I'm so confused!) She said it may have done some good years ago, but not now.

I don't think my osteo is causing my back to hurt...I have had back issue for a long time...just weak muscles and I've never been much of an exerciser which I know has got to change. I do have to degenerative disc in my lower back so that doesn't help.

Anyway, she does want me to start on Vitamin D and she is going to be doing more lab work before my next visit in 4 months.

Andrea

idie

Hi Andrea,
your doctor thinks that your are beyond taking hormones
with a T-score of -2.5? I find that surprising, but yet, my
primary care doctor immediately tried to put me on Forteo
and an endocrinologist concurred with that. When I found
out how heavily involved this doctor was with Eli Lilly and
how much money he was getting for his research, I was
and still am too skeptical to resort to Forteo at this point.
Of course, you must remember that I am a -3.4 !!!!
Obviously, doctors react in different ways, as my gyno
does. Since I have not lost bone mass during the
last three years, he wants me, for now, to stay on
the hormones. Knock on wood, so far so good
..........I am able to do exercises 5 - 6 days a week for
one hour or 1 1/2, either walking or going to the
gym. Considering your elevated cholesterol and
your osteop., you really need to get started doing
something like walking, at least. Once you get
started, it will be easier to add other exercises,
besides, you will feel the benefits of it pretty quickly.
Edie

JilleWhite

I didn't realize you could use estrogen and the natural cream! My dr. is wanting to put me on that patch. He said that we must push Estrogen hard for the next five years (I am 47) because the SPINE has to have Estrogen. The hip bones are not as dependent on estrogen as the Spine is. Vitamin D is also very crucial. I take 2 iu of 50,000 a week. When he showed me the normal ranges of Vit. D and estrogen, and how low my #s have been at certain points, it convinced me to be consistent in both of those things. Just seeing the #s way below the norm, helped me to see why my bones are as bad as they are.

wilsonaa

Hi Edi!

I know...I was puzzled about the estrogen answer, but that's what she said. She's not an endo so I don't really know whether to trust her knowledge. I am using natural progesterone cream anyway that has natural estrogens in it and I'm going to continue to use it.

I am due to see my ob soon for a check up and I'm going to get his opinion. I had to stop seeing a great endocrinologist a couple of years ago because of insurance no longer covering him (I had seen him for 17 years because of my hypothyroidism) and I am just sick that I cannot go back to him about my osteo, but I cannot afford it. He is fabulous!

The muscle relaxers are already helping my back so hopefully, once I can get the back feeling better, I can start my walking regimen.

I know I'm in the early stages, but I don't want it to get worse...I saw my mother suffer compression fractures and it wasn't pretty.

Thanks for all of your input.

Andrea

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