These Vivelle patches are killing me

[scm1011]

Has anyone else had these as part of their FET protocol? I don’t see them discussed often but omg I’m dying. They make my stomach SO ITCHY and I’m starting to itch so hard it’s causing sores. I thought I could discontinue them after my transfer but if this is successful I have to continue them until I’m 10 weeks. I will go mad if I have to wear these another 10 weeks.

I told my nurse yesterday and she said yes, the glue makes some people itchy unfortunately. If the transfer is successful I’m going to have to switch to some other estrodial form otherwise my stomach will become one giant festering sore.

I don’t know what I’m looking for here, commiseration? Info on alternatives?

[compassrose]

I have the little blue estradiol pills, which lots of people take orally but my instruction say to use as a suppository. So you have two good alternatives if you want to be done with the patches. Itching like that would drive me crazy.

[scm1011]

Thanks, if (FX) this transfer is successful I'm definitely going to inquire about the pills. Suppository doesnt sound particularly pleasant either, but I will take it over constant itching!

[Jalapeñomel]

Sept 15, 2018 7:14:05 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Thanks, if (FX) this transfer is successful I'm definitely going to inquire about the pills. Suppository doesnt sound particularly pleasant either, but I will take it over constant itching!

I take the pills orally.

[pooh8402]

I thought they were a little itchy, but not so much that I was wanting to claw at my skin. I used them for 3 FETs. And in combination with vaginal estrace for 1 FET.

I used alcohol pads to get the sticky stuff off when I changed patches, rotated sites, and made sure I used lotion anywhere the patches weren't.

With my last IVF/ET, I didn't use supplemental estrogen at all. It was great! My RE said that if it didn't work and we needed to do FET, she would prep with femara only, no supplemental estrogen, just let my body make its own.

[scm1011]

pooh8402 , I am rotating and scrubbed off the residue, but I haven't used lotion, I'll give that a try. Dr. Google tells me I may have a slight allergy to the adhesive, so maybe why that's why I'm having such an extreme reaction?

[compassrose]

Sept 15, 2018 11:25:48 GMT -5 spearmintleaf said:

Sept 15, 2018 7:07:29 GMT -5 compassrose said:

I have the little blue estradiol pills, which lots of people take orally but my instruction say to use as a suppository. So you have two good alternatives if you want to be done with the patches. Itching like that would drive me crazy.

I have fond memories of Smurfin’ in my undies.

LOL! It’s so true! I’m not sure my memories will be fond, though, any more than the PIO.

[pooh8402]

Could be a slight allergy. Have you tried some benadryl or claritin?

[cherryvalance]

That sounds awful .

I've only been on oral Estrace. It's not great for me, personally, as I have ridiculous mood swings on it, but it wasn't difficult to take in terms of physical side effects. I hated vaginal progesterone because of the nonstop leaking.

[seeyalater52]

I just want to say I’m sorry you’re itchy. I have the world’s most sensitive skin and am prone to hives/rashes so I can relate to how awful it is.

If this transfer is a bust I’m going to insist on doing something different in the estrogen department next time but maybe patches need to be off that list.

[thoseareradishes]

I did vaginal estrace, it's just the little blue pill shoved up your vag. It was annoying because it was blue, but a lot less messy compared to progesterone. I hope you can figure out an alternative.

I remember doing PIO and having such awful pain, I think my nurse and others thought I was exaggerating but it was ridiculous, I could hardly sit or lay down, and getting back up was a joke. Just switching to a shorter needle did the trick, but I really had to insist on trying something else because there was no way I could endure weeks of that pain. So make sure you advocate for yourself

[kellikans]

I got really itchy from estrogen patches. I ended up doing the blue pills vaginally.

[turboteal]

I did patches for transfer and until 10 weeks. I don't remember them being too bad, but I did use an adhesive remover pad (like alcohol pads) to take them and all the residue off. I think if you use baby oil you would get the same result, it definitely reduced the redness and itching from left over sticky stuff. Mine were also not vivelle brand, just generic (Sandoz is the manufacturer).

Incidentally, I have like 9 boxes of them leftover, each box has 8 patches of 0.1 mg estradiol dose. I planned to give them to the clinic to give to anyone who needs them, but I can also send to anyone here OOP who might need them. I have 12 applicators of crinone left also.