Estradiol patch question
I’m 40 and my doctor says I’m perimenopausal. I was still having regular periods, although they had shortened to every 21–23 days instead of 28. Within the last year I lost my father and have also been under a great deal of stress. I’ve dealt with hot flashes and overheating for several years, but more recently I also started experiencing increasing anxiety, fatigue, low motivation, issues sleeping and weight gain/bloating.
My doctor tested my hormones and said my estradiol and testosterone were low, although I understand hormones can fluctuate a lot during perimenopause. She started me on an estradiol patch. I do notice I have more energy on it, but I also feel much more bloated, hungrier, and like I’m retaining fluid overall. Since starting it, I’ve also stopped having a period, which worries me a little since I was still cycling before.
For context, I was originally started on a 0.05 patch. After I complained about the bloating/weight gain and fluid retention, my doctor suggested lowering the dose by cutting the patch in half to see if my symptoms improved.
I’m wondering if anyone else in perimenopause experienced this on an estradiol patch, especially if you were still having regular periods. Did lowering the dose help? I’m starting to wonder if maybe my hormones were only low at that particular point in my cycle and whether I may not need as much supplemental estrogen yet. I’m also wondering whether, at 40 and still having fairly regular periods before starting the patch, I may not have needed this dose yet.