How do you all feel about transdermal patches?

[jae bear]

It's girly sticker change out day for me today, it always makes me happy after knowing today is a fresh day... Today is also the first day I get to let the girl stickers live out in the open and not have to hide them under body tape since I recently came out to my wife! Can anyone else relate to feeling happy on girl sticker day?

squishy hugs,

Jae

[SugarMagnolia]

I do!

I change mine on Saturday mornings and it never fails to brighten my day a little bit. I think it's because it's such a tangible reminder of how far I've come from the scared, in denial, self-protective person that I was for so many years. It's like a little gift to myself that I get every week. 

[jae bear]

Hi Sugar,

 That's just how I feel too! I get to replace mine 2 times a week, I don't find it inconvenient at all but I might switch to injections later since my wife could help me with it... Very helpful to have a nurse for a wife, as long as she is comfortable helping me I would love to share my little happy routine.

Hugs,

Jae

[Guest Rachel Gia]

I dig it but on the weekends it means a full shave because I don't trust the waterproof aspect of the patch and during the week it's just a quick shower.

i forgot a few times for about a half day and forget the Spiro from time to time as I did this morning.

Meditation and prayer are super important to me so on work days the HRT aspect gets forgotten amongst the other stuff.

The weekend is a big deal as the body shave takes up a bit of time and I also use that time for teeth strips as well.

Forgetting is not a big deal as the somehow the pharmacy companies seem to think that all the months have 28 days in them.

In short, I see it as self care or a form of self love but routine is not my strong suit.

[jae bear]

Oh yeah.. teeth strips... I have coffee stained teeth I would love to correct, I need to make that part of my routine as well!

hugs,

Jae

[bobbisue]

I can't wait to put on my next patch my tentative date to go back on E is mar 25th at 7am bur who is counting

 

    bobbisue

[Carolyn Marie]

"trans" dermal.  Has a nice ring to it.

 

I like it!  

 

Carolyn Marie

[jae bear]

Ha! Word play! Yeah! 

big hugs,

Jae

[Guest Rachel Gia]

This thread reminded me to take the Spiro I forgot this morning

[VickySGV]

I will be Miss Downer here, but on my skin they leave nice red welts that take several days to  go away when I take one off - or when it falls off after only a few days into my "week"  which my Endo covers by telling me one thing and the pharmacy another about how often to replace them.  (Every three days for me).  I was on oral /sublingual for 6.5 years which did the "reconstruction" very nicely for me by age 67 when I had a DVT and was on hiatus for 7 months and then I was put on the patches and vaginal cream.  The danged patches do itch like a case of poison ivy for me, but ------ Doctors' orders!!  My bones and other stuff are in good shape for my age and other organs as well. 

[jae bear]

Hi Vicky,

 I am so sorry to hear that! I have read the 1 week patches have a higher instance of issues, I think it has something to do with the adhesive and long time frame causing a skin reaction... I use the 3.5 day estradot patches, and no problems thus far, they are just little flexible thin clear tape like things, and I have never had trouble keeping them stuck as long as I put them on and hour or so after a shower (although I do place them under the love handles, so there is some built in protection there). I luckily (or not) still have my old school titanium green field filter in place (the strong ones before they made them removable) so there is a little built in protection for me there as well, but some doctors say it's fine, some say it's bad, I think the jury is still out on that one.

squishy hugs!

Jae

[VickySGV]

1 hour ago, jae bear said:

 I am so sorry to hear that!

 

Thanks Jae -- as a moderator here, I put some stuff up as a caution for you other girls as a way of saying that if it is less than perfect you are still doing fine and it is nothing wrong with you!!  I am very pleased with what the E in any way does to me and while I grumble a lot, it is harmless.  All of our bodies are different and we need to celebrate those differences.  I do have the patches that are a little heavier and about the size of two big postage stamps, and some of my skin issues are simply old age and dry skin from a condition I have had since I was born.

[jae bear]

11 hours ago, Rachel Gia said:

This thread reminded me to take the Spiro I forgot this morning

Ha! dang it me too! I was in a huge rush this morning (woke up late again) and forgot all about it! I was doing my normal day planning in the warehouse and remembered your cute little post this morning, just popped my AM spiro at the water cooler, dang it's cold in here today! I need to get all the machines rolling and heat the joint up before I freeze! Lots to do today, tons of orders lately at work, I'll be on my feet today but the work should help me warm up.

shiver - big squishy hug for warmth,

Jae

[jae bear]

Just now, VickySGV said:

 

Thanks Jae -- as a moderator here, I put some stuff up as a caution for you other girls as a way of saying that if it is less than perfect you are still doing fine and it is nothing wrong with you!!  I am very pleased with what the E in any way does to me and while I grumble a lot, it is harmless.  All of our bodies are different and we need to celebrate those differences.  I do have the patches that are a little heavier and about the size of two big postage stamps, and some of my skin issues are simply old age and dry skin from a condition I have had since I was born.

I totally get it, my skin is so dry and I'm itchy all the time now, the cold dry air really gets to me this time of year... I am looking forward to switching to inject-able when my insurance picks it up for me... My wife Bunny was a nurse, so I hope she will help me if I go that route, it would be nice to have her involved so directly like that.

Huge hugs,

Jae

[jae bear]

Oh, I forgot to ask... Does anyone have a good recommendation for hand cream? My bear paws are so rough and torn up, I wish they were softer so my bunny wasn't scared of my occasional caress (she hates it if I rub the back of her sweater, my paws are so snaggy it messes up the nice sweater fabric). Lately I use Nivea for men hand lotion, but it only works a little bit... 

Squishy hugs,

Jae

[Jani]

Honestly any good lotion will work, but you have to keep it on your hands.  This can be difficult as we work and clean our hands regularly.  For years we had a CVS brand lotion on the bathroom counter.  You can find small pocket size tubes of lotion at your drug store, think travel size.  After you wash up you can apply a quick dab and rub it in.  Consistency is the key!!!

 

BTW if you buy a large bottle with a pump you might be able to refill your pocket size tube, saving a little cash.   

 

Jani

[jae bear]

Gosh, I wish I could use lotion at work, but we aren’t allowed to have anything on us that could contaminate finished parts or leave fingerprints? I am trying to apply often at home and even refresh every time I wash my hands... I guess bear paws are bear paws, hafta wait for my bunny paws to grow in...?

squishy hugs,

Jae

[Timber Wolf]

I'm a big believer in moisturizer. It really works best if use regularly throughout the day. But if you can't use it at work, try using a really heavy application of lotion after work, then 2 or 3 normal applications fairly quickly after that.

 

The lotion I use is a generic brand, so it wouldn't help you much I'm afraid. It's comparable to Jorgens Ultra Healing, but the generic brand I use I think works much better. It's only sold in the Great Lakes region. 

 

Regular use of moisturizer does work. I saw a video about a trans girl and saw how soft and feminine her hands looked and wanted desperately to have such soft smooth hands. I started out with really dry hands, and started moisturizing like crazy. One night I was looking at my hands and saw two soft, smooth, faminine hands. I started to cry from joy. It works! Good luck with your hands Jae Bear!

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

[jae bear]

I am also doing my best to apply often and every chance I can... I think there is a small difference now, I guess 36 years of abuse take more than a few days to correct!

squishy hugs,

Jae