Ortho Evra 2

Top 35. Feb 14, 2003 3:57 PM

» kitty3 - Re: Thanks!

In response to message posted by newpatchuser:

Hi. I saw that you were thinking of using Yasmin. I tried it after having problems with other pills. It was horrible. I was absolutely hysterically depressed and ended up in the emergency room afraid that I was going to hurt myself or my cat. I was fine as soon as I discontinued. I am using the patch now and am having good results so far, although it is only the second week. Thanks for the insight on placement. What you say makes sense.

-- posted by kitty3

Top 36. Feb 15, 2003 12:19 AM

» ttcweb - Re: Not sure if this is right...

In response to message posted by JBmom88:

Yes, that is one of the four places you can wear the patch. In fact, many of the ladies posting on this board have had the best luck with wearing the patch on their back. It wrinkles less there because you don't usually move your muscles there as much as you do your arms, and buttocks.

-- posted by ttcweb

Top 37. Feb 15, 2003 12:23 AM

» ttcweb - Re: Thank You

In response to message posted by TSK4137:

To the best of my knowledge, no studies were done on how the patch effected women when they drank alcohol. Some seem to be fine, and others have a horrible time with it.

I would suggest that you first try having a drink or two at home. If you find that you can't tolerate alcohol while wearing the patch, you will know not to drink at a restaurant. I wish I had better news, but really the only way to know how you will react is to 'try it and see'.

If you don't mind, if you do drink while using the patch, would you post how your body handled it here? I am sure that there are other women that are wondering the same thing.

-- posted by ttcweb

Top 38. Feb 15, 2003 12:26 AM

» ttcweb - Re: Re: Not sure if this is right...

In response to message posted by deven11:

She was talking about putting it on her back in the same area where her breasts are on the front. She is not placing the patch on her breasts. I hope this helps to clear that up for you smile

-- posted by ttcweb

Top 39. Feb 15, 2003 12:29 AM

» ttcweb - Re: Re: Thanks!

In response to message posted by kitty3:

I am sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with Yasmin. Some women seem to be fine with it and others have horrid side effects.

I am happy to hear that the patch is working for you so far. If you have any questions about it, be sure to post them.

-- posted by ttcweb

Top 40. Feb 15, 2003 6:15 PM

» jnm4q - Ortho Evra

I'm so glad I found this site because it really has some great info! Of course since Ortho Evra is quite new, I imagine that all of the info regarding side effects are not "out" yet.

Has anybody been experiencing moderate to severe skin reactions to the patch? I have been on the patch for 3 months (having previously been on the pill for 7 years) and the only problem that I had was that it wouldn't stay on very well. I actually had to go back to the pharmacy for a refill early because I had used 2 or 3 of my patches as replacements.

The problem that I am having now is that, for the last 3 patches, I've been having skin reactions. When I first take the patch off, my skin is very very red and itchy. Sometimes I even have to take it off early because it itches so bad. Now, I have square dark brown marks on my skin that don't seem to be going away. On one of the sites, the skin is very very scaly with darker lines throughout. This really bothers and scares me because I hope that the marks won't be permanent.

Can anybody offer any ideas about food, drinks, other medications, or skin creams/lotions that may cause this? It's very sad b/c I really like it but I'm afraid I'll have to stop using it due to the "burns" on my arms.

-- posted by jnm4q

Top 41. Feb 15, 2003 10:04 PM

» ttcweb - Re: Ortho Evra

In response to message posted by jnm4q:

It sounds to me like you are alergic to the patch or the adhesive of the patch. I would strongly suggest that you see your doctor or dermatologist about it.

You can try washing the area before you put the patch on with a mild soap and warm (not hot) water, towel dry, and then 'clean' it again with rubbing alcohol. Then once you remove the patch to put on a new one, re-clean the area as above. If the irritation is due to the adhesive, the rubbing alcohol should remove it from your skin and the redness should go away.

If it does not go away, you may want to either try it on a different part of your body or switch back to the pill.

-- posted by ttcweb

Top 42. Feb 15, 2003 10:25 PM

» ame94 - switching from the pill - lots of ?'s

I've been on ortho-novum 1/35 for 7.5 years and just switched to the patch (starting week 2). I switched primarily b/c I thought it would be simpler and eliminate mood swings that result from missing a pill or not taking it at a consistent hour. I had hoped that since I'd been on the pill for so long the transition would be easy. Now I have a few concerns...

1) How different is norgestimate than norethindrone - is one better than the other?
2) You've said that most side effects disappear after 3 months - is this true of weight gain as well - have many women gained weight?
3) If I decide to go back to the Ortho Novum I was so used to, will I be putting my body through a roller coaster of hormones such that my body may now react to it as well (i.e. risk side effects from ON all over again)?
4) Should I go back to ON, is it better to wait until at least one cycle of the patch is done or to do it asap?
5) Finally :-) have women who exercise (and sweat) a lot had more trouble with the patch sticking? I put my second patch on this morning on the upper part of my butt and then went for a run in the afternoon - by the time I finished it had slipped all the way down my cheek.

Thank you! - this site is great, super helpful.

-- posted by ame94

Top 43. Feb 18, 2003 7:07 AM

» jnm4q - Re: Re: Ortho Evra

In response to message posted by ttcweb:

Thank you for your response. I had considered going back to the gynecologist about this and just switching to Depo...however I am extremely afraid of the weight gain that I've been hearing about. I am already slightly overweight and really can't afford to gain anymore. I will try cleaning the area with alcohol as you suggested. I always have made sure to put the patch on right after a shower, but never really thought about cleaning the extra adhesive off after I remove the patch. I'll try this and hope that it works. The reaction seems to be much much worse on my arms than on my backside so I'll place it there from now on. I just really hope that these marks won't be permanent.

-- posted by jnm4q