I don't normally talk about my medication but I'm currently laughing. I've not be allowed any pill with estrogen in it for a couple of years now (very rude and inconvenient) so we're trying the lowest dose patch. Here's where my poor doctor is at + (no medical advice pls)

I take Dienogest progestin anyway, so she was like okay, let's try the lowest estrogen dose patch. I'm like it's GREAT ...except for this one side effect. She's sitting there, staring into space for a moment. Then goes, "Okay, I need you to work with me, I promise I know what I'm doing."

Me: 👀I mean, I will work with you, but I'm not used to a doctor promising she knows what she's doing. She leaves and comes back with a box. This is for estrogen gel. "Okay, I want you to keep your patch, BUT also try 1 pump of this gel." Me: 👀 At the same time? Her: YES! Me: 👀 Why?

Her: Look, changing the patch to the higher dose is then a prescription and if you hate it, you are stuck with the entire box of patches and then you need the pharmacist to fax me, to get back on the old patch and...just try the gel. Me: But with the patch at the same time? Her: TRUST ME.

Me: okay, so how long will I know if I don't like it? Her: DAYS You will know in DAYS if the side effect you hate is made worse with more. Me: But wouldn't that just be a given? Her: no, sometimes it gets better with more, sometimes it gets worse, something NO DIFFERENCE WHO KNOWS BODIES ARE WEIRD

Me all week: okay I am doing my lowest dose patch meant for a 95lb 4'11 women with 1 pump of gel on my arm. Me waiting for side effect to get worse: is this worse? is this better? IS THIS THE SAME? Me hyperfocusing on side effect until I can no longer tell what is happening in my own body.

Anyway, that's where I am. It's been five days. I have no idea if the side effect is worse because I have been hyperfocused on it 😅 (I actually think it's the same). But my watch says I'm sleeping better than most dead people, so that's a plus.

She said if I hate the increased dose, I'll know within days, but it might be a full month before I decide I want the higher dose. So anyway, that's where I'm at. Just covered in estrogen 😂🤣

I feel like 'Covered in Estrogen' could make a good album title for either like a folky Indigo Girls-esque deal or perhaps riot girl punk