22 Comments
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Jen Baden Howard's avatar

Oh my goodness, can totally see designers doing logo patches!! 😭 Great read, Cheryl.

Swabreen Bakr's avatar

Whenever I see athletic women in their 70s and 80s I’m like dang maybe we’re underestimating the capacity of our bodies functionally throughout our lifetimes. This is the longest and healthiest most ppl have lived ever? And people will keep living longer as meds and health outcomes improve, so one day 80 will be the next 40s.

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

Yep. I’m lifting weights like gd Schwarzenegger now to try to stay functional and mobile

Beth Lisogorsky's avatar

Interesting read. Not doing any patch but definitely see all the social media stuff out there hocking it like it’s the next best thing. I go by my doctor’a guidance based on my current symptoms. I’m old fashioned

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

Estrogen can def help a lot of people. But it’s a medication, not some trendy skincare or whatever

Hotflash Inc's avatar

Thanks for the shoutout Cheryl! Also you nailed it. This woman Jen started a street gang and the patch residue is their symbol. I can't share a pic here but this is the video: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmGLtNoy/

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

That necklace was a great find. I need to know more. (And I’ve seen Jen’s content!)

Hotflash Inc's avatar

She's sending me one! Let's talk... I can share my review with you.

Janet Payton's avatar

My symptoms started in early 2020 as well, but I thought it was pandemic stress (frozen shoulder and insomnia also led to more wine). Ditched booze, got on the patch, and life is much better!

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

Same here. I rarely drink now. Glad you feel better too!

Vanessa Novissimo Wright's avatar

Oh my gosh! Thank you for including me!! I’m seriously trying to figure out how to create my own estrogen patch stickers with an 80s vibe!

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

Thank you for making me laugh! (Do you actually have those stickers? I think I have a book of them somewhere in my mom’s basement)

Vanessa Novissimo Wright's avatar

Yes! That is my hand and my stickers! My oldest friend in the world saved a bunch of them from childhood and mailed them to me last year. I keep them in my Cabbage Patch Doll folder she also sent me. 🤩

Larissa Hennessy's avatar

Here in Ireland we get HRT for free. It’s through your GP so it’s been a great thing for women here. It is awful how necessary medications are not free in other countries

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

Yes very jealous!

Carlene Higgins's avatar

you mean I could have made some sponcon coin from baring my meno belly in this week’s substack post? 🫠

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

Missed opportunity, Carlene!!!! (Also I really loved that post)

Liz's avatar

Do you follow Jessica DeFino? She writes more for beauty but the whole concept of marketing patches to be like the scratch n' sniff stickers of our youth is pretty much on par with some of the promotional techniques of various beauty manufacturers and influencers. I love a good yesteryear moment of nostalgia but this kind of speaks a little to the growing concept of the infantilization of adulthood. Maybe?

Cheryl Wischhover's avatar

I think that scratch n sniff thing was meant as a joke. But if it actually happened, yeah definitely infantilizing! What I don’t think is outside the realm of possibility is what I said after that: if people are showing them off to thousands of followers, someone is def going to make that a branding/ personalization moment