Need some help/suggestions for this problem, please.

Discovered that the lower heater hose was leaking. I've ordered new hoses but until they arrive, I still need to drive the car. I removed both hoses and wrapped them in high temp electrical tape, then reinstalled with new hose clamps. I also threw half a bottle of Barr's stop leak into the coolant reservoir.

The leak appears to have stopped. It used to completely empty the radiator within about 30 minutes of driving. I haven't had to add 50/50 Prestone since the MacGyver repairs a couple days ago. But the temp gauge still very quickly claims up about 3/4 of the gauge, a bit under the red zone but still too high for comfort. It stays out of the red zone, though. Before I put the Barr's leak in, adding anti-freeze would bring the temp gauge down to about 1/4, which is where it normally sits. The level in my expansion tank has been about half way between "min" and "max" for the last couple days but it's running hotter.

I wonder if the Barr's leak made it worse by clogging the radiator or a coolant passage.