A question for the gals........

I've heard about and read posts here about chemically induced menopause, but has anyone had the opposite happen to them? I am starting my ninth week of enhanced tx and have been post-menopausal for two years...until this week.
This was one sx that was totally unexpected..........

Pam

[GreatBird]

Are you on Procrit? I think I remember reading that was a possibility with it.

[justme53]

No, not on procrit...but good to know.....

[FlGuy]

My wife had several of the symptoms of menopause during treatment; irritability, loss of libido, mood swings, sudden tears, increased tension, difficulty in sleeping through the night.  Thing is, it was me taking the meds!

[nygirl7]

I didn't have my friend come to visit me since after the first week of treatment (so for 71 weeks or so) but as SOON as the interferon went away things went right on back to normal.

I was like dayum I thought I got lucky and just went through it while I was in my treatment coma - but nope.

[justme53]

LOL, bet that was an interesting household....menopause AND tx...double whammy!!

My condolences......Pam

[justme53]

I cracked up when I read about your friend coming to visit. The nuns told us in grade school that our uterus weeps when it doesn't get a monthly visit from its "friend".
But I haven't had a period in 2 years...until now.

[epiphiny]

My periods have been totally screwed up by the treatment.  I haven't had one since starting this round of tx and I keep wondering if I'm going thru menopause as well.  On my last my periods got a bit messed up too.  I'm just confused by it all.

[IMstacie]

Wow, that can't be good.  You are on a heavy regimen maybe that has something to do with it.  Maybe you should check with the dr. on this one.

[charm27]

Mine ended 2 months before I finished tx. Its gone for good!
Previous to that I never missed a period before.....Im 53.

I was like a clock!
It hasnt returned so far its  been 4 months.

Charm

[justme53]

Yeah, it seems really wierd to go two years without and now...BAM. I had a normal pelvic/pap last falls prior to tx. I would have thought it was some type of break through bleeding, but the full range of PMS symptoms were present prior. So much so that I thought if I didn't know better, I was going to get my period. And I did ! I did mark down the dates and will see what happens next month....

Pam

[AnotherJourney]

I had the same exact thing happen to me. I had not had a visit from my "friend" in a year and 8 months. I started treatment on Friday and by Wednesday my friend came to check up on me. ANd becuase it was my first week of treatme  (LOL!) It has not happened again since. I told my doc and all she said was "hmmm, that's interesting"

[Marcia2202]

Again... it just proves .... anything can happen...

I find this tx so unpredictable, you never know what's around the corner.

My period has been from everything from every 2 weeks, to not for 2 months, to regular for a few months and just some spotting. Heavy painful periods and totally uneventful. I really do not know what to make from it, so i try not to speculate.

[GreatBird]

I'm wondering if it isn't the interferon effect on estrogen. Since interferon affects seratonin why wouldn't it affect estrogen?

I'm wondering because I use an estrogen patch which pretty much guarantees me a steady level of the hormone (i.e. the interferon can't interfere with that) and I've been wondering if that's why I haven't had any of the ribarage issues--at least not so far. Honestly, I was crankier before I started tx than I have been since. OTOH, I haven't had to work, or even deal with much (besides preparing our taxes) that I really don't want to do.

I know this is slightly off topic, but it has made me wonder.

[epiphiny]

I believe the interferon definitely affects hormone production although I don't know the actual mechanics of it.  Irregular periods, heavy flow, and early menopause are all associated with HCV.  I was using a natural progesterone lozenge prior to tx but had to discontinue it as progesterone was on the list of contraindicated medications...

Here a few things I found on the topic:

"The relationship between the liver and hormones is an interesting one. The liver does not make hormones itself, as these are made in the many different glands in the body and not many people associate their liver with their hormones. The truth is that the liver plays a significant role in hormonal imbalances because the liver breaks down or metabolizes the hormones once they have done their work in the body.

The liver breaks down the group of hormones known as the steroid hormones which include –

• Aldosterone which controls the balance of the minerals sodium and potassium and water in the body
• The sex hormones which control our sex life and body shape
• Cortisone which controls the immune system

If the liver is not efficient at breaking down these hormones they can accumulate in the body and cause hormonal imbalances."

Sandra Cabot MD
______________________________________________________________________

Hormone regulation

"The liver regulates the balance of sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. It transforms or removes the excess hormones from the body. If the liver cannot properly do this then there is the risk of emotional imbalance often with emotional states lasting longer and being more volatile. The levels of white blood cells and antibodies may also decline so compromising immunity.

Unfortunately hormonal imbalances are fairly common in chronic liver disease.

a) Sexual desire and function

Sexual desire depends upon a delicate balance of hormones. If this balance is upset by infection with hepatitis C then both men and women can suffer loss of libido. Men can develop elevated oestrogen levels that may affect sexual function. Women may suffer erratic hormone levels that cause severe PMT-type symptoms.

The fatigue that viral infections can cause may also make some people too tired to be interested in sex. There is a danger that this in itself can lead to frustration and a darker mood.

b) Adrenalin

The stress of modern life can lead to the production of excessive amounts of the stress hormone adrenaline. The liver is responsible for balancing and getting rid of adrenalin. If it cannot keep up with the levels of stress hormones produced, the liver is forced to store them, often for up to a year. The presence of stored adrenalin in the liver may add to emotional imbalance particularly anger, as well as impairing the immune system and therefore effecting the bodies ability to fight the virus. This means learning to identify stress and manage stress effectively is vital."

www.hepctrust.org.uk/The+Liver/How+HCV+affects+the+functions+of+the+liver.htm
______________________________________________________________________

"If aldosterone is not broken down efficiently this can result in fluid retention and many women find this is a problem. Fluid retention can lead to uncomfortable puffiness, an aggravation of cellulite and weight gain. It can also raise the blood pressure.

With the sex hormones things can become more complicated so let’s take a look at what happens if your liver does not break down the sex hormones efficiently.

    * If the female hormone estrogen is not broken down efficiently, this can lead to excessive levels of estrogen in the body. Excess estrogen can cause breast pain and lumpiness, heavy painful menstrual bleeding and weight gain around the hips, buttocks and thighs. This is very frustrating for women who are pear shaped as they may develop cellulite around the hips and thighs. Pear shaped women are known as Gynaeoid shaped women and they often have a weight problem in the lower part of their body.

    * If the male hormone testosterone is not broken down efficiently, this can lead to an excess of testosterone in the body, which can result in weight gain in the upper part of the body on the trunk and abdomen. These women develop an apple shape and are known as the Android body type. There are four different body types and each one has unique hormonal and metabolic characteristics. Excess male hormones can also lead to excess facial and body hair, greasy skin, acne and loss of hair from the scalp. Many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have excess male hormone levels associated with a dysfunctional liver; their hormonal imbalance can be reduced by improving liver function. Natural progesterone cream can also help women with polycystic ovarian syndrome whereas the oral contraceptive pill may overload their liver and lead to more weight gain.

The liver also has a relationship with the hormone insulin, which is very important when it comes to your metabolism and tendency to gain weight. Insulin is made in the pancreas gland and regulates the metabolism of fats and carbohydrate. Most people with a weight problem have an imbalance in their insulin levels and this makes it very hard for them to lose weight. In overweight people insulin does not work properly and this results in the body trying to compensate by making high levels of insulin. This condition is known as Syndrome X and also as the metabolic syndrome. Insulin is a fat storing hormone so that the high levels of insulin promote the storage of fat especially in the abdominal area. The high levels of insulin also send a message to the liver to store more fat, so many people with a high insulin level develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is very sluggish and will not break down hormones efficiently and this causes further weight gain and fluid retention. The combination of fatty liver and Syndrome X [Insulin Resistance] often eventually leads to diabetes type 2."

Sandra Cabot MD

[epiphiny]

I think your previous post is very interesting and it certainly strikes a few chords with me.  

On my first tx, to which I was a null responder, the anger issues were far more pronounced (I actually felt 'murderous' on one occasion which scared the heII out of me and I refused to leave the house that day!) and yet on this tx, in which I went UND very early in the game, the anger has hardly been an issue.  I have moments of irritability but that generally late at night when I am really tired.

Be great to find more research on this, most of the stuff I found was pertaining to rats but it's certainly worth doing a google search and see what you find.

Btw, noone at my study clinic has been able to tell me why progesterone was contraindicated but it was on the specific list of not allowable drugs/supplements that came through from the sponsors.

[epiphiny]

But wait there's more!

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/475556

[GreatBird]

Interesting that you quote Sandra Cabot. She was my first read when I discovered I had HCV. As I recall, she is actually trained as an ob/gyn but moved into dealing with the liver when she realized it was behind so many of the problems her patients were exhibiting. I completely changed my diet as a result of her book and felt healthy and dropped weight too. Maybe I should email her and see what she says about any interferon/estrogen connection.

I'm so glad that they didn't take my estrogen away for the clinical trial I'm on. My endocrinologist feels it's *very* important for bone health and I think having those very uncomfortable hot flashes while on tx would be really a drag.

[epiphiny]

Emailing her would be a great idea as I would also love to know more about the connection, estrogen and progesterone...

I envy you for being able to keep your estrogen...I wish they hadn't taken my progesterone away, at the time I started tx I was estrogen dominant.  I've been trying, unsuccessfully to get it back.  It will be interesting to see what happens to our hormonal balances when we complete tx.  

[Isobella]

Great information.  Thanks for posting.  I am glad to know it is not just me.  I am still on the same pre-tx schedule--like clockwork, but it is sooooo much more severe on tx.  Totally wipes me out.  Every 21 days....rock bottom.  By far the worst sx I have had.

Even worse when it falls at the same time I have to go to the vamps...uugghh.