Another hormone question, or what the heck else...

[Fluffysmom]

I seem to remember this question being asked before, but I can't remember the answer, so I thought I'd ask again.
Can the hormone fluctuations around your period bring on a flare of neurological symptoms?  I say that because I'm not diagnosed, so I can't really say MS symptoms.

I'm trying to figure out if there is something that precipitated my flare of symptoms; did the antibiotics three weeks ago not take care of my sinus infection, and its flaring back up, or could it be because of my period coming on about the same time as my flare?

Then I read a post about a hormone question, and someone mentioned having terrible symptoms while taking Premarin, and having the symptoms improve a great deal when she stopped taking it.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/305871

I take Premarin during the placebo week of my bc pills, to ward off menstrual migraines.  Also, I started using a Premarin cream twice a week after I saw the urogynecologist a week and a half ago.  

OK, so does anyone have any ideas as to whether any of the above could have flared me up?  Or should I just accept the fact that this happens and stop racking my poor fuzzy brain?  :o)  Honestly, when I have trouble doing much of anything, I can't help but try to figure it out and try to avoid having it happen again!

Thanks,

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

Thanks, but I rarely have migraines since I started taking the Premarin on the placebo days a couple years ago.  Since I started having tremors in February, I gave up caffeine in most forms except for occasional chocolate.  :o)  

My symptom increase that made me feel so yucky includes extreme fatigue, including muscle fatigue; I have a hard time holding up my arms to blow dry my short hair, mashing my cat's canned cat food to wrap around his medicine, even sitting up causes my upper body to shake with fatigue.  

I have had a real hard time holding onto things; my fine motor control is not so controlled.  I've also had trouble walking, partially from increased dizziness, and partially from my muscles being weird.  The back of my left thigh has been really tight and twitchy at times.  When I exert myself, I end up lying on my bed with my muscles twitching.  We're talking light exertion.

I'll ask my urogynecologist about the estrogen patch, to see if that might even things out for me.  

kathy

[Deb61]

Are the headaches the main reason that you are feeling icky?  I haven't had a period in 15 years, however, I can tell you that migraine headaches are effected by fluctuations in hormones.  

I went to a neurologist that only specialized in headaches a few years ago, because I was having them almost daily.  I cut the caffeine out of my diet and made a few other dietary changes, which really helped.  Also, I was put on a higher dose of the beta blocker I was taking.  However, my migraines were cut in half when I went from taking an estrogen pill to using an estrogen patch.  There's not much fluctuation in medicine with the patch--which I think really, really helps.  

I'm not sure if this helps, but wanted to jump in there just in case in might.

Deb

[Fluffysmom]

So, it could be not the Premarin, since I take that every month, and the premarin cream I've added isn't a large amount.  Are you saying that it could be related to my period itself, and the placebo pills, even adding the Premarin?  Hmm, but that's monthly, too.

Or, it may be the sinus issue acting up again, or just something that can't be named.  I did have some stress, with trying to get reapproved for medical assistance that is neccesary for me to afford my medications, and my worker not returning my calls.

Who knows?  Thanks for your input.  I didn't see your post when I replied to Wobbly.

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

Thanks for responding; I wish MY periods would hurry up and quit already!  

Kathy

[biowham]

Hi, Kathy--

I have heard that there is an association. I may have heard that from Quix, but I can't remember, of course, where exactly I picked it up.

It's odd that Premarin would flare your symptoms if pregnancy, especially late pregnancy, is supposed to suppress them (I'm thinking of estrogen load; it is sequestered somewhat by proteins during pregnancy, but if I remember correctly, folks aver that it's the extra estrogen that confers some relief from MS)...and my own experience is that during the withdrawal phase from the Pill (I'm on Loestrin, only have placebo pills for four days), my symptoms are at their worst.

Bio

[Wobbly]

sorry hon...I haven't had a period in 16 years... and I'm not yet Dx...so can't help with this one...I'm sure someone will jump in...

take care
wobbly
undx