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General Bioidentical Hormone information:
Feb 17, 2008 11:24PM
- 27 comments
The following infomation has been gathered from the resouce books I name on my profile. The information also came from speaking with various experts in the field of Bioidentical hormones, and the experience I have had with these hormones comes from first hand experience. It is my opinion that the quality of life I experience would be unatainable if not for the use of these products. I will add that I also strive to live a healthy lifestyle which includes watching my diet, exercising on a regular schedule, positive thinking, deep breathing, and trying to advocate for myself when necessary.
The difference between the bioidentical hormones ..... they enter/act in our body the exact way as the hormones they are replacing molecule for molecule...much like Insulin, which is a bioidentical...and, Armour thyroid and Synthroid (all bioidentical much to the surprise of many especially since Armour is made from pigs!) Sorry..I digress.
Anyway, the difference between the Synthetics and the bioidentical hormones is One Molecule. The pharmaceutical Co. that makes Premarin and Provera made sure that their version of "Hormones" (Drugs) is not bioidentical because you cannot patent a bio product, thus this would not be a big money-making adventure. So they made their own drugs that they said were similar to the bioidentical hormones (some of the synthetics are made from female horse's urine and some from plant products that once synthesized in the lab do actually have a different forumlation than what our body used to produce...then this way they can patent the product).
The synthetic HRT was developed in response to the bio's way back when (back in the 60's particularly)... because women were turning to the bioidentical hormones. More recently, the big pharm. companies are starting to make bioidentical items such as the vaginal ring in response to demand from women not wanting to take HRT. It gets confusing because the bioidentical hormones are not HRT. Some people call them BHRT for Bio, but they used to be called 'Natural' then this got confusing because heck, if you were a horse, then taking premarin would be natural. GOSH this is a huge subject and cannot be answered with just one or two lines.
I encourage everyone going through all of this to pick up some good resources on bioidentical hormoes (Northrup, Schwartz ...great books and great website for both these doctors, and Reiss) and research your heart out...your benefits will double. There is so much confusion out there regarding all of this.
One question comes up frequently...is this.....essentially can you get into trouble using the bio hormones? Sometimes to add to the confusion people will add....just as you can with HRT? Frankly, I am not a fan of HRT ...Premarin, Provera, Prempro, which is Premarin and Provera together, and many women have had problems with these drugs. The list of side effects alone on the flyer that comes with these drugs is enough to scare anyone away from using them, in my opinion. As far as the bioidentical hormones are concerned, when you are out of balance (estrogen and Progesterone in balance is key) you can run into problems...I ran into many problems because of this while making my own hormones and it led me to cervical dysplasias and a pathology report of malignant cells in a cyst that was drained which led to my hysterectomy in 2000. The theory is that I had too much estrogen in my body and not enough Progesterone. If only I'd known back then....on top of this because of the imbalance, I had horrible headaches, weight gain, bloating, mood swings...These darn hormones.
The difference between the bioidentical hormones ..... they enter/act in our body the exact way as the hormones they are replacing molecule for molecule...much like Insulin, which is a bioidentical...and, Armour thyroid and Synthroid (all bioidentical much to the surprise of many especially since Armour is made from pigs!) Sorry..I digress.
Anyway, the difference between the Synthetics and the bioidentical hormones is One Molecule. The pharmaceutical Co. that makes Premarin and Provera made sure that their version of "Hormones" (Drugs) is not bioidentical because you cannot patent a bio product, thus this would not be a big money-making adventure. So they made their own drugs that they said were similar to the bioidentical hormones (some of the synthetics are made from female horse's urine and some from plant products that once synthesized in the lab do actually have a different forumlation than what our body used to produce...then this way they can patent the product).
The synthetic HRT was developed in response to the bio's way back when (back in the 60's particularly)... because women were turning to the bioidentical hormones. More recently, the big pharm. companies are starting to make bioidentical items such as the vaginal ring in response to demand from women not wanting to take HRT. It gets confusing because the bioidentical hormones are not HRT. Some people call them BHRT for Bio, but they used to be called 'Natural' then this got confusing because heck, if you were a horse, then taking premarin would be natural. GOSH this is a huge subject and cannot be answered with just one or two lines.
I encourage everyone going through all of this to pick up some good resources on bioidentical hormoes (Northrup, Schwartz ...great books and great website for both these doctors, and Reiss) and research your heart out...your benefits will double. There is so much confusion out there regarding all of this.
One question comes up frequently...is this.....essentially can you get into trouble using the bio hormones? Sometimes to add to the confusion people will add....just as you can with HRT? Frankly, I am not a fan of HRT ...Premarin, Provera, Prempro, which is Premarin and Provera together, and many women have had problems with these drugs. The list of side effects alone on the flyer that comes with these drugs is enough to scare anyone away from using them, in my opinion. As far as the bioidentical hormones are concerned, when you are out of balance (estrogen and Progesterone in balance is key) you can run into problems...I ran into many problems because of this while making my own hormones and it led me to cervical dysplasias and a pathology report of malignant cells in a cyst that was drained which led to my hysterectomy in 2000. The theory is that I had too much estrogen in my body and not enough Progesterone. If only I'd known back then....on top of this because of the imbalance, I had horrible headaches, weight gain, bloating, mood swings...These darn hormones.
I just read your post, and I just recently joined this forum. Im on the estrogel cream right now, is it possible to add this progesterone as well?? Is it safe? You really seem to know your stuff!!
Hi,
Thanks for reading. I know my work is lengthy and sometimes I look at it and say, "whoa!" who thought I would become a medical researcher of sorts. Over the years I have become less and less resistant to the idea that some of the things I do are considered "alternative" but, it's funny because the more I study this stuff the more I believe that the things I do are actually the way treatments were meant to be. But, as we know, it seems we have become a nation of treating symptoms for issues that perhaps could have been prevented if only we'd known more.
I don't have mistrust in doctors or in medicine in general, but I have lost patience with incompetence. When I was 18 my father was told by our long time family doctor that all of his problems (symptoms) were 'in his head.' This comment infuriated my father who luckily switched doctors and it was discovered my dad had Lymphoma. He died a year and a half later.
You see in my profile that I was brushed off by the doctor who ordered the ultrasound and found two ovarian cysts back in spring of 2000. If it weren't for the tech who probably was not supposed to say anything in the first place, I am not sure I would be writing this right now. The doctor to whom I switched found malignant cells in that cyst a few months later.
And, while I am in a venting mode, I will add, that the whole story about how I got rid of surgical adhesions is still very amazing to me. Doctors were ordering test after test, suggesting colon cancer, and then after the adhesions were found during a colonoscopy (ouch!) that literally SNAPPED the adhesions from around my colon, I was told that there was nothing they could do for me other than have me come in for a colonoscopy every 6 months...ah, no. They told me that surgery to get rid of the adhesions would cause MORE adhesions. Then along comes this perky exercise instructor who noticed me leaving my weight training class one day because I was in so much pain from the adhesions. She offered to teach me a technique that promised to break up the adhesions. For twenty minutes she had me laying on a little ball (from Target!) and had me rolling around on that ball to break up adhesions. I had incredible relief. Today I am totally clean and free from adhesions.
Oh my...sorry to go on and on, but I sometimes want to mention all of this again to support the notion that we do have to be advocates for ourselves. There are not always enough hours in the day, though, for everyone to become a researcher and I do wish I'd been able to get these answers sooner for myself, but since I have done leg work...and I can offer suggestions as well as resources. ..then I am happy to share my story.
MORE ABOUT PROGESTERONE:
Again, I am not a doctor (a top doctor in the state), but to be perfectly honest, my doctor did not know about adding progesterone when I first inquired about it. This was back in July of 2001 and he told me I was his SECOND patient ever to ask about it. Lucy for me, the patient the week before who'd asked about it had given my doctor the name of a compounding pharmacist in a town south of here. I took the name and number, made an appointment with this pharmacist and we spoke for 45 min. He then called my doctor to discuss the benefits of adding progesterone to someone like me (surgical menopause on bioidentical estrogen only which was given to me by my oncologist who did not say anything about it except that she'd ordered it for me) and they agreed on a prescription cream of 2%,micronized bioidentical Progesterone. It took about a month and a half for it to really get into my system but I can tell you that the results were remarkable. I felt this FOG lift out of my head and I don't know how else to explain it.
Northrup's book inspired me to look into getting the progesterone or to at least study it further. One book I loved and still recommend today is called, "The Estrogen Alternative." ...Natural Hormone Therapy with Botanical Progesterone. Amazing book and worth it if you can pick it up. I saw it on Amazon not too long ago. It was written by Raquel Martin with Judi Gertstung, D. C.
I will send this now as I am not sure it will all fit on one journal entry. I also want to look up Estrogel to see what I can learn about it. I will be back :)
Mary
Thanks for reading. I know my work is lengthy and sometimes I look at it and say, "whoa!" who thought I would become a medical researcher of sorts. Over the years I have become less and less resistant to the idea that some of the things I do are considered "alternative" but, it's funny because the more I study this stuff the more I believe that the things I do are actually the way treatments were meant to be. But, as we know, it seems we have become a nation of treating symptoms for issues that perhaps could have been prevented if only we'd known more.
I don't have mistrust in doctors or in medicine in general, but I have lost patience with incompetence. When I was 18 my father was told by our long time family doctor that all of his problems (symptoms) were 'in his head.' This comment infuriated my father who luckily switched doctors and it was discovered my dad had Lymphoma. He died a year and a half later.
You see in my profile that I was brushed off by the doctor who ordered the ultrasound and found two ovarian cysts back in spring of 2000. If it weren't for the tech who probably was not supposed to say anything in the first place, I am not sure I would be writing this right now. The doctor to whom I switched found malignant cells in that cyst a few months later.
And, while I am in a venting mode, I will add, that the whole story about how I got rid of surgical adhesions is still very amazing to me. Doctors were ordering test after test, suggesting colon cancer, and then after the adhesions were found during a colonoscopy (ouch!) that literally SNAPPED the adhesions from around my colon, I was told that there was nothing they could do for me other than have me come in for a colonoscopy every 6 months...ah, no. They told me that surgery to get rid of the adhesions would cause MORE adhesions. Then along comes this perky exercise instructor who noticed me leaving my weight training class one day because I was in so much pain from the adhesions. She offered to teach me a technique that promised to break up the adhesions. For twenty minutes she had me laying on a little ball (from Target!) and had me rolling around on that ball to break up adhesions. I had incredible relief. Today I am totally clean and free from adhesions.
Oh my...sorry to go on and on, but I sometimes want to mention all of this again to support the notion that we do have to be advocates for ourselves. There are not always enough hours in the day, though, for everyone to become a researcher and I do wish I'd been able to get these answers sooner for myself, but since I have done leg work...and I can offer suggestions as well as resources. ..then I am happy to share my story.
MORE ABOUT PROGESTERONE:
Again, I am not a doctor (a top doctor in the state), but to be perfectly honest, my doctor did not know about adding progesterone when I first inquired about it. This was back in July of 2001 and he told me I was his SECOND patient ever to ask about it. Lucy for me, the patient the week before who'd asked about it had given my doctor the name of a compounding pharmacist in a town south of here. I took the name and number, made an appointment with this pharmacist and we spoke for 45 min. He then called my doctor to discuss the benefits of adding progesterone to someone like me (surgical menopause on bioidentical estrogen only which was given to me by my oncologist who did not say anything about it except that she'd ordered it for me) and they agreed on a prescription cream of 2%,micronized bioidentical Progesterone. It took about a month and a half for it to really get into my system but I can tell you that the results were remarkable. I felt this FOG lift out of my head and I don't know how else to explain it.
Northrup's book inspired me to look into getting the progesterone or to at least study it further. One book I loved and still recommend today is called, "The Estrogen Alternative." ...Natural Hormone Therapy with Botanical Progesterone. Amazing book and worth it if you can pick it up. I saw it on Amazon not too long ago. It was written by Raquel Martin with Judi Gertstung, D. C.
I will send this now as I am not sure it will all fit on one journal entry. I also want to look up Estrogel to see what I can learn about it. I will be back :)
Mary
Back again,
It took some time (I found confusion about this product, but constantly amazes me that people publishing websites do not always know what they are talking about!)....but, Estrogel is a bioidentical product and that is what I wanted to check. It is Estrodial and anytime you see "Estrodial" you can be assured that it is a bioidentical. It is rubbed into the skin once a day. I see that the dose is equivalant to what I take in the form of the Vivelle Patch. EstroGel® will be prescribed at a 1.25g (0.75 mg estradiol) daily dose. EstroGel® is packaged in a non-aerosol, metered-dose pump that is designed to deliver 1.25g (0.75 mg estradiol) of gel per compression
I would suggest you talk with a compounding pharmacist or a specialist who works with bioidentical hormones to see how you could go about getting your blood levels checked (some will recommend saliva tests...but this too is controversial...I say take whatever you can get! at this point until the industry decides which route of testing is best) regarding a good balance between progesterone and estrogen, should you decide to start using Progesterone.
Personally, this is a subject that gets the passion moving in me since I know how drastically different I felt once I added Progesterone to my regimen....we need it for bone health, soft joint and muscle health...clearer thinking...thyroid... But, I have had medical profesionals ask me why I am using is since I do not have a uterus.....WELL!!! WE have tons of cell receptors for Progesterone in our brains...and, our lungs...and throats....WE NEED IT! We stop making this hormone when we decrease or stop all together ovulating....thus perimenopause...or, when the ovaries are taken out...surgical menopause....and, when it stops all together (ovulation) and the estrogen is declining...thus we have entered Menopause. So, I would definitely consider using it. Do the homework, though, so you will be armed with the information you need. I have never read of any bad side effects.
If you are confused on this let me know...there is a ton of info. I use a cream. I appreciate Prometrium but did not care for it myself. I followed one doctor's suggestion that I open the capsule of Prometrium (a bio progesterone) and rubbed it in my skin. When it is taken orally there is a by-product that can make you sleepy so some women like this aspect. I felt it "puffed" me up...but I was also not regularly working out due to a slipped disc problem...so, who knows...but I went back to the cream. I need a high dose for some reason, so for me it works well to get this from a compounding pharmacy.
Well, that's it for now. Let me know how you are doing, if you want...ok?
Take care, Mary
It took some time (I found confusion about this product, but constantly amazes me that people publishing websites do not always know what they are talking about!)....but, Estrogel is a bioidentical product and that is what I wanted to check. It is Estrodial and anytime you see "Estrodial" you can be assured that it is a bioidentical. It is rubbed into the skin once a day. I see that the dose is equivalant to what I take in the form of the Vivelle Patch. EstroGel® will be prescribed at a 1.25g (0.75 mg estradiol) daily dose. EstroGel® is packaged in a non-aerosol, metered-dose pump that is designed to deliver 1.25g (0.75 mg estradiol) of gel per compression
I would suggest you talk with a compounding pharmacist or a specialist who works with bioidentical hormones to see how you could go about getting your blood levels checked (some will recommend saliva tests...but this too is controversial...I say take whatever you can get! at this point until the industry decides which route of testing is best) regarding a good balance between progesterone and estrogen, should you decide to start using Progesterone.
Personally, this is a subject that gets the passion moving in me since I know how drastically different I felt once I added Progesterone to my regimen....we need it for bone health, soft joint and muscle health...clearer thinking...thyroid... But, I have had medical profesionals ask me why I am using is since I do not have a uterus.....WELL!!! WE have tons of cell receptors for Progesterone in our brains...and, our lungs...and throats....WE NEED IT! We stop making this hormone when we decrease or stop all together ovulating....thus perimenopause...or, when the ovaries are taken out...surgical menopause....and, when it stops all together (ovulation) and the estrogen is declining...thus we have entered Menopause. So, I would definitely consider using it. Do the homework, though, so you will be armed with the information you need. I have never read of any bad side effects.
If you are confused on this let me know...there is a ton of info. I use a cream. I appreciate Prometrium but did not care for it myself. I followed one doctor's suggestion that I open the capsule of Prometrium (a bio progesterone) and rubbed it in my skin. When it is taken orally there is a by-product that can make you sleepy so some women like this aspect. I felt it "puffed" me up...but I was also not regularly working out due to a slipped disc problem...so, who knows...but I went back to the cream. I need a high dose for some reason, so for me it works well to get this from a compounding pharmacy.
Well, that's it for now. Let me know how you are doing, if you want...ok?
Take care, Mary
Hi..
Thanks so much for all the information, i also , have had some bad luck with doctors. They can suggest things, but nobody knows my body but me. I have an alternative doctor who i go see, and she's pretty good. She tells me to go with my bodys feelings, and test out what feels right for me. She has me on estrogel, and now im going to try the
Progesterone as well. What do you mean by "puffed" up,. like swollen?? Did it swell you? I surely dont want that, as im trying to lose weight! What is your suggestion? What kind do you take? Im tired of the foggy feeling too, seems like im always in a fogbank! Im hoping this will clear my head up and I can be me again. Also, sex drive, mine is at a low point, and im hoping to perk it up a bit. Do you have any problems with that?
Thanks for being so helpful, i think you'ar awesome!
Mogus
Thanks so much for all the information, i also , have had some bad luck with doctors. They can suggest things, but nobody knows my body but me. I have an alternative doctor who i go see, and she's pretty good. She tells me to go with my bodys feelings, and test out what feels right for me. She has me on estrogel, and now im going to try the
Progesterone as well. What do you mean by "puffed" up,. like swollen?? Did it swell you? I surely dont want that, as im trying to lose weight! What is your suggestion? What kind do you take? Im tired of the foggy feeling too, seems like im always in a fogbank! Im hoping this will clear my head up and I can be me again. Also, sex drive, mine is at a low point, and im hoping to perk it up a bit. Do you have any problems with that?
Thanks for being so helpful, i think you'ar awesome!
Mogus
Did you have any bad effects from taking Prometrium??
Hi,
Sorry it took awhile for me to get back to you. I have irritated a ruptured disc that had been healing nicely :( and sometimes it is hard to sit at the computer, but for me to Stop responding to questions or concerns is something I am not even considering. In fact, it takes my mind off the pain...so thanks for your patience!
Yes...puffed up as in feeling as if I am gaining weight suddenly. I struggled with weight growing up and have done tons of work on maintaining a decent weight healthfully, so I do get upset when something is out of my control. I have felt that for me menopause in general has not been helpful regarding the weight issue, but I am determined to just keep working at it. I come from a family that struggles with diabetic issues and so it behoves me to stay on top of the weight issue. Also, while I am on that topic, Progesterone does help with blood sugar issues. But, I only use the cream. I read in Northrup's book that many women do not tolerate Prometrium. She said that the manufacturer does not recommend it, but that some women cut the capsule open and use the cream inside. I have done that...when I was given Prometrium last year to boost the blood level of progesterone since the cream was working but I was not "there" yet...needed to go higher and the thought was, well, how much cream can you take (especially in winter...that cream is cold!) ...but, I would rather use the cream. I am at top dose (I think it is top) at 20% two times a day. That is going to look very high especially since the starting dose is 2% twice a day, but some women do need a higher amount and I am one of them, I guess.
You will notice incredible help regarding the fog...oh my gosh...I could not believe it. I can be more specific if you wish ...Mother in law is coming for dinner...and, I have to run to the store, but if you think of more questions ask away or you can Private Message me, too.
On the libido issue...I should find some old posts on that. I use Testosterone and would not be without it. It is VERY helpful for things other than just libido...mental clarity, clumsiness (I know!) chemical sensitivities, and of all things...sensitivity to loud noises. It also helps tighten that "area" if you will..to help avoid vaginal atrophy which in turn affects bladder issues, which is something I have struggled with for a few years now and I hope to avoid surgery...so, I do love my testosterone.
I am sure I have raised more questions than I have answered, so let me know how else I might be able to help you out.
Mary
Sorry it took awhile for me to get back to you. I have irritated a ruptured disc that had been healing nicely :( and sometimes it is hard to sit at the computer, but for me to Stop responding to questions or concerns is something I am not even considering. In fact, it takes my mind off the pain...so thanks for your patience!
Yes...puffed up as in feeling as if I am gaining weight suddenly. I struggled with weight growing up and have done tons of work on maintaining a decent weight healthfully, so I do get upset when something is out of my control. I have felt that for me menopause in general has not been helpful regarding the weight issue, but I am determined to just keep working at it. I come from a family that struggles with diabetic issues and so it behoves me to stay on top of the weight issue. Also, while I am on that topic, Progesterone does help with blood sugar issues. But, I only use the cream. I read in Northrup's book that many women do not tolerate Prometrium. She said that the manufacturer does not recommend it, but that some women cut the capsule open and use the cream inside. I have done that...when I was given Prometrium last year to boost the blood level of progesterone since the cream was working but I was not "there" yet...needed to go higher and the thought was, well, how much cream can you take (especially in winter...that cream is cold!) ...but, I would rather use the cream. I am at top dose (I think it is top) at 20% two times a day. That is going to look very high especially since the starting dose is 2% twice a day, but some women do need a higher amount and I am one of them, I guess.
You will notice incredible help regarding the fog...oh my gosh...I could not believe it. I can be more specific if you wish ...Mother in law is coming for dinner...and, I have to run to the store, but if you think of more questions ask away or you can Private Message me, too.
On the libido issue...I should find some old posts on that. I use Testosterone and would not be without it. It is VERY helpful for things other than just libido...mental clarity, clumsiness (I know!) chemical sensitivities, and of all things...sensitivity to loud noises. It also helps tighten that "area" if you will..to help avoid vaginal atrophy which in turn affects bladder issues, which is something I have struggled with for a few years now and I hope to avoid surgery...so, I do love my testosterone.
I am sure I have raised more questions than I have answered, so let me know how else I might be able to help you out.
Mary
Mary,
I too am new here. I had 4 previous surgeries two for cysts and as I say my best two operations were two c-sections and able to bring home my two sons. After my second son I had a partial hysterectomy they left the 30% of right ovary in, because of age. Two weeks ago I had surgery because I had cysts on right ovary again. They found cancer which was contained in the ovary. I was staged at 1A. I am not sure of all the terminology and have been trying to read as much as possible. One of my questions for doctor on follow up was about hormone therapy. I have not had any symptoms such as hot flashes or anything yet. I guess my question is in your opinion can I take the bioidentical hormones. I am still trying to get everything to sink in. By the way I am 47 years old. You do seem quite knowledgable, and I personally thank you for all your research and hard work. When I get off here I am going to look up the books you mention above.
Again thank you.
Dawnlyn
I too am new here. I had 4 previous surgeries two for cysts and as I say my best two operations were two c-sections and able to bring home my two sons. After my second son I had a partial hysterectomy they left the 30% of right ovary in, because of age. Two weeks ago I had surgery because I had cysts on right ovary again. They found cancer which was contained in the ovary. I was staged at 1A. I am not sure of all the terminology and have been trying to read as much as possible. One of my questions for doctor on follow up was about hormone therapy. I have not had any symptoms such as hot flashes or anything yet. I guess my question is in your opinion can I take the bioidentical hormones. I am still trying to get everything to sink in. By the way I am 47 years old. You do seem quite knowledgable, and I personally thank you for all your research and hard work. When I get off here I am going to look up the books you mention above.
Again thank you.
Dawnlyn
Dawnlyn, If your cancer was estrogen receptive I don't think you will be able to use it. My cancer was, that is what the Arimidex and Tamoxifen counteract, that some of the ladies are on after chemo. Donna
Thanks for your post, Mary! I am fortunate that my doc initially and ONLY recommended bioidenticals. I am taking Vivelle and Prometrium, and have had nothing but positive results. After hot flashes for 3 months after stopping the Pill (I am 50, a little young, but have had perimenopausal symptoms for years), I decided enough is enough, and after one adjustment to my Vivelle dosage, all is well. However, I have developed a (hopefully benign) complex cystadenoma on my ovary -- it's pretty big, 15cm. No one has told me it's in any way related to my hormones, but if they do, I'll certainly report it here.
Dawnlynn and debkakes,
Hi, and thanks for writing. I have seen some of your posts and recognized your names.
This whole area is so confusing, isn't it? I feel totally clear about how the bioidentical hormones effect me and how comfortable I am using them. Whenever it comes up that malignant cells were found in a cyst on my ovary but that we caught this so incredibly early, the doctors with whom I have spoken sort of go "well...that is all behind you now" or words to that effect...and then they continue to talk about what my symptoms are so we can adjust the dose on my hormones...I will say that I am more confident than ever now though since the person I see (once every three months) for hormonal support tests me every three months. We use blood tests. It is not a perfect world regarding ways to test hormone levels and so we do the best we can. Some prefer saliva tests ...Dr. Erika Schwartz says that at this point there is no one way to test so I have let all that go and just do what My Erika (My hormone nurse's name) says to do. We make sure the levels are not out of range.
My first question to my Erika when I go in two weeks from now is this...If I were to go off the Estrodial patch (Vivelle 0.075mg) and just stay on the Progesterone (Which I would NEVER give up) and the testosterone...would my body product more fat (not a happy thought to begin with) so that my body could make more estrogen from the fat by-product that produces the strong estrogen called Estrone? I just don't know for sure. At this point, I would rather have the Estrodial, which is what we produced when we were in our twenties. It is the one Dr. Erika Schwartz recommends, too, and I have had such good luck with the patch that I just stay with it. Now, my nurse says that some women are on Progesterone only. I like to be on a little bit (and the dose I am on produces the amount they recommend for someone my age and someone who has no ovaries, etc) of estrogen for several reasons but the main one is so that I can keep the receptor sites open for progesterone...and, you need a little bit in order to do that. Plus I am afraid that if I were not on any estrogen supplement, then I would produce more Estrone and I know for a fact that this estrogen was dropped a few years ago from the compounded product called "Tri-est"...and is now called "Bi-est" which is estrodial and estroil (a weak estrogen) put together. But, they did drop the estrone thinking it was too harsh. So, you see, I am still full of questions. But, I also know that I do not function when I am not on supplemental hormones.
I highly recommend getting the books I mentioned. Northrup literally probably saved my life...luckily I followed her recommendations in both books that she wrote..."Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" and of course, The Wisdom of Menopause. I also used to be a Nanny for a woman who was a patient of Northrup's. My employer was a cabin attentdant for a major airlines and she just flew up to see Dr. Northrup when she was still practicing in Maine. Northrup started my employer on Progesterone and all her ailments evaporated. And, my employer is a very picky person. More testamonials for me to shout about since I really appreciate the work this woman has done. She and Schwartz know each other and both offer invaluable information to women, in my opinion. Schwartz has a great website with plenty of articles that have been archived...go check them out.
I also still pick up a great book on Progesterone that I think I mentioned earlier..."The Estrogen Alternative" ...let me know if you need more info on that. I saw it on Amazon.com not long ago. That whole book is highlighted and it is the info in that book that still amazes me. I do like my progesterone!
I know that Tamoxifan was mentioned. I recall reading about it in Northrup's book when it came out (the menopause book). She said they were refered to as Designer hormones and was very leery of them and their effectiveness since there were so many side effects to them...and that they did block estrogen but caused problems in return. It has been a while since I have read up on this...I will look at it tonight...and again, this was in 2000 that the book was published...but, I recall she had a strong opinion about this product and if I am not mistaken, she had alternatives that she felt did the job better....Sorry to be vague... I don't want to be mistaken about this, so if anyone is taking this hormone blocking agent, just do be sure to do the homework and research. I am sure even Northrup would hope for the best regarding the product since it is supposed to stop potential tumors from growing. Having said this I do encourage you do the research regarding the balancing of hormones and how it effects the receptor sites as one hormone plays off another and weakens one if one if too potent...and vice versa. Hope this all makes sense.
I am not a doctor, but I will say that I am very comfortable with what I do and I continue to research this area of women's health. The media screams at us that all hormones are bad and that is not true...we are our hormones. They have to be in balance. There is also concern about the products that mimic hormones and how dangerous they can be....Schwartz's Website has info on this...or now that I think of it...It might have been a newsletter from Northrup. I get both. The concern was not so much about the herbs, etc, that some women take, but about plastics and shampoos that contain products that mimic estrogen that was the culprit.
I will wind this up. Hopefully this helps...I was trying to answer two sets of questions and there was a third question from a poster on the OVCA site that I am steering this way...
Let me know if you have more specific questions. I will let you know if I am baffled by a particular question, but I can at least tell you of my experience.
Take care, Mary
Hi, and thanks for writing. I have seen some of your posts and recognized your names.
This whole area is so confusing, isn't it? I feel totally clear about how the bioidentical hormones effect me and how comfortable I am using them. Whenever it comes up that malignant cells were found in a cyst on my ovary but that we caught this so incredibly early, the doctors with whom I have spoken sort of go "well...that is all behind you now" or words to that effect...and then they continue to talk about what my symptoms are so we can adjust the dose on my hormones...I will say that I am more confident than ever now though since the person I see (once every three months) for hormonal support tests me every three months. We use blood tests. It is not a perfect world regarding ways to test hormone levels and so we do the best we can. Some prefer saliva tests ...Dr. Erika Schwartz says that at this point there is no one way to test so I have let all that go and just do what My Erika (My hormone nurse's name) says to do. We make sure the levels are not out of range.
My first question to my Erika when I go in two weeks from now is this...If I were to go off the Estrodial patch (Vivelle 0.075mg) and just stay on the Progesterone (Which I would NEVER give up) and the testosterone...would my body product more fat (not a happy thought to begin with) so that my body could make more estrogen from the fat by-product that produces the strong estrogen called Estrone? I just don't know for sure. At this point, I would rather have the Estrodial, which is what we produced when we were in our twenties. It is the one Dr. Erika Schwartz recommends, too, and I have had such good luck with the patch that I just stay with it. Now, my nurse says that some women are on Progesterone only. I like to be on a little bit (and the dose I am on produces the amount they recommend for someone my age and someone who has no ovaries, etc) of estrogen for several reasons but the main one is so that I can keep the receptor sites open for progesterone...and, you need a little bit in order to do that. Plus I am afraid that if I were not on any estrogen supplement, then I would produce more Estrone and I know for a fact that this estrogen was dropped a few years ago from the compounded product called "Tri-est"...and is now called "Bi-est" which is estrodial and estroil (a weak estrogen) put together. But, they did drop the estrone thinking it was too harsh. So, you see, I am still full of questions. But, I also know that I do not function when I am not on supplemental hormones.
I highly recommend getting the books I mentioned. Northrup literally probably saved my life...luckily I followed her recommendations in both books that she wrote..."Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" and of course, The Wisdom of Menopause. I also used to be a Nanny for a woman who was a patient of Northrup's. My employer was a cabin attentdant for a major airlines and she just flew up to see Dr. Northrup when she was still practicing in Maine. Northrup started my employer on Progesterone and all her ailments evaporated. And, my employer is a very picky person. More testamonials for me to shout about since I really appreciate the work this woman has done. She and Schwartz know each other and both offer invaluable information to women, in my opinion. Schwartz has a great website with plenty of articles that have been archived...go check them out.
I also still pick up a great book on Progesterone that I think I mentioned earlier..."The Estrogen Alternative" ...let me know if you need more info on that. I saw it on Amazon.com not long ago. That whole book is highlighted and it is the info in that book that still amazes me. I do like my progesterone!
I know that Tamoxifan was mentioned. I recall reading about it in Northrup's book when it came out (the menopause book). She said they were refered to as Designer hormones and was very leery of them and their effectiveness since there were so many side effects to them...and that they did block estrogen but caused problems in return. It has been a while since I have read up on this...I will look at it tonight...and again, this was in 2000 that the book was published...but, I recall she had a strong opinion about this product and if I am not mistaken, she had alternatives that she felt did the job better....Sorry to be vague... I don't want to be mistaken about this, so if anyone is taking this hormone blocking agent, just do be sure to do the homework and research. I am sure even Northrup would hope for the best regarding the product since it is supposed to stop potential tumors from growing. Having said this I do encourage you do the research regarding the balancing of hormones and how it effects the receptor sites as one hormone plays off another and weakens one if one if too potent...and vice versa. Hope this all makes sense.
I am not a doctor, but I will say that I am very comfortable with what I do and I continue to research this area of women's health. The media screams at us that all hormones are bad and that is not true...we are our hormones. They have to be in balance. There is also concern about the products that mimic hormones and how dangerous they can be....Schwartz's Website has info on this...or now that I think of it...It might have been a newsletter from Northrup. I get both. The concern was not so much about the herbs, etc, that some women take, but about plastics and shampoos that contain products that mimic estrogen that was the culprit.
I will wind this up. Hopefully this helps...I was trying to answer two sets of questions and there was a third question from a poster on the OVCA site that I am steering this way...
Let me know if you have more specific questions. I will let you know if I am baffled by a particular question, but I can at least tell you of my experience.
Take care, Mary
Mary! Thank you SO much for all the hard work you do on this topic! It is so very helpful. I, for one, am lazy and am thankful YOU are not. = )
As you know...going in March 17 for a total hysto. My remaining ovary now has that cyst so it's all coming out. I will treasure your wealth of information here!
I love your picture. I've seen it so many times before, only smaller. You're very pretty and that light behind you makes it look as though you have angelic wings. = ) I'll call you the Angelic Righter of Hormones!
Again, thank you!
Lori
As you know...going in March 17 for a total hysto. My remaining ovary now has that cyst so it's all coming out. I will treasure your wealth of information here!
I love your picture. I've seen it so many times before, only smaller. You're very pretty and that light behind you makes it look as though you have angelic wings. = ) I'll call you the Angelic Righter of Hormones!
Again, thank you!
Lori
Mary,
I will look for some of the books you listed. I am so new and everything I have read and heard is just running together. I just don't want to make a mistake and take the wrong thing or NOT take the right thing.
Thanks, Carol
I will look for some of the books you listed. I am so new and everything I have read and heard is just running together. I just don't want to make a mistake and take the wrong thing or NOT take the right thing.
Thanks, Carol
Hi Mary...
I"m 50..as of yesterday (AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)...I had both overies removed 5 weeks ago...all benign "material" and I was back to my excercise class 5 days later. Then...headaches! and now night "HEAT" (no sweating, I tend to wake up about 30 seconds before one starts and because I live in the wonderful midwest, cooling down at night is no problem). I have to say I feel great 'mood' wise and am surprised at that. I have no idea what to expect from this "surgical menopaus"....Like how long it lasts? What else to expect, etc. SO, I've been serching the internet in the mean time.
I was not told of anything to watch for before my surgury and probably because I was so focused on the "Cancer" word I could have cared less at the time. I was just hoping everything would come back 'cancer-free'. I am in search of a new doctor and can't seem to find my "dream doctor" out there. One that is a female to start with, a MD and integrative practitioner. I am in a Chicago suburb and you'd think there would be one that fits this discription! I will go to all ends to avoid any type of hormones (although after reading Northups book....that is the way to go if worse comes to worse).
So, anyone know how long this surgical menopaus can last? or the drops in hormone levels, how much, how fast, then what? I had started some of the perimenopaus 'fun' before surgery but was not finished. (I am now!)
OH, this "weight gain" that I hear people talk about....HELP! I have never been over weight and FEAR it....what's that about? I already excercise like a nut case and eat really really healthy ...will that still happen? HELPPPPP!
Also....vaginal dryness.. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness I am still "in the mood" for the most part but like I said...OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any info on any of the above comments would be soooo appreciated.
thanks so much! gretchen
I"m 50..as of yesterday (AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)...I had both overies removed 5 weeks ago...all benign "material" and I was back to my excercise class 5 days later. Then...headaches! and now night "HEAT" (no sweating, I tend to wake up about 30 seconds before one starts and because I live in the wonderful midwest, cooling down at night is no problem). I have to say I feel great 'mood' wise and am surprised at that. I have no idea what to expect from this "surgical menopaus"....Like how long it lasts? What else to expect, etc. SO, I've been serching the internet in the mean time.
I was not told of anything to watch for before my surgury and probably because I was so focused on the "Cancer" word I could have cared less at the time. I was just hoping everything would come back 'cancer-free'. I am in search of a new doctor and can't seem to find my "dream doctor" out there. One that is a female to start with, a MD and integrative practitioner. I am in a Chicago suburb and you'd think there would be one that fits this discription! I will go to all ends to avoid any type of hormones (although after reading Northups book....that is the way to go if worse comes to worse).
So, anyone know how long this surgical menopaus can last? or the drops in hormone levels, how much, how fast, then what? I had started some of the perimenopaus 'fun' before surgery but was not finished. (I am now!)
OH, this "weight gain" that I hear people talk about....HELP! I have never been over weight and FEAR it....what's that about? I already excercise like a nut case and eat really really healthy ...will that still happen? HELPPPPP!
Also....vaginal dryness.. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness I am still "in the mood" for the most part but like I said...OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any info on any of the above comments would be soooo appreciated.
thanks so much! gretchen
Gretchen,
Happy Birthday, by the way! I remember my 50th birthday. And, luckily for me, 50 was better than 49 ever was.
I posted this information after cutting and pasting from a message I just sent someone else. So, if you want to ask more specific questions, please do so. Sometimes my brain gets confused (there ...I admitted it:) when I see a cluster of questions but know that I will be happy to sort through them for you. Also know that I may send info as I think of more comments or after reading your question again. I have almost 1,000 posts (talk about overwhelming!) but I suggest you try to sift through some of the posts on hormonal issues. There will be repetition but that is not always a bad thing. I have been researching this stuff for 8 years and I still need to check on info now and then and I try to stay updated, too...but sometimes we teach each other, you know?
One thing you could try is this...google (without the quote marks of course) "bioidentical hormone expert state to state"...and see if something pops up. That is how I found my gal who works just four miles from my house. She is the best. I check in with her every three months for blood draws and to make sure my hormones are balanced...and this is key. I would never use estrogen alone...I did that for 8 months and although I did not have night sweats and hot flashes, I did have incredible foggy thinking and irritability and confusion, big time.
How long does this last? well...that is a good question ...in a sense it lasts forever. And, this is something I would need to research to give a most correct manner...because I come from a school of thought that I do not want to be without these hormones. I would use a small amount of estrogen (bio only...like Vivelle or something from a compounder) to keep me from excess weight gain so that my body, which craves estrogen because I am female, will not start to make and store more fat than that which is there already, and to keep the receptor sites on the cells open for the Progesterone which others will tell you I think is probably a substance that could resolve world peace issues :))) Otherwise, all of these little receptors will dry up...and, when I am not on a strong enough dose of, for instance, the progesterone, my cholesterol sky rockets (and it was always very low), and my legs cramp...along with the confusion from which I suffer. Maybe I suffered more than others but I suffered and I was not going to take this lightly...so I researched and came up with some answers that work for me. I hope this helps....here is the other information.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I want to encourage you to put some of that energy into researching the whole hysterectomy/hormone issue. It is a HUGE job but worth it. To be honest, Surgical menopause is not easy for most, but there is hope. Some women have suffered more than others, and I do have some friends who would do it all over again in a heart beat and others who wished they'd never had it done. Just commit yourself to a healthy life style for starters. And, prepare to train you doctor if he or she is saying they would not encourage you to use hormones unless you need them. I can always tell that the doctor in this type of case did not study women's hormones much while in school and has ignored reports other than media hype since then. And, they are thinking of hormones as drugs not hormones.
The synthetic hormones are drugs (Premarin, Prempro) AND then there are the bioidentical hormones which are made to be treated in your body just as nature intended.
ANYWAY. NOW having said that...you are going to get all sorts of flack. And, all sorts of misinformation. This is where you will need to teach yourself what all the fuss is about so you can confidently ask for what you need.
Pick up "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Northrup (I have it on my profile...along with other books and websites)...I think I listed websites. Dr. Erika is awesome. Love her. Love Northrup. I would not be stringing a sentence together (8 years later after my hyster) without the info I got from these women. I know my passion comes through here and certainly women are smart enough to make their own choices, but I don't get this whole thing about being so afraid of hormones. I would be afraid to NOT go on hormones. They are who we are. WE are our hormones. But, this territory is new. And, women are living longer...and, having fewer children, etc. ((Erika Schwartz has a great chapter in one of her books on how we got into this hormone mess and I would guess she has the bulk of the info on her website. And, so I will advise you strongly....if ONE person says, "Oh, those are bad," well...just nod and smile (that is what I tell the kids I teach) and then go and read read read read for yourself and learn as much as humanly possible.
Make the decision for yourself. If there is a problem with anything regarding your health....always look to hormones first. There are a ton of symptoms that can come from having had a hysterectomy, particularly a radical hyster, but often some of the symptoms will be waived off as a problem NOT related to hormones, You know? When my legs cramp terribly that means I am low in Progesterone. When I am bothered by loud noises,..it means my testosterone is low...when my thinking is fuzzy...it could be estrogen or the others..they all help with that. Soft/smooth muscle issues/bladder issues...Progesterone, Vaginal dryness/atrophy....estrogen which may have to be used just in that area which would not enter into your whole system, but just enough to take care of the dryness....but not adding more estrogen to your whole system. You will be teaching your doctor before long unless you find a doctor who specializes in the bioidentical hormones.
Sincerely,
Mary
Happy Birthday, by the way! I remember my 50th birthday. And, luckily for me, 50 was better than 49 ever was.
I posted this information after cutting and pasting from a message I just sent someone else. So, if you want to ask more specific questions, please do so. Sometimes my brain gets confused (there ...I admitted it:) when I see a cluster of questions but know that I will be happy to sort through them for you. Also know that I may send info as I think of more comments or after reading your question again. I have almost 1,000 posts (talk about overwhelming!) but I suggest you try to sift through some of the posts on hormonal issues. There will be repetition but that is not always a bad thing. I have been researching this stuff for 8 years and I still need to check on info now and then and I try to stay updated, too...but sometimes we teach each other, you know?
One thing you could try is this...google (without the quote marks of course) "bioidentical hormone expert state to state"...and see if something pops up. That is how I found my gal who works just four miles from my house. She is the best. I check in with her every three months for blood draws and to make sure my hormones are balanced...and this is key. I would never use estrogen alone...I did that for 8 months and although I did not have night sweats and hot flashes, I did have incredible foggy thinking and irritability and confusion, big time.
How long does this last? well...that is a good question ...in a sense it lasts forever. And, this is something I would need to research to give a most correct manner...because I come from a school of thought that I do not want to be without these hormones. I would use a small amount of estrogen (bio only...like Vivelle or something from a compounder) to keep me from excess weight gain so that my body, which craves estrogen because I am female, will not start to make and store more fat than that which is there already, and to keep the receptor sites on the cells open for the Progesterone which others will tell you I think is probably a substance that could resolve world peace issues :))) Otherwise, all of these little receptors will dry up...and, when I am not on a strong enough dose of, for instance, the progesterone, my cholesterol sky rockets (and it was always very low), and my legs cramp...along with the confusion from which I suffer. Maybe I suffered more than others but I suffered and I was not going to take this lightly...so I researched and came up with some answers that work for me. I hope this helps....here is the other information.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I want to encourage you to put some of that energy into researching the whole hysterectomy/hormone issue. It is a HUGE job but worth it. To be honest, Surgical menopause is not easy for most, but there is hope. Some women have suffered more than others, and I do have some friends who would do it all over again in a heart beat and others who wished they'd never had it done. Just commit yourself to a healthy life style for starters. And, prepare to train you doctor if he or she is saying they would not encourage you to use hormones unless you need them. I can always tell that the doctor in this type of case did not study women's hormones much while in school and has ignored reports other than media hype since then. And, they are thinking of hormones as drugs not hormones.
The synthetic hormones are drugs (Premarin, Prempro) AND then there are the bioidentical hormones which are made to be treated in your body just as nature intended.
ANYWAY. NOW having said that...you are going to get all sorts of flack. And, all sorts of misinformation. This is where you will need to teach yourself what all the fuss is about so you can confidently ask for what you need.
Pick up "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Northrup (I have it on my profile...along with other books and websites)...I think I listed websites. Dr. Erika is awesome. Love her. Love Northrup. I would not be stringing a sentence together (8 years later after my hyster) without the info I got from these women. I know my passion comes through here and certainly women are smart enough to make their own choices, but I don't get this whole thing about being so afraid of hormones. I would be afraid to NOT go on hormones. They are who we are. WE are our hormones. But, this territory is new. And, women are living longer...and, having fewer children, etc. ((Erika Schwartz has a great chapter in one of her books on how we got into this hormone mess and I would guess she has the bulk of the info on her website. And, so I will advise you strongly....if ONE person says, "Oh, those are bad," well...just nod and smile (that is what I tell the kids I teach) and then go and read read read read for yourself and learn as much as humanly possible.
Make the decision for yourself. If there is a problem with anything regarding your health....always look to hormones first. There are a ton of symptoms that can come from having had a hysterectomy, particularly a radical hyster, but often some of the symptoms will be waived off as a problem NOT related to hormones, You know? When my legs cramp terribly that means I am low in Progesterone. When I am bothered by loud noises,..it means my testosterone is low...when my thinking is fuzzy...it could be estrogen or the others..they all help with that. Soft/smooth muscle issues/bladder issues...Progesterone, Vaginal dryness/atrophy....estrogen which may have to be used just in that area which would not enter into your whole system, but just enough to take care of the dryness....but not adding more estrogen to your whole system. You will be teaching your doctor before long unless you find a doctor who specializes in the bioidentical hormones.
Sincerely,
Mary
Hi Mary,
I came accross this page and was very impressed by all the info you have to offer. I myself have been doing my own research for years but have not come up with anything that helps me. I think alot of it is because there just aren't enough doctors out there who take our hormonal problems seriously. I had a supra-cervical hysterectomy 9 yrs and have been suffering ever since. They only removed the uterus, but the surgery put me right into menopause. (I did some research and found that once the blood supply is cut off to the ovaries, you are destined for menopause, and that is exactly what happened with me). Anyhoo, i have tried all types of hrt and found i cannot do progestins and i have a real hard time swallowing the prometrium altho it did help me to feel pretty good. Ofcourse i was also taking estrogen...but with estrogen alone, i am irritable and like you, the head fog is unbelievable....I am now using estrogel and will be discussing adding progesterone with my doctor at my next visit. I have to use a progesterone because my surgery left me with a uterine cuff and i will build up a lining without the progesterone. My question to you is, how exactly do you use or take your testosterone?...Is a in pill form or cream?...Is it from a compounding pharmacist or from a regualar drug store?....Is it a prescription and what dosage do you take?...I would like to be informed when i see my doctor, so that is why i'm asking. Any detailed answers you could give me would be greatly appreciated....
Thank you so much for all the info you have shared and all the research you have done...it helps to know there are others out there who are or have desperately searched for answers when it comes to hormones. It's nice to know that i am not the only one.
So any info you can give me on testosterone would be so much appreciated.
Mary W.
I came accross this page and was very impressed by all the info you have to offer. I myself have been doing my own research for years but have not come up with anything that helps me. I think alot of it is because there just aren't enough doctors out there who take our hormonal problems seriously. I had a supra-cervical hysterectomy 9 yrs and have been suffering ever since. They only removed the uterus, but the surgery put me right into menopause. (I did some research and found that once the blood supply is cut off to the ovaries, you are destined for menopause, and that is exactly what happened with me). Anyhoo, i have tried all types of hrt and found i cannot do progestins and i have a real hard time swallowing the prometrium altho it did help me to feel pretty good. Ofcourse i was also taking estrogen...but with estrogen alone, i am irritable and like you, the head fog is unbelievable....I am now using estrogel and will be discussing adding progesterone with my doctor at my next visit. I have to use a progesterone because my surgery left me with a uterine cuff and i will build up a lining without the progesterone. My question to you is, how exactly do you use or take your testosterone?...Is a in pill form or cream?...Is it from a compounding pharmacist or from a regualar drug store?....Is it a prescription and what dosage do you take?...I would like to be informed when i see my doctor, so that is why i'm asking. Any detailed answers you could give me would be greatly appreciated....
Thank you so much for all the info you have shared and all the research you have done...it helps to know there are others out there who are or have desperately searched for answers when it comes to hormones. It's nice to know that i am not the only one.
So any info you can give me on testosterone would be so much appreciated.
Mary W.
vphaze,
Thanks for leaving a message.
I will be happy to go into more detail this weekend. I am a bit overwhelmed with work right now...and, lack of sleep...
I use testosterone "off-label" in cream. I used to use it in a Vaseline type delivery system, but the cream absorbs faster.
Let me get the doses to you over the weekend. I use two testosterones, (forgive the bad grammar :)) one on my thigh and the other "Elsewhere." I have used it for eight years.
You will LOVE the Progesterone. I stay away from the oral bioidenticals though...for progesterone. When I added it....it took about two months to get into my system. I will tell you that I recall THE WEEK back in 2001 when my brain fog lifted. It was unbelieveable. Really.
Will get back to you soon.
Would you consider "going blue" by editing a profile. It helps to get to know one another. And, you should be able to keep your screen name. I resisted for a long time, but now I wonder why I did not do it sooner after they initially offered it (Just this past fall), but I have posted here for years.
Take care, Mary
You can check out my old posts, too, by hitting "posts" but I do have about 1,000 posts, so be warned :)
Thanks for leaving a message.
I will be happy to go into more detail this weekend. I am a bit overwhelmed with work right now...and, lack of sleep...
I use testosterone "off-label" in cream. I used to use it in a Vaseline type delivery system, but the cream absorbs faster.
Let me get the doses to you over the weekend. I use two testosterones, (forgive the bad grammar :)) one on my thigh and the other "Elsewhere." I have used it for eight years.
You will LOVE the Progesterone. I stay away from the oral bioidenticals though...for progesterone. When I added it....it took about two months to get into my system. I will tell you that I recall THE WEEK back in 2001 when my brain fog lifted. It was unbelieveable. Really.
Will get back to you soon.
Would you consider "going blue" by editing a profile. It helps to get to know one another. And, you should be able to keep your screen name. I resisted for a long time, but now I wonder why I did not do it sooner after they initially offered it (Just this past fall), but I have posted here for years.
Take care, Mary
You can check out my old posts, too, by hitting "posts" but I do have about 1,000 posts, so be warned :)
One more thing to vphaze...
If you do edit a profile, you will get an Email (if you want) from Medhelp telling you I have posted on my journal, if, in fact, you have written to me on the journal...or if you leave a message, etc.
Mary
If you do edit a profile, you will get an Email (if you want) from Medhelp telling you I have posted on my journal, if, in fact, you have written to me on the journal...or if you leave a message, etc.
Mary
Hi Mary,
Thanks for responding to my questions. I know what it feels like to have the fog lifted, i have used prometrium in the past and it did make me feel better, but my stomach cannot tolerate it and i also had big problems with swallowing those medium sized gumballs. I have also tried the progesterone cream and it gave me a really nice chilled out feeling 15 minutes after applying. I just never stuck with it because i didn't notice a difference with anything else...Now that i see that you say it takes a while to take effect i am going to try it again. I am currently using the estrogel by precripstion. I have always had a high level of testosterone before my sub total hyst and altho it has gone down with mentalpause, (which it what i call it)..it still remains within normals levels...when i was using the prometrium, i noticed that in brought back the libido, so maybe the natural progesterone cream will also do the same..I did want the info from you thought just incase it doesn't....as far as the estrogel goes, i have been on it now for 20 days and still sweating to death at night and still having the internal shakes that i get without hrt. They say it takes a good while tho to work so i am trying to be patient and i'm going to give it some time....and yes, i will fill out my profile and try to figure out my way around this sight....be patient with me, for i do have brain fog going on here...ok, i look forward to hearing more from you on the testosterone and i am so glad i came accross this page...and all the woderful research you have done...
Mary / vphaze
Thanks for responding to my questions. I know what it feels like to have the fog lifted, i have used prometrium in the past and it did make me feel better, but my stomach cannot tolerate it and i also had big problems with swallowing those medium sized gumballs. I have also tried the progesterone cream and it gave me a really nice chilled out feeling 15 minutes after applying. I just never stuck with it because i didn't notice a difference with anything else...Now that i see that you say it takes a while to take effect i am going to try it again. I am currently using the estrogel by precripstion. I have always had a high level of testosterone before my sub total hyst and altho it has gone down with mentalpause, (which it what i call it)..it still remains within normals levels...when i was using the prometrium, i noticed that in brought back the libido, so maybe the natural progesterone cream will also do the same..I did want the info from you thought just incase it doesn't....as far as the estrogel goes, i have been on it now for 20 days and still sweating to death at night and still having the internal shakes that i get without hrt. They say it takes a good while tho to work so i am trying to be patient and i'm going to give it some time....and yes, i will fill out my profile and try to figure out my way around this sight....be patient with me, for i do have brain fog going on here...ok, i look forward to hearing more from you on the testosterone and i am so glad i came accross this page...and all the woderful research you have done...
Mary / vphaze
Hi Mary,
I just sent you a message to your profile. I had forgotten your name was Mary, too, or I would have made it more personal.
I will do the bulk of my writing tomorrow....I have the house to myself for a change and I am actually about to go and take a nap. Sounds heavenly! I am reading a great book, but will probably only get a few pages read before I sleep. It was a long (but good overall) week.
Try to get Northrup's book, in case I have not mentioned that yet. I learned from her a trick about the Prometrium, since my body did not tolerate it well. I opened the capsule and rubbed the cream on my inner arms or inner thighs. I have been on the progesterone cream since 2001 but needed a much higher dose (that need started about two years ago) and since there is only so much cream one wants to put on the body in the dead of a Minnesota Winter, I was giving my cream (I use a whopping 20%, whereas the normal starting dose is 2%) and the Prometrium so we could bump up my blood levels for progesterone.
Progesterone will help very much with Libido. It is thought to help more than Estrogen (based on certain studies).
I have to tell you....MENTALPAUSE....LOVED IT. I laughed out loud!
Sounds like you have a lot going on....so, I was wondering...how about we private message because I am curious the details of what you have tried hormonally...how long you tried it, etc. I also want to encourage you to look more closely into the Progesterone. I have a ton of old posts on that topic. I think once you get that into your system, you will feel so much better. You would be surprised at how it affects so many systems in our body. We even have receptors for progesterone in our lungs and throat (most are in our brain, which is why when I hear that it only protects the uterus, I go crazy) and I have been off allergy shots for six months now after being on them for years. I think once the increased dose of progesterone really got into my system, it helped so much with allergies ...(this theory is from research, but I am living proof)...also, testosterone helps with chemical sensitivities, something else from which I suffer when my testosterone is down.
I will write more later...off to a nap (and the doggies want dinner, too...).
Mary
I just sent you a message to your profile. I had forgotten your name was Mary, too, or I would have made it more personal.
I will do the bulk of my writing tomorrow....I have the house to myself for a change and I am actually about to go and take a nap. Sounds heavenly! I am reading a great book, but will probably only get a few pages read before I sleep. It was a long (but good overall) week.
Try to get Northrup's book, in case I have not mentioned that yet. I learned from her a trick about the Prometrium, since my body did not tolerate it well. I opened the capsule and rubbed the cream on my inner arms or inner thighs. I have been on the progesterone cream since 2001 but needed a much higher dose (that need started about two years ago) and since there is only so much cream one wants to put on the body in the dead of a Minnesota Winter, I was giving my cream (I use a whopping 20%, whereas the normal starting dose is 2%) and the Prometrium so we could bump up my blood levels for progesterone.
Progesterone will help very much with Libido. It is thought to help more than Estrogen (based on certain studies).
I have to tell you....MENTALPAUSE....LOVED IT. I laughed out loud!
Sounds like you have a lot going on....so, I was wondering...how about we private message because I am curious the details of what you have tried hormonally...how long you tried it, etc. I also want to encourage you to look more closely into the Progesterone. I have a ton of old posts on that topic. I think once you get that into your system, you will feel so much better. You would be surprised at how it affects so many systems in our body. We even have receptors for progesterone in our lungs and throat (most are in our brain, which is why when I hear that it only protects the uterus, I go crazy) and I have been off allergy shots for six months now after being on them for years. I think once the increased dose of progesterone really got into my system, it helped so much with allergies ...(this theory is from research, but I am living proof)...also, testosterone helps with chemical sensitivities, something else from which I suffer when my testosterone is down.
I will write more later...off to a nap (and the doggies want dinner, too...).
Mary
Hi Mary,
Wow - I'm glad I read these again! I'm not crazy.... just low on testosterone. I wondered why I just now started having the sensitivity to loud noises, must have taken a while to deplete. Thank you, thank you!! Thought I was going crazy!
Teresa
Wow - I'm glad I read these again! I'm not crazy.... just low on testosterone. I wondered why I just now started having the sensitivity to loud noises, must have taken a while to deplete. Thank you, thank you!! Thought I was going crazy!
Teresa
Just saw this older post. I just went on bioidentical cream. Mine has biest, progesterone and testosterone. It's been 8 days now. I was on vivelle patch and had just added an OTC progesterone cream. I was having daily anxiety and every so often panic attacks for no reason at all.
I found a dr. who felt it was because my hormones were out of balance. He wanted to pull me off the vivelle patch and the OTC progesterone and get me on the compound bio cream. My anxiety was getting much better but now it's coming back :( Is my body just trying to adjust to the new compound cream? How long could it take?
When my anxiety gets too high I'm forced to take valium.
I found a dr. who felt it was because my hormones were out of balance. He wanted to pull me off the vivelle patch and the OTC progesterone and get me on the compound bio cream. My anxiety was getting much better but now it's coming back :( Is my body just trying to adjust to the new compound cream? How long could it take?
When my anxiety gets too high I'm forced to take valium.
Hi,
Do you mind telling me about the doses you were using. I use the Vivelle patch at 0.75 mg. There are other doses, however. I was wondering what the ratio is for the Biest? Is it 20% Estrodial and 80% Estriol? As far as the Progesterone, did the doctor compound this with the Biest or do you use it separately? What is the dose on that. Over the counter is always 2%. Most often, if it is from a compounder, it is usually a bit higher but can go to 20%. Is the testosterone mixed in with all of this, too? Or is that a separate cream.
When you say that the anxiety was getting better but now is coming back, what is the time frame for this? I mean, was it getting better shortly after you started with the compounding items?
Most importantly, do you still have ovaries? I am going to assume you don't, but I thought I would ask.
It does take time for the progesterone to get into your system thoroughly. Also, changing the hormones surely could shake up your system and it might just be that it will take time.
If you want to answer me on a private message, that would be fine... do whatever is most comfortable.
You know I am not a doctor, but I have studied this stuff since 2001. Although recently some of my thinking was shaken when a Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, a Hormone doctor/writer/website suggested that women without ovaries do not need progesterone. However, I am not convinced this is true. In my case, I think my dose was too high, but I do know that anxiety will creep back on me when I am too low in this hormone. Gosh, it does get confusing, doesn't it?
Write back and let me know and we'll see if we can come up with some thoughts on the matter.
Mary
Do you mind telling me about the doses you were using. I use the Vivelle patch at 0.75 mg. There are other doses, however. I was wondering what the ratio is for the Biest? Is it 20% Estrodial and 80% Estriol? As far as the Progesterone, did the doctor compound this with the Biest or do you use it separately? What is the dose on that. Over the counter is always 2%. Most often, if it is from a compounder, it is usually a bit higher but can go to 20%. Is the testosterone mixed in with all of this, too? Or is that a separate cream.
When you say that the anxiety was getting better but now is coming back, what is the time frame for this? I mean, was it getting better shortly after you started with the compounding items?
Most importantly, do you still have ovaries? I am going to assume you don't, but I thought I would ask.
It does take time for the progesterone to get into your system thoroughly. Also, changing the hormones surely could shake up your system and it might just be that it will take time.
If you want to answer me on a private message, that would be fine... do whatever is most comfortable.
You know I am not a doctor, but I have studied this stuff since 2001. Although recently some of my thinking was shaken when a Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, a Hormone doctor/writer/website suggested that women without ovaries do not need progesterone. However, I am not convinced this is true. In my case, I think my dose was too high, but I do know that anxiety will creep back on me when I am too low in this hormone. Gosh, it does get confusing, doesn't it?
Write back and let me know and we'll see if we can come up with some thoughts on the matter.
Mary
Hi Mary:
I was on vivelle patch .05mg and a progesterone cream that was 500mg per ounce and I was using 1 tsp a day. right now my compound is all in one - 4mg. biest, 125mg. progesterone and 2mg. testosterone. My anxiety was better and then when I made the switch, the anxiety started to rise about 4-5 days into stopping the old and starting the new compound. I don't have any ovaries.
I'm just hoping my body is trying to adjust to these new hormones. I feel a little shakey too, tired and weak. Just blah.
Thanks,
Cindi
I was on vivelle patch .05mg and a progesterone cream that was 500mg per ounce and I was using 1 tsp a day. right now my compound is all in one - 4mg. biest, 125mg. progesterone and 2mg. testosterone. My anxiety was better and then when I made the switch, the anxiety started to rise about 4-5 days into stopping the old and starting the new compound. I don't have any ovaries.
I'm just hoping my body is trying to adjust to these new hormones. I feel a little shakey too, tired and weak. Just blah.
Thanks,
Cindi
And I'm not sure what the ratio is on the biest...
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