Concerns about different hormones

[shoprmom]

Hi!  I had a total hystarectomy 4 months ago due to yrs of pain and other issues.  I'm 45 yrs old.  My doc immediately started me on progesterone to help kill off any residual traces of endometriosis that was present.  I was supposed to stay on this for 6 months before switching to estrogen.  At first, I turned into an ogre!  My family was walking on eggshells around me because no one wanted to set me off again.  As my body adjusted, I started becoming aware of the most wonderful things.  I was losing weight, my body shape was changing for the better, and I stopped eating sweets!  Don't want them.  They don't taste good to me anymore.  I was a diehard sweet addict before my surgery!  I had energy and felt like I had control of my life.

Because my vaginal incision would not heal, he stopped the progesterone and started me on vivelle-dot .1 mg (almost nothing).  At first I just cried all the time about everything but it's getting better.  It's been 3 weeks on estrogen.  I'm trying to decide if I want to stay on this.  I'm having major brain fog, forgetfulness, lethargic, and my face is breaking out.  I have not had the 1st hot flash or any other typical symptom.  Honestly, I'm missing my progesterone!

I'm wondering if my symptoms are caused by the estrogen.  Doc said I could stop it and see of the menopause symptoms got bad and then go back on it, but I'm afraid to make any more changes.  Just not sure about what I need to do.  I cannot tolerate this lack of energy and constant brain fog anymore.  Any suggestions?

Lisa D

[shoprmom]

I removed the patch this morning to take some time and see what happens without anything.  I will definitely check with my doc before doing anything beyond this, but just need to find out if the brain fog goes away.  If it doesn't, I'm at square 1.  I was taking progesterone every day, and once the initial upheaval was over, I felt great.  Loved that it helped to burn body fat!  Thanks for your advice and encouragement.  Day 1 has begun and I'm taking notes!

[AnnieBrooke]

My mom on HRT is on estrogen most of the month, and progesterone for ten days, but the progesterone is to bring on a period since she still has a uterus.  (She is not on estrogen the first three days of her period.)  It doesn't seem like it would harm you to be on progesterone for at least part of the month, it might feel normal to your body to have it even though you don't need it for cleaning out the uterus.  You could check with your doc.

[shoprmom]

I was on progesterone only for 4 months and 3 weeks ago I was switched to estrogen only.  He felt the progesterone was hindering the healing of my incision, which was healed in 2 weeks of estrogen.  I just thought it was an either or situation but not to take both.  I don't know if there is a reason he wants me on estrogen only, but I preferred the side effects of the progesterone!  My hubby called it the "man pill".  LOL  He is ok with me not taking estrogen to see how things go, but never mentioned progesterone as an option at this point.

[AnnieBrooke]

It's perfectly OK to stop estrogen for a short time to see what your body makes of it.  You will know right away how it affects you, it's not like you have to wait months and months to see if you get a hot flash.  Give it a try and ask about the progesterone again too.  How long do you have to wait to get back on it?  I would try a period of time taking nothing, then a period of time taking just estrogen, and then a period of time with progesterone not estrogen.  I think that standard HRT mimics the body's usual estrogen and progesterone (something like a small estrogen dose most of the month and a progesterone dose for 12 days) but every doc will have a different take.