Menopause/Hormonal Support

[[Sm...]]

Thank you Smiff,

 

The pill was "Qlair" it's israeli pill,"the best on the market and the closest to natural" as my OBgyn said.

here is what it has:

28 pills:

2 dark yellow tablets each containing 3 mg estradiol valerate

5 medium red tablets each containing 2 mg estradiol valerate and 2 mg dienogest

17 light yellow tablets each containing 2 mg estradiol valerate and 3 mg dienogest

2 dark red tablets each containing 1 mg estradiol valerate

 

Dienogest is semi-syntetic progesterone,i guess it caused all the mess especially when i got to 3mg,i felt so bad..

 

Wow i am in agony i took a beta blocker to lower my BP and it didnt work,Benadryl didnt work to help me sleep either....Its 3:40 am here

Seeking med help would lead to nothing but being put on benzos,endocrinologist would only deal with me if i had some hormonal disbalance which is seen in bloodwork and my bloodwork is normal.So i am stuck to deal with it alone...dont know if i can..Vit C does help to calm down a bit,so i am eating it and calming herbs/homeopathic remedies...Vits B makes it worse...

 

How many days ago did you stop the pill? Hmm it is quite a high estrogen pill too.

I dunno Julianas. This is beyond what my expertise except to say I've seen it before and hormones pass quicker than benzo w/d.

You got your hormone bloods tested then?

A high risk but possible strategy is using separate estrogen and prog patches and trying to cut them, double them - whatever it takes to feel better (and stabilise those hormones). As patches they are easy to change - I've cut estrogen patches into 8ths but it has still given me relief-, drop, taper etc.

When I stopped taking estrogen when I most needed it it felt a lot like w/d.

[[Ju...]]

I stopped these pills more then 5 weeks ago! But the problem is that i messed up my cycle by stopping in the middle.Got sick with "pericarditis" after i stopped,healed from it when i got my period  And yes i know that no doc will help me so complicated it is now.I am afraid to take a risk with estrogen  I didnt do hormones test this cycle but i did it few months ago and it was fine.My only hope is to get through this hell until i ovulate and my natural progesterone rise,few more days left.But it is just a guess....

[[Sm...]]

I stopped these pills more then 5 weeks ago! But the problem is that i messed up my cycle by stopping in the middle.Got sick with "pericarditis" after i stopped,healed from it when i got my period  And yes i know that no doc will help me so complicated it is now.I am afraid to take a risk with estrogen  I didnt do hormones test this cycle but i did it few months ago and it was fine.My only hope is to get through this hell until i ovulate and my natural progesterone rise,few more days left.But it is just a guess....

 

Yea try to stick it out till then and tell us how it goes. Hormones do move on rise and fall

I feel best when ovulating because every thing is at a high. Fingers crossed that will be the way for you

[Guest [Mo...]]

Hey Smiff, how are you feeling? Is the nose okay?

So, the period started and so far I don't feel any different than the week before.

Maybe stuff is settling down, finally.

I did get a script for bloodwork. Estrogen, progesterone etc.

So, we will find out soon.

I hear its best to test 10 days after cycle. Would you know?

 

I've been dreading this period like the plague . I guess it was just a perfect storm last time, with the period starting and the cross over. Boy, I sure went nuts. NUTS!

Keeping my fingers crossed.

[[Sm...]]

Hey Smiff, how are you feeling? Is the nose okay?

So, the period started and so far I don't feel any different than the week before.

Maybe stuff is settling down, finally.

I did get a script for bloodwork. Estrogen, progesterone etc.

So, we will find out soon.

I hear its best to test 10 days after cycle. Would you know?

 

I've been dreading this period like the plague . I guess it was just a perfect storm last time, with the period starting and the cross over. Boy, I sure went nuts. NUTS!

Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Hey Momamia

Nose is ok

I've been a little worse off since the surgery. I suppose that is to be expected with the extra cortisol and general body freak outness.

I wouldn't know when the best time to test is. I feel fine post period so I would probably ask to test when I actually feel crappy: pre period and during

kinda like now: my sleep often falls apart and anxiety ramps up before my period.

Hopefully I wont feel too bad during period.

We'll both keep our fingers and toes crossed

xxxxx

[[...]]

I have an update on my situation of progesterone toxicity.

 

quick background:  was on a continuous regimen of 100mg micronized bioidentical progesterone daily along with 1mg divigel estradiol.  The continuous regimen is what my doctor prefers to prevent uterus lining from growing and to eliminate the need for a bleed.  I started noticing negative symptoms just last month and with the help of Diaz-Pam, started to believe the progesterone was building up in my tissues.  Stopped taking it on the 14th of March.  Sleep improved in about a week, not having any further problem with canker sores in my mouth and just today I noticed my extremely dry flyaway hair is not dry or full of static anymore.  It is back to its normal texture.

 

I have done nothing different so I cannot imagine that these improvements have to do with anything else.  I will probably never go on a continuous regimen again based on this experience and will stick to a monthly or maybe even a bi-monthly bleed regimen instead.

 

Those of you who may be struggling with side effects that are related to progesterone whether you are using prescribed bioidentical capsules or compounded creams, I believe this is a place to start.  Maybe get tested and if your P levels are out of the "normal" range, this may be your culprit.  Too much progesterone will also crash your estrogen if it is low for any reason.  Low or crashed estrogen will cause all kinds of unpleasant side effects like insomnia and anxiety.

 

We women have a lot to deal with, yes?

[[Sm...]]

Great lizzy 

 

Yes we women have a lot of complexity (in more ways than one) that men don't often get.

 

Hormones and benzos is one which is why I encouraged DP to start this thread.

 

I'll be seeing a GP who specialises in bio identicals next week. I don't know if she will be able to help me. I suspect my levels are so subtle and close to right there is no clear problem. I also don't know If I want to try much. But I did want to see her because getting in to see her first off takes many months. At least once I'm a patient I'll be able to see her if I feel I need.

 

Period is coming too so I'll have something to talk about

[[Di...]]

Great to hear your update Liz. Despite all the reading about hormones that I've done, this progesterone crap is just way too confusing for me. All I know is that my body will only tolerate the minimum necessary. Maybe things will be different when I've finished my taper, but maybe not too.

 

Like you I tried the continuous method, and it was an epic fail. It's now almost 4 weeks since I stopped it totally and I've only just started sleeping normally this week. I can only plead with women, who are using progesterone therapy without medical supervision, is to really look at what you are using and get some proper medical advice (and not from anyone who is not a fully qualified doctor). Progesterone is something you should not be playing around with if you don't fully understand the ramifications.

[[Sm...]]

I'll get my period soon..

 

Do you know how I know?

Cause I'm tired and I can sleep and I'm less agitated. Yus progesterone has dropped off from its highs and it is a relief every time. I don't understand how prog is supposed to be relaxing. I don't think I get prog in general.

[[ov...]]

I am finding this all confusing....the progesterone.  I was due to go in for bloodwork yesterday, and like a dummy I forgot to take my bio-identicals for 4 days.  had to postpone bloodwork as that would certainly mess it up.  I have never done this before, but forgot to put them in my pill box for the week.  Sheesh.  Dr is hard to get into, so my scheduled appt got changed from 4/22 to 6/15.  Sheesh.  Hope all is OK. Never equated s/xs with the hormones too.  Women need a break.

xo OC  :smitten:

[[Di...]]

Oh Lordy, I thought my doctor was bad, but I can usually get an appointment in about 3 weeks time. That's almost 2 months.

 

I hear ya gf about the prog. Most confusing hormone ever created. What was god thinking. He definitely can't be a women...

[[Di...]]

I'll get my period soon..

 

Do you know how I know?

Cause I'm tired and I can sleep and I'm less agitated. Yus progesterone has dropped off from its highs and it is a relief every time. I don't understand how prog is supposed to be relaxing. I don't think I get prog in general.

 

It seems to be relaxing for me for a short period of time, but then wow - watch out!!

[[Sm...]]

so period came just as I knew. It is so weird that I get more anxious and have trouble sleeping that week before my period when my prog is high. And then when it drops off I feel sleepy again.

I'm seeing a GP who specialises in bio identicals so I'll have a chat to her. I'll see if I get anything interesting out of her to report back. I'm not sure I want to treat anything right now. Everything has settled down a lot since I stopped exercising but I don't know if that is a good solution for the longer term. When I was exercising I'd feel anxious during periods too until the estrogen started to climb again.

[[Sm...]]

Just found this thread via someone who has had issues with b/c pill and someone else who is having progesterone w/d

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=41461.msg571313#msg571313

 

I asked them to come over here to help us nut out what the hell is going on... lol

[[Ra...]]

From everything I've read, the optimum time to test hormones is 19 to 22 days after the 1st day of your last period.  Since I haven't really bled since December, they say I can test any time.  This last week was my week of progest.  So I'll back on it and then test in a couple of weeks. 

 

This progesterone is a moving target.  My naturopath says that the body uses cholesterol to make progesterone.  She also said that if you are super stressed that your body can take progesterone and convert it to cortisol!  It is so darned complicated, I've almost given up trying to understand it.  My estrodial patch has the hot flashes at bay, but my sleep is still broken.  Don't know if that is the estrodial (not quite enough), w/d from Xanax or what?  The Seroquel makes sure I usually get at least 5 hours of sleep.  I sure wish I didn't have to take that, but I was desperate for sleep and it did stabilize me.  I'm only on 75mg of Seroquel and from what I understand, at that level, it's pretty much only hitting your histamine receptors.  Anyway, I'm off topic now.  Guess just trying to justify the Seroquel.  I know most everyone here is not approving of adding more meds.  I'll stop now 

 

Hugs to all,

 

Rabbit

 

[[Wo...]]

so period came just as I knew. It is so weird that I get more anxious and have trouble sleeping that week before my period when my prog is high. And then when it drops off I feel sleepy again.

I'm seeing a GP who specialises in bio identicals so I'll have a chat to her. I'll see if I get anything interesting out of her to report back. I'm not sure I want to treat anything right now. Everything has settled down a lot since I stopped exercising but I don't know if that is a good solution for the longer term. When I was exercising I'd feel anxious during periods too until the estrogen started to climb again.

 

Smiff I have that same pattern with my period. I'm sorry you've had to stop exercising, I know that you really enjoyed yoga.

 

I'm waking up with headaches almost every day. They feel somewhat hormonal, but also like they may be coming from my neck. I've had 2 chiro adjustments in the past week but still having them in the mornings...

 

What do you guys make of this - My ob/gyn tells me that I should take a birth control pill to regulate my cycles. The first one I tried didn't help at all. She say that after about 3 months the hormones in the pill will "turn off" my bodies own hormone production, thus evening things out. She says that this is "what all the female ob's do in their 40's and then they go straight to HRT at 50 and take that until they are 55 or so."

 

Sounds kind of simplistic - no?

 

 

[[Di...]]

I don't know too much about BC pills. I used to take it years ago, and I never had any problems, but I do know they have progestins in them though.

 

Yes it does sound a bit simplistic. It might just be a case of trial and error to find the right BC for you.

[Guest [in...]]

I don't know too much about BC pills. I used to take it years ago, and I never had any problems, but I do know they have progestins in them though.

 

Yes it does sound a bit simplistic. It might just be a case of trial and error to find the right BC for you.

 

What are ur thoughts on using a low dose estrogen patch?

[[Di...]]

Oh I'm a big fan of estrogen if you need it The only thing you have to watch out for is if you need to take any progesterone to oppose it, but your doctor would be the best person to decide that. If it's a very low dose you might not need it.

[Guest [in...]]

I think that's what I'd feel most comfortable with, if I have to do anything, just the lowest dose estrogen patch. Yes, I guess the dr would decide on progesterone. Im more leery of that one.

[[Sm...]]

That is interesting you have the same issue as me workin. Why is it that we are anxious as our prog is higher? Some months I then get anxious again a few days into the perioid when all my hormones are low.

 

This month a few days into my period the anxiety was ramping up again so I tried my 8th of 25mg estrogen patch and already I feel better. I've used the tiny cut piece of an estrogen patch for a few periods. Then I don't use them once my own estrogen is higher. Then there are usually months in there that I can not bother because my baseline estrogen must be ok. It is that kind of adaptability that i like with something like a proper pharmaceutical bio identical patch or cream.

 

I've seen a few people lately having trouble with BC pills.

I'm leery of them partly because they are so unadaptable and they are bigger doses of hormones so it is harder to come back from problems.

 

Hope that helps

 

[Guest [Ti...]]

I tried bc pills before I went to rehab a few weeks ago and they made me so so so sick. My Dr. has me on progesterone cream for a few days now because my cycle is about to come up. I read that it can cause significant weight gain?! Is that true?!!!!!!

[[Sm...]]

Is it helping Time?

 

All female hormones cause weight gain pretty much when they are at a high. Yup you do get heavier when you are pregnant etc. You are only using it for some of your cycle. It may not or it may.

[Guest [Ti...]]

Is it helping Time?

 

All female hormones cause weight gain pretty much when they are at a high. Yup you do get heavier when you are pregnant etc. You are only using it for some of your cycle. It may not or it may.

 

I have no idea if it's helping. The Dr. wants me to take it everyday not just during my cycle.... I didn't even have my hormones tested either just told them that when I get my period it's like a c/t and they were like yep you need progesterone and sent me a cream.

[[Sm...]]

eh

 

Prog cream is beyond my expertise/understanding

 

I would personally though try to use it only at certain periods of the cycle when you feel you need it IF it is helping.

No point dosing yourself up with more hormones than you need.

Hormones are as finickity as benzos. One minute everything is on an even keel. Then everything is crazy town.

Keep its use to a minimum is what I'd suggest