bio-identical hormones-my experience
Sabine_Stroehm
Posts: 19,263 Member
If you know me, you know I've been using bio-identical hormones. The bio-identical progesterone since 2010 and bio-identical estriol (both compounded prescription creams) since August 2013.
Here's the caveat: I've been using only a small amount, much less than the prescription calls for. AND only once a day for both AND both in the morning (that due to my foggy brain and the fear that I'd forget it at night. ha).
All this with the naturopath's blessing.
Hot flashes have been almost nonexistent since August. And night sweats and heart palpitations *were* greatly improved til last month.
Well. I've decided it's time. I moved the progesterone to evening and have been slowly increasing the dose to closer to the prescribed amount, and I'm slowly upping the estriol by doing it twice a day as prescribed.
It's been about a week now. The best week of sleep I've had in ages. No night sweats. No heart palpitations. The 1am wake up is only a few minutes long instead of a few hours. FABULOUS sleep.
I'm going to ease off the sleep aids (benadryl) which I'd gotten to the point of taking automatically at night the last few months. And see where things go. (I've tried various natural sleep aids, but was not able to get a full night's sleep, or anything close to it.)
Progesterone is supposed to have a natural calming effect, so I shouldn't be surprised. But I still am. My word I'm sleeping well. It's fun again!
Now, progesterone also tends to cause weight gain and bloating for me, so I need to go back to weight "loss" mode, which for me means restricting starches more and in general being more careful, to counter act that (I doubt I'll lose any more, but hopefully I won't gain.)
Wish me luck!
Here's the caveat: I've been using only a small amount, much less than the prescription calls for. AND only once a day for both AND both in the morning (that due to my foggy brain and the fear that I'd forget it at night. ha).
All this with the naturopath's blessing.
Hot flashes have been almost nonexistent since August. And night sweats and heart palpitations *were* greatly improved til last month.
Well. I've decided it's time. I moved the progesterone to evening and have been slowly increasing the dose to closer to the prescribed amount, and I'm slowly upping the estriol by doing it twice a day as prescribed.
It's been about a week now. The best week of sleep I've had in ages. No night sweats. No heart palpitations. The 1am wake up is only a few minutes long instead of a few hours. FABULOUS sleep.
I'm going to ease off the sleep aids (benadryl) which I'd gotten to the point of taking automatically at night the last few months. And see where things go. (I've tried various natural sleep aids, but was not able to get a full night's sleep, or anything close to it.)
Progesterone is supposed to have a natural calming effect, so I shouldn't be surprised. But I still am. My word I'm sleeping well. It's fun again!
Now, progesterone also tends to cause weight gain and bloating for me, so I need to go back to weight "loss" mode, which for me means restricting starches more and in general being more careful, to counter act that (I doubt I'll lose any more, but hopefully I won't gain.)
Wish me luck!
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Replies
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Good luck Sabine! Keep us posted on how it goes. I haven't tried any of that yet....
Things are still manageable for me. The sleep's getting a little rocky though. Just never really feel rested and I toss and turn most nights. That gets a bit irritating. Hot flashes have been kinda quiet lately. I'm sure that'll change.
It's all just so much fun. :noway:
Lisa0 -
So much fun. I held my own until the insomnia got to be too much. The late night teeth bashing, heart palpitating hour long sweats. Then I decided to have things tested and add in some bio-identicals. Much improved, but not 100%. The best un-expected improvement was that I no longer had breast pain 2 weeks out of the month!
I figure it's all okay. I had absurdly easy, VERY predictable periods all my life til the last few years.0 -
I just ordered some progesterone cream - you say it makes you gain weight? I was hoping it would help me to lose the weight - since the biggest place I've gained and can't seem to start losing is right in the middle. Am I wrong in thinking this will help this?0
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They say it helps you lose weight. For me it ramped up my cravings (like the week before your period). And I gained some water weight. The estriol helped me lose a few precious pounds though!I just ordered some progesterone cream - you say it makes you gain weight? I was hoping it would help me to lose the weight - since the biggest place I've gained and can't seem to start losing is right in the middle. Am I wrong in thinking this will help this?0 -
Ok thanks! I'm not sure what estriol is. I don't wxnt to do anything not natural.0
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Estriol is one of the three estrogens the body makes. It's the weakest, and considered the safest.Ok thanks! I'm not sure what estriol is. I don't wxnt to do anything not natural.0 -
I just started using the progesterone cream, as well. I hate to think it causes weight gain, because the whole push for it was as not only a help for hot flashes, insomnia etc., but also weight loss.0
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That was my experience, but again,only like 5Lbs. And increased appetite. It felt a bit like PMS. When I added the estriol it evened out.I just started using the progesterone cream, as well. I hate to think it causes weight gain, because the whole push for it was as not only a help for hot flashes, insomnia etc., but also weight loss.
With only the progesterone many symptoms improved, but others (boobs and bloating) got worse. I didn't STOP the progesterone. Because I knew it was helping. I did add the estriol (also offered over the counter, but a tad harder to find). The two do seem to work well together.0 -
When I first started the estriol I bought this:
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Radiance-Estrogen-Bioidentical-Measured/dp/B0016NPTV0/ref=sr_1_17?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1398778625&sr=1-17&keywords=estriol+cream
When I decided I liked how I felt, I went to my doc and got a compounded prescription for both. (I was already on compounded progesterone.)0 -
Well, it's been 9 days, and while my sleep is improved, I'm a bit bloated and woke up to a migraine. Going to edge the creams back down a bit and try to find my "sweet spot".0
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I'm loing Ann Louise's blog and have been really reading her advice on supplements. I just started the ProgestraKey on Sunday and am going to follow it for perimenopausal - doing it once a day in the morning. I really would love to do the Salvatory Hormone Test Kit in the near future - its 115.00 which I guess isn't that expensive and she will read it for you and give you recommendations. I also bought the Fat Flush weight loss formula which she recommend and you take it 3 takes a day with a meal. I developed some bad allergies over the weekend which resulted in chese congestion and fever so I haven't been taking the weight loss formula yet. But I'm really excited to see if they help.0
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I haven't don the saliva testing, but have done blood testing twice. They were kinda all over the board, which my doc says is normal. Yeah. I should read her blog. And yes, gonna tick things back just a tiny bit to see how I feel. This is what I like about creams versus pills. Harder to tweak a pill.I'm loing Ann Louise's blog and have been really reading her advice on supplements. I just started the ProgestraKey on Sunday and am going to follow it for perimenopausal - doing it once a day in the morning. I really would love to do the Salvatory Hormone Test Kit in the near future - its 115.00 which I guess isn't that expensive and she will read it for you and give you recommendations. I also bought the Fat Flush weight loss formula which she recommend and you take it 3 takes a day with a meal. I developed some bad allergies over the weekend which resulted in chese congestion and fever so I haven't been taking the weight loss formula yet. But I'm really excited to see if they help.
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I need to follow this. Are you takig progesterone all month? Or only second 'half' of cycle.
Gosh this reminds me of way too many years of infertility treatment. I'm not far enough in to have to do anything, but now I'm wondering about Constantly feeling tired for the last 6 months or so. It doesn't help I stay up working a 2nd job at night so I really don't get enough sleep.
Biggest symptoms so far are occassional night sweats and unpredictable cycles, but a few days.
Thanks for the info0 -
Started HRT 2 weeks ago - hot flashes and sleeplessness left but breast tenderness and period returned with a vengeance. Prior to menopause I had Mirena so haven't had a period in about 6-7 years. Feel bloated. Mood improved, mind fog improved somewhat. Called the doc they said to keep going and see how body adjusts, or I could go off. Wondered if there are other dosing choices? The bio identicals - maybe a good option?0
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At my doctor's suggestion, I'm doing both all month. She said I could "cycle" the progesterone, but should do the estrogen, at least, at a steady state. I tried cycling the progesterone, but found that some symptoms returned.I need to follow this. Are you takig progesterone all month? Or only second 'half' of cycle.
Gosh this reminds me of way too many years of infertility treatment. I'm not far enough in to have to do anything, but now I'm wondering about Constantly feeling tired for the last 6 months or so. It doesn't help I stay up working a 2nd job at night so I really don't get enough sleep.
Biggest symptoms so far are occassional night sweats and unpredictable cycles, but a few days.
Thanks for the info
I did increase the dose, but have since brought it back down and am happy here for a while.
Moving the progesterone to evening was a GOOD thing. I'm sleeping better for now.0 -
If you can find a doc who will do it. One downside: insurance (in the U.S. anyway) doesn't pay for it.Started HRT 2 weeks ago - hot flashes and sleeplessness left but breast tenderness and period returned with a vengeance. Prior to menopause I had Mirena so haven't had a period in about 6-7 years. Feel bloated. Mood improved, mind fog improved somewhat. Called the doc they said to keep going and see how body adjusts, or I could go off. Wondered if there are other dosing choices? The bio identicals - maybe a good option?0 -
I just ordered the complete saliva kit.
I'm currently doing bio progesterone cream twice a day, but I stop for a week when I start my period. I might have to change that as the night sweats when I'm off it is horrible!!!!!!
I did have my hormone levels checked a couple of years ago and my estrogen was way high and my progesterone was basically non existent. But now my insurance won't cover testing, so that's why I ordered the saliva test (cheaper).
Anita0 -
Insurance is so frustrating.I just ordered the complete saliva kit.
I'm currently doing bio progesterone cream twice a day, but I stop for a week when I start my period. I might have to change that as the night sweats when I'm off it is horrible!!!!!!
I did have my hormone levels checked a couple of years ago and my estrogen was way high and my progesterone was basically non existent. But now my insurance won't cover testing, so that's why I ordered the saliva test (cheaper).
Anita0 -
Anita - I will be so interested to know what you thought of the test kit and what your numbers are. I have toyed with the idea of ordering it too. I did get the cream and have been using it once a day and then I stopped when I started my period and will resume it 7 days after my start day. This was cheap enough for me to start with and I assume from the research I have done that I am estrogen dominate so it couldn't hurt to start with this. So please keep us updated.0
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Anita - I will be so interested to know what you thought of the test kit and what your numbers are. I have toyed with the idea of ordering it too. I did get the cream and have been using it once a day and then I stopped when I started my period and will resume it 7 days after my start day. This was cheap enough for me to start with and I assume from the research I have done that I am estrogen dominate so it couldn't hurt to start with this. So please keep us updated.
jchrisman717- I should get the test today, so as soon as I get the results I will post them.
Anita0 -
I just got the results today of the saliva test.
I don't mind posting the results, but I'm not sureof the best way to do it. Do y'all think photobucket would be the best way to do that????
Anita0 -
Good question. I think if it was me, I'd get rid of all my identifying info and then put it on tinypic.com
But this isn't something I know a ton about.0 -
Good question. I think if it was me, I'd get rid of all my identifying info and then put it on tinypic.com
But this isn't something I know a ton about.
Yeah I was just going to black out my personal info and then post it. I have to wait until I get home to scan anything because my boss has the scanner/printer tied up.0
