Hi Ladies,

I'm getting worried because I just lost 40 lbs. and I've only been on 1 mg. sublingual estradiol and 2.5 mg. sublingual test. for a few days and I'm getting heavier in the breasts and belly. I've picked up a couple of lbs. already, as well. Is this normal? Is there any way to counteract the weight gain? Is this just water weight? I'm not about to gain my weight back and I'm going right off if I continue to get thicker and heavier in through my middle.

Maybe I need to take something for water retention like B vitamins?

Thanks and blessings 2U,
Ethan's Nana

Some androgens cause water weight gain and body builders natter about this resulting in smooth looking muscles, where as the varieties that don't resulting in the striated or ripped look. I'd talk to the pharmacist who filled the script and ask him/her. If you like natural diuretics, juniper berries, asparagus and cucumbers are good for releasing water, as is water itself. Also, making tea out of exotic orange peels- the redder the skin the greater the efficacy.

Maybe you are gaining a little water weight from the estrogen. 1mg/day should not be too much though. Are you splitting your dose? I know sublingual hormones go in fast and leave fast so you get spikes in your level. Maybe the spikes are causing some water weight gain? Sometimes it can take a little wile to get adjusted but since your breasts are getting heavier it sounds like the estrogen is causing some water weight gain there. You could try cutting back a little or just splitting up your dose more. Did you get 1mg/drop in olive oil for the estrogen? If so you could make up another bottle and dilute it yourself with olive oil from your kitchen. Taurine which is an amino acid can help with water retention. Cinnamon extract can help also. Have you looked into taking iodine at the other board? Iodine applied to the breasts can help with soreness and water retention from estrogen.

How are you feeling on your new hormones?

Another thought is to apply your sublingual dose to your skin, you may have to dilute it with something to spread it out though. Your absorption will be different on your skin than with sublingual, it should go in slower and maybe give you less peaks.

Kathy