I heard about using a natural progesterone cream to control problems with perimenopause.  I am 52 and having pretty much continuous periods accompanied by extremely heavy flow and migraines two days out of three.  I also have some hot flashes but those are nothing compared to the bleeding and migraines.  I have taken synthetic progesterone in the past (provera) and also birth control pills.  I could not tolerate the side effects of progesterone.  I understood that I would not have those side effects with the cream.  I used a scant amount of cream for the first time last night and was awake all night with heart palpitations, heightened anxiety, and hypoglycemic symptoms of dizziness and shaking.  These symptoms were identical to those I had on the synthetic hormones.  Is there really a difference?  Is there any other suggestion to help the pre-menopausal symptoms?

Sorry for my sharp reply, Kelani.  I get discouraged and it was a particularly bad day all around.  I guess I might need to go to the bleeding topic.  I looked at that last night and it looked like my problem is likely the most common one among my age group.  I don't think surgery to remove a fibroid would be minor.  Doesn't that require abdominal surgery in the form of myomectomy.  I have heard that has a 4-6 week recovery similar to hysterectomy.  I have a very large fibroid - 16 week size.  I'm sure that is the source of my continuous bleeding.  I just can't have major surgery because of other things going on in my life.  Can't women get through this stage of life without major surgery?  I am hopeful on that point.

Hi KB...

No problem... I sure understand the discouragement.  :(    Did you read about my surgery on those message boards?  I also gave a website address where there are pictures of what my doctor removed, in case you might be interested... a fibroid and several (4)polyps...one was so huge it filled most of my uterus.  

You are right, there are several women who have posted here with similar kinds of problems, and you can read about their procedures and how things have turned out well, for the most part.  I think the worst part of it is the fear of the unknown, but I can tell you that I would do it all over again if I had to, for the relief, both physically and emotionally, it has given me.  Like me, you can learn alot here, both from all the other sections at Power Surge and from other women here who have been in similar situations.  And, you can also get sincere support.  :)

Things have changed drastically in this area, and for the better.  In my case, what I had done was a vaginal operative hysteroscopy/myomectomy, so there was no incision.  For me, there was also no pain, and a one day recovery time. The procedure took about 45 minutes, and I was on my way home, with no side effects within an hour and a half.  I felt so good, I was back here posting the same day!  The only thing I felt at all was a little fluttering in my abdomen for a couple of days and I had some spotting for maybe 3 days.  Then, my next period after that was the first normal one I had in years!  And, all the junk that got taken out was benign...which was one of my fears that scared me to the point that I didn't want to have the procedure done initially.

I don't know if the procedure would necessarily be the same for you, but I do know that we can get help these days without necessarily having to go through major surgery and a 6 week recovery period.  I know that, for me, mine was very much worth it, and any resemblence of pain I may have felt didn't even come close to the horrific cramps I suffered through each and every month for 10 days at a time.  I just went through a normal period, with very minimal cramping, and I am so glad I found my excellent doctor and she was able to get through to me how badly I needed that done.  

I would like to help give you some hope, which is why I posted to you to begin with...so many here gave it to me when I needed it.  :)

I have never had such an option offered to me.  The closest I have come to something reasonable was a doctor who suggested a partial hysterectomy which is supposed to require less recovery time - maybe 4 weeks.  Vaginal surgical options have not been advised since I have had previous abdominal surgeries many years ago which resulted in a pelvic abscess.  And the unknown is very stressful to contemplate especially when every medication I have tried or procedure that has been done has resulted in side effects that were much worse than the orginal condition.  Now, even this progesterone cream which is supposed to have no side effects has given me incredible side effects after just one dose!  And I can find nothing on the package that indicates that one should expect that.  Embarking on a procedure that will not allow me to go back to my current condition is indeed frightening.  My experience has been that the doctors do not tell me about the side effects even when I ask specifically if I my condition could worsen with the medication.  Then when my condition gets worse, they say it is either an expected side efffect or one that they did not expect (or that perhaps, it is just my imagination!).  There seems to be very little truthful information in this area.  Bottom line is - I can't take worse and I don't trust any of them anymore.

Hi KB...

I am not understanding why a vaginal sort of procedure has not been offered as an option?  With a vaginal procedure, there are no incisions to become infected or abcessed, so I am wondering if that wouldn't be a better option?  And, again, procedures of the past are just that...I am very pleasantly surprised at the medical advances in this area.  

From what you have written, it seems like you have yet to find an enlightened doctor who will listen to you and try to work with you, and, there are some out there.  You just have to look to find them.  One suggestion I am thinking about is to contact Pete Heuseman, of College Pharmacy... he can give you some information on natural progesterone, as well as to give you the names of some doctors in your area who work with him, understand meno, and are not the type of doctors you have been experiencing.   I get my estrogen and progesterone from him, my excellent doctor is one he recommended to me, and I am feeling wonderful these days after nearly 5 yrs of feeling badly and getting nowhere with the doctors I was seeing.  You can get details about him and College Pharmacy here at Power Surge, read the transcripts from his guest chats here, and get his email address and 800 phone number.  He has helped many, many women here besides myself.  

I think you can get alot of truthful information here at Power Surge and also from Pete.  Check it out.  :)

I have been using the progesterone cream for three years, and I like its calming effects.  I think I sleep better also.  I always used it for three weeks, and took the week off that coincided with my period.  I have started skipping periods (finally!...I am 55).  I read that I should still do the three week on, one week off schedule.  So I stopped for a week and had a period!  I think that could be what brought the period on.  Has anyone had my experience?  I'm afraid to start using it again unless I can use it continuously.I have been taking triest 125/100/.125 for two years.   My doctor says I shouldn't be having periods with triest, but they don't seem to want to completely stop.