Hello Everyone,

Although I have never posted or introduced myself, I do hope you will all forgive me and still give me some advice.
I have been lurking on Power Surge for a long long time. I'm not even sure if I am posting correctly.
Well, here is the scoop and I need advice. It seems like every compounding pharmacy has a different opinion and my hormones are all so messed up from trying this and that.
I after having been on tri-est and low prgesterone, to bi-est and highter progesterone, to now just starting last Friday Estrogel, twice a day and Prometrium, 200 mg. {12 days a month} to see if I need to cycle. This was prescribed from my nurse practioner who did a pevic, pap and breast exam last Thursday.
I am post menopausal and sort of had a bleed in august. Since August around my daughter's pms and period I start cramping , backache,and feeling very periody.
SOoooooo........I have been on just the Estrogel for two days and the cramping, morning hotflashes, anxiety and headache are back. I really think I need to have a bleed.
Should I start and take the progesterone for 12 days right away or wait and stay on the Estrogel for 2 weeks and then start it?
I just hate pain and am not having a good time. I have that before period anxiety and fear that there is something wrong with me{I'm 56}.
I am about ready to hang it up with the whole thing, but there is osteo very badly in the women in my family and I need the hormones for my petite build, dry eyes and nose.
I hope I conveyed this info well enough that someone will understand.
Thanks to you all......I do feel like you are my Sisters!

Pieddove

Isn't it interesting how all the doctors and nurses have different ideas on how best to use these hormones.

I am on Estrogel, started Dec. 14...1.25 mg and prometrium 100mg. I am only supposed to cycle off the prometrium for one week every 6 to 9 months. I don't want periods anymore, I haven't had one in close to 10 months. So if you are post, I wonder why you couldn't do it that way too? I know some docs prefer you to take your break every three months. And my mother never takes a break. So there are many differing opinions out there.

I think you should do whatever makes you feel the best...because of all the differing opinions, it seems there is no right or wrong way.

Well that is my two cents worth!!

Kathie

I think you should call your nurse practitioner, describe your symptoms, and get her advice about when to take the Prometrium. If you make changes in your regimen without her knowledge or advice it just makes it harder for her to sort out what's happening with you and how best to adjust your doses.

Thanks for the replies! I hope I hear more from others too.
I just talked to the nurse and she didn't seem to care what I did. I actually had to tell her Thursday during the appointment that Estrogel and Prometrium were bio-identical.
Her advice today since I was post was to use just a little premarin cream a couple of days a week instead of bio's. I really don't think I will look at that as an option.
The good news is that my thyroid came back normal this time ..instead of hypothyroid as it did last time. Also I was blood tested for Sjorgrens(spelling??} because I was sure i had it with this horrible dry nose and eye thing that I have been suffering with.
I think it is my HORMONES now for sure. Never underestimate the power of HORMONES !! I wish I could find a docotor that knew what they were doing so I could stop trying to figure out my own issues!!

Best wisehs!!

Pieddove

pieddove,

I don't think there is a doctor out there that has a clue!! Maybe I am fooling myself, but I don't think so. I still believe the best thing to do is educate yourself and thru trial and error, do what is right for you. My doctor tried to give me PremPro when I approached her about hormones..together with a huge lecture about the negatives of hormone replacement. I had to tell HER about the bio-identicals....she had to look them up on her drug manual!! Estrogel and Prometrium! So I am a huge believer in doing your OWN homework!

And yes, it is amazing what those horror-moans can do to us! Too many, too few...out of balance...sheesh!! How do we straighten it out???

Kathie

Hi Kathie,

I just ordered the book "Screaming To Be Heard" by Vliet. I hope this can answer some of my questions. I was wondering what otheres thought of it??
I took the Prometrium last night and I had a horrible night. I couldn't sleep, I had stomach distress, ears were thumping and my heart felt racey ! Once I finally got to sleep I woke with a horrible headache.
My anxiety is over the top today! At least the bad cramping has stopped and the bloat is gone. I am feeling very down and hopeless.

Pieddove/Sharon

Hey Sharon,

I think it can be extreme difficult to get the right hormone concoction when you are still have periods...you are probably still experience wildly fluctuating hormone levels. I would suggest you try the prometrium at 100mgs to start with and see how you do. I always figure, start with the least and work your way up. On the prometrium I find I sleep much better, and don't notice any side effects..but I take 100mg.

I have heard Dr. Vilets book is very good. There are some other books too that have been recommended by I can't think of what they are right now. Hopefully some of the other ladies will pipe up here and tell you! Don't give up hope...even when we feel hopeless, things will and do get better...hard as that may seem to believe at this moment. I have been there too. Where despair was my best friend!

You are on the right road...educate yourself...and experiment a little!! You will find the answer eventually. Hang in there!!

Kathie

hmm... i had read Floater's thread about how good she felt starting hrt with these two products, now i read the same stuff has had a negative response.. i had started to rethink my resolve to not use any form of HRT, now i am even more confused than ever!

Pieddove,

You did not post how much estrogel you are using. Will you post your dose? You may need to ramp up your estrogen more slowly. Do you know what your estradiol level is? Maybe you only need to use estrogel once a day (I only use it once a day). I would wait on the Prometrium until you get your estrogel dose figured out.

Kathy

Zen, don't write the BHRT as a bad idea just yet....it takes some time to work out what it is you need. I just know it sure makes me feel better. If you still have periods I think it is much harder to figure out, compared to if you are finished with periods...as I appear to be. 10 months without now. My only remaining questions with the hormones is...should I switch to vaginal progesterone (?????????) and should I add testosterone....which I can't get here in Canada anyway!

I was going to ask Kathy, where can I get it from and do I need an Rx???

i think i am finished with periods... altho i have had two other instances of being without a period for 8 months, with maybe 2-3 in between, this time it's nearly 10 months without... i am really unsure of it all.. there is a lot of cancer in my extended family... it's a minefield isn't it...

Hi Kathy,

I am post menopausal ,but due to inept advice from compounders and a holistic doctor {long long story} I seem to be quite unbalanced.
I keep getting pms symptoms with bad cramps. As I said I did have a small period in August. I have been switched around alot so my body doesn't know what to expect.
I started on two pumps of the estrogel. My hormone levels have not been checked out. The last couple of days I have used nothing and it is like gong back into peri with hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety at a max !
I'm afraid I have a build up ,but my body really doesn't want to have a period either.
I just can't get any answers. I feel like crap off of things,but can't stand the horrible cramping and back pain when I'm back on.
I have always done well on compounded progesterone ,but the prometrium was a new one for me as far as reaction.
I feel NUTS!!
I certainly don't mean to scare anyone from trying hormones..Its just so darn hard when you feel like you are the one trying to figure it all out!!

Sharon

If you've always done well on compounded Progesterone why were you switched to Prometrium? It may be more than you can handle. I can't handle much P at all without feeling PMSy, bloated, depressed, etc. I use as much Estradiol as my breasts can tolerate and as much P as my mood can handle and cross my fingers. If you think you need a bleed, you can "force" one by upping the P (the full 200mg) for 6 days and then stopping it. If you need a bleed, it will happen. You may feel like crap while you're on the full dose, but that would certainly tell you if you need a bleed. I know a couple of women in St. Louis that use theirs that way all the time. Every 3 months or 6 months they use P for 6 days, have a slight period and then don't use it at all otherwise. It's sort of like the new fangled BCP that make you have a period only every few months instead of monthly. Cleans you out so to speak.

Keep reading... it's not an exact science. I've been playing with my hormones for amost 2 years now and mostly like being on the E. I don't like P at all, but have to take it since I have a uterus. When I get the right amount, the E makes me feel alive and sensual. It's getting it right that's the trick.

Good luck, Jeanne