Hello -- I have been lurking on this forum for awhile and thought I would post today. I got my hormone panel results from my Naturopath and my progesterone is <.3, estradiol is 24, and estriol is <80. I am 48 yrs old. My FSH is 7 (was 4 about 2 months ago and 2 about a year ago - so guess I am on my way down the "menopausal path"). She has prescribed a low dose of progesterone and estrogen creams. I'm sorry I don't have the exact names or amounts as of yet because I pick them up on Wednesday. I will update when I pick them up. She said I should notice a big difference in how I feel after being on them for a week. I take very good care of myself --- eat well, get plenty of exercise and "me" time -- therefore, my adrenal and thyroid tested great. I will also update on how I feel after starting the creams. I appreciated reading others experiences and would like to do the same for those women still searching --- Diane

Congrats! Bios made me feel better. Don't forget to ask for Testosterone. Women don't need much, but a little bit makes a big difference.

Shebee

Oh, thanks for posting. Keep us updated on how you are doing!

Oh, and if you turn on your pm messenger in the "My controls," I'll send you some information that you can read and take to your doc.....

Thanks Shebee -- my testosterone tested fine -- right in the middle at .30 -- but I can still ask her about it when I go for my recheck. Diane

Best of luck! Bios have helped me also. Keep us posted and don't give up sometimes a little tweak can help if you start to have problems.

Ok, so I picked up my bio creams --- estradiol (.5 mg in the morning and then again in the evening).
Progesterone (100mg once in the evening).

I am going to keep a journal on how I feel each day. This should be very interesting, I am thinkin --- Diane

Be patient and give it a while to work is my only suggestion.

Ok, thanks for the encouragement!!! Diane

Ladydi,
100mg progesterone in cream, this is very high dose transdermal, please, make sure it is not a single dose. Normally, 100mg is given for oral progesterone.
I hope you doctor did not confused these two: oral and transdermal, normally P-cream is 20 mg dose.
Good luck,
I.

I called the doc to double check and it is correct -- 100mg/ml cream -- one ml per day. So far I feel good --- only been a couple of days tho --- diane

Wow, yes that is a high dose. That's the dose that caused me such anxiety, high bp, and heart palps, and not being able to sleep. Transdermal should be 10% of the oral dose, since oral meds are degraded by the liver and TD method you get the full effect.

Also, check out the thread of mine about progesterone which shows how it tends to build up. And there is a website started by women who were using these high doses and started having lots of side effects.

I would be interested in having a look at the website you mention. Are you allowed to post the URL on the message board?

Thanks

I'm sending you a PM

Hi there...I take 100mg per day in cap form every day. After two weeks I add 100mg of Progest. cream daily for two weeks. Sometimes I use less cream during the two weeks, depending on how I am feeling. (30-50 day)

I do take a lot of estrogen to balance it out. (and testosterone)


I have been on bios for about 6 months and so far, I feel great.

Do watch for symptoms. Years ago I tried Progest. alone (not script) and it amplified my symptoms. Progesterone is such a good hormone if you need it.

Shebee

my cream also is 100

Thanks to the responses -- glad to hear that there are others who have been prescribed progesterone cream of 100mg also. I have my followup appointment in 3 weeks and believe me I have a running list going of questions and concerns to discuss with her. Best wishes to you all and thanks, Diane

Just an update --- it has been a week and a couple of days now since starting bhrt. I noticed the past couple of days that I feel really great in the morning and early afternoon, am sleeping great at night, but not feeling so good about mid afternoon until I do the evening dose. So, decided to try using only half of the morning dose in the morning and then using the other half at around 1:00 or 2:00 pm. So far so good. Maybe just needed to have a more even amount in my system through the day. Diane

Ladydi...
Glad to hear you are doing well. I also use 100 mg of Progesterone cream and understand that this is a very common dose for a prescription cream according to the pharmacists at Bellevue. Keep us posted.

Dee

Glad you are noticing a difference.

Just curious Diane, do you still get a regular period? If so did you have to start the bios at the beginning of your cycle when levels are low? I am still trying to figure out how to start hormones when you are still cycling. I thought I had stopped cycling and started on a small dose of estrogel but it backfired as my starting the estrogen seemed to coincide with my own hormones returning and I felt terrible. I am now going to wait until I get a period (hopefully) and my levels are on the way down before I try again. I am currently taking some P cream during the last half of my cycle (if I get one). You said in your original post that your estrogen was 28, if I remember correctly. What day of your cycle was it measured on? Are you going to be cycling your P or taking it continuously? If you take your hormones continuously will that stop you period if you are still getting one?

Hi Gazelle -- I wish I could help you with some answers, but I had a partial hysterectomy (still have my ovaries) about 9 years ago. So, my naturopath said it would be ok for me to just use the creams continuously. Could you call your doctor that prescribed the creams and find out from them when they think you should start according to your cycle?? I wish you luck, Diane

Did any of you have to have an pelvic ultrasound before you got your BHRT creams or whatnot. My hormone Dr. is requiring that before he gives me anything. I am phobic about tests right now. I was hoping to get myself a little bit stabilized so that I would be in a better position to handle my testing phobia's. I did get blood work and I am low in estrogen and progesterone, high cortisol and low DHEA and Vit D. Is there any way to get what I need without doing the pelvic ultrasound, at least for now. I know I will need to do it but I just need to get my panic/anxiety under control. Thanks for your input.

I have replied in your other thread. I did have an ultrasound. Still recommend you trying a benzo to get your anxieties under control and then have the US.

I think I replied to you. Thank you. I was just wondering if that is an absolute for getting any BHRT. I realize it is the smart thing to do. I am just wondering if any Dr. would allow you to start the BHRT or even the cortisol and DHEA and Vit D just based on the blood work alone. Even for just a couple of months and then if I responded well, go for the ultrasound to check levels. Sorry to be such a nudge about this. Just want you to know I am absolutely aware the best thing to do is get the ultrasound however it would help me if we could start some sort of treatment and work up to the ultrasound. I am already taking Xanax and yes it is good for short term. Tomorrow is psyche Dr. gonna ask for an AD, which I have been against, but, I am getting desperate. I need to get my anxiety under control, that is my main concern. Anxiety and high cortisol is a health breaker. Gotta start exercising too. But, my problem is also with the waiting period of getting results from these tests, I literally go bonkers. I know how absolutely irrational it is, but it is what it is for the time being. I think my fear of tests began with an abnormal mammogram that they freaked me out on that ended up of course being a cyst, but, I had just gotten married and I had a melt down. It is almost like PTSS. I forced myself to get a mammogram 2 years later when I got insurance again and it was pure h@ll for me, 2 weeks of waiting to hear (all was good). In my mind I just relived my first mammo and that moment they called me frantically telling me they needed me to come in immediately, over and over again. Then very soon after that I had a mole biopsy and went through the same trauma for 2 weeks of waiting for results (again AOK). It is absolutely the weirdest experience to be this person that I have become. Being a hypochondriac who is afraid of Dr.s and testing is a lethal combination and I must get past this. Also, I have not had any indication there is anything wrong with me other than my hormones are in fluctuating mode and that I am insane (that is my personal diagnosis Sorry for the repeatitious posts I am a little obsessive about this at the moment.

I don't know that it is absolute that you have an US it probably depends a lot on your symptoms and your levels as to whether they think you need one. Personally I wouldn't want to seek out a doctor that wouldn't do one but that is just me. I would much prefer my doctor to treat all of my issues starting with the number one problem first and working down to the least. Here is the thing, would you rather know you are healthy or would you prefer to treat something that may or may not exist. This is all an anxiety/in your head thing and if you can get beyond that you will be okay. I think at this stage if you are having this much fear your best bet is to go on with the AD get your nerves settled and then look into the biodenticals if you still need them.

Just an update --- I had my 1 month check up with my naturopath and she increased my progesterone to 150mg a day -- (50mg in the morning or mid-day and 100mg at night). It has solved my weird "bottoming out" feeling that I would get around 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon. Also, I have noticed that the breast tenderness that I was starting to experience the last few weeks is gone and I also think that my "peri buddha belly" is getting smaller (thank god!!) -- I feel really good and have alot more energy -- Diane

Fantastic update. Glad you are feeling better.

Quick update --- I can't believe how much better I am feeling --- more energy, more mental clarity, some weight loss (especially in the belly), more sex drive, less anxiety, no night sweats, no heart palpatations, no "bottoming out" feeling -- I've been on the bioidentical hormones for about a month and a half now. Best wishes to all of you -- Diane

Doing a happy dance with you!