Hi
I am new to this forum, so first of all "hi" to you all!
I just turned 40. I have been using natural progesterone cream for about 3 years. First started taking it to calm down my endometriosis which it did. Used it from Day 5 to start of period. My husband and I wanted to try for a baby a year ago, so instead of starting the cream on Day 5 of my cycle I started using it from Day 15 of my cycle , I did this because I had heard that it could interfere with ovulation if used prior to ovulation. That is when all of my problems began. I started feeling really anxious, Obsessive compulsive disorder very bad and was then was dropped into a very deep depression. Naturally all plans of trying for a baby were put on hold. Since then I have been trying to get my dose right but whenever I apply the cream it seems to wind me up instead of calm me down as it did before. If I don't use it I feel even worse. When I try to increase my dose at all (even tiny little amounts) my heart starts jumping and I tremble in my chest. It feels like an adrenaline rush. I am again using it from Day 5 until my period starts. I try to use a lower dose before ovulation and raise it up after ovulation.
Does anybody know what is going on? My doctor is next to useless and just tells me to apply even more cream! I've been trying to work on this, on my own, for a year now and still feel bad. The OCD has been just terrible.
If anyone has any insights whatsoever I would love to hear from you on this forum or via e-mail. I cannot tell you how grateful I would be. My dreams of becoming a mother seem to be disappearing due to feeling so awful.
Thanks very much,
Elaine
Full Version: Natural Progesterone making me anxious and tremble
Hi Laine, and welcome to PS! You will find you are not alone and that your symptoms are not unique.
Progesterone is known as the hormone from hell for many of us here ( although there are some who seem to do well on it). For me, it took awhile for me to make the connection with the P and the massive, sudden onset of anxiety, adrenaline rushes, heart pounding, panic, and sleeplessness. I thought I was losing my mind and dying at the same time.
Research revealed that it tends to build up in the tissues over time and can take quite awhile to leave completely. And it somehow interferes with adrenal function and cortisol. It probably is converting to cortisol, as those levels tend to increase a lot with P. In any case, I found a group of women who were harmed by P and started a group. When I stopped taking the P, the symptoms lessened considerably. Adding estradiol got rid of them altogether.
How do you know you even need it? Have you had your P levels done in the luteal phase (day 21-23)? At your age it's not unheard of to be starting to have diminishing estrogen, many here are younger than you are are already well into perimenopause. And if E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable. A friend calls P the 'make you sad, make you fat' hormone.
I suggest stopping it for awhile and getting blood levels of P at the right time, but also get your estradiol levels drawn at the same time.
Progesterone is known as the hormone from hell for many of us here ( although there are some who seem to do well on it). For me, it took awhile for me to make the connection with the P and the massive, sudden onset of anxiety, adrenaline rushes, heart pounding, panic, and sleeplessness. I thought I was losing my mind and dying at the same time.
Research revealed that it tends to build up in the tissues over time and can take quite awhile to leave completely. And it somehow interferes with adrenal function and cortisol. It probably is converting to cortisol, as those levels tend to increase a lot with P. In any case, I found a group of women who were harmed by P and started a group. When I stopped taking the P, the symptoms lessened considerably. Adding estradiol got rid of them altogether.
How do you know you even need it? Have you had your P levels done in the luteal phase (day 21-23)? At your age it's not unheard of to be starting to have diminishing estrogen, many here are younger than you are are already well into perimenopause. And if E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable. A friend calls P the 'make you sad, make you fat' hormone.
I suggest stopping it for awhile and getting blood levels of P at the right time, but also get your estradiol levels drawn at the same time.
QUOTE (Laine @ Jul 8 2009, 09:43 PM) 
Hi
I am new to this forum, so first of all "hi" to you all!
I just turned 40. I have been using natural progesterone cream for about 3 years. First started taking it to calm down my endometriosis which it did. Used it from Day 5 to start of period. My husband and I wanted to try for a baby a year ago, so instead of starting the cream on Day 5 of my cycle I started using it from Day 15 of my cycle , I did this because I had heard that it could interfere with ovulation if used prior to ovulation. That is when all of my problems began. I started feeling really anxious, Obsessive compulsive disorder very bad and was then was dropped into a very deep depression. Naturally all plans of trying for a baby were put on hold. Since then I have been trying to get my dose right but whenever I apply the cream it seems to wind me up instead of calm me down as it did before. If I don't use it I feel even worse. When I try to increase my dose at all (even tiny little amounts) my heart starts jumping and I tremble in my chest. It feels like an adrenaline rush. I am again using it from Day 5 until my period starts. I try to use a lower dose before ovulation and raise it up after ovulation.
Does anybody know what is going on? My doctor is next to useless and just tells me to apply even more cream! I've been trying to work on this, on my own, for a year now and still feel bad. The OCD has been just terrible.
If anyone has any insights whatsoever I would love to hear from you on this forum or via e-mail. I cannot tell you how grateful I would be. My dreams of becoming a mother seem to be disappearing due to feeling so awful.
Thanks very much,
Elaine
I am new to this forum, so first of all "hi" to you all!
I just turned 40. I have been using natural progesterone cream for about 3 years. First started taking it to calm down my endometriosis which it did. Used it from Day 5 to start of period. My husband and I wanted to try for a baby a year ago, so instead of starting the cream on Day 5 of my cycle I started using it from Day 15 of my cycle , I did this because I had heard that it could interfere with ovulation if used prior to ovulation. That is when all of my problems began. I started feeling really anxious, Obsessive compulsive disorder very bad and was then was dropped into a very deep depression. Naturally all plans of trying for a baby were put on hold. Since then I have been trying to get my dose right but whenever I apply the cream it seems to wind me up instead of calm me down as it did before. If I don't use it I feel even worse. When I try to increase my dose at all (even tiny little amounts) my heart starts jumping and I tremble in my chest. It feels like an adrenaline rush. I am again using it from Day 5 until my period starts. I try to use a lower dose before ovulation and raise it up after ovulation.
Does anybody know what is going on? My doctor is next to useless and just tells me to apply even more cream! I've been trying to work on this, on my own, for a year now and still feel bad. The OCD has been just terrible.
If anyone has any insights whatsoever I would love to hear from you on this forum or via e-mail. I cannot tell you how grateful I would be. My dreams of becoming a mother seem to be disappearing due to feeling so awful.
Thanks very much,
Elaine
I have only been on Progesterone for about four to five months and take the oil caps. When I initially started it gave me the heart racing/anxiety thing. This tapered off by the third week. I just had my dose increased from 150mg to 220 and the same thing happened for the first week and a half. It has dissipated over this past week. I think anytime we change up our routine it can mess with our system. Remember our levels change all through the month and through out the years so you may be on the wrong amount (to much or to little) or you may no longer need it at all right now. I would do as Sariah suggested and have your levels checked, maybe get a benzo to help you through not taking it until you figure out where you are with your levels.
every one is different this so called " hormone from hell " has been my miracle cream, one mans trash is anothers treasure.... anyone considering p, i would suggest to try it, you can not go by others, my p. level was .49 so i was really low to begin with, but dont be discouaged by others horror stories cause there are alot of success ones too,
Laine....i don't understand why you would keep using the cream if it makes you feel so bad....
Sorry you are having a hard time! From what I have been reading (and lately I feel I am getting a masters degree in hormones!) during the thirties and forties our hormones can be changing so much that every cycle you may have different hormone levels. P might have worked for you when your hormones were regular but if they are starting to change you will not get the same results month to month. If you are producing less estrogen, you may not need additional progesterone at all anymore. I'm not sure whether you are on antidepressants, but I have heard they may not be as effective if there are not sufficient estrogen levels so maybe you are experiencing dipping estrogen levels?
Perhaps it is time to get a new GYN? Maybe someone who has a interest in fertility and perimenopause who may be more knowledgable about what is going on....
First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH for replying so hastily to my post! I'm really at the end of my rope and to hear that others have and are feeling similar things to me makes me feel a little bit less crazy.
I had my hormones tested with a saliva test. My doctor (anti aging specialist -$200 a visit!) said that this is the best way to test bioidentical hormones. Would you all recommend blood tests over saliva tests? The saliva test also indicated that my estrogen levels were on the low side, progesterone was within range and that I had adrenal fatigue. The test was taken while I was using the cream. Unfortunately the doctor who initially prescribed me the cream did not suggest testing my hormones first. I had endometriosis so she thought that this was enough of an indication that I was low on progesterone.
Sissyl- I am not on antidepressants (due to wanting to try for a baby and not wanting to take any medications), but as I said my estrogen does seem to be on the low side. Would you recommend I take estrogen instead of progesterone? I am taking a very low dose of Estriol. I do need a new doctor but I do not know who to go to who is knowledgeable with BioIdentical Hormones. I'm in B.C, Canada. Doctor I see now is so expensive. Can anybody recommend somebody?
Nc53215- For the first few years that I took Natural Progesterone I didn't really have any problems. It really helped clear up my endometriosis. Things started to go wrong for me a year ago.
Moonlight- I have stuck with the cream because a year ago when I cut back my dose and started using it a week later in the month I became severely depressed and anxious with panic attacks.
Davinci817- Yes me too, every time I increase my dose even if it is the tiniest little amount I get the heart rushes (sometimes sting) and adrenaline/trembling feel in chest. You recommend I see a benzo, what is that? I'm not familiar with the term. Would you also recommend I get my hormones tested with a blood test as opposed to a saliva test?
Sariah- I really found your post interesting. I had wondered whether the excess progesterone was being converted to cortisol. Apparently I have adrenal fatigue. My cortisol is high in the morning but plummets by lunchtime, more than is normal. So do you take bioidentical Estradiol instead of progesterone now? Does estradiol in any way interfere with cortisol levels. Also, have you heard of any connection between low estrogen and obsessive compulsive disorder. I truly feel as if I am losing my mind. Yes I had my progesterone and estrogen levels checked in the luteal phase but by saliva test. Progesterone was within range and estrogen levels (estriol, estrone and estradiol) were the low end of normal. Also, I was told that by adding natural progesterone this would help my body produce more estrogen. Is this not the case? If I had my estradiol levels tested with a blood test (while still taking progesterone) would they be a true representation? Or does taking the progesterone influence my estradiol levels in a blood test? Geez, hope that makes sense. I am really afraid to stop taking the progesterone all together because cutting back on my dose a year ago is the reason I started having the panic attacks and depression. So it seems that if I don't take enough of it I am messed up and if I take too much of it I am messed up. I also find that for the first week after my period begins I have very bad depression. My doctor prescribed Estriol as it is considered the 'safe' estrogen but I wonder whether a combination of estriol, estrone and estradiol would be a better idea. Should also mention that I have had severely dry eyes and mouth for about 7 years. Doctors suspected Sjogren's syndrome, my bloodwork is all normal, no markers.
Has anybody had a bad reaction to taking Estriol? I am not taking as much as my doctor suggested as I was afraid that I would react to that as well and feel even worse.
Sorry to throw so much at you all but I am as desperate as I sound. Once again, thanks for any advice/suggestions/concern. It is all much appreciated.
I had my hormones tested with a saliva test. My doctor (anti aging specialist -$200 a visit!) said that this is the best way to test bioidentical hormones. Would you all recommend blood tests over saliva tests? The saliva test also indicated that my estrogen levels were on the low side, progesterone was within range and that I had adrenal fatigue. The test was taken while I was using the cream. Unfortunately the doctor who initially prescribed me the cream did not suggest testing my hormones first. I had endometriosis so she thought that this was enough of an indication that I was low on progesterone.
Sissyl- I am not on antidepressants (due to wanting to try for a baby and not wanting to take any medications), but as I said my estrogen does seem to be on the low side. Would you recommend I take estrogen instead of progesterone? I am taking a very low dose of Estriol. I do need a new doctor but I do not know who to go to who is knowledgeable with BioIdentical Hormones. I'm in B.C, Canada. Doctor I see now is so expensive. Can anybody recommend somebody?
Nc53215- For the first few years that I took Natural Progesterone I didn't really have any problems. It really helped clear up my endometriosis. Things started to go wrong for me a year ago.
Moonlight- I have stuck with the cream because a year ago when I cut back my dose and started using it a week later in the month I became severely depressed and anxious with panic attacks.
Davinci817- Yes me too, every time I increase my dose even if it is the tiniest little amount I get the heart rushes (sometimes sting) and adrenaline/trembling feel in chest. You recommend I see a benzo, what is that? I'm not familiar with the term. Would you also recommend I get my hormones tested with a blood test as opposed to a saliva test?
Sariah- I really found your post interesting. I had wondered whether the excess progesterone was being converted to cortisol. Apparently I have adrenal fatigue. My cortisol is high in the morning but plummets by lunchtime, more than is normal. So do you take bioidentical Estradiol instead of progesterone now? Does estradiol in any way interfere with cortisol levels. Also, have you heard of any connection between low estrogen and obsessive compulsive disorder. I truly feel as if I am losing my mind. Yes I had my progesterone and estrogen levels checked in the luteal phase but by saliva test. Progesterone was within range and estrogen levels (estriol, estrone and estradiol) were the low end of normal. Also, I was told that by adding natural progesterone this would help my body produce more estrogen. Is this not the case? If I had my estradiol levels tested with a blood test (while still taking progesterone) would they be a true representation? Or does taking the progesterone influence my estradiol levels in a blood test? Geez, hope that makes sense. I am really afraid to stop taking the progesterone all together because cutting back on my dose a year ago is the reason I started having the panic attacks and depression. So it seems that if I don't take enough of it I am messed up and if I take too much of it I am messed up. I also find that for the first week after my period begins I have very bad depression. My doctor prescribed Estriol as it is considered the 'safe' estrogen but I wonder whether a combination of estriol, estrone and estradiol would be a better idea. Should also mention that I have had severely dry eyes and mouth for about 7 years. Doctors suspected Sjogren's syndrome, my bloodwork is all normal, no markers.
Has anybody had a bad reaction to taking Estriol? I am not taking as much as my doctor suggested as I was afraid that I would react to that as well and feel even worse.
Sorry to throw so much at you all but I am as desperate as I sound. Once again, thanks for any advice/suggestions/concern. It is all much appreciated.
Hi Laine,
While I believe (and studies show) that saliva testing is accurate for cortisol, it has not proven to be consistently accurate for sex hormones, and I've seen many women Rx'd hormones based on the saliva tests and they did poorly on them because the levels did not accurately reflect their real homone status. Serum tests are more consistently accurate, and are considered the gold standard at fertility clinics.
Progesterone attaches to the GABA receptors--the same ones that xanax and other benzodiazepenes attach to. Stopping the benzons without a gradual ramping down causes withdrawal anxiety. Likewise, women who stop the P often get worse because they are going through a similar withdrawal. Gradually lowering the dose and/or adding estradiol can keep this from happening.
Yes, if you had your estradiol levels tested while on P, they would be accurate.
Depression after onset of period is usually due to low E, this is what happened to me. I used to get PMS in my younger years, but as my E levels dropped, they did not recover very well during the normally-low E days during my period and prior to ovulation.
Do you have OCD? Often SSRIs are given for OCD, which affect serotonin levels. Estrogen has been shown to increases serotonin in the brain, so it's possible that it could be helpful for you if you have OCD.
While estriol does have a protective effect, I've read studies showing that for the amount that would have to be used to relieve symptoms, the risk factors are no less than any other estrogen. Many of us here do not do well on it, it causes emotional swings, sore breasts, and other symptoms. And most compounded creams have too much estriol and not enough estradiol, and it is the estradiol that best relieves symptoms. And the gel form is preferable as it is better absorbed. I use Estrogel, as many others here do, and that can be obtained at any pharmacy.
Your dryness could very well be due to too much P, as I have seen that complaint from other women who used it for a long time. You might find stopping it and adding estradiol may help.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask or PM me.
While I believe (and studies show) that saliva testing is accurate for cortisol, it has not proven to be consistently accurate for sex hormones, and I've seen many women Rx'd hormones based on the saliva tests and they did poorly on them because the levels did not accurately reflect their real homone status. Serum tests are more consistently accurate, and are considered the gold standard at fertility clinics.
Progesterone attaches to the GABA receptors--the same ones that xanax and other benzodiazepenes attach to. Stopping the benzons without a gradual ramping down causes withdrawal anxiety. Likewise, women who stop the P often get worse because they are going through a similar withdrawal. Gradually lowering the dose and/or adding estradiol can keep this from happening.
Yes, if you had your estradiol levels tested while on P, they would be accurate.
Depression after onset of period is usually due to low E, this is what happened to me. I used to get PMS in my younger years, but as my E levels dropped, they did not recover very well during the normally-low E days during my period and prior to ovulation.
Do you have OCD? Often SSRIs are given for OCD, which affect serotonin levels. Estrogen has been shown to increases serotonin in the brain, so it's possible that it could be helpful for you if you have OCD.
While estriol does have a protective effect, I've read studies showing that for the amount that would have to be used to relieve symptoms, the risk factors are no less than any other estrogen. Many of us here do not do well on it, it causes emotional swings, sore breasts, and other symptoms. And most compounded creams have too much estriol and not enough estradiol, and it is the estradiol that best relieves symptoms. And the gel form is preferable as it is better absorbed. I use Estrogel, as many others here do, and that can be obtained at any pharmacy.
Your dryness could very well be due to too much P, as I have seen that complaint from other women who used it for a long time. You might find stopping it and adding estradiol may help.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask or PM me.
QUOTE (Laine @ Jul 9 2009, 04:51 PM)
Sariah- I really found your post interesting. I had wondered whether the excess progesterone was being converted to cortisol. Apparently I have adrenal fatigue. My cortisol is high in the morning but plummets by lunchtime, more than is normal. So do you take bioidentical Estradiol instead of progesterone now? Does estradiol in any way interfere with cortisol levels. Also, have you heard of any connection between low estrogen and obsessive compulsive disorder. I truly feel as if I am losing my mind. Yes I had my progesterone and estrogen levels checked in the luteal phase but by saliva test. Progesterone was within range and estrogen levels (estriol, estrone and estradiol) were the low end of normal. Also, I was told that by adding natural progesterone this would help my body produce more estrogen. Is this not the case? If I had my estradiol levels tested with a blood test (while still taking progesterone) would they be a true representation? Or does taking the progesterone influence my estradiol levels in a blood test? Geez, hope that makes sense. I am really afraid to stop taking the progesterone all together because cutting back on my dose a year ago is the reason I started having the panic attacks and depression. So it seems that if I don't take enough of it I am messed up and if I take too much of it I am messed up. I also find that for the first week after my period begins I have very bad depression. My doctor prescribed Estriol as it is considered the 'safe' estrogen but I wonder whether a combination of estriol, estrone and estradiol would be a better idea. Should also mention that I have had severely dry eyes and mouth for about 7 years. Doctors suspected Sjogren's syndrome, my bloodwork is all normal, no markers.
Has anybody had a bad reaction to taking Estriol? I am not taking as much as my doctor suggested as I was afraid that I would react to that as well and feel even worse.
Sorry to throw so much at you all but I am as desperate as I sound. Once again, thanks for any advice/suggestions/concern. It is all much appreciated.
Has anybody had a bad reaction to taking Estriol? I am not taking as much as my doctor suggested as I was afraid that I would react to that as well and feel even worse.
Sorry to throw so much at you all but I am as desperate as I sound. Once again, thanks for any advice/suggestions/concern. It is all much appreciated.
A benzo is benzodiazepine. It is a drug used to treat anxiety and can help as you are coming off of or adjusting your doses. It just gives a sense of calm more than anything in my opinion. You take as needed for the anxiety unlike a continuous anti depressant. They usually kick in within 15 minutes or so of taking it. I keep a bottle in my purse at all times just in case! I haven't used one since the beginning of the year and hope I never have to again but I feel safe having them with me.
Hi Sariah,
I tried to PM you but site would not give me permission. Any idea what that is about?
Thanks very much for all the helpful info yesterday. I will go for a serum test for my estrogens and progesterone and see where they are at. Is it best to get estrogen tested at beg and end of month? Also will a blood test test for all of the estrogens-estriol, estrone and estradiol?
I checked up the Estrogel website but noticed that it was not recommended for pregnant women. Am not preg but hoping to be so.
Yes I have bad OCD, worse this past year than ever before. Feel completely crazy many days of the month.
Was wondering if you would know what kind of effect natural progesterone cream would have on my estrogen levels? My doctor and pharmacist seemed to think that adding progesterone would help increase my estrogen if it was low but I notice in your first post to me you said "If E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable" Why is this?
I have serious concerns about just stopping my progesterone cream altogether. All of my problems started when I cut back on my dose a year ago. I am reducing my dose slightly to see how I feel. I still had a bad adrenaline rush/burn in my chest last night after applying cream even though the dose was lower. What a nightmare.
I've also noticed that if I take more progesterone during the second half of my cycle (even though I feel awful during it and have bad reactions) I tend to have less depression during the first week of my next cycle. Any thoughts on that?
The eye dryness actually started a number of years before I started taking the progesterone cream. I thought it was a symptom of low estrogen but none of my doctors have told me this.
Just curious, were you not able to tolerate estriol? I did a search and found that quite a few women found it made them very emotional. There were a few helped by it. Maybe the emotional feelings are temporary as the body adjusts?
Think that is it for now. My head is spinning. I know I have more questions but I need to take a break. Thanks again.
I tried to PM you but site would not give me permission. Any idea what that is about?
Thanks very much for all the helpful info yesterday. I will go for a serum test for my estrogens and progesterone and see where they are at. Is it best to get estrogen tested at beg and end of month? Also will a blood test test for all of the estrogens-estriol, estrone and estradiol?
I checked up the Estrogel website but noticed that it was not recommended for pregnant women. Am not preg but hoping to be so.
Yes I have bad OCD, worse this past year than ever before. Feel completely crazy many days of the month.
Was wondering if you would know what kind of effect natural progesterone cream would have on my estrogen levels? My doctor and pharmacist seemed to think that adding progesterone would help increase my estrogen if it was low but I notice in your first post to me you said "If E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable" Why is this?
I have serious concerns about just stopping my progesterone cream altogether. All of my problems started when I cut back on my dose a year ago. I am reducing my dose slightly to see how I feel. I still had a bad adrenaline rush/burn in my chest last night after applying cream even though the dose was lower. What a nightmare.
I've also noticed that if I take more progesterone during the second half of my cycle (even though I feel awful during it and have bad reactions) I tend to have less depression during the first week of my next cycle. Any thoughts on that?
The eye dryness actually started a number of years before I started taking the progesterone cream. I thought it was a symptom of low estrogen but none of my doctors have told me this.
Just curious, were you not able to tolerate estriol? I did a search and found that quite a few women found it made them very emotional. There were a few helped by it. Maybe the emotional feelings are temporary as the body adjusts?
Think that is it for now. My head is spinning. I know I have more questions but I need to take a break. Thanks again.
Laine,
If you are trying to get pg, I wouldn't recommend estrogen at all unless your doc thinks your levels are too low.
Estrogen ideally should be tested both at day 3-4 and at day 21-23. Or I like to get it tested when I am feeling at my worst to see if the level correlates with my symptoms.
There are a lot of things out there saying that P 'wakes' up the E receptors and corrects any E deficiency, but I have found the opposite to be true for me, and judging by the experiences of others here, they also find it makes a low E situation even worse. Dr. Vliet also does not agree with this.
Hmmm, don't know why you can't PM, unless there is something in your controls that needs to be adjusted? But it could also be that lately my inbox is full a lot and I cannot receive any more PM's until I clear it. But I don't know if the PS site would let you know if the person to whom you are sending a PM has a full box and is unable to receive PMs
You shouldn't just stop the P cream suddenly, but very slowly decrease the dose and hold that dose for a couple weeks, then decrease again, etc. You might find you do OK on a lower dose, providing you didn't cut the dose too drastically and too quickly which would cause withdrawal-like symptoms.
You need to be very honest with your doc about how the P is making you feel, so that he/she really understands how serious it is.
Have you had your thyroid labs done? Even a subclinical deficiency of thyroid hormones (within normal limits but at the low end) can interfere with the ability to get pregnant and/or keep the pregnancy. There's a lot of literature out there about this.
I think the reason why when you use P during the luteal phase you feel awful, but feel better during the first week of your cycle could be that often the sudden drop in hormones that happens just prior to the onset of a period can cause withdrawal symptoms. Maybe your own P drops so fast at period onset that you feel terrible from the sudden withdrawal, and when you take it in the luteal phase, even though your own P drops drastically, there is still the exogenous P there so there aren't the withdrawal symptoms.
No, I didn't like estriol. It caused slightly swollen, sore breasts and slight water retention for me. You might want to give it a try, but run it by your doc to see if it's OK since you are trying to get PG.
Is the doc that is advising you an OB/Gyn?
If you are trying to get pg, I wouldn't recommend estrogen at all unless your doc thinks your levels are too low.
Estrogen ideally should be tested both at day 3-4 and at day 21-23. Or I like to get it tested when I am feeling at my worst to see if the level correlates with my symptoms.
There are a lot of things out there saying that P 'wakes' up the E receptors and corrects any E deficiency, but I have found the opposite to be true for me, and judging by the experiences of others here, they also find it makes a low E situation even worse. Dr. Vliet also does not agree with this.
Hmmm, don't know why you can't PM, unless there is something in your controls that needs to be adjusted? But it could also be that lately my inbox is full a lot and I cannot receive any more PM's until I clear it. But I don't know if the PS site would let you know if the person to whom you are sending a PM has a full box and is unable to receive PMs
You shouldn't just stop the P cream suddenly, but very slowly decrease the dose and hold that dose for a couple weeks, then decrease again, etc. You might find you do OK on a lower dose, providing you didn't cut the dose too drastically and too quickly which would cause withdrawal-like symptoms.
You need to be very honest with your doc about how the P is making you feel, so that he/she really understands how serious it is.
Have you had your thyroid labs done? Even a subclinical deficiency of thyroid hormones (within normal limits but at the low end) can interfere with the ability to get pregnant and/or keep the pregnancy. There's a lot of literature out there about this.
I think the reason why when you use P during the luteal phase you feel awful, but feel better during the first week of your cycle could be that often the sudden drop in hormones that happens just prior to the onset of a period can cause withdrawal symptoms. Maybe your own P drops so fast at period onset that you feel terrible from the sudden withdrawal, and when you take it in the luteal phase, even though your own P drops drastically, there is still the exogenous P there so there aren't the withdrawal symptoms.
No, I didn't like estriol. It caused slightly swollen, sore breasts and slight water retention for me. You might want to give it a try, but run it by your doc to see if it's OK since you are trying to get PG.
Is the doc that is advising you an OB/Gyn?
QUOTE (Laine @ Jul 10 2009, 05:50 PM)
Hi Sariah,
I tried to PM you but site would not give me permission. Any idea what that is about?
Thanks very much for all the helpful info yesterday. I will go for a serum test for my estrogens and progesterone and see where they are at. Is it best to get estrogen tested at beg and end of month? Also will a blood test test for all of the estrogens-estriol, estrone and estradiol?
I checked up the Estrogel website but noticed that it was not recommended for pregnant women. Am not preg but hoping to be so.
Yes I have bad OCD, worse this past year than ever before. Feel completely crazy many days of the month.
Was wondering if you would know what kind of effect natural progesterone cream would have on my estrogen levels? My doctor and pharmacist seemed to think that adding progesterone would help increase my estrogen if it was low but I notice in your first post to me you said "If E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable" Why is this?
I have serious concerns about just stopping my progesterone cream altogether. All of my problems started when I cut back on my dose a year ago. I am reducing my dose slightly to see how I feel. I still had a bad adrenaline rush/burn in my chest last night after applying cream even though the dose was lower. What a nightmare.
I've also noticed that if I take more progesterone during the second half of my cycle (even though I feel awful during it and have bad reactions) I tend to have less depression during the first week of my next cycle. Any thoughts on that?
The eye dryness actually started a number of years before I started taking the progesterone cream. I thought it was a symptom of low estrogen but none of my doctors have told me this.
Just curious, were you not able to tolerate estriol? I did a search and found that quite a few women found it made them very emotional. There were a few helped by it. Maybe the emotional feelings are temporary as the body adjusts?
Think that is it for now. My head is spinning. I know I have more questions but I need to take a break. Thanks again.
I tried to PM you but site would not give me permission. Any idea what that is about?
Thanks very much for all the helpful info yesterday. I will go for a serum test for my estrogens and progesterone and see where they are at. Is it best to get estrogen tested at beg and end of month? Also will a blood test test for all of the estrogens-estriol, estrone and estradiol?
I checked up the Estrogel website but noticed that it was not recommended for pregnant women. Am not preg but hoping to be so.
Yes I have bad OCD, worse this past year than ever before. Feel completely crazy many days of the month.
Was wondering if you would know what kind of effect natural progesterone cream would have on my estrogen levels? My doctor and pharmacist seemed to think that adding progesterone would help increase my estrogen if it was low but I notice in your first post to me you said "If E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable" Why is this?
I have serious concerns about just stopping my progesterone cream altogether. All of my problems started when I cut back on my dose a year ago. I am reducing my dose slightly to see how I feel. I still had a bad adrenaline rush/burn in my chest last night after applying cream even though the dose was lower. What a nightmare.
I've also noticed that if I take more progesterone during the second half of my cycle (even though I feel awful during it and have bad reactions) I tend to have less depression during the first week of my next cycle. Any thoughts on that?
The eye dryness actually started a number of years before I started taking the progesterone cream. I thought it was a symptom of low estrogen but none of my doctors have told me this.
Just curious, were you not able to tolerate estriol? I did a search and found that quite a few women found it made them very emotional. There were a few helped by it. Maybe the emotional feelings are temporary as the body adjusts?
Think that is it for now. My head is spinning. I know I have more questions but I need to take a break. Thanks again.
QUOTE (Laine @ Jul 10 2009, 06:50 PM)
Was wondering if you would know what kind of effect natural progesterone cream would have on my estrogen levels? My doctor and pharmacist seemed to think that adding progesterone would help increase my estrogen if it was low but I notice in your first post to me you said "If E is already dropping, adding P exacerbates it and makes us miserable" Why is this?
It can raise your E. In my case Progesterone alone raised my E (not that I needed it), lowered my T and upped my DHEA as well. I had no significant change in my thyroid levels from the P though and I am now taking Armor for that.
When it comes to the ups and downs through out our cycle I find it difficult to navigate because I don't have a uterus so nothing physical to really base what time of the month I am in. I could tell the first few months when my P was dropping because I would have mild heart palps for about a week. I was told when this happened to increase my dose and that really did seem to work for me. The difference is I don't cycle P because of not having a uterus so it is tough to help someone who has to cycle. At the moment I don't notice that change, so maybe my P has leveled out enough it just doesn't happen anymore. I keep meaning to journal through this but I feel so much better than I did a year ago I don't bother. Kind of like why complain when things are good lol. I can tolerate the mild things because it is nothing to compared to what I felt like before taking P.
I do think you need to have your blood checked, maybe one of your other hormones is off. I disagree with your doctor just leaving it at "add more P" there could be something else going on.
Hi
Thanks once again for all of your helpful information. I know that you are not doctor's but I have to say that you have been more helpful to me than my doctor has been over this past year of distress and confusion.
I have some more questions and observations and any replies are much appreciated.
-I'm pretty sure that I am ovulating on a regular basis. I get the signs. The most significant one being pain in left or right side mid cycle. Given this, is it even necessary to use nat progesterone? As I mentioned, I started taking it for endometriosis and it really helped with that. No more yearly laporoscopies.
-Have noticed that I can tolerate a small amount of Progest prior to ovulation but once I have ovulated I get heart palps and adrenaline buzz. Doc said to use a bit prior to ov to prevent endo. Maybe I just need lower amounts than I have been taking? Maybe a continuous amount from Day 5 to start of period and not to increase around Day 15?
-One other thing that I really don't like when using Prog and I didn't get this when I first started it. I get this squeamish feel in my chest and it usually goes hand in hand with my ocd symptoms.
-I also seem to be having a harder time falling asleep.
-When I lower my dose I get heart rushes and trembling/adrenaline but when I increase my dose I get the same symptoms.
-I have some facial hair on my chin which I can't stand.
-I am also confused as to where to apply the cream. My doc told me to apply to inner arms and inner thighs. Now I am reading that the inner thighs have too many fat cells. So I decided one night to apply it to the tops of my feet and boy did I have an adrenaline rush that night.
Sariah- You mention Dr Vilet. I had a look at her website. Does she agree that bioidenticals can actually cause problems in some women? I'd love to see some articles if you are able to give me the links. I wonder whether they would be able to recommend a new doctor for me.
I have really tried to be honest with my doc this past year. She knows I have wanted to start a family and has actually been very helpful and supportive in her own way but she does not seem to realize that these hormones can cause negative effects for some women and this really frustrates me. She was a GP but is now an Anti Aging Doctor. I know that I desperately need a new doc but I do not know who to go to.
davinci817- So Progest increased your Estrogen-interesting. So, increasing your Progest helped relieve your heart palps. Once in a while the cream seems to calm my jumpy heart but more often than not these days it seems to make matters worse.
I am going to post some test results. I actually did get a serum test back in Nov (I had forgotten). It was done on Day 3 of my cycle:
TSH 1.2 mU/L (reference range 0.38-5.5)
FSH 4.5 IU/L (reference range Follicular/Luteal<9.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 4.0-20.0 IU/L)
LH 3.0 IU/L (reference range Follicle/Luteal<13.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 14.0-100 IU/L)
Estradiol 157 pmol/L (reference range Mid-follicular: 110-184 pmol/L)
(reference range Ovulatory peak: 550-1650pmol/L)
I realize that the reference range would be Follicular seeing as it was taken on Day 3.
I also had a saliva test done on Day 18 of my cycle. It appears to have been done last August. Didn't realize it was so long ago. Was very expensive!
Estradiol Within range 3.4 pg/ml Range is: 1.0-9.0 in Luteal phase
Estrone Low end of range 3.1 pg/ml Range is: 2.0-10.0 Endogenous range
Estriol Below range 5.0 pg/ml Range is 10.0-2,000 Supplementation range
Range is 5.0-20 Endogenouse Range
* I was only using a 0.5mg/gm vaginal estriol cream at the time so I think my result would be indicative of the Endogenous range and not supplementation range given the weakness of the cream.
Cortisol Am High end of range 9.7ng/ml Range is 2.0-11.0
Cortisol Noon Low end of range 1.2 ng/ml Range is 1.0-7.0
Coritsol PM Within range 1.1 ng/ml Range is 0.5-3.5
Cortisol HS Below range <0.2 ng/ml Range is 0.2-1.3
If you have bothered to wade through all of this...Thanks very much!
Thanks once again for all of your helpful information. I know that you are not doctor's but I have to say that you have been more helpful to me than my doctor has been over this past year of distress and confusion.
I have some more questions and observations and any replies are much appreciated.
-I'm pretty sure that I am ovulating on a regular basis. I get the signs. The most significant one being pain in left or right side mid cycle. Given this, is it even necessary to use nat progesterone? As I mentioned, I started taking it for endometriosis and it really helped with that. No more yearly laporoscopies.
-Have noticed that I can tolerate a small amount of Progest prior to ovulation but once I have ovulated I get heart palps and adrenaline buzz. Doc said to use a bit prior to ov to prevent endo. Maybe I just need lower amounts than I have been taking? Maybe a continuous amount from Day 5 to start of period and not to increase around Day 15?
-One other thing that I really don't like when using Prog and I didn't get this when I first started it. I get this squeamish feel in my chest and it usually goes hand in hand with my ocd symptoms.
-I also seem to be having a harder time falling asleep.
-When I lower my dose I get heart rushes and trembling/adrenaline but when I increase my dose I get the same symptoms.
-I have some facial hair on my chin which I can't stand.
-I am also confused as to where to apply the cream. My doc told me to apply to inner arms and inner thighs. Now I am reading that the inner thighs have too many fat cells. So I decided one night to apply it to the tops of my feet and boy did I have an adrenaline rush that night.
Sariah- You mention Dr Vilet. I had a look at her website. Does she agree that bioidenticals can actually cause problems in some women? I'd love to see some articles if you are able to give me the links. I wonder whether they would be able to recommend a new doctor for me.
I have really tried to be honest with my doc this past year. She knows I have wanted to start a family and has actually been very helpful and supportive in her own way but she does not seem to realize that these hormones can cause negative effects for some women and this really frustrates me. She was a GP but is now an Anti Aging Doctor. I know that I desperately need a new doc but I do not know who to go to.
davinci817- So Progest increased your Estrogen-interesting. So, increasing your Progest helped relieve your heart palps. Once in a while the cream seems to calm my jumpy heart but more often than not these days it seems to make matters worse.
I am going to post some test results. I actually did get a serum test back in Nov (I had forgotten). It was done on Day 3 of my cycle:
TSH 1.2 mU/L (reference range 0.38-5.5)
FSH 4.5 IU/L (reference range Follicular/Luteal<9.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 4.0-20.0 IU/L)
LH 3.0 IU/L (reference range Follicle/Luteal<13.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 14.0-100 IU/L)
Estradiol 157 pmol/L (reference range Mid-follicular: 110-184 pmol/L)
(reference range Ovulatory peak: 550-1650pmol/L)
I realize that the reference range would be Follicular seeing as it was taken on Day 3.
I also had a saliva test done on Day 18 of my cycle. It appears to have been done last August. Didn't realize it was so long ago. Was very expensive!
Estradiol Within range 3.4 pg/ml Range is: 1.0-9.0 in Luteal phase
Estrone Low end of range 3.1 pg/ml Range is: 2.0-10.0 Endogenous range
Estriol Below range 5.0 pg/ml Range is 10.0-2,000 Supplementation range
Range is 5.0-20 Endogenouse Range
* I was only using a 0.5mg/gm vaginal estriol cream at the time so I think my result would be indicative of the Endogenous range and not supplementation range given the weakness of the cream.
Cortisol Am High end of range 9.7ng/ml Range is 2.0-11.0
Cortisol Noon Low end of range 1.2 ng/ml Range is 1.0-7.0
Coritsol PM Within range 1.1 ng/ml Range is 0.5-3.5
Cortisol HS Below range <0.2 ng/ml Range is 0.2-1.3
If you have bothered to wade through all of this...Thanks very much!
Hi
Thanks once again for all of your helpful information. I know that you are not doctor's but I have to say that you have been more helpful to me than my doctor has been over this past year of distress and confusion.
I have some more questions and observations and any replies are much appreciated.
-I'm pretty sure that I am ovulating on a regular basis. I get the signs. The most significant one being pain in left or right side mid cycle. Given this, is it even necessary to use nat progesterone? As I mentioned, I started taking it for endometriosis and it really helped with that. No more yearly laporoscopies.
-Have noticed that I can tolerate a small amount of Progest prior to ovulation but once I have ovulated I get heart palps and adrenaline buzz. Doc said to use a bit prior to ov to prevent endo. Maybe I just need lower amounts than I have been taking? Maybe a continuous amount from Day 5 to start of period and not to increase around Day 15?
-One other thing that I really don't like when using Prog and I didn't get this when I first started it. I get this squeamish feel in my chest and it usually goes hand in hand with my ocd symptoms.
-I also seem to be having a harder time falling asleep.
-When I lower my dose I get heart rushes and trembling/adrenaline but when I increase my dose I get the same symptoms.
-I have some facial hair on my chin which I can't stand.
-I am also confused as to where to apply the cream. My doc told me to apply to inner arms and inner thighs. Now I am reading that the inner thighs have too many fat cells. So I decided one night to apply it to the tops of my feet and boy did I have an adrenaline rush that night.
Sariah- You mention Dr Vilet. I had a look at her website. Does she agree that bioidenticals can actually cause problems in some women? I'd love to see some articles if you are able to give me the links. I wonder whether they would be able to recommend a new doctor for me.
I have really tried to be honest with my doc this past year. She knows I have wanted to start a family and has actually been very helpful and supportive in her own way but she does not seem to realize that these hormones can cause negative effects for some women and this really frustrates me. She was a GP but is now an Anti Aging Doctor. I know that I desperately need a new doc but I do not know who to go to.
davinci817- So Progest increased your Estrogen-interesting. So, increasing your Progest helped relieve your heart palps. Once in a while the cream seems to calm my jumpy heart but more often than not these days it seems to make matters worse.
I am going to post some test results. I actually did get a serum test back in Nov (I had forgotten). It was done on Day 3 of my cycle:
TSH 1.2 mU/L (reference range 0.38-5.5)
FSH 4.5 IU/L (reference range Follicular/Luteal<9.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 4.0-20.0 IU/L)
LH 3.0 IU/L (reference range Follicle/Luteal<13.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 14.0-100 IU/L)
Estradiol 157 pmol/L (reference range Mid-follicular: 110-184 pmol/L)
(reference range Ovulatory peak: 550-1650pmol/L)
I realize that the reference range would be Follicular seeing as it was taken on Day 3.
I also had a saliva test done on Day 18 of my cycle. It appears to have been done last August. Didn't realize it was so long ago. Was very expensive!
Estradiol Within range 3.4 pg/ml Range is: 1.0-9.0 in Luteal phase
Estrone Low end of range 3.1 pg/ml Range is: 2.0-10.0 Endogenous range
Estriol Below range 5.0 pg/ml Range is 10.0-2,000 Supplementation range
Range is 5.0-20 Endogenouse Range
* I was only using a 0.5mg/gm vaginal estriol cream at the time so I think my result would be indicative of the Endogenous range and not supplementation range given the weakness of the cream.
Cortisol Am High end of range 9.7ng/ml Range is 2.0-11.0
Cortisol Noon Low end of range 1.2 ng/ml Range is 1.0-7.0
Coritsol PM Within range 1.1 ng/ml Range is 0.5-3.5
Cortisol HS Below range <0.2 ng/ml Range is 0.2-1.3
If you have bothered to wade through all of this...Thanks very much!
Thanks once again for all of your helpful information. I know that you are not doctor's but I have to say that you have been more helpful to me than my doctor has been over this past year of distress and confusion.
I have some more questions and observations and any replies are much appreciated.
-I'm pretty sure that I am ovulating on a regular basis. I get the signs. The most significant one being pain in left or right side mid cycle. Given this, is it even necessary to use nat progesterone? As I mentioned, I started taking it for endometriosis and it really helped with that. No more yearly laporoscopies.
-Have noticed that I can tolerate a small amount of Progest prior to ovulation but once I have ovulated I get heart palps and adrenaline buzz. Doc said to use a bit prior to ov to prevent endo. Maybe I just need lower amounts than I have been taking? Maybe a continuous amount from Day 5 to start of period and not to increase around Day 15?
-One other thing that I really don't like when using Prog and I didn't get this when I first started it. I get this squeamish feel in my chest and it usually goes hand in hand with my ocd symptoms.
-I also seem to be having a harder time falling asleep.
-When I lower my dose I get heart rushes and trembling/adrenaline but when I increase my dose I get the same symptoms.
-I have some facial hair on my chin which I can't stand.
-I am also confused as to where to apply the cream. My doc told me to apply to inner arms and inner thighs. Now I am reading that the inner thighs have too many fat cells. So I decided one night to apply it to the tops of my feet and boy did I have an adrenaline rush that night.
Sariah- You mention Dr Vilet. I had a look at her website. Does she agree that bioidenticals can actually cause problems in some women? I'd love to see some articles if you are able to give me the links. I wonder whether they would be able to recommend a new doctor for me.
I have really tried to be honest with my doc this past year. She knows I have wanted to start a family and has actually been very helpful and supportive in her own way but she does not seem to realize that these hormones can cause negative effects for some women and this really frustrates me. She was a GP but is now an Anti Aging Doctor. I know that I desperately need a new doc but I do not know who to go to.
davinci817- So Progest increased your Estrogen-interesting. So, increasing your Progest helped relieve your heart palps. Once in a while the cream seems to calm my jumpy heart but more often than not these days it seems to make matters worse.
I am going to post some test results. I actually did get a serum test back in Nov (I had forgotten). It was done on Day 3 of my cycle:
TSH 1.2 mU/L (reference range 0.38-5.5)
FSH 4.5 IU/L (reference range Follicular/Luteal<9.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 4.0-20.0 IU/L)
LH 3.0 IU/L (reference range Follicle/Luteal<13.0 IU/L)
(reference range Midcycle: 14.0-100 IU/L)
Estradiol 157 pmol/L (reference range Mid-follicular: 110-184 pmol/L)
(reference range Ovulatory peak: 550-1650pmol/L)
I realize that the reference range would be Follicular seeing as it was taken on Day 3.
I also had a saliva test done on Day 18 of my cycle. It appears to have been done last August. Didn't realize it was so long ago. Was very expensive!
Estradiol Within range 3.4 pg/ml Range is: 1.0-9.0 in Luteal phase
Estrone Low end of range 3.1 pg/ml Range is: 2.0-10.0 Endogenous range
Estriol Below range 5.0 pg/ml Range is 10.0-2,000 Supplementation range
Range is 5.0-20 Endogenouse Range
* I was only using a 0.5mg/gm vaginal estriol cream at the time so I think my result would be indicative of the Endogenous range and not supplementation range given the weakness of the cream.
Cortisol Am High end of range 9.7ng/ml Range is 2.0-11.0
Cortisol Noon Low end of range 1.2 ng/ml Range is 1.0-7.0
Coritsol PM Within range 1.1 ng/ml Range is 0.5-3.5
Cortisol HS Below range <0.2 ng/ml Range is 0.2-1.3
If you have bothered to wade through all of this...Thanks very much!
Laine--
I'm afraid I can't answer your questions as I am learning myself, but I wonder if the first step for you would be to do some doctor shopping. As you say, it sounds like your doc may not be knowledgable if s/he is leaving you so confused. Especially if you are still considering trying to get pregnant you really need someone who can help you sort out all your concerns. If pregnancy and postpartum are in your future, you will have a whole different set of questions and concerns about your hormone levels then and they will change with those states. Can you ask your friends, coworkers, or family for referalls for OB/GYNS who they have liked and found useful and have them describe their experiences with the doctors?
I have had friends schedule and pay for consultations with a few doctors so they can "interview" them and make an informed choice. I just switched GYNS after a decade as my old GYN didn't "get" perimenopause, in my opinion, and it was a bit of a pain but I feel well worth it....Hope this helps!
I'm afraid I can't answer your questions as I am learning myself, but I wonder if the first step for you would be to do some doctor shopping. As you say, it sounds like your doc may not be knowledgable if s/he is leaving you so confused. Especially if you are still considering trying to get pregnant you really need someone who can help you sort out all your concerns. If pregnancy and postpartum are in your future, you will have a whole different set of questions and concerns about your hormone levels then and they will change with those states. Can you ask your friends, coworkers, or family for referalls for OB/GYNS who they have liked and found useful and have them describe their experiences with the doctors?
I have had friends schedule and pay for consultations with a few doctors so they can "interview" them and make an informed choice. I just switched GYNS after a decade as my old GYN didn't "get" perimenopause, in my opinion, and it was a bit of a pain but I feel well worth it....Hope this helps!
Hi Sissyl,
Thanks for your post. Sorry it took me a while to reply. My computer is not working so am using library's!
Yes, I will definitely ask around friends and family for a good referral. Thanks for the suggestion. I do find it difficult to find an ObGyn who has knowledge with bioidenticals and is prepared to prescribe them.
Was also wondering if Sariah or Davinci were able to look over my post? I know it is really long, so sorry about that. Thanks guys,
and hope you are all well,
Elaine
Thanks for your post. Sorry it took me a while to reply. My computer is not working so am using library's!
Yes, I will definitely ask around friends and family for a good referral. Thanks for the suggestion. I do find it difficult to find an ObGyn who has knowledge with bioidenticals and is prepared to prescribe them.
Was also wondering if Sariah or Davinci were able to look over my post? I know it is really long, so sorry about that. Thanks guys,
and hope you are all well,
Elaine
Hi i can tell you the experience i had with an hrt.I am still getting cycles, This was two years ago i was having some anxiety and depression my gyno assumes it is peri and give me and hrt prempro, not the lowest dose either. So i took it, at first i felt better then after a few months went on i started getting depressed, phychotic feelings, doom ,gloom and more. So after about 7 months of this hell i decided to wean off slowly and go on zoloft and AD. Since then i been 90 percent better. So question is was i getting too much progesterone? Or is it the Ad making me feel better? I bet it was the progesterone too much make you wacky not enough makes you wacky so all i can say is talk to your doctor and hopeflully you will get right dose. Goodluck Tery
Also make sure that you are using the P only before bedtime. I take the oral form and the moment I climb in bed I grab my bottle and down she goes. If I don't fall right to sleep I start having this odd sensation, sort of like being out of body so I know it can affect you nearly instantly.
Progesterone did ease my heart palps considerably. When I was feeling very balanced the only time I would have them was when I assume I would have been ovulating or possibly starting my period. It is so difficult for me to know which as I don't bleed. I can only guess it is at one of these moments when I do have palps. Mind you though the palps are very very mild and I get through without taking anything or getting anxious over it so I really can't complain. The doctor had me up my dose by half when this happens and sure enough it goes away and I haven't had that problem as of late.
My initial dose was 150mg (oral oil caps) and since I wasn't "optimal" though within range the doctor wanted me to up my dose and put me on 225mg. Since starting my latest dose I did get acne within the first two weeks and I guess what is known as internal shakes. I describe the feeling like you don't have enough sugar, that jittery sort of feeling. So I went from being balanced to having to much P and now think I don't have enough since they told me to stop taking it. The doctor has called in a new script so will post when I start that and see what happens, we are dropping it down to 175mg. I did fall back on taking a 225mg last night because I know I was low on P yesterday. Told my husband I know they are trying to get me at an optimal range but I was very happy on the 150mg so I am hanging in there with the trial and error because it did work very well for me for the first five months until we fiddled with my dosing lol. argh ahh well relief is relief.
The hair growth is generally a Testosterone issue.
Like suggested in an earlier post, shop around for a new doctor!
Progesterone did ease my heart palps considerably. When I was feeling very balanced the only time I would have them was when I assume I would have been ovulating or possibly starting my period. It is so difficult for me to know which as I don't bleed. I can only guess it is at one of these moments when I do have palps. Mind you though the palps are very very mild and I get through without taking anything or getting anxious over it so I really can't complain. The doctor had me up my dose by half when this happens and sure enough it goes away and I haven't had that problem as of late.
My initial dose was 150mg (oral oil caps) and since I wasn't "optimal" though within range the doctor wanted me to up my dose and put me on 225mg. Since starting my latest dose I did get acne within the first two weeks and I guess what is known as internal shakes. I describe the feeling like you don't have enough sugar, that jittery sort of feeling. So I went from being balanced to having to much P and now think I don't have enough since they told me to stop taking it. The doctor has called in a new script so will post when I start that and see what happens, we are dropping it down to 175mg. I did fall back on taking a 225mg last night because I know I was low on P yesterday. Told my husband I know they are trying to get me at an optimal range but I was very happy on the 150mg so I am hanging in there with the trial and error because it did work very well for me for the first five months until we fiddled with my dosing lol. argh ahh well relief is relief.
The hair growth is generally a Testosterone issue.
Like suggested in an earlier post, shop around for a new doctor!
Thanks for your input and personal experiences. I really hope that you figure things out as well. It is sooo complicated getting it right.
LizardLover- I am so tempted to just wean off of the progest and try an anti depressant but I really want to get pregnant and would rather not be taking any meds. Having said that, if thing don't improve soon I may not have a choice in the matter.
Davinci- I have been using some of my Progest cream in the morning upon my doctor's suggestion and then a larger amount at night. You mention to just use it at night only. Do you say that because it can affect my mood during the day?
I know what you mean by internal shakes. I get that a a lot just lately especially when my dose is higher during the second half of my cycle but also when I introduce it at the beginning of my cycle. Actually it can also come a few days into my period as well. Ugh! I hope you can figure out your dosing. Maybe you are better off with the 150mg. Do you find oral caps preferable to cream? Does it store up in the body like the cream does?
I'm still not sure if I should be applying it to my inner thighs. Anybody know the answer? There seems to be fat there and I thought the cream can accumulate in fatty tissue?
I have one more question: When using Estriol cream, does it have to be applied at exactly the same time as Progesterone or can I apply the estriol in the morning and the progesterone at night? And do I have to apply the same amount of estriol as progesterone?
LizardLover- I am so tempted to just wean off of the progest and try an anti depressant but I really want to get pregnant and would rather not be taking any meds. Having said that, if thing don't improve soon I may not have a choice in the matter.
Davinci- I have been using some of my Progest cream in the morning upon my doctor's suggestion and then a larger amount at night. You mention to just use it at night only. Do you say that because it can affect my mood during the day?
I know what you mean by internal shakes. I get that a a lot just lately especially when my dose is higher during the second half of my cycle but also when I introduce it at the beginning of my cycle. Actually it can also come a few days into my period as well. Ugh! I hope you can figure out your dosing. Maybe you are better off with the 150mg. Do you find oral caps preferable to cream? Does it store up in the body like the cream does?
I'm still not sure if I should be applying it to my inner thighs. Anybody know the answer? There seems to be fat there and I thought the cream can accumulate in fatty tissue?
I have one more question: When using Estriol cream, does it have to be applied at exactly the same time as Progesterone or can I apply the estriol in the morning and the progesterone at night? And do I have to apply the same amount of estriol as progesterone?
QUOTE (Laine @ Jul 21 2009, 10:14 PM)
Davinci- I have been using some of my Progest cream in the morning upon my doctor's suggestion and then a larger amount at night. You mention to just use it at night only. Do you say that because it can affect my mood during the day?
I know what you mean by internal shakes. I get that a a lot just lately especially when my dose is higher during the second half of my cycle but also when I introduce it at the beginning of my cycle. Actually it can also come a few days into my period as well. Ugh! I hope you can figure out your dosing. Maybe you are better off with the 150mg. Do you find oral caps preferable to cream? Does it store up in the body like the cream does?
I'm still not sure if I should be applying it to my inner thighs. Anybody know the answer? There seems to be fat there and I thought the cream can accumulate in fatty tissue?
I have one more question: When using Estriol cream, does it have to be applied at exactly the same time as Progesterone or can I apply the estriol in the morning and the progesterone at night? And do I have to apply the same amount of estriol as progesterone?
I know what you mean by internal shakes. I get that a a lot just lately especially when my dose is higher during the second half of my cycle but also when I introduce it at the beginning of my cycle. Actually it can also come a few days into my period as well. Ugh! I hope you can figure out your dosing. Maybe you are better off with the 150mg. Do you find oral caps preferable to cream? Does it store up in the body like the cream does?
I'm still not sure if I should be applying it to my inner thighs. Anybody know the answer? There seems to be fat there and I thought the cream can accumulate in fatty tissue?
I have one more question: When using Estriol cream, does it have to be applied at exactly the same time as Progesterone or can I apply the estriol in the morning and the progesterone at night? And do I have to apply the same amount of estriol as progesterone?
I would say it could very well cause you problems in the mornings versus nightly doses only. Oral does not store up in the fat like the creams do.
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