OK., I have posted this question before, gotten some good ideas and have implemented/considered them all. I've also done a ton of reading to try and find more answers. Well, I am more confused now than ever and am looking for more advice!
I am post, probably now by 16 months and started on bio E, P and T in October. My issue is weight gain and not just the "middle aged spread" weight gain. It's all over. I have not changed my eating habits and we eat very well and balanced. I did have an issue with Prometrium (terrible hunger) and switched to transdermal P months ago. And, if anything I have upped my level of daily activity quite a bit (power walk 4 to 5 times a week, yoga and hot yoga classes 3 to 4 days a week)....and I'm still putting on weight.
I have read this can be the result of too much estrogen, too much progesterone, not enough estrogen and not enough progesterone. Is it tied to sleep or lack of? Is it a cortisol thing???
I have thought of upping my E, but then I'd have to balance with more P and P and I just don't get along that well.
Has anyone else experienced this insane weight gain while on HT? What am I doing wrong? I am stuck between a rock and a hard place right now trying to decide what direction to go in. Do I get off the hormones and see what happens or do I push through this and up my doses?
I'd love some advice on this, please and thank you.....;-)
Full Version: HELP!
Hi
Don't have a answer, but another related question. My Dr has increased my dose of P to 60mg, but first because I am cylcling the p, have to go 6 days with none. How does this effect you during this time, and do you usually have enough in your system to deal with the symptoms whilst you are off the P. Does increasing the dose, mean she is trying to make the symptoms even better
Jpie
Don't have a answer, but another related question. My Dr has increased my dose of P to 60mg, but first because I am cylcling the p, have to go 6 days with none. How does this effect you during this time, and do you usually have enough in your system to deal with the symptoms whilst you are off the P. Does increasing the dose, mean she is trying to make the symptoms even better
Jpie
My doctor took me off the HRT because of excessive weight gain. She wants to do another hormone panel on me in a month to see if we need to go another route with this.
QUOTE (bluetick @ Aug 24 2009, 04:18 PM) 
My doctor took me off the HRT because of excessive weight gain. She wants to do another hormone panel on me in a month to see if we need to go another route with this.
May I ask how much you gained? Did your doctor suggest why or how you gained the weight? Did she suggest it was the E, P or a combination of the two??
Are you peri or post? How long were you on HT, what did you take and what doses?
Trying to do some of my own investigating here so I'd appreciate your help with my questions.
I see my doctor for my yearly check up in a month but I'd like to make some decisions beforehand.
Thanks a bunch....
QUOTE (jpie @ Aug 24 2009, 04:15 PM)
Hi
Don't have a answer, but another related question. My Dr has increased my dose of P to 60mg, but first because I am cylcling the p, have to go 6 days with none. How does this effect you during this time, and do you usually have enough in your system to deal with the symptoms whilst you are off the P. Does increasing the dose, mean she is trying to make the symptoms even better
Jpie
Don't have a answer, but another related question. My Dr has increased my dose of P to 60mg, but first because I am cylcling the p, have to go 6 days with none. How does this effect you during this time, and do you usually have enough in your system to deal with the symptoms whilst you are off the P. Does increasing the dose, mean she is trying to make the symptoms even better
Jpie
It's hard to tell why your doc has upped your dose of P. He didn't tell you why? Is that transdermal? If it is, it seems a bit high....Honestly, if I didn't have to take progesterone, I wouldn't. I have taken myself off it here and there and had absolutely NO adverse side effects from doing so. I feel better as a matter of fact!
Are you taking E as well? What symptoms are you trying to alleviate?
I had an issue with weight gain also, and I am pretty sure mine was tied to the Prometrium. I was using 100 mgs continous. I am also post.
I got some bad bloodwork results, which included elevated liver enzymes, so I stopped the prometrium and dropped 7 pounds in a matter of DAYS.
I have since tried compounded transdermal P, which gave me migraines. I went off P altogether for a month or so and felt so much better!! Had more energy, the monster appetite went away, I had no water weight on me.
But, alas, I must use progesterone some of the time. So the doc suggested I try vaginal Prometrium at 200mgs a day. He was totally off the mark on that dosage, it is WAY WAY WAY too much!! In two days I had such RAGE I wanted to murder everybody I saw. It was BAD. So I did my own research and really the P used vaginally should be around 20 - 30 mgs a day, and should be cycled.
I am now going 6 weeks with no P, and then cycling it in. I still am getting the stupid migraines when I use the P. So I will use it for only a few days, until I induce a bleed. I figure if I am having a withdrawal bleed then I am protecting the uterus from hyperplasia.
I also use T at 0.1 mgs a day. I find the T has assisted in the weight loss efforts. I have lost 20 pounds since I first stopped the Prometrium orally.
I feel good most of the time, except when I am using the progesterone, I hate that stuff!!! And it takes several DAYS for the migraines to end after I stop taking it too.
I, too, wish there was another option, which involved no progesterone!!!
I got some bad bloodwork results, which included elevated liver enzymes, so I stopped the prometrium and dropped 7 pounds in a matter of DAYS.
I have since tried compounded transdermal P, which gave me migraines. I went off P altogether for a month or so and felt so much better!! Had more energy, the monster appetite went away, I had no water weight on me.
But, alas, I must use progesterone some of the time. So the doc suggested I try vaginal Prometrium at 200mgs a day. He was totally off the mark on that dosage, it is WAY WAY WAY too much!! In two days I had such RAGE I wanted to murder everybody I saw. It was BAD. So I did my own research and really the P used vaginally should be around 20 - 30 mgs a day, and should be cycled.
I am now going 6 weeks with no P, and then cycling it in. I still am getting the stupid migraines when I use the P. So I will use it for only a few days, until I induce a bleed. I figure if I am having a withdrawal bleed then I am protecting the uterus from hyperplasia.
I also use T at 0.1 mgs a day. I find the T has assisted in the weight loss efforts. I have lost 20 pounds since I first stopped the Prometrium orally.
I feel good most of the time, except when I am using the progesterone, I hate that stuff!!! And it takes several DAYS for the migraines to end after I stop taking it too.
I, too, wish there was another option, which involved no progesterone!!!
QUOTE (Floater @ Aug 25 2009, 04:25 AM)
I had an issue with weight gain also, and I am pretty sure mine was tied to the Prometrium. I was using 100 mgs continous. I am also post.
I got some bad bloodwork results, which included elevated liver enzymes, so I stopped the prometrium and dropped 7 pounds in a matter of DAYS.
I have since tried compounded transdermal P, which gave me migraines. I went off P altogether for a month or so and felt so much better!! Had more energy, the monster appetite went away, I had no water weight on me.
But, alas, I must use progesterone some of the time. So the doc suggested I try vaginal Prometrium at 200mgs a day. He was totally off the mark on that dosage, it is WAY WAY WAY too much!! In two days I had such RAGE I wanted to murder everybody I saw. It was BAD. So I did my own research and really the P used vaginally should be around 20 - 30 mgs a day, and should be cycled.
I am now going 6 weeks with no P, and then cycling it in. I still am getting the stupid migraines when I use the P. So I will use it for only a few days, until I induce a bleed. I figure if I am having a withdrawal bleed then I am protecting the uterus from hyperplasia.
I also use T at 0.1 mgs a day. I find the T has assisted in the weight loss efforts. I have lost 20 pounds since I first stopped the Prometrium orally.
I feel good most of the time, except when I am using the progesterone, I hate that stuff!!! And it takes several DAYS for the migraines to end after I stop taking it too.
I, too, wish there was another option, which involved no progesterone!!!
Hi Floater,
Thanks for that. I remember reading that your liver numbers were not good for a time there. Is everything back to normal now that you're not taking the Prometrium?
I have asked my doctor about the vaginal P, but he doesn't feel that it is protective enough of the breast and prefers the transdermal or oral routes. My compounding pharmacist feels it's OK though so it would be my next option if I choose to continue HT.
Does it bother you that much to take it vaginally on a continuous basis? I really do not want to bleed, but again, I guess it's an option and anything might be better than what's happening right now....:-)
Have you thought of trying Provera?
I got some bad bloodwork results, which included elevated liver enzymes, so I stopped the prometrium and dropped 7 pounds in a matter of DAYS.
I have since tried compounded transdermal P, which gave me migraines. I went off P altogether for a month or so and felt so much better!! Had more energy, the monster appetite went away, I had no water weight on me.
But, alas, I must use progesterone some of the time. So the doc suggested I try vaginal Prometrium at 200mgs a day. He was totally off the mark on that dosage, it is WAY WAY WAY too much!! In two days I had such RAGE I wanted to murder everybody I saw. It was BAD. So I did my own research and really the P used vaginally should be around 20 - 30 mgs a day, and should be cycled.
I am now going 6 weeks with no P, and then cycling it in. I still am getting the stupid migraines when I use the P. So I will use it for only a few days, until I induce a bleed. I figure if I am having a withdrawal bleed then I am protecting the uterus from hyperplasia.
I also use T at 0.1 mgs a day. I find the T has assisted in the weight loss efforts. I have lost 20 pounds since I first stopped the Prometrium orally.
I feel good most of the time, except when I am using the progesterone, I hate that stuff!!! And it takes several DAYS for the migraines to end after I stop taking it too.
I, too, wish there was another option, which involved no progesterone!!!
Hi Floater,
Thanks for that. I remember reading that your liver numbers were not good for a time there. Is everything back to normal now that you're not taking the Prometrium?
I have asked my doctor about the vaginal P, but he doesn't feel that it is protective enough of the breast and prefers the transdermal or oral routes. My compounding pharmacist feels it's OK though so it would be my next option if I choose to continue HT.
Does it bother you that much to take it vaginally on a continuous basis? I really do not want to bleed, but again, I guess it's an option and anything might be better than what's happening right now....:-)
Have you thought of trying Provera?
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