I was wondering if NHRT has been helpful for depression,apathy,and no motivation? Can anyone share their experience with natural hormones and if it lifted their "depression?"

Progesterone made my depression worse. I have squat for motivation, but could use some apathy, as I worry, worry, worry!! Some studies have shown estrogen to help, but other studies show conflicting results. I seem to be more moody, than melancholy these days.

I wish I could tell you that I have had success w/NHRT but I cannot. I have been working w/Pete at Bellevue. He has been great..very attentive and quick to reply. It is not his fault that I am not responding well to Biest. I live out of the country so we are in constant communique via email...and I KNOW he has better things to do then email back and forth w/me. He did admit that I am a difficult case. I have been using the Biest since mid-May and it did get rid of the severe hotflashes, but I have been besieged w/an entire host of new symptoms since mid August. But please remember what works or doens't work for one will be totally different for another. I have made a couple of posts in the "New to Biest" message board...check that out. I hope yo have better luck than I have.

In July I was having problems with extreme fatigue, depression and total apathy. The Vivelle dot (0.025) has helped with all three. Like Chris Carol, I don't tolerate progesterone well. It makes more tired and depressed. To protect my uterus, I will be taking a course of progesterone every 3.5 months via the vaginal route. I also think that exercising on a regualr basis has helped with the depression. But I neede the estrogen to give me the motivation to exercise.

By the way, Vivelle is bioidentical, so it can be considered natural hormone replacement.

Cindy, if you return, can you tell me more about the product that you will use for your progesterone? I also am on Vivelle dot and currently am using the compounded progesterone cream. I am not sure that I like the effects of progesterone on a daily basis. I'd appreciate learning more about the product that you are using. Thanks, and good luck!! I had tried the oral biest and it gave me terrrible headaches. For me, the dot works so much better. I just need to experiment with the right dosing now. Tedi

Vivelle is what I had to get off of several years ago due to side affects:( I am leaning more and more to the fact that I simply cannot any estrogen outside my body and may have to go back to my horrible hot flashes:o

Walking was such an ingrained habit, by the time this crap hit, I never stopped. Walking helps depression, but I've had crying jags on many a walk.

Yes, walking is excellent. I have enjoyed walking alot however, I've been so weak for a month now that I've not been able to walk. I've become a shut-in.......today was better and we did get out of the house. Gosh, I wish this roller coaster mess would get over with.

I would not use progesterone on a daily basis, even though the progesterone part is when I feel best (it alleviates my headaches). I've read too many gyns who believe that the bad results of the "Study" were due to A: using a progestin rather than nat'l progesterone, or B: using it daily instead of just two weeks a month (the body does not normally produce progesterone until the last part of the cycle), or C: both of the above.

Tedi, I investigated using Prochieve, a progesterone gel that has replaced Crinone, but the price for 14 days of treatment is outrageous. So I am going to use suppositories that are compounded by my pharmacist. He makes these for a number of women who take progesterone by the vaginal route. My doctor recommends that if I am going to do this, I should probably get a yearly endometrial biopsy to make sure that my uterus is OK. I have had an endometrial biopsy and although it was pretty painful I still consider it a better alternative than the horrible way I feel when I am on progesterone.

Thanks you , Cindy, for getting back to me. It sure sounds like you've done your research and are making a choice that works best for you. Best wishes for continuing to do well!! Cyberhugs to all, Tedi

It seems like I have tried every medication available for my perimeno symptoms. The best so far for me is the biest. It's not perfect and I'm still perfecting the dosage and method but overall I feel better. Hot flashes have decreased, depression & fatigue are gone, energy has increased, crawling skin has stopped, hair loss has improved and I've lost 16 lbs! Overall I just feel about 95% better! If it weren't for the few flashes I still have, this stuff would be perfect for me! I have had about 28 symptoms over the last 2 yrs! I think you really have to be patient and try different methods of taking it (I use drops now and like that best cause you can easily adjust if you're having a bad day) I take it 3 times a day to even out the dosage. Progest is taken the last half of the cycle in sublingual form. Today I started Revival to see if I can totally eliminate the flashes. Hope it works!

Tami, How long have you been on the Biest? I have been on it since mid May. but this latest crisis began late August. I have a long list of symptoms too but have not counted them...will have to do that...but I will say that things seem to be improving. I've gone almost a week w/out a crash. That usually lasts for 2-3 days, then I spend the rest of the week recovering from the crash. I finally had to break down and take the beta-blockers...palps and rapid pulse were getting out of control. Taking lowest dose possible....it has helped, not completely eliminated them but diminished them and that helps lower the anxiety level too????? So, perhaps there is hope....???????????dunno....time will tell.

Cindy. First, my gyn. said I don't need the progesterone, until I started skipping cycles. I skipped one thus far. Then I reduced my dosage of estradiol, by just using a quarter of a .01 patch, at a time. The gyn said, I was likely absorbing little estrogen, with a quarter of a patch, so it would likely not promote uterine hyperplasia. Obviously, your doctor has a different opinion. I hate progesterone, too. I still say it's one of the culprits in my years of premenstrual dysphoria. I don't particularly like my current doctor, plus she's moved, so I may see someone else. Are you still menstruating??

Hi Deb. Yes, I've read everything here and most every meno book, and have tried most every combination of treatment (for a total of 7 years). I don't *necessarily* believe there is an answer for every meno symptom. I think a lot of it is just nature, and we are not going to control nature. I am helped by nat'l progesterone for sure, maybe a little bit by low dose estrogen, and a bit by good diet and exercise. But what is helping me more than anything now is acceptance. I don't expect to feel great and I try to think positive about the things I am able to enjoy.

I gave up tweaking hormones or psychotropics. Acceptance is rough, considering, I'm so sensitve to hormonal oscillations, but accept I must. Rough day, I have my period and feel sad and scared. I've given up on the magical cure. I think when the hormonal fluctuations settle, we'll all feel better. My diet has always been decent, particulary compared to the average American.

ChrisCarol, My periods have pretty much stopped. I think my last one was in April or some where around there. I think you mean that you are using a quarter of a 0.1 patch (there is no .01 Vivelle). If that's the case you are using .025, which is the same dose I use. I feel really good at this dose and don't have any hot flashes. But I think this week my ovaries kicked in, because I have a pain in my side and some breast tenderness, like I use to get when I was ovulating. I believe one of the reasons we have trouble getting doses right is because our own endogenous production of hormones kicks in now and then.

Whoops, you are right, about my dosage. Thanks, glad you feel good on that low of a dose.

I have just started treatment with doc erika and agree with deb on reading up on her extensive knowlege of balencing out your hormones. I learned that if u take estrogen without progesterone it is not good and also progesterone without estrogen also is not balencing your body correctly. i highly recommend her books. they make alot of sense. so far i have been without severe migrains for just over a week and before i was in the hospital once a week or more for a narcatic shot because of the severity of the migrains.....that is when i knew i better get help and fast . My own doc has received a packet fromn her and is just learning all the new knowledge. i will keep u all posted on my treatment. love darling:D