Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
First of all, I am taking bio-identical Progesterone, orally (it is a prescription made from yams called Prometrium) every day (not just half the time, like some women do).
I think my LLMD was trying to get me to not be so "estrogen-dominant"...like seeing if adding a little progesterone could help my symptoms of fatigue, etc.
I have been doing this for about 3 months or so with no problems.
But today I got a little bit of loose stools, followed by vaginal bleeding. It is a little bit heavier than when I had "implantation bleeding" from being pregnant. It is similar to the start of a period...which for me is not very heavy, more pink than red.
But there was enough of it for me think something is up.
My last period started 16 days ago. I usually run 26 day cycles, but last month, it was only a 23 day cycle. If this is the start of my period, it would be a 16 day cycle. I'm wondering if that is even possible.
Or could this be something else? I will past something from about.com, and you guys can tell me what could be happening. Like perhaps this is thyroid? But I don't have any thinning hair, and I think my thyroid hormones were checking out normal.
Could it have been a chemical pregnancy? (conceiving followed by a quick miscarriage) Bleeding during ovulation (which I've never had...anyone had this?) Could this be from my progesterone (I have heard they use it to induce periods in women who stop menstruating)?
I am thinking it isn't possible for this to be implantation bleeding?
Here is the list:
"What Causes Bleeding Between Periods? Although the cause of irregular bleeding can vary according to individual health situations, some of the more common causes include:
* Implantation Bleeding/Pregnancy * Miscarriage * Hormonal fluctuations * Starting, stopping, or missing oral contraceptives or estrogens * Low thyroid levels * Stress * IUDs occasionally cause slight spotting * Injury to the vagina from insertion of objects * Malignant cancers * Undiagnosed vaginal infections * Certain drugs, particularly anticoagulants * Vaginal dryness * GYN procedures * Some women have spotting during ovulation, which is normal"
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
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posted
Here is another quote I found: "I agree with your GYN - mid-cycle bleeding is most commonly due to fluctuations in the progesterone or estrogen. If either of these hormones drop below a certain level, breakthrough bleeding can occur.<BR>"
So I doubt it could be low progesterone....and probably not low estrogen? Or could it be? Maybe that's the reason? Maybe the oral progesterone is messing with my estrogen levels?
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
It's probably the progesterone since that is the only thing you've changed. I used to have periods every two weeks, but I had endometriosis and fibroid tumors. Hysterectomy fixed that!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I am also very afraid I could be pregnant. If my cycles are very short, (last one was 23 days) what if I ovulated like on day 10, and now the egg is implanting?
We use condoms though.
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Hoosiers51
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posted
Thanks, Lymetoo. So it might just be mid-cycle spotting? Or would this be my period already starting?
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I would think it's the progesterone. It's just not meant to be used the first half of the cycle in menstruating women. I would talk to your doctor about it. Sounds like it's making your cycles shorter.
Xymogen brand, available through doctors, has a product called Dimension 3 (you can google it). It helps with estrogen dominance. Might be a better way to tackle this problem.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Hoosiers51
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posted
I should also mention I have cramps, so it seems like I am starting my period already.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
I think it is the prometrium- A dr recently wanted me to try taking it everyday to see if it was the P that allowed me to gain weight while i was on it two years ago.
He mentioned it can cause bleeding and might change my period cycle as well.
I have not tried this yet...kind of keeping it on the back burner for now.
Remember prometrium is used to help bring on a period when you havent had one for awhile.
Of course when in doubt go in for labs and consult with the gyn just to make sure everything is ok, or maybe your LLMD could run a hormone panel or be able to answer.
My cycle this month was shorter 24 days...first time in awhile it has been irregular.
Do you know when you ovulated this month?
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
My cycles can vary from 35 days apart to 19 or less.
I never know month to month.
I am not able to bear children anymore due to getting my tubes tied.
My normal cycle used to be every 30 days.
I am pretty darn sure that I am not ovulating during my shorter cycles.
Pretty sure I am during my longer ones.
May want to try an ovulation predictor test to see if you are ovulating.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Thanks for the info, everyone.
I think I have decided that it's probably from the Prometrium.
Strangely, bleeding between periods was not listed in the side effects list I looked at for Prometrium, but it was listed (along with cramping) on a master list of side effects for all progesterone medicines (it was a list that was supposed to apply to all of them).
One other thing I found interesting when I was reading the side effects, was that depression can happen sometimes. And I have been having depression appear this month, and it's been the first time in a long time I've felt this depressed. So I'm pretty sure this Prometrium is doing funny things to me.
I am going to talk to my doctor about it. I am also gonna take a pregnancy test in a few days just in case, but I strongly doubt I am pregnant.
This bleeding is strange, because sometimes it just shows up in the toilet as tiny little separate specks. Almost like little fiberous clots.
Now that a little more time has gone by, I am thinking this is probably not a period.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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pamoisondelune
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11846
posted
Are you taking Calcium D glucarate which combats estrogen dominance i think--- it neutralizes the bad kind of estrogen, i forget which of the 3 kinds is the bad kind.
----Polly Polygonum
Posts: 1226 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
I would definitely suspect the hormones you are taking, because anytime you alter your body's normal state, strange things could happen- especially to us, who are not normal anyways!
If you think about it- progesterone increases during ovulation and pregnancy. It decreases dramatically if the egg is not fertilized, tirggering menstruation. Therefore, if you are taking hormones that decrease your progesterone, then it's likely to trigger the early onset of menstruation in your body.
Low progesterone can also cause depression- progesterone drops rapidly after ovulation and after giving birth, which helps explain PMS and postpartum symptoms. Perhaps this treatment isn't working for you as intended? It would also be mighty hard to maintain a pregnancy if there is not enough progesterone.
I hope you work it out soon- it's always frustrating to figure out our poor, broken bodies!!
-------------------- Jessica Diagnosed with Lyme in 2004 First became sick in 2001 Mom to 2 beautiful, healthy boys Baby #3 Due in May 2010 Posts: 10 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2006
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
Just wondering, why a LLMD messes with someone's hormones.
My LLMD neuro refers to endocrinologist if hormone issues suspected.
I do hope things get resolved and your system gets in order.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
2boysmama,
This pill should be increasing my progesterone, so I'm a little bit confused by what you said...but it would be easy to confuse me anyways!
I was wrong in saying I didn't think this was a period....now it seems as though this definitely IS a period.
So I think I'm just gonna stop it. Then call my LLMD tomorrow, once a little more time has gone by, so I can give him a more accurate report.
Supposedly proggesterone is a percursor to lots of other hormones, so I think that's another reason we tried it.
Seems like stopping it would be best. Thanks for listening.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
I've been to two male LLMDs and have brought up my feeling that hormonal issues are conributing to the fact that I'm not getting well. My symptoms really ramp up (particulary chest pain and SOB)right before my period starts and then they go off the chart during.
Beyond the fact that they don't want to talk about it, their response is usually inducing chemical menopause "to eliminate" it if there is a problem.
I've resisted this strongly because frankly if they throw menopause symptoms on top of my regular symptom circus I don't think I can handle it. Plus I'm just sick of being treated symptomatically and not getting to the root of a particular problem.
One LLMD acutally told me he'd rather treat 20 men to one woman because we're so much more complicated to treat because of our hormones.
I hope I'm finally getting somewhere on this issue with my current LLMD. I've mentioned it for months. Finally when I pointed out the correlations in symptoms with my cycle he is looking into it.
He seemed suprised and acted like I was just bringing it up for the first time when I've mentioned it at every appointment. Personally, I don't think they like dealing with it and I think it is a HUGE issue for some of us.
I too experience the odd non-period bleeding and have noticed that when that happens my symptoms again ramp up.
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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