My ART Dr. whose office has a PA that works with hormones has been working with me since May.
She did an adrenal test, said I'm in adrenal fatigue.
I've been taking some supplements for that and she's been giving me Progesterone cream which I think is a good thing.
Last week she confirmed via blood test that I'm in menopause. She wants me to take Progesterone cream daily then she added estrogen which scares me to death.
I told her my concerns. She said our body naturally produces it and gave me a script for what she called more natural estrogen at a compounding pharmacy.
Is there really such a things as natural estrogen? I've had a few friends take estrogen and eventually they ended up with breast cancer.
posted
I believe that when done right bio-identical hormones can have a huge benefit. I started out doing just progesterone (oral) when my cycles became too short. Added Estriol cream a while later. Things went perfectly well for 2 years until my LLMD decided to put it all in one cream, and add a little testosterone to it. My hormone levels went through the roof, first I could not stop bleeding (too much E) then did not bleed at all (not enough P). Got acne (too much T.) My advice: work with somebody who knows what they are doing. Do only the bio-identical hormones. Keep a close eye on the hormone levels in the beginning. Do single ingredient medications, because it will take a bit of tweaking to get things right. I now have an NP who specializes in bio-identical hormones at my gyn`s office do the hormone treatment/monitoring and let my Lyme doc stick to her Lyme guns.
[ 09-06-2010, 02:19 PM: Message edited by: Kathi ]
Posts: 210 | From VA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
I use bioidentical hormones which have definitely helped me.
My LLMD told me never to take oral estrogen because it can cause cancer when it is metabolized in the liver.
My estrogen and testosterone are in liquid form, mixed in an almond oil. I rub them on my forearms...28 days on and 3 days off.
My progesterone is in capsule form and I take it at night...3 weeks on and 1 week off...definitely helps with sleep.
I take DHEA in the a.m and Vit D3 at noon.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I take bio-identical hormones and have for several years. They are wonderful, especially the progesterone when helps so much with sleep. It is called the "feel good hormone".
The doctor I get them from let's me adjust them according to what feels right for me. I take a very low dose of estrogen and a medium dose of progesterone. I take it sublingually. It can really change your life.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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janet thomas
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7122
posted
Estriol is the estrogen of pregancy. Estradiol is what's needed for HRT. Progesterone is only present during the second 2 weeks of a menstrual cycle. I would never take any hormone by mouth.
My periods stopped at 45, I thought it was menopause and it was awful. It was Lyme.
I use BHRT which I think is the best available-pellets in my butt-estradiol & testosterone which are monitored by blood levels and progesterone vaginally on days 1,3,5,7,& 9 of each month.
-------------------- I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice but only my personal experience and opinion. Posts: 2001 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2005
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- BHRT - bioidentical hormone replacement therapy - is preferred and is individually prescribed for YOUR body. More details: --------------
Video links: Oprah talks with experts and patients about Bioidentical Hormones
========================
Not at all about lyme - or the endocrine problems with lyme - but this book is a great place to begin. You can also get it from your library or they can order it by interlibrary loan. It is in the national library system.
You can look inside this book and read customer reviews here: ------------------
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness
- By Tori Hudson, ND
About $17 at Amazon
Forward: ``This is a book that should be in every woman's health library and every alternative practitioner's library. It is a resource for the new breed of conventional practitioners who are open to a more integrative health-care system.''
--Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom
=======================
Also look up her books: Christiane Northrup, M.D -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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