Posted by susan C on August 20, 2001, at 11:50:58
In reply to Re: Hormone Hell! How can I }}AnneL and k9lover, posted by k9lover on August 19, 2001, at 10:30:02
Hi, I am 50, amoung other things, which is why I am here on this board, had severe PMS (10-14 days) before my cycle started...I KNEW my mood was because I ovulated...I KNEW it. I charted, I KNEW, I talked to obgyn, gp, obgyn female LOOKing looking looking. Finallly I found a womens clinic that specialized in PMS. They told me more than I knew. I started taking progesterone (shots, troches) and finally had results with the sustained release tablet. I had dramatic results in one month. Later, my pdoc and I added prozac, wwhich is another story. But the point of my post is to hunt for a knowledgable, experienced medical care providor and educate yourself. My current insight is from my new pdoc who commented on my history and said, you know, estrogen is a convulsant, and progesterone is an anti convulsant...your mood issue s may be seizure related. In my hunts for infomration, I have read on epilepsy sites comments by women about the timeing of their cycle and seizures. Studies are just now being done... Another bit, somepeoples moods are better when pregnant...after the birth of the child, sometimes it causes seizures...we are all so different. Like with your children, Moms know best, apply the same intutiton and search to yourself.
In a League of our own..
Susan C. > > > >
> > > > Have you had your hormone levels tested lately?
> > > > >No, I hadn't thought of that. Besides progesterone and testosterone, did your MD suggest
> > > any other hormone tests? Is there a specific time of the month when the blood tests should be performed (I'am assuming these are hormone assay levels)? I think it is a good idea and I will follow up with my gyno. Even though I think my results will probably be within normal range, I am not opposed to exploring every option. I think woman as they enter their early forties have it rough! Two more questions, if I may, would you mind disclosing your age, (I'am 41) and do you have any side effects from the progesterone creme and testosterone replacement therapy (such as acne, excessive hair growth, etc?) Thanks for your suggestions, I will definitely get my hormone levels checked out! Anne
> > > :)
> >
> > I am 43 and have questioned my ob-gyn for a number of years about the possibility of perimenopause. He has always doubted it (I don't know why, my friends who are in my age range are suffering the same sort of symptoms...and frankly most of them are on either Prozac, Effexor or Buspar and we are all doing the bcp 'crap shoot' to see if there is one that makes us feel better than another). He has said that if I am going through perimenopause that my bcps should take care of any problems. However, based upon what I have read, the synthetic progesterone in most bcps can be as symptom-provoking as not taking hormones at all.
> > k9lover: I have read the information by Dr. Lee (and have one of his tapes). I have seriously considered dropping the bcps and trying the natural progesterone. The last time my ob-gyn did a hormone (FSH) analysis was 10 years ago. He hasn't seen a need to do another. I know that if you are on bcps, you have to do this the week you are off of them.
> > Yes, this early forties drill seems rough (actually the late 30s did for me). It has been very frustrating getting my ob to go along with anything (I think it is because HE has never dealt with this!). Anyway. I too, would like more feedback on the natural progesterone results. I am somewhat concerned about the testosterone supplementation. I am acne-prone, and I understand that this can contribute to it (maybe that is a small consequence, but I don't really need anything else to make me feel bad about myself at this age, ha!).
> > Keep in touch!
>
> Hi
>
> I was a bit nervous about all this hormone stuff, especially since it was the testosterone that I was lacking. But all is well so far. THe other thing that has happened aside from feeling great, is that I feel a whole lot more level emotionally. It will be interesting to feel (or not I hope) the pms symptoms when they are due, to see if it affects them (it should apparently).
>
> As for being pre meno in our late 30's early 40's, I want to scream I AM NOT A TEXTBOOK!!!! I (we) might be the exception they read about, and in fact, be early into the meno stage. Especially given the psych challenges and imbalances there. I take the attitude that my taxes pay doctors (in Canada), they work FOR me, not against me - trust your witchy sense - if you think you are pre meno, make them prove you aren't!
>
> Sorry - hopped on my soapbox there for a minute! I'd retire now to my coffee...
>
> Cheers
>
> J
poster:susan C
thread:75460
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75671.html