Posted by kezia on January 4, 2008, at 18:49:35
In reply to Re: ?s for Midnightzblue » kezia, posted by MidnightBlue on January 1, 2008, at 19:15:59
Thanks so much, MidnightBlue, for sharing your experience with me. Sorry for the delay in responding.
I am 46 right now, and peri is really taking its toll on me - both physically and mentally. ADs are only helping somewhat, unfortunately. I guess having 2 and 3 periods over the course of just over 30 days doesn't help. Being in a state of almost permanent PMS has really worn me down, so I am willing to try anything at this point. I will likely go with the bio-identical estrogen patch and try to limit my exposure to progesterone (perhaps looking to have something compounded). I have read quite a few studies, etc., on the positive effects of estrogen on mood, etc., and also how the addition of progesterone diminishes or even negates the positive effects, so that is a concern for me.
Anyway, if it is going to help, according to the studies I have read, I should know within about 3 weeks. So, I will raise it with my pdoc (who also specializes in women's hormonal issues and runs a PMS/Menopause clinic) and go from there.
Thanks again.
All the best,
Kez
> Hi,
>
> I think I was about 47 or 48 when I first tried an estrogen patch. I used Esclim though I have heard the Vivelle Dot is pretty good too.
>
> The estrogen helped with hot flashes, arthritis aches, general mood though it was not an antidepressant. It seemed to help the brain fog too. And I think I slept better.
>
> Unfortunately, I found the progesterone undid most of the benefits of the estrogen. And because progesterone made me VERY depressed I had to limit my exposure to it.
>
> I tried the progesterone pill--sorry can't remember the name-- that is supposed to be more natural, but it made me VERY sleepy and gave me bad heartburn. So I went to the same progesterone that is in some birth contol pills-- Agysten?(the one more closely related to testosterone)but only for about 7 days every three months. Even that was hard to do but it was better than every month or every day!
>
> Many years ago I tried a compounded form of progesterone that was all natural and that too would almost put me to sleep in the middle of the day. I just did not like it. It really clouded my thinking!
>
> Honestly I'm glad I'm off all of it, though if I could take just estrogen alone right now I think a small dose would really help me. No periods is really nice! I was about 53 before I was all the way through menopause. The last year or two I only had one or two periods.
>
> MB
poster:kezia
thread:803485
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20071116/msgs/804321.html