Posted by kezia on January 12, 2008, at 21:34:10
In reply to Evening Primrose Oil and Hormones » kezia, posted by ClearSkies on January 11, 2008, at 10:42:49
Thanks so much, ClearSkies, for the information. I'm glad to hear that the HRT is working for you. Perimenopause is beyond a drag. I went from being a mostly happy, enthusiastic bundle of energy to sluggish and low around 42. It really was like night and day. Previously, I had had one depressive episode, which was more overwhelming and unrelenting anxiety that led to the depressed state, and responded within weeks to the first AD I was put on. Now, the ADs I have tried just leave me apathetic and tired. My gp keeps pushing bc pills, but I think my pdoc may agree to HRT.
Anway, thanks again. Much appreciated.
> > Hi ClearSkies,
> >
> > Can I ask how long it took for you to notice a difference from the Evening Primrose Oil? I had tried Evening Primrose Oil a few years ago, but it did not provide any relief, even after several months use.
> >
>
> I only determined that the EPR was helping me after I participated in a 6 month study, where I did daily charting of PMS symptoms. This was a long time before I ever became perimenopausal, in 1997 - I had always suffered from severe PMS. I found that daily use of at least 1000mg brought relief from irritability, breast tenderness, and mood swings. When I presented at my GYN with severe perimenopause symptoms, I was only slightly surprised that she recommended the EPR to help give me some relief.
> I have found that generally it takes about 6 weeks of daily use for me to notice an overall improvement of symptoms. Some may say that this isn't a good enough return on an investment, but my take is that I'm not experiencing any adverse side effects from taking the supplements, and only experiencing benefits, so it's really a no-brainer for me!
>
> > Also, if you don't mind my asking, what does of estrogen are you on? Had you previously tried birth control pills to control your symptoms? I know without a doubt that I am in perimenopause (46 with irregular periods night sweats, but not every month or all month long . . .). My doctors seem hell bent on birth control pills, but I really do not want to go that route, given the side effects and the risks to women over 35.
> >
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> I had tried several different types of birth control pills with no relief of my perimenopause symptoms (mostly heavy and very long periods with severe cramping, with migraine headaches). They also made my blood pressure go high, which made them a poor choice because of the migraine medication I was on at the time. So we tried about 4 different kinds of BC pills before abandoning them in favour of the estrogen/progesterone combinations.
>
> I'm now taking an estriadol tablet called Enjuvia, at a 1.25mg dose, and a progesterone pill called Prometrium, in a 100mg dose. I think they are both relatively low dosages. It took about a year and half of trying different formulations of pills, tablets and patches before my doctor and I arrived at this particular solution for me, and I've been stable on this combination for over a year.
>
> The migraine headaches are being successfully treated by taking a preventative medication, Zonegran. It's an off-label use of an anti-convulsant. I'm also being treated (OK, by a third doctor...) for the high blood pressure, which never did resolve itself. I'm not happy about having to take so many different pills every day, but I am much happier about how my perimenopause is being treated!
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> > Anyway, anything you can tell me would be great.
> >
> > Kez
> >
> >
>
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poster:kezia
thread:803167
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20071116/msgs/806071.html