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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kezia on December 31, 2007, at 19:17:30
Hi,
I didn't want to interrupt Dinah's thread with questions of my own, so I thought I would start a new thread. I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions.
Did you use the estrogen patch during peri and, if so, do you mind telling at what age you starting using it? Also, you mention using progesterone only every 3 months. Were you using oral, topical or vaginal progesterone and was it bio-identical?
I'm dealing with peri right now, and it is starting to take its toll on me. The mood swings, low moods and terrible fatigue are getting to be hard to take. For the past year, I have been having 2 or 3 periods a month (with the exception of 3 months). Low-dose bc pills have been bantied about by both my gp and my pdoc, but I have had bad reactions (both physical and emotional) to synthetic progesterone in the past, so I am very nervous and reluctant to even try that route. It was suggested to me that I try a bio-identical estrogen patch with pro every 3 months, and I think I may pursue that option.
Finally, could you tell me what symptoms the estrogen helped with (depression?, fatigue? brain fog?, apathy?)?
Thanks and sorry for all of the questions.
Happy New Year to you!
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 1, 2008, at 19:15:59
In reply to ?s for Midnightzblue, posted by kezia on December 31, 2007, at 19:17:30
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
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
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2008, at 12:43:59
In reply to Re: ?s for Midnightzblue » MidnightBlue, posted by kezia on January 4, 2008, at 18:49:35
Late response I also could not hand the progesterone in the synthetic form and used the bioidentical formulated same with estrogens the two good ones were in it. Now preparing for ob-gyn surgery using premarin vaginal cream. To thicken vaginal wall the ob-gyn said. Good luck to you and update? Phillipa. Oh last period 52 on the bioidentical hormones
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