|
Post by redwood on Aug 19, 2011 12:20:17 GMT -5
well, I found my blood test from last year and my levels at mid cycle were 83 for estrogen (normal is less than 480) and 18.6 (normal range ends at 26) for progesterone. I was on OTC progesterone cream at the time, so I have no base where I had no extra progesterone . The dr. believed that the cream wouldn't elevate it because it was weak (OTC), so I'm not sure if that is my progesterone normally or what. But I am NOT doing the urine test again anytime soon. That is $550 and I just can't keep paying for that. It makes sense to do the blood test since that is what I did before I took the higher levels of progesterone. Although my estradial is always on the lower end of normal and not high, while my estone and estriol are higher, so it will only measure the low one. What about saliva tests? Can they measure estrone? I think maybe the answer is no as my NP really pushed the urine test. The blood tests would be covered by healthcare - not sure about saliva (probably not as I think that is more alternative). the urine test is more like a once a year thing because of the expense. So for the urine test, my estradiol was still on the low end, but who knew what my estrone and estriol was a year ago since it wasn't measured? It might have been on the high end then too.
I agree that things should be monitored. Something shows up in an ultrasound in the area where I have my pain. It grew from Feb. 2010 to Aug. 2010, so it would be good to see how it is now after the progesterone treatment.
Now I feel like I have a twinging pain in my butt and hope that's not endo now too. I had it a few days ago for maybe an hour and then it stopped, but it's back. Right below my tail bone.
I hope things improve next month. I remember the last time I tried to drop below 200mg on a few days and had a really bad period and month after that - pain until mid-cycle. So now that I'm back on 200mg 6-27, hopefully next month it will be better.
I hope the GP next week will refer me to that endo specialist. I'm sure she would if I was in severe pain, but since I'm not, then she might not think it's needed. But there is the fact that I had NO PAIN at all when I had the liver endometrioma (until it ruptured, of course). That plus the fact that I just had a liver endometrioma might just be enough for a referral. My appt. is next tuesday.
Another thing, my best months recently (besides the totally pain free december 2010) were march and april and that was when I was doing the endo diet strictly, so maybe I have to go back to that. I still do it, but I added back dairy in the form of goat yogurt and goat cheese and I cheat every once in a while (esp. when I'm traveling). Also, when I was strictly on it, I didn't eat meat at all, except for salmon. Although my meat use is still very sporadic (occasional chicken and buffalo maybe once a month, or even less).
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Aug 25, 2011 6:32:31 GMT -5
I *think* you can do just a portion of that urine test. The urine test looks at a lot of different things besides the sex hormones. I know I paid a fraction of what you did (I think that means my doc took less of a kick-back on it) but my doc also suggested we re-run just the cortisol portion of that test after a few months. I'm *hoping* it's not as expensive. Just throwing that out there as an option if it's something you'd consider doing again.
As for me, I'm sticking with the blood tests to get an overall view of my hormones. It's quick, easy, and insurance covers it. It's interesting to look back at my records and see how things have changed a bit. I'll be even more curious to see my next blood draw, which I'm hoping will be next month.
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Aug 25, 2011 11:32:09 GMT -5
yeah, I think you can JUST do the hormones only. I think I'll stick with blood tests too. I think my NP was ok with that, esp. since the other option was so expensive and I did do the urine test once already. Too bad you can't just deal directly with the company that does it.
I have a nice GP now for women's health. I went to see her for a pap smear/exam this past tuesday. She ordered an ultrasound for me and we'll see if they can still see something at the site of my pain. She told me that the gyns in her clinic do not prescribe the bioidentical hormones, so she said she wouldn't refer me to them. So I'll stick with my NP for that and if they find some issues on the US, then I'll try to have her refer me to that endo specialist that I read was open to alternative treatments.
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Sept 2, 2011 23:06:58 GMT -5
So, I've had my endo pain in my side for the past 2 to 3 days. Nothing extreme, but this is unusual, except of last month also. So I'm not sure what is going on. Last month I had changed things a bit and dropped my dose for days 5 and 6, so I thought maybe that was why, but the month after I did it like I usually do and there is still more pain than usual. Frustrating. Also, my breasts swelled up like they did when I first went on progesterone staring in the middle of my cyle and they are still like that on day 2 of my period. My period is much lighter than last month though. It seems important to start with the higher dose on day 5 in order to keep my period light. But then I still have a pain, so that's not good. I have an appt. with my NP in a few weeks, so I'll talk to her about it. I know she was concerned with my high progesterone reading, but it may seem like I need a higher dose rather than a lower one.
I also have an ultrasound scheduled from my GP to check on that "assumed" endo growth on my side and to look at my liver to make sure it's still ok too.
I just feel disappointed as I thought this was working well for me and now it seems like it is not. Or maybe I need to go back to taking it every day. The ONLY month that I had no pain at all was at 187mg every day and not taking a break.
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Sept 5, 2011 10:11:25 GMT -5
If it helps, I sometimes find that if I mess with my doses, it takes another month or so before things settle down and go back to normal. I hope your appointment with your NP goes well and you make some progress!
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Sept 7, 2011 5:39:50 GMT -5
Well, I'm going to re-do the urine test. My doc said there's a bit of a discount if you re-test within a year. Going to see if I get a period in the next month, and if so, I'll do the test on day 22 of my cycle. If no period, well, it'll be day 100+. Obviously things aren't right...
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Sept 7, 2011 15:32:32 GMT -5
Whoa! You haven't had a period in 100 days? Do you have pain at all? Any weird symptoms? Are you still on your 75/150 dose?
thanks for your previous post - that's good to know that maybe my pain level will return to the previous level. I just realized I forgot my dose from last night so now I have to double up today. bah! I have my US next week and see my ND the following week, so I shall see what to do....
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Sept 7, 2011 15:34:23 GMT -5
Karen, do you know what happened to Pretty? She seems to have disappeared. I remember reading about her surgery and that it went well and then she was gone and is a "guest" on here now. I thought she was going to be starting bio-identicals soon, sometime after the surgery. I was wondering how she was doing.
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Sept 7, 2011 19:22:28 GMT -5
No, no 100 day period... yet... I'm on day 75... Ugh. I had some spotting today and I'm actually HOPEFUL that it's my period so I can start counting the days until I can test again! I'm no longer on the 75/150 dose - when my period comes, I'll be off progesterone for the first two weeks, then on 75 mg from day 12-28. I'm trying to wean myself off the higher doses of progesterone.
Do you typically take your dose at night? If so, did you take your missing dose this morning? I've done that a few times and the drowsiness is killer if I take it in the a.m.!
I haven't heard about Pretty going on bio-identicals yet. She wanted a break from the board and I haven't heard if she's been on progesterone yet or not.
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Sept 7, 2011 23:33:23 GMT -5
Well, still, 75 days without a period is very long. I take 1/4 dose at noon and then 3/4 when I go to bed. Today I took a 1/2 dose at 2pm then 1/4 a few hours later and another 1/4 right now and the rest will be at bedtime (that is, since I missed my 3/4 dose last night). I wasn't tired today. I can do 1/2 dose (100mg) during the day and it's fine. I got drowsy when I first started taking it, but now that I've been taking the 200mg for several months, it doesn't faze me. Maybe 200 at once would make me drowsy, but the 3/4 dose doesn't at this point. Although you take the oral one and mine is a troche, so maybe it's different (although I heard the troche actually goes into your blood stream faster).
|
|
|
Post by awayaround on Sept 25, 2011 14:38:33 GMT -5
I have a question about progesterone cream...I was at whole foods the other day and I saw it. Is it smart to buy it there? I'm pretty desperate and I don't have time to meet with a NP right now!
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Sept 25, 2011 16:40:42 GMT -5
The over the counter dose is a small dose. Although it's best to work with a skilled professional, you can get it on your own and test things out. Some people have success with the cream, but others need a stronger prescription dose. If you're interested in trying it, just be sure to get one that doesn't have parabens in it. I believe Progest by emerita (if memory serves me) is paraben free. If you don't notice any changes after a few cycles, you may need a different dose or none at all. In my opinion, though, it's best to have your hormone levels tested prior to supplementing. There are some home tests you can do with either saliva or urine, but they can be pricey.
|
|
|
Post by disturbedme on Oct 6, 2011 22:30:36 GMT -5
Is anyone here doing the bio-identical hormone route? I am not sure what to try. I have a prescription for Micronor coming, but I am so close to just not doing it at all because the possibility of fake hormones causing blood clots freak me the heck out!!!!
But my chiropractor carries "Natural Woman" progesterone cream and has been treating a few of her patients with it... I think most of them are all postmenopausal women though and I would be her first endo patient to be on it. Has anyone heard of the "natural woman" cream and is that a good brand? This product is listed in Dr. John R. Lee's book "WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT PREMENOPAUSE". Which I definitely want to read at some point.
The only problem I have with taking this cream (bio-identical hormones) is... does it really control endo really well? The last thing I want is another endometrioma.
It says:
Ingredients
Natural Progesterone USP grade (990mg), Purified water, Natural Glycerin, Stearal Konium Chloride, Vitamin E, Avocardo Oil, Aloe Vera Oil, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin A Palmitate, Carrot Oil, LemonGrass oil.
Does NOT contain alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, Dong Quai, propelene glycol, black cohosh or Cramp Bark.
|
|
|
Post by disturbedme on Oct 6, 2011 22:36:44 GMT -5
I should also mention that the only reason I need a birth control or cream is to keep the endo at bay and keep from getting more endometriomas. Also to help the pain during my period would be a HUGE plus. But my cycles are already normal lengths. I have kept track of my cycles for over 6 or 7 years. Temping and cervical mucus and all that stuff. Before and after ovulation, the lengths are normal. My period has always been normal, except for the time I had the cyst growth and then I had really short luteal phases of like 5 to 7 days only, which was wacky at the time for me (I had no idea why it was happening because I dind't learn about the endometrioma until months and months later) because my luteal phase is usually 13 to 14 days long.
So I don't need to change the length of my cycles, but just need to stop endo from growing and to treat menstrual pain would be super nice!!!
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Oct 7, 2011 0:21:59 GMT -5
This is kind of a long thread but if you view the whole thing, you can see that both Karen and I have been on bio-identical progesterone for over a year. She has been taking an oral capsule and I have been using troches (both from compounding pharmacies). I take 200mg per day of progesterone on days 6-27 of my cycle. It has helped decrease my endo pain. I started with an over the counter cream, but those are not strong enough and you should get a prescription from a Dr. or naturopath for prescription strength progesterone. Also, they will test your hormones to see how much you should be taking (depending on how low your progesterone is in comparison to your estrogen levels). You can see a list here of Dr's who will prescribe bio-identical hormones: biomimetic-hormones.com/bioidentical-doctors/my periods are really light, like on BC, and I don't seem to have any side effects. I did try the progestin only BC pill before but it gave me a period every two weeks (light, but a period nevertheless). After 6 months, I stopped that. Then I didn't seem to have symptoms anymore so I didn't use anything for more than 2 years, but then when I started having pain again, I started on the progesterone a few months after that. It took a few months to see what my dosage should be.
|
|