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Post by Karen on Oct 19, 2010 20:35:53 GMT -5
I still say read TCOYF first! It's an easy way to understand your body and your cycle in ways you never could before, and it'll be a huge help to know all that stuff before a doc appointment. It'll make you a much better patient!
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Post by Tamela on Oct 28, 2010 23:42:16 GMT -5
I have a question about progesterone. I have been taking liquid progesterone for about a month and my period is late. Normally I'm not late. Would taking this set off my cycle ?
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Post by Karen on Oct 29, 2010 6:17:49 GMT -5
Liquid progesterone? Haven't heard of that - please elaborate!
But, yes, some women find that taking progesterone can delay ovulation, which means your period would be delayed as well. Naturally in the body, progesterone is dominant from ovulation until your period. For normal (ie non-endo) women, progesterone (often cream) is suggested for use from ovulation until your period. If used before ovulation, it can kind of confuse the body a bit. But, for women with endo, it's often used before ovulation as well (as is the case with me).
If there's no other reason for late period (stress, diet changes, pregnancy, etc.), then I'd probably just chalk it up to the progesterone. Keep track of it, see if there's a similar pattern next month.
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Post by jhogan on Oct 29, 2010 12:01:08 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the Womens Health Connection Articles Karen. I have argued with many doctors about the thyroid issue for so many years, it was refreshing to read that the "standardized" blood tests might not be my personal standard for hormonal balance. I am trying to learn as much as I can prior to my surgery on 11/23/2010; can't really delve into any hormone testing or therapy until after the procedure. Thank goodness for this message board and for my so supportive husband!
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Post by Karen on Oct 29, 2010 12:33:14 GMT -5
Ooh, if you have thyroid issues as well, consider reading "Life Extension Revolution" by Miller. Goes into great detail about hormone balance, managing thyroid issues, doing what you can to prevent disease, etc. Certainly very informative, complete with 'normal' vs 'optimal' test ranges!
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Post by Tamela on Oct 29, 2010 14:29:12 GMT -5
Hi Karen It's a sublingual progesterone by APEX. I take three drops a day which is 15mg of progesterone. I can only get it through my NP. Other interesting note on thyroid. I had my thyroid checked for years and it wasn't until I went to this NP that she discovered I have Hashimotos. Another good book to read is called, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms by Kharrazian." serious eye opener on thyroid.
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Post by Karen on Oct 29, 2010 18:35:31 GMT -5
Ah, got it. Glad your NP is on board with that! Has it helped at all? Is she testing and monitoring your levels?
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Post by Tamela on Oct 29, 2010 19:14:23 GMT -5
Yeah she is taking blood every so often. My next appt is in Jan. I just saw her recently and she also wanted me tested for Celiac. She said 40% of those with Hashimotos have Celiac, so we shall see!!!!
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Post by redwood on Nov 19, 2010 18:25:20 GMT -5
How is it going with you, Karen? Did you increase your progesterone that you're taking?
This past month, I was still taking 150mg and this cycle had a little bit more pain than the last one. Well, an extra day or so that I noticed it, not really more pain than before. Just longer pain. My period was a bit lighter than last month. I'm not sure what to do, so I increased it to 187mg a day by taking 1/4 extra of the troche at night. I could call Dr. Luce and see what he says, but I imagine he would say to increase it to see what happens. If it's still the same next month, I'll call Dr. Luce to see what he suggests. December will be the last month I'll be able to call him as then my insurance will be canceled at the end of the year. Then I'll need to find a new Dr. in Vancouver. Although it won't be covered here either as my insurance will be just for emergency medical as a visitor here.
If increasing it doesn't help, I wonder if I should try something else. But I'm not sure what. I could try acupuncture again perhaps. I'm not so sure about trying synthetic progesterone. Although, I haven't tried that for this one. I was using it before as a preventive measure and had some side effects like bleeding every 2 weeks, so I stopped it. Unless I just need more progesterone. My gyn seemed to think I should start with 200mg. But I went from 100mg to 150mg to 187mg now. I must say that doing it that way decreases any side effects (like the drowsiness and loopiness) as you get used to it slowly.
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Post by Karen on Nov 19, 2010 18:47:17 GMT -5
I'm doing well. I've been taking 75 mg the first week after my period, then 150 mg from day 14. I noticed I'm getting some spotting, but it's such a tiny amount and it's been pretty regular for me the last 6 months or so. Pain levels are next to nothing, though my last period was a bit rough. It was a light period, though.
I think it's great that you're trying higher doses, but I think it'd be really helpful to get your hormone levels tested and see where they are at. That's the only real way to figure out if you're getting the right dose. I wonder if you'd feel different if you took a different form (cream or pill) at the same dose? Who knows.
Good luck finding a new doc that'll help you with your hormones! And if you do decide to go with a synthetic progestin, you'll likely only have the options to go with certain set doses, not customize like you can the bio-identicals. I found I had a ton more side effects when I was on a progestin (mirena) than I did on bio-identicals. I know everyone is different but that'd be something to watch for.
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Post by redwood on Nov 22, 2010 13:38:23 GMT -5
Yeah, I know I should get my hormone levels tested again, but at the moment, I don't have a Dr. up here in Canada and can only consult with my Dr. in Colorado over the phone. I wanted to see if there was a difference in the effect at the higher dose. My dr. had said it is possible that I need a higher dose like my gyn had said. Although, maybe I'm being impatient by not waiting another month to see if the 150mg works as it should. But the issue is that after December I won't be able to have a consultation with the Dr. in Colorado covered by insurance, so I want to see if the higher dose had a favorable effect before I talk to him next month, then he could adjust my prescription, which I could have mailed up here. Although, probably I should find a Dr. here sooner than later and I did find an office that has a similar type of Dr. who supports bioidentical hormones and there are acupuncturists and a naturopath in the office too, so they would be an alternative for me, since I have also gone that route before too. I found several places like this in Vancouver with a mix of alternative and western medicine, but some of them were sooo expensive that I couldn't consider going there. But the one I mentioned above didn't post any prices, so hopefully it's more reasonable.
I see for you, Karen, that sometimes you have a bad month, but that doesn't seem to make you feel that "it's not working." Or is it still just a big improvement over how it was before with you, before you started taking the progesterone? Two months ago was a nice improvement, but last month wasn't quite as good, although not as bad as this summer. But I guess there could be other reasons that it would be worse, not just that the dose of progesterone isn't high enough. I've been taking it 4 months now, so I want to at least try for 6 months to see if there is more improvement. I doubt I will go to synthetics. Just as a last resort if none of the alternatives work in the end.
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Post by Karen on Nov 22, 2010 18:50:16 GMT -5
Yes, I still have some bad periods here and there, but the daily pain is almost gone. That's what makes me think the progesterone is working. When you go from pain every. single. day. to pain just a few days a month, it's totally worthwhile! I know I won't cure my endo, know it won't go away for good, but anything I can do to improve upon how I was before is very welcome!
Yeah, I think it'd be good for you to find someone local. No sense in guessing anymore! And if your current doc knows he won't be your doc for much longer, can you be assured he's going to make the best decisions for you as a patient? He's got nothing to lose, after all! I'm not implying the guy is a crook, but if he knows the end is in sight, might not have much motivation to try everything he would if you were an ongoing patient that he'd see again? Just my two cents!
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Post by Karen on Nov 27, 2010 16:16:12 GMT -5
Ok, this is my second period on the higher dose. The damn thing snuck up on me! Went to the bathroom yesterday morning and there was some pink discharge. Didn't look like spotting, just pink. I though hmm, that's odd. Yesterday evening I went to the bathroom again and lo and behold, there was my period! NO pain at all leading up to it... usually the day or two before are hell. Only a tiny, tiny bit of pain in my leg and some light cramps after it started, but nothing like the typical endo pain AT ALL. Woke up today with some light cramps as well, but it was completely reminiscent of a typical, normal period for me before endo reared its ugly head. Next to no twinges where I typically have endo pain (lower right pelvic area), I don't have the complete brain fog, maybe a bit more tired today but I was driving for a few hours so that might be it. Oh, and my blood is bright bright red, not all brown and crusty looking like last month. Either it's just a fluke of a month or the higher dose is working... Whatever the case, though, I'll take it!!
This has been, by far, the best month overall. Usually in the second half of the month I get a bit more pain but not this month. Daily pain has been consistently almost non-existant. Yay!!!!!!
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Post by hellsbells on Nov 27, 2010 16:39:17 GMT -5
Yay, I guess we are getting in synch!
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Post by Karen on Nov 27, 2010 17:00:12 GMT -5
I know, I should have expected my period when you mentioned you had yours!
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