I started using this natural cream a little over 2 months ago. I had a partial hyst back in the early 90's and have experienced menopausal-type symptoms on and off ever since. Someone here suggested using the natural progesterone cream after I complained of frequent nausea. I researched this cream thoroughly before use and started to use it. It did wonders for me. For the first time in over 30 years I was sleeping like a log, and the nausea disappeared. Now I am not feeling so hot. I am sleepy alot, and feel so bummed out. I know that using too much progesterone cream can cause these symptoms. I didn't use the cream as much as someone like me was supposed to. We're supposed to use it three weeks, then off one. I used it two weeks and off two, because I felt I didn't need it for 3 weeks. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had these syptoms after using the cream for awhile. I stopped using it a few days ago and am waiting to see if this severe doom and gloom will pass. At times it has been almost unbearable. It seems to fade away in the evening. Can this be from too much progesterone in my system?
Thanks,
Marilyn
__________________
Sleep well - there are people out there willing to die tonight so we can wake up safe tomorrow.
Good morning Marilyn,
I had to reply...I hope I don't give you any misinformation, but will share with you my experience and what knowledge I have
I also had a partial hysterectomy (mine about 12 yrs ago) and recently began using the nat. progesterone cream (3 months ago). I have Dr. Lee's books and have found a lot of info on another website re: Natural Alternatives. Here's what I've read: we are to start out using the prog. everyday (morning and evening) for the first 3-4 months before even taking a break. I used 1/4 tsp. in the a.m. and 1/4 in the p.m. for 2 months and was doing fine. I began seeing some symptoms returning (anxiety, night sweats, etc.) and with some great guidance from this other website, decided to try taking a break to see what would happen (I only took a 5 day break the first time).
I understand that each woman is going to get different results until we find the "right dose"...and because I'm very thin (114 lbs) and have very little body fat, I need less progesterone than a lot of women. Some women are more sensitive to it. Unfortunately, I had a lot of skepticism about whether or not it would help me and when I started feeling the anxiety return with a vengence around Thanksgiving, I panicked and dropped my dose WAY down to 1/8 tsp. per DAY! Well, that didn't work.......I was about going out of my mind. (I'll add that I was also using a prescrip. testosterone all this time)
Last week I stopped using the testosterone and raised my progesterone back up to 1/4 tsp in the a.m. and 1/8 tsp. in the p.m. This worked wonders and I am now free of the horrible anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts of doom and feeling like I was dying...AND, I'm now sleeping better as well.
Some women have a reaction to an excess of progesterone which may include drowsiness, dizziness, heaviness of the extremities, feeling antsy, anxious, can't sleep...waking in the night with anxiety, hot flashes or depression. They say if this happens, reduce the progesterone. In my case I "think" the combination of prog. & testosterone was throwing me off balance. Also, I find that 1/8 tsp. wasn't enough because raising it to 1/4 & 1/8 helped. Maybe, try staying on it for the 21 days straight, using at least a 1/4 tsp. a day (there again, depending on your weight...you may need a little more than that). Then, I would "try" a 5-7 day break...then get right back on it. You will probably have to experiment with the dose, but I wouldn't take more than the 7 day break. Does this help at all?
Dr. Lee says that some women will tolerate a large amt. of prog. for the first 3-6 months, but then sometimes it begins not working or you begin to get estrogen like effects. When you have more progesterone than you need, it doesn't hurt anybody but what it does is to down regulate all the progesterone receptors. I think that's why he suggests lowering your dose after the 4 months.
Best of luck to you...I know how you feel. Kathy
Kathy, I don't really dare use the cream that much, because the symptoms of too much progesterone is extreme sleepiness and depression, of which I had both. (poor sentence structure!) A month after I started the cream, I felt so great. My moods leveled out, my anxiety disappeared, I was so mellow and sleeping so well. Then I started sleeping TOO hard and getting grumpy. I got so mentally exhausted I couldn't stand it, and would have to go lay down in bed several times a day. I stopped the cream for a couple of weeks, went back to feeling good again, so started up the cream once more. After another 2 weeks on it, I returned to tiredness, depression and sleeping too hard. It would take me 3-4 hours to completely wake up after getting out of bed. I think I might be one of those that is extemely sensitive to the cream, and maybe, just MAYBE my ovaries are still producing some progesterone, so I don't need as much as some my age. I'm 52, which is the age the women in my family start the symptoms of menopause. I'm thinking that maybe I should just use it a week a month at most. I stopped using this cream about 5 days ago after suffering 2 days of such extreme and profound depression that I didn't care about anything or anyone. Each day after I stopped the cream, the depression slowly lifted and my good spirits are returning once again. I think if I used this cream as much as is recommended by the manufacturers and the books, I would have to be committed!
Marilyn
__________________
Sleep well - there are people out there willing to die tonight so we can wake up safe tomorrow.
When I entered perimenopause, I used progesterone creme on and off for several months. It made me tired and depressed. I then started doing some extensive research and now realize that our bodies require more estrogen at menopause -- not progesterone. It is the lack of estrogen that produces most of the menopausal symptoms. Since I started taking bio-identical estrogen and progesterone, I feel like a new woman! At this stage of our lives, it's all about *balancing* our hormones.
Our bodies severly cut down making progesterone when we start menopause, have a full hysterectomy and sometimes even just a partial hyst. We need progesterone to balance out the estrogen surges we have. I think we need both in our systems. Where do you go to get the natural balance of both? I absolutely REFUSE to use anything manmade/artificial.
P.S. I hadn't slept well since I was a teenager until I started using the progesterone cream, so I know it helps me, but I also wonder about the estrogen factor.
Thanks,
Marilyn
__________________
Sleep well - there are people out there willing to die tonight so we can wake up safe tomorrow.
Our bodies severly cut down making progesterone when we start menopause, have a full hysterectomy and sometimes even just a partial hyst. We need progesterone to balance out the estrogen surges we have. I think we need both in our systems. Where do you go to get the natural balance of both? I absolutely REFUSE to use anything manmade/artificial.
P.S. I hadn't slept well since I was a teenager until I started using the progesterone cream, so I know it helps me, but I also wonder about the estrogen factor.
Thanks,
Marilyn
Yes, our bodies cut down on progesterone when we enter menopause but our bodies do NOT need as much progesterone at this time of our lives either. Progesterone is what allows women to carry a pregnancy and that is the main function of this hormone during our childbearing years. It is actually the drop (not surges) in estrogen at menopause (or when one has a hysterectomy) which causes all the nasty symptoms -- inablility to sleep at night, hot flashes, mood changes, sweats, vaginal dryness and atrophy, dry skin, etc. etc.
Personally (and after a LOT of research and reading), I believe that menopausal women should only be taking bio-identical estradiol (and bio-identical progesterone if they still have a uterus) when they exhibit peri or menopausal symptoms. The bio-identical hormones are the same as what the body produces. Estradiol comes in pills (Estrace), patches, or topical gels/creams and Prometrium is the capsule form of bio-identical progesterone. I have been taking .5 - .75 mg Estrace and 100 mg Prometrium daily for five years and am very happy with my transition into menopause.
You said that you take bio identical estrogen and progesterone. Can you buy bio identical estrogen in the health food store? What are you taking and where do you get it at? Thanks!
Oh my, this is ALL too confusing! I wanna be a man!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Belle2003
to Class:
You said that you take bio identical estrogen and progesterone. Can you buy bio identical estrogen in the health food store? What are you taking and where do you get it at? Thanks!
__________________
Sleep well - there are people out there willing to die tonight so we can wake up safe tomorrow.
You said that you take bio identical estrogen and progesterone. Can you buy bio identical estrogen in the health food store? What are you taking and where do you get it at? Thanks!
To Belle,
If you read my last message above, you will see that I am taking Estrace and Prometrium. These are both prescription drugs. To be honest, I would not take an over-the-counter hormone preparation as they are not monitored for standardization and safety.
But...it's already been PROVEN that the prescriptions drugs given to us women for menopause are dangerous. I guess I'd rather trust the natural preps than chemical man-made, but I don't have a clue about them. Do we need a prescription? Do regular GP's know about this sort of thing or do we need a specialist? Too many questions and so much confusion!
Marilyn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Class
To Belle,
If you read my last message above, you will see that I am taking Estrace and Prometrium. These are both prescription drugs. To be honest, I would not take an over-the-counter hormone preparation as they are not monitored for standardization and safety.
__________________
Sleep well - there are people out there willing to die tonight so we can wake up safe tomorrow.
But...it's already been PROVEN that the prescriptions drugs given to us women for menopause are dangerous. I guess I'd rather trust the natural preps than chemical man-made, but I don't have a clue about them. Do we need a prescription? Do regular GP's know about this sort of thing or do we need a specialist? Too many questions and so much confusion!
Marilyn
What has been proven is that synthetic HRT (Premarin and Provera) might be dangerous, not that ALL prescription forms of HRT are dangerous. Bio-identical hormones are NOT synthetic -- they ARE natural hormones and are yam or soy based. Estradiol (in pills, patches, or topical gels) and Prometrium (natural progesterone) are a much better alternative than synthetic HRT. Yes, regular GP's know all about this so one does not need to see a specialist.
When I entered perimenopause, I used progesterone creme on and off for several months. It made me tired and depressed. I then started doing some extensive research and now realize that our bodies require more estrogen at menopause -- not progesterone. It is the lack of estrogen that produces most of the menopausal symptoms. Since I started taking bio-identical estrogen and progesterone, I feel like a new woman! At this stage of our lives, it's all about *balancing* our hormones.
How can you find a doctor that will perform the hormone saliva tests on you?
