Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 > Hi > Since I have stopped the WP, I have been giving considerable thought > about what to do next. Finished rereading Suzanne Somer's new book. > She is advocating very low doses of E and P. Sounds a lot like > Reiss's approach. This also sounds like where many of you are coming > from. I don't think there is any argument that everyone wants low P; > its the E issue that seems to have everyone stumped. I am not stumped..and neither is my doctor...he prescribed me 1.5 estradiol BID and told me to use the progesterone again when I feel like I am ready to in whatever dose I decide would be good for me (I have gone since 4/30 without P and will probably resume a very samll amount in another month or two, like 20mg daily, two weeks per month). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 That sounds real good. I tried to do just that, but then the last 5-6 days of the luteal phase are giving me enough trouble - itching and nerve pain in the breast, no sleep, that I added more E - up to 6 mg oo last night, to sleep a few hours. When you get P-symptoms in the "luteal" phase, to a smaller degree in the E-phase (?), - do you only add more E ? Has any of you gals gotten their period after cutting out the progesterone ? Also: is anyone who is adding more and more E to their "ideal low" intake of hormones feel their other organs being stressed ? This is what is being said by Dr. Dale as I read her, - and I must say that these days I feel the need for more Armour thyroid, and DHEA for my adrenals. Also, my liver muscle-tests as working very hard. Charlotte Re: after WP, what next? I am not stumped..and neither is my doctor...he prescribed me 1.5 estradiol BID and told me to use the progesterone again when I feel like I am ready to in whatever dose I decide would be good for me (I have gone since 4/30 without P and will probably resume a very samll amount in another month or two, like 20mg daily, two weeks per month).click here for our webpage http://rhythmicliving.com/**The group conversation is informational in nature and is not intended as medical advice.** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Hi charlotte - here is what I am doing: I have had no P since 4/30...and I have been using extra E this month - 3 mg twice a day...I felt like I needed more because of the P overload in me. I got a period last Thursday, 5/26...it was not due until Monday, 5/31...but it's been very light and " watery " and constant, but not heavy....I attributed this to not using P this month, if I had, it would not have come so soon (and I think I could have stopped it by applying P at that point)..on Monday 5/31 it came heavier and more red for the full day...since then I have been having a constant pink flow...so at this point, I have been flowing with something for 8 days. This I am sure is due to no P...using the P seems to define beginning and end of period...since i began to have this I have felt a little less fatigued and not so much in P overload, although I am still retaining fluids terribly and have swollen ankles and legs. I am still using more than my 1.5 mg dose twice daily (probably 2mg), but at some point when it feels right (probably in another day or two), I will use the 1.5 twice a day and see how that feels. I have been sleeping well since the flow began and so I will let it go as long as it wants...who know..maybe some of the P can get out that way, huh? > That sounds real good. I tried to do just that, but then the last 5- 6 days of the luteal phase are giving me enough trouble - itching and nerve pain in the breast, no sleep, that I added more E - up to 6 mg oo last night, to sleep a few hours. When you get P-symptoms in the " luteal " phase, to a smaller degree in the E-phase (?), - do you only add more E ? > Has any of you gals gotten their period after cutting out the progesterone ? > Also: is anyone who is adding more and more E to their " ideal low " intake of hormones feel their other organs being stressed ? This is what is being said by Dr. Dale as I read her, - and I must say that these days I feel the need for more Armour thyroid, and DHEA for my adrenals. Also, my liver muscle-tests > as working very hard. > Charlotte > Re: after WP, what next? > > > > > I am not stumped..and neither is my doctor...he prescribed me 1.5 > estradiol BID and told me to use the progesterone again when I feel > like I am ready to in whatever dose I decide would be good for me (I > have gone since 4/30 without P and will probably resume a very samll > amount in another month or two, like 20mg daily, two weeks per month). > > > > > > click here for our webpage http://rhythmicliving.com/ > > **The group conversation is informational in nature and is not intended as medical advice.** > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Makes complete sense to me, so glad you're having a relief. I had too, when I got my light, mostly brown and pink, period last month, and I felt great: no pains, grounded, - at the beach instead of only brisk walking I jogged for 2 or 3 minutes, wonderful - until the next morning, when my lower back was too painful ... I've been to the chiropractor 3 times since, it gets better, than worse....patience....! After my period I felt very needy of E, so I had to take between 4 and 6mg oo per day for 3 days. Then I went down to only 2 mg/day (1mg-drop BID), but now the last days before my (hopefully) period, I had to soothe the itch at night, jumping from 2-3mg to 6mg at night. So there seems to be a curve building itself, necessary at the moment to help normalize the P-storage. Love, and thanks for sharing. I will take you up on that other group offer when I have a bit more time. Charlotte Re: after WP, what next? Hi charlotte - here is what I am doing: I have had no P since 4/30...and I have been using extra E this month - 3 mg twice a day...I felt like I needed more because of the P overload in me. I got a period last Thursday, 5/26...it was not due until Monday, 5/31...but it's been very light and "watery" and constant, but not heavy....I attributed this to not using P this month, if I had, it would not have come so soon (and I think I could have stopped it by applying P at that point)..on Monday 5/31 it came heavier and more red for the full day...since then I have been having a constant pink flow...so at this point, I have been flowing with something for 8 days. This I am sure is due to no P...using the P seems to define beginning and end of period...since i began to have this I have felt a little less fatigued and not so much in P overload, although I am still retaining fluids terribly and have swollen ankles and legs. I am still using more than my 1.5 mg dose twice daily (probably 2mg), but at some point when it feels right (probably in another day or two), I will use the 1.5 twice a day and see how that feels. I have been sleeping well since the flow began and so I will let it go as long as it wants...who know..maybe some of the P can get out that way, huh? > Has any of you gals gotten their period after cutting out the progesterone ?> Also: is anyone who is adding more and more E to their "ideal low" intake of hormones feel their other organs being stressed ? This is what is being said by Dr. Dale as I read her, - and I must say that these days I feel the need for more Armour thyroid, and DHEA for my adrenals. Also, my liver muscle-tests> as working very hard.> Charlotte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 I just got my period today(amazingly early - day 23)and have not done any P during this luteal phase. I did WP E up until day 14, then after seeing my Dr. cut down to 2mg BID the rest of the cycle. I emailed him today and told him I was early and I guess I will be ready to add in a little P next month the last two weeks. He also wants to keep me on 1.5 mg. E BID and tiny bit of P. What I am confused about is I still feel instinctively like I should continue to follow the natural cycle and peak and come down like our bodies do with E and P. I am copying a post from G. that talks about that. Any ideas how to get there with BHRT? Sonii Original Message ----- From: Gambardella To: rhythmicliving Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 9:16 AM Subject: Menstrual Cycle Rhythm per Dr. Vliet Greetings all. This is the menstrual rhythm per Dr. Vliet. From day one onward until ovulation, estradiol and to a lesser extent estrone, levels are rising as the growth of several follicles is being stimulated bt FSH. Once estrogen reaches a certain level in the bloodstream all but one of the follicles shrink and die. for the entire first half of the cycle, progesterone levels remain extremely low, ususally less than 1 nanogram per millimeter. The first half of the cycle is dominated by estrogen and is called the " Follicular Phase " (refers to the egg development in the ovary) or " Proliferative Phase " (refers to the process of growth of the endometrial lining in the uterus). Estradiol levels average about 200 pg/ml across the first 2 weeks of the cycle, with the low point being day 1 and the high point being ovulation, ususally about Day 14. Peak estradiol levels at the ovulatory phase are in the range of 350-500. The first few days of the cycle (1-3) estradiol levels are optimally about 80- 90, until the decline in estrogen with premenopausal years when estradiol typically drops to less than 40 during days 1-3 of cycle. Days 1-14 are typically the phase of the cycle during which women experience a sense of well being, optimal energy level, normal sleep and an up mood. In the first ten days of each new cycle, rising estradiol levels stimulate the release of LH from the brain. When estradiol reaches its peak (350-500) at mid cycle, LH triggers the follicle to be released as an egg, ovulation. The rapid drop in estradiol as the egg is released may trigger the onset of a migraine in some women. It may also contribute to brief disruption of sleep and for some women it may trigger brief mood swings. The egg develops into the corpus luteum. This half of the cycle is called the luteal phase. This phase of the cycle is dominated by the hormone Progesterone. Circulating levels of progesterone reach a peak between 10-25 nanograms per millimeter by about day 20 to 22. If there is no fertilization of the egg the corpus luteum begins to disintergrate and no longer makes progesterone so the progesterone level drops sharply, triggering the onset of bleeding. Estrogen also drops at this time of the cycle, and the falling estradiol level can be a trigger for migraines, restless sleep, anxiety symptoms, palpitaions and pain flares. Falling progesterone levels may furhter add to insomnia and anxiety triggered by the falling estradiol. Estrogen levels also rose again from ovulation until about day 20, reaching the peak for the second half of the cycle at the same time progesterone is peaking. The optimal level of estradiol in the luteal phase of a healhty cycle is somwhat less than in the follicular phase of the cycle. Average peak luteal phase estradiol levels are about 200-300. Worsening PMS symptoms will occur when luteal phase estradiol levels fall below 160-170. Another effect of progesterone is to slow down the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract by decreasing the muscular waves that move material through the entire digestive system. As a result, you hold more contents in the intestine when progesterone is high so this is one reason you feel full or bloated at this phase of the cycle. I hope this is of some help in understanding the rhythms that we would normally go through. If I am not jumping back on the boards in the pm hours it is because my computer at home crapped out and I am going away this weekend so who know when I will have the time to get around to purchasing another. I really need to give up my day job to concentrate on all of this LOL. I do hope this helps..... G > That sounds real good. I tried to do just that, but then the last 5- 6 days of the luteal phase are giving me enough trouble - itching and nerve pain in the breast, no sleep, that I added more E - up to 6 mg oo last night, to sleep a few hours. When you get P-symptoms in the " luteal " phase, to a smaller degree in the E-phase (?), - do you only add more E ? > Has any of you gals gotten their period after cutting out the progesterone ? > Also: is anyone who is adding more and more E to their " ideal low " intake of hormones feel their other organs being stressed ? This is what is being said by Dr. Dale as I read her, - and I must say that these days I feel the need for more Armour thyroid, and DHEA for my adrenals. Also, my liver muscle-tests > as working very hard. > Charlotte > Re: after WP, what next? > > > > > I am not stumped..and neither is my doctor...he prescribed me 1.5 > estradiol BID and told me to use the progesterone again when I feel > like I am ready to in whatever dose I decide would be good for me (I > have gone since 4/30 without P and will probably resume a very samll > amount in another month or two, like 20mg daily, two weeks per month). > > > > > > click here for our webpage http://rhythmicliving.com/ > > **The group conversation is informational in nature and is not intended as medical advice.** > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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