Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Elyse, Using progesterone cream is what helped begin my journey here. In a nutshell....I had NO sex drive, so after reading thought I should try P cream. I used it as directed for about 5 months and the ONLY thing it did for me was let me sleep at night! A couple of on-line friends suggested I do a saliva test, and low-and-behold, I discovered 1) my progesterone was sky-high and 2) I had virtually no thyroid hormones. My freeT4 was bottom of range, my free T3 was below range. My adrenals levels looked good, but I had many symptoms of AI, so I decided to try HC. I no longer use P cream, and am currently on 20 mg HC and 1.5 grains armour (increasing tomorrow). My sex drive is still bottomed out (I understand it may take a long time for that to come round), my back (adrenals) no longer ache in the morning (this is wonderful), I'm sleeping mostly well at night (occasional wake-ups during night, but not often anymore), and I still have many hypoT symptoms, but I'm just beginning thyroid replacement after decades of being low-functioning. Just my experiences. best,AdriaGreen Mountain Curlies, Inc.~~~http://greenmountaincurlies.official.ws/GMC Blog~~~http://greenmountaincurlies.blogspot.com If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. I just heard that women with weak adrenals cannot handle progesterone cream well. I was on progesterone cream but did not feel well on it so I stopped. Anyone else here experience this? I want to figure out if i should just take a lower dose or of it or stay off it?Elyse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Did you experience any hair loss? I wonder if progesterone replacement is like DHEA replacement. It gets stored in the fat and when one is deficient and starts supplementing, it builds in the fat and one can have too much? -- Re: progesterone cream Elyse, Using progesterone cream is what helped begin my journey here. In a nutshell....I had NO sex drive, so after reading thought I should try P cream. I used it as directed for about 5 months and the ONLY thing it did for me was let me sleep at night! A couple of on-line friends suggested I do a saliva test, and low-and-behold, I discovered 1) my progesterone was sky-high and 2) I had virtually no thyroid hormones. My freeT4 was bottom of range, my free T3 was below range. My adrenals levels looked good, but I had many symptoms of AI, so I decided to try HC. I no longer use P cream, and am currently on 20 mg HC and 1.5 grains armour (increasing tomorrow). My sex drive is still bottomed out (I understand it may take a long time for that to come round), my back (adrenals) no longer ache in the morning (this is wonderful), I'm sleeping mostly well at night (occasional wake-ups during night, but not often anymore), and I still have many hypoT symptoms, but I'm just beginning thyroid replacement after decades of being low-functioning. Just my experiences. best,Adria If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. I just heard that women with weak adrenals cannot handle progesterone cream well. I was on progesterone cream but did not feel well on it so I stopped. Anyone else here experience this? I want to figure out if i should just take a lower dose or of it or stay off it?Elyse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 This is very interesting Adria,So, you think the progesterone cream caused low thyroid? When you say you had symptoms of Al, I don't know that abbreviation, is that low adrenals? Interesting your adrenal levels looked good on the test. I haven't had a test in a while, so I don't know where I'm at with that, but it does sound like a lot of women here are going by symptoms, just wondering if that's enough. (I hope so, 'cos I'm sick of dealing with doctors that don't know anything about what's going on).elyseUsing progesterone cream is what helped begin my journey here. In a nutshell....I had NO sex drive, so after reading thought I should try P cream. I used it as directed for about 5 months and the ONLY thing it did for me was let me sleep at night! A couple of on-line friends suggested I do a saliva test, and low-and-behold, I discovered 1) my progesterone was sky-high and 2) I had virtually no thyroid hormones. My freeT4 was bottom of range, my free T3 was below range. My adrenals levels looked good, but I had many symptoms of AI, so I decided to try HC. I no longer use P cream, and am currently on 20 mg HC and 1.5 grains armour (increasing tomorrow). My sex drive is still bottomed out (I understand it may take a long time for that to come round), my back (adrenals) no longer ache in the morning (this is wonderful), I'm sleeping mostly well at night (occasional wake-ups during night, but not often anymore), and I still have many hypoT symptoms, but I'm just beginning thyroid replacement after decades of being low-functioning. Just my experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Elyse, Oh no! Sorry to give you that impression! I believe I've been low thyroid for decades. It is just what led me to learn about my thyroid problems. Yes, AI is Adrenal Insufficiency;easier to type AI, lol. You know, in the "old times" most docs treated by symptoms and simple tests. Yes, some tests are good and conclusive, but so many can give false negatives, or false positives, or just not measure the right thing (like TSH)! I treat myself because I haven't found a doc that works for me. I thought I had one, but when my oldest daughter went to him, he said "Wow you obviously have adrenal insufficiency (all her allergeries)", but after her a.m cortisol seemed "normal", he just band-aided her with Zyrtec! GRRRRR. I have her on Hydrocortisone and she's only at 12.5 mg so far, but *already* her allergies have begun to lessen!!! best,AdriaGreen Mountain Curlies, Inc.~~~http://greenmountaincurlies.official.ws/GMC Blog~~~http://greenmountaincurlies.blogspot.com If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. This is very interesting Adria, So, you think the progesterone cream caused low thyroid? When you say you had symptoms of Al, I don't know that abbreviation, is that low adrenals? Interesting your adrenal levels looked good on the test. I haven't had a test in a while, so I don't know where I'm at with that, but it does sound like a lot of women here are going by symptoms, just wondering if that's enough. (I hope so, 'cos I'm sick of dealing with doctors that don't know anything about what's going on). elyse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Elyse, I did projesterone cream for a little while last year and started to get headaches. I stopped then started again this year. I had classic symptoms of low projesterone, high estrogen. I got the headaches again but it all coincided with low thyroid and really wiped out adrenals. I did the Canary Club saliva test about a month ago and my projesterone was 900, high. I had not done any cream for almost 2 months when I did the test. Now, this cycle, I am again having low estrogen symptoms again. My doc gave me an 11 tube test from the lab that the Canary Club uses. It is designed to measure all of your female hormones during the entire month. So...when I begin my cycle I fill a vial every 3 days. How exciting! My cycle is way over due, 34 days but I have every symtom of starting any second. Just ate a ton of chocolate and I usually don't do that. Anyway...I didn't have good luck with the cream. It made me feel weird even though I believe I needed it. After I get these test results back (which will take over a month- plus for me to even do!) I will have a better idea if I need the cream. My guess is that you need to have your adrenals functing or replaced before you use the cream. Didn't work for me but I am willing to try again. Don't know if the headaches were from all of the other stuff or the cream. I tend to think it was all of the other stuff since I haven't had a headache since starting hydrocortisone. Yeah!!! a > > > I posted this yesterday afternoon and still haven't seen it show up > on the list. I suppose a yahoo snag? > > Anyway, I t heard that women with weak adrenals cannot handle > progesterone cream well. I was on progesterone cream but did not > feel well on it so I stopped. Anyone else here experience this? I > want to figure out if i should just take a lower dose of it or stay > off it altogether. Thanks. > > Elyse > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Thanks a, What you say makes a lot of sense. I think I'll do what you're suggesting and wait 'til I get my adrenals functioning better. Thanks, Elyse > Elyse, > I did projesterone cream for a little while last year and started to > get headaches. I stopped then started again this year. I had > classic symptoms of low projesterone, high estrogen. I got the > headaches again but it all coincided with low thyroid and really > wiped out adrenals. I did the Canary Club saliva test about a month > ago and my projesterone was 900, high. I had not done any cream for > almost 2 months when I did the test. Now, this cycle, I am again > having low estrogen symptoms again. My doc gave me an 11 tube test > from the lab that the Canary Club uses. It is designed to measure > all of your female hormones during the entire month. So...when I > begin my cycle I fill a vial every 3 days. How exciting! My cycle > is way over due, 34 days but I have every symtom of starting any > second. Just ate a ton of chocolate and I usually don't do that. > Anyway...I didn't have good luck with the cream. It made me feel > weird even though I believe I needed it. > After I get these test results back (which will take over a month- > plus for me to even do!) I will have a better idea if I need the > cream. My guess is that you need to have your adrenals functing or > replaced before you use the cream. > Didn't work for me but I am willing to try again. Don't know if the > headaches were from all of the other stuff or the cream. I tend to > think it was all of the other stuff since I haven't had a headache > since starting hydrocortisone. Yeah!!! > a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Elyse I have bad adrenals, and had a total nightmare on progesterone. It opposes cortisol and thus makes adrenal insufficiency much much worse. I had two nights of total insommnia, palpitations, frequent trips to the bathroom, insulin resistance and horrendous reactive hypoglycemia before I worked out what was going. I will never supplement progesterone again. Nicola -- In NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS , macedgeca wrote: > > I just heard that women with weak adrenals cannot handle progesterone > cream well. I was on progesterone cream but did not feel well on > it so I stopped. Anyone else here experience this? I want to figure > out if i should just take a lower dose or of it or stay off it? > > Elyse > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 It seems that all my docs want me to supplement with progesterone but none seem to be aware that you can become overdosed on it easily, like with DHEA. -- Re: progesterone cream ElyseI have bad adrenals, and had a total nightmare on progesterone. It opposes cortisol and thus makes adrenal insufficiency much much worse. I had two nights of total insommnia, palpitations, frequent trips to the bathroom, insulin resistance and horrendous reactive hypoglycemia before I worked out what was going. I will never supplement progesterone again.Nicola-- In NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS , macedgeca wrote:>> I just heard that women with weak adrenals cannot handle progesterone > cream well. I was on progesterone cream but did not feel well on > it so I stopped. Anyone else here experience this? I want to figure > out if i should just take a lower dose or of it or stay off it?> > Elyse> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Wow Nicola, I can't believe the different stories I'm reading here. I kept telling my dr's how I was feeling so poorly on progesterone cream, they just shrug their should and tell me to continue. I stopped regardless, it's unfortunate that it can actually make things worse, it's what happened to me as well. All I knew is it was bad news for me, I never new about the weak adrenals connection. You'd think a doctor should know that! Thanks for letting me know about your situation. Elyse > I have bad adrenals, and had a total nightmare on progesterone. It > opposes cortisol and thus makes adrenal insufficiency much much worse. > I had two nights of total insommnia, palpitations, frequent trips to > the bathroom, insulin resistance and horrendous reactive hypoglycemia > before I worked out what was going. I will never supplement > progesterone again. > > Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 In a message dated 6/14/2006 1:41:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, imgeha@... writes: > The lab results did indeed show that I was at the top of the range > for progesterone a week before my period. In Hertoghe's defence, he > was trying to get rid of the painful breasts / periods which signal > estrogen dominance, and which is standard therapy for pre-menopausal > women (I'm 39 for another 2 weeks then it's the big four-oh!). I saw > him again yesterday, and despite my experience, he is quite definite > that I need progesterone to reduce my risk of breast cancer from high > estrogen, but also to give my body more hormones generally (as I am > low in everything) and to avoid having to increase my cortisol dose > even higher. He is now suggesting I use progesterone gel locally on > my breasts when they are sore before my period. Whether I will > actually have the courage to do after my experience this I don't know! > > Nicola, I'm confused. You say that your other hormone levels are all low, yet Hertoghe wants you to take p. to balance out high estrogen levels? What exactly are your estrogen levels? Hollis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 Progesterone cream helped my painful breasts for a little while but iodine provided complete relief, no lumps, no bumps just soft tissue Lynda Re: Re: progesterone cream > You may want to check your iodine levels, as low iodine is > responsible for fibrocystic breast disease (say that 10x fast). > > My painful periods have lessened just by getting my Armour dose up. > I still have painful breasts now that I've been off the P-cream for > a number of months, though I suspect I may actually be low estrogen. > Its on my list of things to test, and I suspect that because I get > terribly incontinent for a week to 10 days before my period. > > Best, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 ---I am entering into this murky area now too! I am currently collecting a months worth of saliva for the female hormone panel testing. I strongly suspect some sort of estrogen dominance situation due to painful, heavy periods, PMS etc etc and so on and so on....!!! Does this not tend to improve when treated with Armour and Hydrocortisone? Is the progesterone cream the only way to go? I'm VERY nervous after reading all the bad experiences of folk here! In NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS , " imgeha " wrote: > > The lab results did indeed show that I was at the top of the range > for progesterone a week before my period. In Hertoghe's defence, he > was trying to get rid of the painful breasts / periods which signal > estrogen dominance, and which is standard therapy for pre-menopausal > women (I'm 39 for another 2 weeks then it's the big four-oh!). I saw > him again yesterday, and despite my experience, he is quite definite > that I need progesterone to reduce my risk of breast cancer from high > estrogen, but also to give my body more hormones generally (as I am > low in everything) and to avoid having to increase my cortisol dose > even higher. He is now suggesting I use progesterone gel locally on > my breasts when they are sore before my period. Whether I will > actually have the courage to do after my experience this I don't know! > > Nicola > > > > > > > > Yes, i think that Nicola's story is a very good cautionary tale -- > > demostrating that, unlike what many would have you believe, > > low progesterone and supposed " estrogen dominance " is > > not the case for everyone and supplementing with p. is not > > always desirable. Too bad she had to go through such an awful > > few days, though, to find that out. What disturbs me is that > Hertoghe > > would put her on progesterone despite lab work that showed (if i > > remember this correctly) that it was not needed. > > > > > > Hollis > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2006 Report Share Posted June 15, 2006 transdermal natural progesterone cream here. I started using again last spring...with no neg problems that I notice... j > Hi, > I'm wondering if you guys were using a synthetic form of progesterone, such as Provera. There are no receptors in the body specifically for synthetic forms of progesterone. The synthetic forms act like a foreign substance to the body. Unless your dr. understands this and agrees with it, chances are you were using the > synthetic form. Natural wins all the way around...and your body recognizes it. > > MIchigan > > Zdamask@... wrote: > > > In a message dated 6/12/2006 9:30:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > macedgeca@... writes: > > > Wow Nicola, I can't believe the different stories I'm reading > > here. I kept telling my dr's how I was feeling so poorly on > > progesterone cream, they just shrug their should and tell me to > > continue. I stopped regardless, it's unfortunate that it can > > actually make things worse, it's what happened to me as well. All > > I knew is it was bad news for me, I never new about the weak adrenals > > connection. You'd think a doctor should know that! Thanks for > > letting me know about your situation. > > > > Elyse > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I have bad adrenals, and had a total nightmare on progesterone. It > > > opposes cortisol and thus makes adrenal insufficiency much much worse. > > > I had two nights of total insommnia, palpitations, frequent trips to > > > the bathroom, insulin resistance and horrendous reactive hypoglycemia > > > before I worked out what was going. I will never supplement > > > progesterone again. > > > > > > Nicola > > > > > > > Yes, i think that Nicola's story is a very good cautionary tale -- > demostrating that, unlike what many would have you believe, > low progesterone and supposed " estrogen dominance " is > not the case for everyone and supplementing with p. is not > always desirable. Too bad she had to go through such an awful > few days, though, to find that out. What disturbs me is that Hertoghe > would put her on progesterone despite lab work that showed (if i > remember this correctly) that it was not needed. > > Hollis > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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