New member Intro

[Guest guest]

Laurie I am new to the list also, only by a couple of days! I have been on WW

for 11 weeks, and am enjoying seeing the progress I make! I also think the

extra support is needed more than anything else! Great to have you here! I

have 3 kids too! Kailu

[Guest guest]

new member intro

> Hi Fellow List Members!

>

> I'm Laurie, 37, and have been in weight watchers for

> nearly 10 weeks now, attending meetings near my home

> in Sacramento, California. I'm excited about having

> some extra advice and support from the list (seems

> like weekly meetings are not enough, at times). I am

> doing pretty well so far, though my body is a little

> sluggish at times and I am trying to jumpstart things

> again after finally crossing a long-standing plateau.

> I have 3 children, recently separated,and I work full

> time in the human resources department of a social

> service agency for women and children. I look forward

> to meeting new friends, and bringing whatever tips and

> positive energy I can to your group.

>

> Warmly,

>

> Laurie

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I have been hearing about this group for quite some time and I am sure I will recognize some of you once I get going.

To give you some background, dx'd with thyroid cancer in March '00 after the birth of my son. Had 3 RAI's in 5 years time. Finally saw the light and switched to a holistic MD who began balancing my hormones with BHrt and Armour. I did really well initially but 3 weeks ago I crashed and burned. I felt like I was pregnant / PMSing. I had started 100 mgs of Iodoral (Iodine) a few weeks earlier and I know that iodine increases sensitivity of hormone receptors so I wonder if this has something to do with it.

In an effort to figure out what was messing with my system I stopped everything I was on. After a few days I started the supplements but for some reason didn't remember the BH. I was taking E2 .25 / P 100 transdermal from WIP.

My symptoms prior to stopping were: Anxiety, irritability, weight gain (around the middle), swelling, breast tenderness, nipple enlargement, aching joints and muscles, fatigue, brain fog, loss of libido, bladder control issues, increased body odor, increased appetite (unconscious eating), carb craving.

I did a saliva test and had blood levels drawn. My Cortisol is through the roof. I read that P can convert to Cortisol. I have elevated Cortisol all day according to the test.

My blood labs are as follows:

Testosterone Free & Total 29 (2-45 ng/dL)

% Free Testosterone .66 (.5 - 2.0)

Free Testosterone 1.9 (.1-6.4 pg/mL)

DHEA Sulfate 134 (25-220 mcg/dL)

Progesterone 3.9 (doesn't correlate to any range because I am post menopausal and treated with BHrt)

Estradiol 124 (42-289)

I am 42 years old and post menopausal due to the RAI clobbering my ovaries. Any suggestions about how to deal with this. Doc says to quit BHrt cream (combined E2 & P in the same cream) until I feel I need it but I am wondering if E2 alone would be a good idea. I have heard that this will help bring the P issues down.

Thanks for the help!

B.www.naturalthyroidchoices.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Steph! Good to see you here!

This is a great group and I have gotten some very helpful advice here,

actually I feel it saved me from going to the hospital, since my

problems were caused by too much progesterone.

Now that I'm on E2 only I feel so much better. Eventually I will add

some vaginal P, but for now I have enough P in my body to last awhile.

Combined creams are bad because you can't regulate them according to

symptoms or labs.

Hope you find some good answers here.

>

> Hello all,

>

> I have been hearing about this group for quite some time and I am

sure I will recognize some of you once I get going.

>

> To give you some background, dx'd with thyroid cancer in March '00

after the birth of my son. Had 3 RAI's in 5 years time. Finally saw

the light and switched to a holistic MD who began balancing my

hormones with BHrt and Armour. I did really well initially but 3

weeks ago I crashed and burned. I felt like I was pregnant / PMSing.

I had started 100 mgs of Iodoral (Iodine) a few weeks earlier and I

know that iodine increases sensitivity of hormone receptors so I

wonder if this has something to do with it.

>

> In an effort to figure out what was messing with my system I stopped

everything I was on. After a few days I started the supplements but

for some reason didn't remember the BH. I was taking E2 .25 / P 100

transdermal from WIP.

>

> My symptoms prior to stopping were: Anxiety, irritability, weight

gain (around the middle), swelling, breast tenderness, nipple

enlargement, aching joints and muscles, fatigue, brain fog, loss of

libido, bladder control issues, increased body odor, increased

appetite (unconscious eating), carb craving.

>

> I did a saliva test and had blood levels drawn. My Cortisol is

through the roof. I read that P can convert to Cortisol. I have

elevated Cortisol all day according to the test.

>

> My blood labs are as follows:

>

> Testosterone Free & Total 29 (2-45 ng/dL)

> % Free Testosterone .66 (.5 - 2.0)

> Free Testosterone 1.9 (.1-6.4 pg/mL)

>

> DHEA Sulfate 134 (25-220 mcg/dL)

>

> Progesterone 3.9 (doesn't correlate to any range because I

am post menopausal and treated with BHrt)

>

> Estradiol 124 (42-289)

>

> I am 42 years old and post menopausal due to the RAI clobbering my

ovaries. Any suggestions about how to deal with this. Doc says to

quit BHrt cream (combined E2 & P in the same cream) until I feel I

need it but I am wondering if E2 alone would be a good idea. I have

heard that this will help bring the P issues down.

>

> Thanks for the help!

>

> B.

> www.naturalthyroidchoices.com

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks . That is my gut feeling too. I am going to try to get my E2 in a separate Rx tomorrow. Hopefully that will help get things boosted back up again.

Re: New member Intro

Steph,Wanted to add that iodine increases P levels, so you definitelywouldn't need much P since you are on such high doses of iodine. AndI imagine it also increases the need for E2.>> Hi Steph! Good to see you here!> > This is a great group and I have gotten some very helpful advice here,> actually I feel it saved me from going to the hospital, since my> problems were caused by too much progesterone.> > Now that I'm on E2 only I feel so much better. Eventually I will add> some vaginal P, but for now I have enough P in my body to last awhile.> > Combined creams are bad because you can't regulate them according to> symptoms or labs.> > Hope you find some good answers here.> > > >

[Guest guest]

Steph,

That is one high P dose, and it's the same as my doc put me on. I've

heard this from other women so it must be the standard dose and it's

ridiculously high. From what I understand (someone feel free to

correct me if I am wrong) the equivalent oral dose would be 10x that

which works out to be 1000mgs! Not to mention transdermal builds up

in the fat tissue and I don't believe that the oral P does that.

Your symptoms are classic P overdose and also E deficiency.

If you feel you must take that high dose iodine, you might want to

quit the P altogether and just use the E.

Meanwhile I highly recommend reading Dr. Vliet's book

" Screaming to Be Heard " . It's excellent. She's treated thousands of

women (and herself), read hundreds of studies, done some of her own

clinical research and studies, and thoroughly understands women's

hormone physiology. She also addresses each of the studies that

supposedly proved E was dangerous and points out aspects of them that

were ignored in the press that actually prove the opposite.

Anyway, I'd say it will take you at least several months to get all

that P out of your system, especially since you are taking the iodine.

We have been sold a bill of goods with the whole estrogen/dominance,

progesterone mania and it's harming many women.

>

> Hello all,

>

> I have been hearing about this group for quite some time and I am

sure I will recognize some of you once I get going.

>

> To give you some background, dx'd with thyroid cancer in March '00

after the birth of my son. Had 3 RAI's in 5 years time. Finally saw

the light and switched to a holistic MD who began balancing my

hormones with BHrt and Armour. I did really well initially but 3

weeks ago I crashed and burned. I felt like I was pregnant / PMSing.

I had started 100 mgs of Iodoral (Iodine) a few weeks earlier and I

know that iodine increases sensitivity of hormone receptors so I

wonder if this has something to do with it.

>

> In an effort to figure out what was messing with my system I stopped

everything I was on. After a few days I started the supplements but

for some reason didn't remember the BH. I was taking E2 .25 / P 100

transdermal from WIP.

>

> My symptoms prior to stopping were: Anxiety, irritability, weight

gain (around the middle), swelling, breast tenderness, nipple

enlargement, aching joints and muscles, fatigue, brain fog, loss of

libido, bladder control issues, increased body odor, increased

appetite (unconscious eating), carb craving.

>

> I did a saliva test and had blood levels drawn. My Cortisol is

through the roof. I read that P can convert to Cortisol. I have

elevated Cortisol all day according to the test.

>

> My blood labs are as follows:

>

> Testosterone Free & Total 29 (2-45 ng/dL)

> % Free Testosterone .66 (.5 - 2.0)

> Free Testosterone 1.9 (.1-6.4 pg/mL)

>

> DHEA Sulfate 134 (25-220 mcg/dL)

>

> Progesterone 3.9 (doesn't correlate to any range because I

am post menopausal and treated with BHrt)

>

> Estradiol 124 (42-289)

>

> I am 42 years old and post menopausal due to the RAI clobbering my

ovaries. Any suggestions about how to deal with this. Doc says to

quit BHrt cream (combined E2 & P in the same cream) until I feel I

need it but I am wondering if E2 alone would be a good idea. I have

heard that this will help bring the P issues down.

>

> Thanks for the help!

>

> B.

> www.naturalthyroidchoices.com

>

[Guest guest]

Steph,That is one high P dose, and it's the same as my doc put me on. I'veheard this from other women so it must be the standard dose and it'sridiculously high. From what I understand (someone feel free tocorrect me if I am wrong) the equivalent oral dose would be 10x thatwhich works out to be 1000mgs! Not to mention transdermal builds upin the fat tissue and I don't believe that the oral P does that.

<<SB>> That is what i have heard as well. The oral is better. My DO told my mom that.Your symptoms are classic P overdose and also E deficiency.

<<SB>> Did all of your (or any of you) have tender nipples that were sensitive to anything - even a shirt brushing up against them?If you feel you must take that high dose iodine, you might want toquit the P altogether and just use the E.

<<SB>> I do need to do the high doses of iodine right now. That is what is keeping my cancer in check. My markers were down 2 pts again so I know we are on to something. I have quit all BHrt for the last 3 weeks but think I do need the E2.Meanwhile I highly recommend reading Dr. Vliet's book"Screaming to Be Heard". It's excellent. She's treated thousands ofwomen (and herself), read hundreds of studies, done some of her ownclinical research and studies, and thoroughly understands women'shormone physiology. She also addresses each of the studies thatsupposedly proved E was dangerous and points out aspects of them thatwere ignored in the press that actually prove the opposite.

<<SB>> Thanks for the tip. I love books. As a matter of fact I put 13 of my natural med books up on eBay tonight - weeding out the stash. LOL!Anyway, I'd say it will take you at least several months to get allthat P out of your system, especially since you are taking the iodine.

<<SB>> Lovely! Didn't want to hear that. This is annoying!We have been sold a bill of goods with the whole estrogen/dominance,progesterone mania and it's harming many women.

<<SB>> This falls under the "I wish I would have known" but I trusted my doc who has done well with me on all other levels.

Thanks!!

>> Hello all,> > I have been hearing about this group for quite some time and I amsure I will recognize some of you once I get going. > > To give you some background, dx'd with thyroid cancer in March '00after the birth of my son. Had 3 RAI's in 5 years time. Finally sawthe light and switched to a holistic MD who began balancing myhormones with BHrt and Armour. I did really well initially but 3weeks ago I crashed and burned. I felt like I was pregnant / PMSing.I had started 100 mgs of Iodoral (Iodine) a few weeks earlier and Iknow that iodine increases sensitivity of hormone receptors so Iwonder if this has something to do with it.> > In an effort to figure out what was messing with my system I stoppedeverything I was on. After a few days I started the supplements butfor some reason didn't remember the BH. I was taking E2 .25 / P 100transdermal from WIP. > > My symptoms prior to stopping were: Anxiety, irritability, weightgain (around the middle), swelling, breast tenderness, nippleenlargement, aching joints and muscles, fatigue, brain fog, loss oflibido, bladder control issues, increased body odor, increasedappetite (unconscious eating), carb craving.> > I did a saliva test and had blood levels drawn. My Cortisol isthrough the roof. I read that P can convert to Cortisol. I haveelevated Cortisol all day according to the test. > > My blood labs are as follows:> > Testosterone Free & Total 29 (2-45 ng/dL)> % Free Testosterone .66 (.5 - 2.0)> Free Testosterone 1.9 (.1-6.4 pg/mL)> > DHEA Sulfate 134 (25-220 mcg/dL)> > Progesterone 3.9 (doesn't correlate to any range because Iam post menopausal and treated with BHrt)> > Estradiol 124 (42-289)> > I am 42 years old and post menopausal due to the RAI clobbering myovaries. Any suggestions about how to deal with this. Doc says toquit BHrt cream (combined E2 & P in the same cream) until I feel Ineed it but I am wondering if E2 alone would be a good idea. I haveheard that this will help bring the P issues down.> > Thanks for the help!> > B.> www.naturalthyroidchoices.com>

[Guest guest]

Karima, I wonder if the iodine is too much for you?

Yes that is an ongoing problem, but it is raw material, and my detox

symptoms have decreased over time. This much iodine has also not been enough

to stop the cystic breast pain all the time. The fastest effect for that is

a Q-tip of iodine to the cervix. Instant relief. Uterus first, then ovaries.

Similar to the effects of avocado oil when I was starved for oil at 19 and

sticking to a vegetarian diet.

Other positive effects of iodine, re-growth of eyebrows I didn’t know I had

lost. Normalized facial oiliness, hands and feet, lower legs now self

lubricating.

It was difficult, because something would work for awhile, then suddenly my

body would change and it wouldn't work anymore and then I was frantic trying

to find something else that would work.

Well, yes I have had a similar experience, but, it has made me much more

respectful of my body and it’s needs: for rest, good food, lots of vitamin

E, fish oils and refection time. I don’t find this a bad thing, so far. I

don’t know what is down the road.

Karima

[Guest guest]

I feel better - sort of. We'll see. I am going to play around with the Rx my doc is giving me now. He is lowering the dose and adding T along with a higher E2. We'll see........

Steph

Re: New member Intro

Gosh, 3 weeks off BHRT? Ow. I remember over 10 years without 'any' BHRT of any sort. Ugh. I remember starting BHRT with E2 and added P when I started getting achy breasts - ended up at 250mg P per day, but eventually tapped down to under 40mg (and now none, for now). Added Te after I felt "maintained" on E2 and P, and got all WOWEE and my wonderful (but apparently deadly hahaha) libido returned with a vengence (heh heh heh)... And as I added Armour (by symptoms) I juggled E2 and P slightly up and down "as needed". That's how "I" did it... If you are on the yahoo group "thyroid", you can go back into the archives and read what I did and my <ahem> comments and adventures during that process. As a side note, after I added BHRT to Armour (et al) I melted back into normal weight quite rapidly. Sam :-D (sans parts) > >> > Well I got my doc to split my rx's into two separate ones so I can > control it now. Yeah! We'll see how I do. I definitely need the > E2. I can feel a change because my symptoms from before we added it > are returning.> > > > Steph>