estrogen allergy-helena womens health

[Guest guest]

Hi Ladies,

I have been reading some of the old posts and saw a few that

mentioned that when they went to helena and did the allergy testing,

they found out they were allergic to estrogen. i am going in to

helena soon, and had a quick question about the estrogen allergy. i

have quite a few symptoms that would lead me to thinking that

estrogen is the problem (feel worst during ovulation when estrogen is

highest, have been diagnosed with atrophic vaginitis which signifies

local estrogen imbalances, etc), but recently i started using the

climara patch (estrogen) and my symptoms did not necessarily get

worse (or better!). does this rule out my chances of being allergic

to estrogen? Any ideas?

Also, any stories (either good or not so good) about your experiences

at helena would be much appreciated. i think the MOST frustrating

thing about this " disease " is finding good help, and the best way to

find out about a place is obviously through the people that have gone

there!

plus, it seems like helena has some good success stories and i think

we could all use some positive news! for those of you who are " out of

the woods " so to speak and feeling pain free or almost pain

free...your stories/advice/experiences are what keeps the rest of us

going who are just beginning to try and solve this extremely

frustrating puzzle. your strengths and successes are what make me not

give up and keep on searching until i find an answer!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have been to Helena Clinic in June and am basically just starting

to receive therapy. I had hormone allergy testing done there. They

gave me estrogen first and I didn't react, then they gave me LH and

I had a reaction. (I have IC and my bladder went 'nuts' with burning

& a sudden desire to urinate and I became light-headed.)

They tested my estrogen levels and they were almost unmeasurable on

day 1 of my period! So, they tried giving me the Climara patch and I

experienced almost unbearable fatigue and a massive worsening of my

symptoms that I am only now starting to recover from after

discontinuing the patch.

So... now they think I was allergic to the estrogen and had a

delayed reaction. Unfortunately, as I live on the east coast it is

not financially viable for me to travel there again to get retested

for the estrogen. Dr. Metzger thinks that due to my reaction to the

patch, I must be allergic to estrogen. They are sending me estrogen

desensitizing drops to try, so this should let me know for sure.

I tried the diet thing (eliminating the foods I tested allergic for)

and so far, no help. They think I may be allergic to more than they

were able to test me for.

So.. my choices are: go back for more testing, go on an elimination

diet or get some testing done locally.

I have opted to try muscle resistance testing at a local alternative

health clinic here in Nova Scotia. I was just there two days ago and

had the strongest 'weak muscle response' to estrogen. I couldn't

believe how weak my arm became while I held the estrogen vial. (I

didn't know which vial was in my hand until after the test.)

I am going to try getting desensitized to estrogen via both the

drops from Dr. Metzger and also the NAET therapy. Hopefully

something will work, because I would LOVE to be able to take it as

my symptoms are always much worse when my estrogen levels are low

and have become even worse as I'm entering peri-menopause. (I'm 43)

Paradoxically, I always felt the best (when I was younger) during

ovulation, when I produced my own estrogen at it's peak...just can't

seem to take any external estrogens... bit of a mystery!

The doctor and staff at Helena clinic really seem to care about

their patients and they won't give up on you. I am going to be a

stubborn case and they are willing to work together with this NAET

clinic locally. I just wish that they weren't so far away from me!

I really like their nutritionist, Eileen... she has been working

very closely with me to try and see if we can uncover my allergens

and work with supplements that may also improve my health.

I have a feeling this is going to be a LONG process and I'm going to

have to be very patient.

Toby

> Hi Ladies,

> I have been reading some of the old posts and saw a few that

> mentioned that when they went to helena and did the allergy

testing,

> they found out they were allergic to estrogen. i am going in to

> helena soon, and had a quick question about the estrogen allergy.

i

> have quite a few symptoms that would lead me to thinking that

> estrogen is the problem (feel worst during ovulation when estrogen

is

> highest, have been diagnosed with atrophic vaginitis which

signifies

> local estrogen imbalances, etc), but recently i started using the

> climara patch (estrogen) and my symptoms did not necessarily get

> worse (or better!). does this rule out my chances of being

allergic

> to estrogen? Any ideas?

> Also, any stories (either good or not so good) about your

experiences

> at helena would be much appreciated. i think the MOST frustrating

> thing about this " disease " is finding good help, and the best way

to

> find out about a place is obviously through the people that have

gone

> there!

> plus, it seems like helena has some good success stories and i

think

> we could all use some positive news! for those of you who are " out

of

> the woods " so to speak and feeling pain free or almost pain

> free...your stories/advice/experiences are what keeps the rest of

us

> going who are just beginning to try and solve this extremely

> frustrating puzzle. your strengths and successes are what make me

not

> give up and keep on searching until i find an answer!

>

[Guest guest]

>I have opted to try muscle resistance testing at a local alternative

>health clinic here in Nova Scotia

#### Toby, I am in Nova Scotia as well - new to the area - and very

frustrated trying to find help. My gyn is Dr. Parrish in Halifax who was

highly recommended. can you give me some other ideas? Please feel free to

email me offlist. I am 44 and in pretty rough shape.

catherine

[Guest guest]

>I have opted to try muscle resistance testing at a local alternative

>health clinic here in Nova Scotia

#### Toby, I am in Nova Scotia as well - new to the area - and very

frustrated trying to find help. My gyn is Dr. Parrish in Halifax who was

highly recommended. can you give me some other ideas? Please feel free to

email me offlist. I am 44 and in pretty rough shape.

catherine

[Guest guest]

Hi Toby,

Thanks for the response. I guess it comes down to everybody being

different and i will just have to wait until I see them! Did they

give you any idea of how long it usually takes to start feeling

better if it is allergy related? I also had IC, was actually able

to " cure " myself of it with working with an acupuncturist but the

vaginal symptoms developed as the bladder symptoms went away. so

frustrating. i am glad to hear helena seems very caring. most docs

dont really go the extra mile and it seems like they do!

> > Hi Ladies,

> > I have been reading some of the old posts and saw a few that

> > mentioned that when they went to helena and did the allergy

> testing,

> > they found out they were allergic to estrogen. i am going in to

> > helena soon, and had a quick question about the estrogen

allergy.

> i

> > have quite a few symptoms that would lead me to thinking that

> > estrogen is the problem (feel worst during ovulation when

estrogen

> is

> > highest, have been diagnosed with atrophic vaginitis which

> signifies

> > local estrogen imbalances, etc), but recently i started using the

> > climara patch (estrogen) and my symptoms did not necessarily get

> > worse (or better!). does this rule out my chances of being

> allergic

> > to estrogen? Any ideas?

> > Also, any stories (either good or not so good) about your

> experiences

> > at helena would be much appreciated. i think the MOST

frustrating

> > thing about this " disease " is finding good help, and the best way

> to

> > find out about a place is obviously through the people that have

> gone

> > there!

> > plus, it seems like helena has some good success stories and i

> think

> > we could all use some positive news! for those of you who

are " out

> of

> > the woods " so to speak and feeling pain free or almost pain

> > free...your stories/advice/experiences are what keeps the rest of

> us

> > going who are just beginning to try and solve this extremely

> > frustrating puzzle. your strengths and successes are what make me

> not

> > give up and keep on searching until i find an answer!

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I think in most patients, you should start to notice a difference in

6 - 8 weeks. However, it can depend on how long that area has been

affected. I've had VV for over 20 years now and I figure it will

take about 1 month per year to recover... so about 2 years until my

vestibular glands feel better... and that's if I've been doing

therapies that will actually help me! :-)

I have noticed improvements in my bladder symptoms within the two

month time period of avoiding the allergenic foods, but I have only

had IC since January, so my bladder will hopefully recover more

quickly.

Good luck... let us know how you make out!

Toby

P.S. They also discovered that I have insulin resistance and am in

the early stages of osteoporosis. So, even if they don't cure my VV,

I am still grateful that I can do something now to try and prevent

diabetes and osteoporosis.

> Hi Toby,

> Thanks for the response. I guess it comes down to everybody being

> different and i will just have to wait until I see them! Did they

> give you any idea of how long it usually takes to start feeling

> better if it is allergy related? I also had IC, was actually able

> to " cure " myself of it with working with an acupuncturist but the

> vaginal symptoms developed as the bladder symptoms went away. so

> frustrating. i am glad to hear helena seems very caring. most docs

> dont really go the extra mile and it seems like they do!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks again Toby!

Yeah, it seems that even if the allergy angle is not 100% my problem,

the clinic is pretty good about finding out in general what is going

on with your body. for chronic problems like vv and IC, i feel that

this is very important becuase i truly think they develop when too

many things have gone wrong and the body just loses its balance. so

if they can help with anything, they are lightening the load, so to

speak, and it will be easier for the body to heal! i will keep you

posted and you do the same!

> > Hi Toby,

> > Thanks for the response. I guess it comes down to everybody

being

> > different and i will just have to wait until I see them! Did they

> > give you any idea of how long it usually takes to start feeling

> > better if it is allergy related? I also had IC, was actually able

> > to " cure " myself of it with working with an acupuncturist but the

> > vaginal symptoms developed as the bladder symptoms went away. so

> > frustrating. i am glad to hear helena seems very caring. most

docs

> > dont really go the extra mile and it seems like they do!

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks again Toby!

Yeah, it seems that even if the allergy angle is not 100% my problem,

the clinic is pretty good about finding out in general what is going

on with your body. for chronic problems like vv and IC, i feel that

this is very important becuase i truly think they develop when too

many things have gone wrong and the body just loses its balance. so

if they can help with anything, they are lightening the load, so to

speak, and it will be easier for the body to heal! i will keep you

posted and you do the same!

> > Hi Toby,

> > Thanks for the response. I guess it comes down to everybody

being

> > different and i will just have to wait until I see them! Did they

> > give you any idea of how long it usually takes to start feeling

> > better if it is allergy related? I also had IC, was actually able

> > to " cure " myself of it with working with an acupuncturist but the

> > vaginal symptoms developed as the bladder symptoms went away. so

> > frustrating. i am glad to hear helena seems very caring. most

docs

> > dont really go the extra mile and it seems like they do!

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks again Toby!

Yeah, it seems that even if the allergy angle is not 100% my problem,

the clinic is pretty good about finding out in general what is going

on with your body. for chronic problems like vv and IC, i feel that

this is very important becuase i truly think they develop when too

many things have gone wrong and the body just loses its balance. so

if they can help with anything, they are lightening the load, so to

speak, and it will be easier for the body to heal! i will keep you

posted and you do the same!

> > Hi Toby,

> > Thanks for the response. I guess it comes down to everybody

being

> > different and i will just have to wait until I see them! Did they

> > give you any idea of how long it usually takes to start feeling

> > better if it is allergy related? I also had IC, was actually able

> > to " cure " myself of it with working with an acupuncturist but the

> > vaginal symptoms developed as the bladder symptoms went away. so

> > frustrating. i am glad to hear helena seems very caring. most

docs

> > dont really go the extra mile and it seems like they do!

> >

> >

> >