Re: Bleeding. Weighing the options is hard !!! Some supplements to try

[Guest guest]

[sorry for the long post, but hopefully you find this helpful

everyone]

Hi Jean,

There are three causes of dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)

" Menorrhagia Prolonged or excessive bleeding at regular intervals

Metrorrhagia Irregular, frequent uterine bleeding of varying amounts

but not excessive Menometrorrhagia Prolonged or excessive bleeding at

irregular intervals Polymenorrhea Regular bleeding at intervals of

less than 21 days Oligomenorrhea Bleeding at intervals greater than

every 35 days Amenorrhea No uterine bleeding for at least 6 months

Intermenstrual Uterine bleeding between regular cycles

Estrogen withdrawal bleeding results from a sudden decrease in

estrogen levels, such as occurs following bilateral oophorectomy,

cessation of exogenous estrogen therapy or just before ovulation in

the normal menstrual cycle. Estrogen withdrawal bleeding is usually

self-limited and tends not to recur if estrogen levels remain low.

Progesterone breakthrough bleeding occurs when the progesterone-to-

estrogen ratio is high, such as occurs with progesterone-only

contraceptive methods. The endometrium becomes atrophic and ulcerated

because of a lack of estrogen and is prone to frequent, irregular

bleeding. "

(from " Abnormal Uterine Bleeding " by KATHLEEN A. ORIEL, M.D., and

SARINA SCHRAGER, M.D. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine,

Madison, Wisconsin

http://www.aafp.org/afp/991001ap/1371.html)

Assuming that your bleeding is a result of high-estrogen levels which

is linked to fibroid formation, then you might consider trying the

two supplements I've listed below to help your body improve your

estrogen balance and control your bleeding (hopefully).

I was looking up information on Calcium this morning, as the girls on

the HealingFromFibroidsNaturally group have been having some success

with calcium glucarate supplmentation. Anyhow, I found this mention:

" In an attempt to meet the body's calcium requirements to

prevent muscle cramping, osteoporosis, nose bleeding,

menstrual spotting or flooding, and the various other

symptoms related to calcium deficiencies, most people are

actually perpetuating their calcium deficiency. In addition,

to this they are causing additional nutritional deficiencies

in the vitamins and minerals that depend upon sufficient

calcium, inhibiting health improvement and causing, instead

of preventing, calcium-related health problems and/or disease.

If you are currently taking calcium supplements, it is

essential for you to be tested for the right type, amount

and ability to metabolize calcium or you may be surprised

to learn that the calcium supplements you have been taking

have worked against you instead of for you. Even if you have

received some initial positive symptom relief by adding a

calcium supplement to your diet, the long-term affects of

taking calcium supplements may work against you if you have

not been assessed for the right type and amount of calcium

supplementation. Problems occur when one assumes that simply

taking a calcium supplement is all that is require to attain

adequate calcium in the body. "

Read the whole article (which coincidently includes a second article

further down below the first on eating habits and fibroids):

" Taking A Calcium Supplement May Not Be Enough! "

By Donna F. , CCN, ND

http://www.womenshealth-naturalsolutions.com/Calcium%20Article.htm

Also, Calcium D Glucarate (aka glucarate, CDG or calcium glucarate)

is linked to tumor inhibition:

" Calcium-D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucaric acid, a

substance produced naturally in small amounts by mammals, including

humans. Glucaric acid is also found in many fruits and vegetables

with the highest concentrations to be found in oranges, apples,

grapefruit, and cruciferous vegetables "

and

" Calcium-D-glucarate's inhibition of beta-glucuronidase activity

allows the body to excrete hormones such as estrogen before they can

become reabsorbed. Oral administration of large doses of calcium-D-

glucarate have been shown to lower serum estrogen levels in rats by

23 percent. (21) Because many breast cancers are estrogen-dependent,

calcium-D-glucarate's ability to affect estrogen and other hormone

levels has led to Phase I clinical trials at several major cancer

centers in the United States. Results of these studies are pending. "

(from Calcium-D-glucarate. (Monograph). Alternative Medicine Review,

August, 2002

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FDN/4_7/91155405/p1/article.jhtml

?term=)

It might be worth taking some calcium supplementation (the right

kind, in balance with magnesium, phosphorus, Vit. D and sodium) in

support of your overall health, even if you decide on the lupron or

embolization.

Also, the other supplement that the " girls " (like Edie) have been

taking is DIM-plus (Diindolylmethane) which is a compound that helps

the body metabolize estrogens effectively which can help with

hormonal balance.

" DIM encourages estrogens in the body to select certain enzymatic

pathways that result in break-down products that are actually

balancing for hormonal health.1 As a result, they are cardio-

protective, and cancer protective for certain tissues in the body

including those found in the breast, prostate and uterus. "

and

" Without conducting a laboratory test, a woman that demonstrates

symptoms such as heavy bleeding, cramping, pms, fibrocystic breast

changes, uterine fibroids, endometriosis or ovarian cyst formation is

obviously suffering from a hormonal imbalance. If the birth control

pill was prescribed in order to treat these symptoms, it is simply

masking them. This leaves the underlying problem of poorly

metabolized estrogens unchanged. "

(from " Hormone Balance - Hormonal Health "

http://www.naturalhealthsolution.com/hormonebalance.htm)

The only warning I've seen mentioned with DIM is be cautious if you

are using birth control pills since it may possibly reduce their

affect on the body.

Here's another well researched article about estrogen metabolism

http://www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/7-2/estrogen_metabolites.pdf

--Ann

> Had appt with my gyn this morning. My fibroids are small (first

> diagnosed in 2001), but I now have too much bleeding for me to

take.

> 14-day long periods, 23 days apart, with one really bad day of a

> soaked pad every 30-60 mins (this is what has increased and is now

> motivating me to do something).

[Guest guest]

> " In an attempt to meet the body's calcium requirements to

> prevent muscle cramping, osteoporosis, nose bleeding,

> menstrual spotting or flooding, and the various other

> symptoms related to calcium deficiencies, most people are

> actually perpetuating their calcium deficiency. In addition,

> to this they are causing additional nutritional deficiencies

> in the vitamins and minerals that depend upon sufficient

> calcium, inhibiting health improvement and causing, instead

> of preventing, calcium-related health problems and/or disease.

Beyond the website info you've cited, doing a search on PubMed will

show you the substantiating research on this. Also, a major Lilly

study done a few years back compared calcium supplementation to an

antidepressant now reclassified as a drug for PMS....and calcium won

on symptom relief on all counts.

As a collector of cookbooks, calcium and it's many uses for treating

menstrual disorders captured my imagination when I purchased a book a

few years back which was published in 1940 -- and it discussed the

importance of calcium to abate symptoms and disease at length. 1940.

And here we are in 2004 with the pharmies pitching antidepressants

for taking care of the very same menstrual problems that a balanced

diet or appropriate nutritional supplementation may well resolve.

> Also, the other supplement that the " girls " (like Edie) have been

> taking is DIM-plus (Diindolylmethane) which is a compound that helps

> the body metabolize estrogens effectively which can help with

> hormonal balance.

DIM has been on an uphill incline in the research world since 1995.

There has been some efficacy shown in prostate cancer research -- but

much more needs to be studied before I would recommend anyone just

" try " this potential solution on their own. For instance, it does

disturb me that fish treated with DIM in studies have acquired liver

cancer. Success with prostate cancer only to possibly promote liver

cancer? Granted, a supplement showing success with prostate cancer

would definitely be of interest to those looking into treatments for a

wide variety of other hormonally-associated tumors. But, the passage

you've quoted above doesn't mention DIM's role as an anti-androgenic

-- which is part and parcel to " metabolize estrogens

effectively " ...check PubMed to learn much, much more....

Admittedly, I don't understand all of the research underway -- but

have read enough confusing details regarding findings that I just

would be extremely cautious with this one. Besides, doesn't it make

more sense to simply up your fruit/vegetable intake that fits this

category?

Self treating may have many pros and cons. Be certain you're not

blinded by the pros in the form of prose found online that doesn't

cover its bases with the cons also found in research.....

As a matter of blatant curiosity...have any of the women who are

trying DIM experienced any differences in their sexual experiences?

Less desire, vaginal dryness, etc.? Anything at all of note?

Carla Dionne

[Guest guest]

Carla,

I've been on DIM-Plus for a month now and I have not experienced any

side effects s/a low sex-drive, vaginal dryness, headaches and so

on. I will have to check back w/you on the bleeding part b/i've

recently been taken off of Depro and have yet to get my period so I'm

unsure of the affects of DIM on it at this time.

Shaunah