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Post by rusalka on Apr 25, 2013 12:28:47 GMT
Hi Ladies! Since the last two cycles I have increased Utrogestan from 100 mg on 200 mg, which are 2 capsules, vaginally. My gyno wanted me to take more P, because I have increased Estrogel too. I had already strong PMS symptoms during the last months on HRT, but how I felt during the last two cycles ( it has started immediately in the second half of the cycle), wasn't bearable anymore- constant feelings of sadness, weepiness, not being able to feel any joy and happiness, insomnia, zero libido, terrible bloating and craving for sweets and carbs. During the last few weeks I really thought I have developed bad depression, because this just isn't me and this scared me a lot. I didn't have anxiety, which is the only good thing. Even during the period this depressive moods didn't improve. Now I'm on the day 9 and slowly I feel better, not so down and weepy all the time. Do you know how much time is P staying in the system? I remember that my gyno said on the beginning of the BHRT that progesterone can make some women depressed and is worsening PMS, so we have to see it. And in the package leaflet it is written that a quite common side effect of Utrogest is depression, so this seems to be a fact and not only my mind. I have talked to my therapist today and she told me that I don't have a real depression, she would notice this immediately from my behaviour and my words, she is convinced that this is hormonal and I have to talk to my gyno about reducing Progesterone. I will talk to the gyno in few days ( she wasn't reachable during the last weeks) and I won't take Utrogest in this cycle to see if there will be a difference. But I'm concerned about the future- I don't want miss the Estrogel, but I know that I need progesterone for the uterus. I will ask my doc if I may try with reduced dose of P, yet I'm afraid that she will push the common 200 mg dose. I know that Prof. Studd is recommending only 100mg for 7 days in the cycle, but I don't know any doctor in Germany who is sharing his opinion  What would you do if you were me? It's really so risky for the uterus to take less progesterone ( or even only every second month)? I just can't spend 2-3 weeks in the month crying and feeling miserable and down! |
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Apr 25, 2013 12:59:43 GMT
Hi Ladies! Since the last two cycles I have increased Utrogestan from 100 mg on 200 mg, which are 2 capsules, vaginally. My gyno wanted me to take more P, because I have increased Estrogel too. I had already strong PMS symptoms during the last months on HRT, but how I felt during the last two cycles ( it has started immediately in the second half of the cycle), wasn't bearable anymore- constant feelings of sadness, weepiness, not being able to feel any joy and happiness, insomnia, zero libido, terrible bloating and craving for sweets and carbs. During the last few weeks I really thought I have developed bad depression, because this just isn't me and this scared me a lot. I didn't have anxiety, which is the only good thing. Even during the period this depressive moods didn't improve. Now I'm on the day 9 and slowly I feel better, not so down and weepy all the time. Do you know how much time is P staying in the system? I remember that my gyno said on the beginning of the BHRT that progesterone can make some women depressed and is worsening PMS, so we have to see it. And in the package leaflet it is written that a quite common side effect of Utrogest is depression, so this seems to be a fact and not only my mind. I have talked to my therapist today and she told me that I don't have a real depression, she would notice this immediately from my behaviour and my words, she is convinced that this is hormonal and I have to talk to my gyno about reducing Progesterone. I will talk to the gyno in few days ( she wasn't reachable during the last weeks) and I won't take Utrogest in this cycle to see if there will be a difference. But I'm concerned about the future- I don't want miss the Estrogel, but I know that I need progesterone for the uterus. I will ask my doc if I may try with reduced dose of P, yet I'm afraid that she will push the common 200 mg dose. I know that Prof. Studd is recommending only 100mg for 7 days in the cycle, but I don't know any doctor in Germany who is sharing his opinion What would you do if you were me? It's really so risky for the uterus to take less progesterone ( or even only every second month)? I just can't spend 2-3 weeks in the month crying and feeling miserable and down! Rusalka The risk is somewhat exagerated - there is a tendency to over prescibe progesterone in ratio to estradiol. If I were you I would reduce the Utrogestan and if you are concerned arrange annual scans to check the endometrial lining. Jacks |
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Post by rusalka on Apr 25, 2013 19:41:52 GMT
Thanks Jacks, this is also my idea and I hope my doc will be cooperative...
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Post by rusalka on Apr 30, 2013 12:53:59 GMT
Ladies, do you have some informations how long progesterone stays in the system? I'm now day 14, but I still don't feel really good, I'm still sad and could cry for nothing. It's not as bad as during the progesterone phase, but I'm still not the same. The first half of the cycle I always felt much much better. On internet I read different opinions- some said it take only few days till P leaves the system, but one doc said it could take 2-4 weeks.
My doc confirmed that P can make me feel like this, so she recommended to me to reduce P on 1 capsule and hopefully I will feel better on it and my bleedings will stay regular. But I'm still afraid to take 1 capsule since I still don't feel good again.
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Apr 30, 2013 13:02:31 GMT
Rusalka
Maybe the progesterone is not the only culprit. I had an amazing improvement in mood when I added a daily dose of testosterone
Jacks
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Post by rusalka on Apr 30, 2013 15:01:36 GMT
Rusalka Maybe the progesterone is not the only culprit. I had an amazing improvement in mood when I added a daily dose of testosterone Jacks Jacks, my testosterone is already totally elevated, the same with DHEAs and prolactin, so my gyno thinks the imbalance between those elevated hormones and still quite low estrogen is also playing a role in how I feel. I didn't feel like this even in the months before when I was totally overwhelmed with anxiety, I always had some good days after the period, but then I was using much less progesterone, only half of the 100 mg capsule. My therapist again told me today that I'm not really depressed, this sounds for her hormonal. But it still sucks... Next week I have a blood test and till then I'm just trying to distract myself. I could feel so great now when the anxiety is gone, but then another symptom is making my life troublesome |
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Post by giffordblue on May 7, 2013 8:35:25 GMT
Hi there rusalka I am new to this board and having similar problems taking 100mg progesterone vaginally 12 days a month. Just started taking oetrogel once a day in the evening and that sems to have stopped night sweats and hot flushes and ovestin 3 times a week but the progesterone definately had an effect on my mood giving me pms symptoms and feeling very low. I am wondering whether to increase the estrogen to twice a day like jacks. My doctor is very happy to support me but is new to the bhrt drugs so am feeling its a case of trial and error . I will try 10mg of dhea and pregnolone eventually but am trying to introduce these gradually so I can pick up on the symptoms and side effects
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Post by jacksfullofaces on May 7, 2013 9:02:57 GMT
Hi there rusalka I am new to this board and having similar problems taking 100mg progesterone vaginally 12 days a month. Just started taking oetrogel once a day in the evening and that sems to have stopped night sweats and hot flushes and ovestin 3 times a week but the progesterone definately had an effect on my mood giving me pms symptoms and feeling very low. I am wondering whether to increase the estrogen to twice a day like jacks. My doctor is very happy to support me but is new to the bhrt drugs so am feeling its a case of trial and error . I will try 10mg of dhea and pregnolone eventually but am trying to introduce these gradually so I can pick up on the symptoms and side effects Hi Gifford welcome - yes definitely trial and error and add close scrutiny to the mix. I find dosing twice daily with oestrogel is much better. Jacks |
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Post by jacksfullofaces on May 7, 2013 9:05:06 GMT
Rusalka
I meant to tell you that my testosterone levels were considered high - but not high enough for me as I have had quite a few benefits from raising it including improved mood, calmness, increased body hair,improved muscle definition and bouncier hair on my head - not to mention libido ........
Jacks xxx
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Post by giffordblue on May 7, 2013 9:10:59 GMT
the libido thing is also something I am hoping to tackle with the increase in estrogen as at the moment it is non existant
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Post by rusalka on May 7, 2013 14:48:29 GMT
Hi there rusalka I am new to this board and having similar problems taking 100mg progesterone vaginally 12 days a month. Just started taking oetrogel once a day in the evening and that sems to have stopped night sweats and hot flushes and ovestin 3 times a week but the progesterone definately had an effect on my mood giving me pms symptoms and feeling very low. I am wondering whether to increase the estrogen to twice a day like jacks. My doctor is very happy to support me but is new to the bhrt drugs so am feeling its a case of trial and error . I will try 10mg of dhea and pregnolone eventually but am trying to introduce these gradually so I can pick up on the symptoms and side effects Hi and thank you! I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one with this prog problem. Of course I'm sorry for you at the same time. I'm now too scared to continue with P, I will allow myself a break for one cycle ( it can't be too dangerous, right?) and then try with only 100 mg to see if this would be better for me. Otherwise my doc suggested synthetic gestagens, which is not really the option for me, but we will see. I'm also using Estrogel 2-3 times a day, I think this is making the level more stable. |
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Post by rusalka on May 7, 2013 14:54:32 GMT
Rusalka I meant to tell you that my testosterone levels were considered high - but not high enough for me as I have had quite a few benefits from raising it including improved mood, calmness, increased body hair,improved muscle definition and bouncier hair on my head - not to mention libido ........ Jacks xxx Jacks, do you know if your T levels were high in the norm range or really increased as in my case? I'm noticing the increased T on my symptoms like growth of facial hair, oily skin, a beer belly ( although I'm skinny) and thin hair on my head, but unfortunately no libido. Maybe in my case the main reason for zero libido is high prolactin, I remember when I was nursing my babies I also didn't have libido at all. But I can't tolerate the prolactin-inhibitor drugs My gyno also said that elevated T levels suppress the estrogen, so maybe that's why I can't reach really good E levels even on 3 pumps of estrogel. I have blood test next week, so I have to stay patient till then. Fortunately my depressive mood and weepiness is a lot better again. |
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Post by jacksfullofaces on May 7, 2013 17:08:58 GMT
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Post by rusalka on May 8, 2013 5:58:30 GMT
I'm afraid, yes. But I don't have any solution, cabergoline was just too heavy to tolerate |
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Post by rusalka on May 8, 2013 5:59:32 GMT
I have a micro prolactinoma. Do you know your levels? Stress can increase the levels a little bit, also sex, but not really relevant, would I say.
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Post by rusalka on May 10, 2013 14:58:17 GMT
Well, the symptoms are quite similar to the peri/menopausal symptoms: low libido, fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia.. High prolactin is suppressing the estrogen and progesterone and the thyroid too, so the whole hormone circle is affected. But my luck is that my micro prolactinoma isn't growing, so I don't need to have a surgery or to take the hard core meds...
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