https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:22:04 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement/page/2#post-1370967 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:43:51 +0000 Glory 1370967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>After reading this thread I realize I may be suffering when a solution is available. I am still cycling but it has changed in frequency. About 3-4 weeks ago I started having hot flashes - upwards of 20 per day/night. I hardly get any sleep now because of it. I also have a constant state of cramping. Sorry if it is TMI .&nbsp;I started the Vit E and Cal Mags yesterday based on Textstyles good advice. I will also make an appointment with my doctor as soon as possible. Ladies - you are so fab. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement/page/2#post-1367161 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:30:42 +0000 karymk 1367161@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One thing I have been doing every year, off insurance, is getting a micronutrient test done. &nbsp;It shows me that I am low on Bs and D, but that is all that I am missing. I love that test! I know I don't have any nutritional gaps so I am just focusing on the hormone balance for now.&nbsp;</p> <p>My doctor is not a naturopath, just a med school trained gyn whose specialty is hormone related issues.</p> <p>I have slept like a log the past two nights, my first nights on the estradiol patch and the progesterone tab at night. &nbsp;It makes me calm so far.</p> <p>I would like to investigate more about the effects of taking estriol with the estradiol, as it has been shown (not proven) to have an effect that lessons the risk of breast cancer (which already is less on the bioidenticals.)</p> <p>I am finding it's best to go straight to the sources for these studies, though they can be hard to interpret. Harvard, Women's Health Institute, etc.</p> <p>K</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement/page/2#post-1367008 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:17:45 +0000 Thirkellgirl 1367008@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good advice, texstyle!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement/page/2#post-1366987 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:51:02 +0000 texstyle 1366987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Look up vitamin E and hot flashes and consider taking it, esp. if you do not eat a lot of nuts. Look up magnesium deficiency and health and you'll find all kinds of information on how most of us are deficient (and blood tests can't determine this) and low magnesium negatively impacts our health. Magnesium used to be abundant in our soil and food grown in it was rich in the mineral. No longer the case with factory farming and the population growth worldwide. </p> <p>For iron, I take a Poly-Iron supplement that is very high dose and I don't get nausea. They carry it at my local small town pharmacy but you can also get it online.&nbsp; I take it after eating (just in case). Many of them can cause issues but this one works for me. I will say I don't like the added ingredients in the iron supplement but the options for me were limited and I had to do something as mine was so low. You could also try Floradix (I tried it first but it wasn't enough for my needs).</p> <p>I would use progesterone cream not pills. The cream doesn't require your liver to process it like pills do - and your liver is likely working had enough as it is trying to deal with all the fake estrogens (xenoestrogens) modern society delivers through chemicals we ingest, breathe and put on our skin.</p> <p>I like taking milk thistle for liver support myself.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement/page/2#post-1366921 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:07:51 +0000 Thirkellgirl 1366921@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Karymk, I hope you update us because I'd really like to know if the progesterone at night improves your sleep. I'm 54 and have had some degree of perimenopausal symptoms (sleep disturbances, changes in my periods, obviously weight gain) for SEVEN years. I have a large fibroid, too, and so far my plan (ok-ed by my gyn) is to try to tough it out until menopause really hits and see if it does indeed shrink by 50%, which is what happens to many women. The things that have helped me the most have been cutting way back on sugar and simple carbs, and taking 2000 mg of Vitamin D-3 each day in addition to a multivitamin that also contains vitamin D. There were some studies done that showed that Vitamin D would shrink fibroids and I figured it couldn't hurt. It definitely helped. I haven't ruled out taking progesterone in some form for a limited time until I get through this last bit of perimenopause; my doctor is all in favor of that, but I had such a horrific experience the year I was on birth control pills (26 years ago) that I am reluctant to ingest anything like that. I get hot flashes occasionally but nothing I can't deal with, and I've had two night sweats. If those were happening every night I think I'd be pushed to the progesterone pills/cream. Oh, and my sleep improved dramatically when I took magnesium for a few weeks. I don't know if it's a coincidence, a placebo effect, or what, but the very first night I slept through the night, which I hadn't done in a decade, at least. Ain't being a woman grand? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement/page/2#post-1366785 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 03:06:00 +0000 Jeanie 1366785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This post has been so helpful. &nbsp;I am realizing now that a lot of my issues are likely from Perimenopause. &nbsp;<b>Textstyle and Claire,&nbsp;</b>I have been getting occasional migraines and I know I am anemic. &nbsp;Did you take supplements to help with your iron stores. The ones I've tried make me nauseous.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have been getting the heavy clotting too....&nbsp;thanks for sharing why this happens <b>Claire. &nbsp;</b>I have definite mood issue and sleep issues. &nbsp;My doc says I don't need hormones but I am questioning this. &nbsp;My mom got a hysterectomy in her 40s and so I am just trying to watch and learn from my older sister who is having hot flashes and bone loss. &nbsp; I am really getting a stomach and I exercise a lot and eat healthy. &nbsp;<br />I guess you have to figure out what works for you. <b>&nbsp;Karymk </b>are &nbsp;you going to a naturopathic doc? &nbsp;I hope it is helpful to you. &nbsp;My friend who is 82 has been on HRT for many years and so has my mom who is 73. &nbsp;I hear different things about the report that was against HRT. I don't think we have all the answers yet. &nbsp;Oh and <b>Suz</b> it is interesting that the weight loss had such a change on your hormones. &nbsp;I wonder why?</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366597 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 22:51:00 +0000 Mo 1366597@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lara, glad to hear your story, as I am on the pill at 44. &nbsp;I was wondering if/when I should stop taking it. &nbsp;I have night sweats (and have for 10 years now) fairly regularly but&nbsp;some times worse than others. &nbsp;I'm on a 3 months cycle where I only get my period 4 times a year. &nbsp;Wondering if one day it just won't happen on that week 'off' from the pills and that will be my clue.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366502 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:02:28 +0000 Anonymous 1366502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have not read through all the posts but will just post my personal experience. I was on the pill until age 47. I was getting migraines the week I was off the pill. I just could not deal with the migraines so I stopped taking the pill. Why was I on the pill at age 47? For two resaons, one my doctor said that it would help me go through perimenopause more easily and secondly, I had a friend who got pregnant at age 47 ( she thought she was in menopause, no period, weight gain, until about 6 months finally went to the doctor who confirmed she was pregnant.)</p> <p>So went off the pill and never got my period again. It has been 11 years. No hot flashes, nothing. Weight gain? Only slight weight gain about 10 pounds, but I think that is only because my activity level dropped. I had the night sweats while I was on the pill and never had them again when I stopped and was in menopause. The only difference between then and now is then, I did not tolerate cold very well. Now, I don't tolerate the heat very well and prefer the cold weather. I don't get sweaty, just uncomfortable.</p> <p>Now if I had any problems with the transition from perimenopause to menopause I probably would have been on HRT. In fact, I have read it is better to start earlier (offers better heart protection) that starting later.</p> <p>I remember my mother suffering from severe hot flashes and she gained a lot of weight. She was on estrogen then and it did not make that much of a difference, but that was back in the 1970s. She never exercised and was not a healthy eater. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366498 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:58:53 +0000 Anonymous 1366498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@texstyle, ah yes, I was anemic a year ago but all that has resolved now. If I had a nickel for every time I've had an iron test in the last 12 months I'd be a rich, rich woman!&nbsp;</p> <p>Kary, I hope your new plan of action is more than satisfactory for you. I saw Suzanne Somers on TV talking about a similar course. You might want to see if she's written a book on it.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366401 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:48:35 +0000 texstyle 1366401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One more thing I've mentioned in other threads before is to have your Ferritin (iron stores) level checked. All too often doctors completely overlook this and it can be severely depleted before the regular iron test shows anemia. This is what caused me to have headaches for many years - undiagnosed anemia. Being a women with periods means you lose blood. If you are not a heavy red meat eater, and you don't take supplements, it's going to be pretty hard to compensate for the loss of iron. If you've had any type of surgery or have had children, the low iron store issue is probably compounded.</p> <p>Low levels of ferritin can cause all kinds of very uncomfortable symptoms from what I've read - severe multi-day headaches (esp. before, during and after a period), restless legs, weird muscle aches, hair loss, fatigue, anxiety, and more. </p> <p>It took me years to figure this out and I feel SO much better after getting my ferritin level up from 7 to 41 - but I want it to be to 70 before I'll stop focusing on increasing my iron intake. I get my own blood tests through the lef.org membership. The send you a lab request, you go to one of their affiliated labs for the blood draw and they send it off and you get your report in about a week to 10 days. I don't have to have a doctor's approval to see what's going on with my body, I can get a complete blood work, thyroid panel.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366323 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:15:03 +0000 krishnidoux 1366323@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Unfortunately, with the medical system in Canada, it's very difficult to even get a family doctor in the first place. One can't afford to shop doctors... if you have one, you are lucky! So many have to resort to hospital emergencies and outpatient clinics when they have an emergency. Then when you need a specialist, only your GP's office is allowed to make the appointment, you never choose who you will see, neither when. Appointments often are typically between 3-9 months ahead, sometimes a whole year. I am in this situation now, and very nervous because my mom, aunt and grandmother all had cancer at my age and now, after an ultrasound, it was discovered&nbsp;I am presenting the symptoms. But in my region, there is a shortage of gynecologists. It's been a month, and the appointment is <i>not even made yet</i> - because the specialist is too backed up. And short of going to the States and paying all out of my own pocket, which is just impossible, there is nothing I can do. I think women are not served well by our system.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366298 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:47:13 +0000 Marlene 1366298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Way back in this thread, I was asked about my hysterectomy. &nbsp;I just had my uterus and tubes removed. &nbsp;The ovaries are still there. &nbsp;I went into menopause in January 2014 officially (12 months without a period, confirmed by bloodwork). &nbsp;Before I was in menopause,&nbsp;I was having terrible belly pain and it was diagnosed as andenmyosis which is like endometriosis but WITHIN the walls of the uterus. &nbsp;So basically my uterus became a huge, inflamed irritated mess. &nbsp;It got so bad that even just walking briskly caused pain. &nbsp;We were hoping that with the onset of menopause that the decrease in hormones would help reduce the uterus. &nbsp;But that never happened so after tinkering with my bioidentical hormone dosages, and not getting any relief, we decided the last way to resolve this was to remove the uterus. &nbsp;So now, 4 months later, I am painfree. &nbsp;I am due for an appointment with my doctor to discuss my current hormone levels. &nbsp;Things just "feel" different since the surgery (hot flashes, weight gain, sleeplessness) and I think I need to relook at everything. &nbsp;Like I said before, I want to take as little as possible while still remaining comfortable. &nbsp;Its hard to find that balance. &nbsp;I am also the type of person that prefers as little medication as possible and will power through everything drug free unless something is unbearable. &nbsp;But my symptoms were really impacting my quality of life so I'm comfortable with taking the bioidenticals.</p> <p>I think this thread demonstrates just how different every woman is and finding a doctor to help with this journey is key. &nbsp;And just when you figure it out, things change and you need to re-evaluate. &nbsp;Its just nice knowing that there are options for relief and there is no reason to suffer through if you don't want to.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1366226 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:26:48 +0000 viva 1366226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not there yet but anticipate this almost any day. Thanks for opening this thread, kary, and for the absolute wealth of info, ladies. Will be reading this again, I am sure. Kary, please report back with your results! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365978 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 04:18:06 +0000 karymk 1365978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think we need to add a "You Poor Thing" button to the comment response buttons! I feel so bad for your suffering. I hope everyone will feel at optimal after they get these darn issues settled.</p> <p><b>You ladies are great.</b> &nbsp;Thank you for all your stories and experiences. &nbsp;It really helps me to know all the different options there are.</p> <p><b>Today I went on a low dose bioidentical estradiol patch and am starting progesterone tabs at night</b>. We'll see what happens. &nbsp;I already have dumped sugars, white breads and flours, increased the greens, take cal mag and vitamin D, get B complex shots and exercise. &nbsp;But when the *&amp;^% hits the fan, none of this seems to matter. &nbsp;I have cut waaaaay back on alcohol.</p> <p><b>I feel like I have to do something, and my friends on the bios are doing really well. Glowing really, and sleeping well. &nbsp;One friend said her skin plumped back up, sex drive went happily nuts! &nbsp;One itchy skinned friend stopped itching.&nbsp;</b></p> <p>I can't worry about breast cancer or any other type of cancer. <b>&nbsp;I can't live today worrying about what "might" happen tomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b> No women in my family have ever had cancer, nor have we had heart disease or stroke. And on both sides women live to &nbsp;over 100. &nbsp;Is that not crazy? (My paternal grandma showed me her "pilates" moves when she was 102 and i have the pics to prove it. She died after a healthy life at 105, bless her soul.)&nbsp; I just want to enjoy good health while I am here, and my SANITY is a big part of that!!!!</p> <p>Forgot to say that the bioidenticals are indeed by RX but are not made at a compounding pharmacy. &nbsp;That had me a bit worried that errors in compounding could be made. But that said one of my friend's goes to Uzzi Reiss MD in Beverly Hills and gets her bios compounded. PS He costs waaaaay too much for me to visit-not covered by insurance yet.</p> <p><b>However, my bio hormone&nbsp;treatment at my gyn is covered fully.&nbsp;</b> I have been in love with this doc for her wonderful beside manner and frankness with me about women's health issues. &nbsp;She herself has had breast cancer and uses the same patch as I do, so she rates high with me.</p> <p>I am sorry so many of you have lost sleep! &nbsp;Isn't it horrible?? I have been a napper all of my adult life and now I am wondering if my hormones ever WERE in balance. &nbsp;I'm one of those women who had depression pills thrown at her after childbearing and now I just hope hormone balance will allow me to dump those. &nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365963 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 03:49:51 +0000 MsMaven 1365963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My experience: We are different. Women are not fungible and the proof lies in the "one size fits all" hormone treatments of the past.</p> <p>I have been on hormones for 25 years, a limited number of days during perimenopause.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have had excellent doctors--unusual I believe. The dosage is so important. You need to learn how your body reacts to different dosages and types--this is trial by error and blood tests don't always reveal the truth. &nbsp;</p> <p>I am extremely sensitive to exercise. We need exercise as we get older, but for me exercising beyond a certain level unbalances the hormones and causes a lot of problems. Over the years I've learned how to calibrate the amount I need, but I still have difficulties at times. I use estradial patches and occasional Estrace--it can get complicated. I take progesterone as well for ten days a month.&nbsp;</p> <p>Estrogen affects thyroid, so you have to stay aware and make certain you get your thyroid tested and take supplements if you need it.</p> <p>One thing I have learned: When doctors recommend exercise they never ask how much exercise you get already. Housekeeping, gardening, running to catch a bus or train--they all count as exercise. I am unusual, but I've met some women with similar problems.&nbsp;</p> <p>I will not go gently into that good night. I watched my mother suffer for years because a doctor told her at a certain point that she didn't need hormones any more because of her age. She did need them.</p> <p>Learn &nbsp;everything you can. Observe yourself. Try different approaches. Take charge of your own health. Read, but don't believe everything you read.&nbsp;</p> <p><i></i> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365916 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 02:39:12 +0000 Classically Casual 1365916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I went through menopause, HRT was still being used. I enjoyed it for 2 years, and then the big study was released, which ended it for me. My temp regulation never has returned to normal, but I've adjusted.</p> <p>Fast forward 10 years or so, and I had breast cancer. Who knows if 2years of HRT was a contributor. I'm lucky in that the tumor was very estrogen sensitive. That means I'm on a drug that suppresses the few molecules my body still produces, to keep tumors from reoccurring. The takeaway for me has been that hormones are serious business. I don't sleep deeply like I once did, but lots of exercise, a cold bedroom and magnesium at bedtime all help.</p> <p>Life is good, and I'm very grateful to be enjoying good health. I think menopause varies from woman to woman. Good luck to all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365793 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:36:28 +0000 Suz 1365793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was a combo of Janet and Claire -- had endometriosis and serious fibroids with horrid periods for a long time. Did not have a hysterectomy but surgery to remove the fibroids and remove the endo (for a time) and this helped to a degree. &nbsp;Meanwhile, for quite a few years I had the headaches (often migraines, which I'd never really had before) and some of the other symptoms, including fatigue, etc. The headaches were absolutely, 100% related to my cycle; I got them just before my period, but only if certain other conditions obtained -- weather related and stress related.&nbsp;Then, for about a year (off and on) I also had the hot flashes and night sweats. I tried reducing/ eliminating caffeine and all the usual remedies, but nothing really made a difference.&nbsp;</p> <p>But after&nbsp;I lost weight/ started exercising, most of this went away. I do still suffer from dryness (skin all over, not to be too graphic) and it's not fun. And I also sometimes struggle with the night waking...but it's tough to tell sometimes whether it's psychological or physiological. Claire, I'm with you that the best "prescription" for that seems to be small amounts of caffeine in the morning only, along with a fair bit of running around and vigorous exercise, especially outdoors.&nbsp;</p> <p>I did use the vaginal cream for a while but have stopped recently -- mainly because I ran out and need to make an appointment for more, LOL. It helps quite a lot. But I wonder about its safety over the long term.&nbsp;</p> <p>Good reminder, texstyle, to try magnesium (esp. magnesium citrate). I need to do that.&nbsp;</p> <p>Karen, none of this is probably very helpful to you as I elected not to go the full hormone replacement route. My doctor is pretty firmly against it, for one thing, and also, I noticed that my mother had a relatively easy passage and figured the same would probably be true for me -- maybe a few rockier years and then greater ease and comfort. And that prediction basically seems accurate, at least so far.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365789 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:34:14 +0000 krishnidoux 1365789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Claire, thank you for your thorough and truthful account. I am so sorry you went through all this in the course of the last year. I hope this year will be much kinder to&nbsp;you.&nbsp;</p> <p>I share your sleeping symptoms. Here is what I have done that works: I use a little machine that makes a white noise. Mine has 4-5 settings of different sounds, on top of the classic nondescript white noise, such as creek, rain, ocean waves, etc. and you can program when it stops.&nbsp;I found it helps a great deal falling asleep both initially and once I wake up too early during the night. But I didn't get there in one day. I first used a friend's old tapes of "Hemisync" from the Monroe Institute. It's a series of sounds that are made specifically to alter one's brainwaves.&nbsp;I first used it out of curiosity, with an old walkman and earphones (because the old versions I had were cassettes),&nbsp;only to realize that after about less than 5 minutes of it I fell into a deep, repairing sleep. No even the old walkman loud "click!" when the tape is up would wake me.&nbsp;So I kept the walkman at my bedside and used it at 3 or 4 am, with success. It helped me get through &nbsp;a hectic term I was teaching. But now, my brain is trained and all I need is the white sound machine, which I got at Canadian Tires (like Sears or Target) for quite&nbsp;cheap.&nbsp;</p> <p></p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365637 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 21:57:08 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1365637@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Claire, I tried the melatonin too and it worked but again, I got the darn sinus headaches and when I stopped taking it, the headaches disappeared.</p> <p>I had the clotting thing too. &nbsp;Ugh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365632 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 21:49:18 +0000 Anonymous 1365632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@dianthus, what a bummer that you were allergic to the cream. The sleepless thing is the worst! Even some natural remedies bother me. I find melatonin to be quite constipating. I should get some more magnesium citrate. That's a calming thing to take before bed, with none of the side effects that melatonin gives me.&nbsp;</p> <p>@Janet, I was diagnosed with both PCOS and endometriosis as a young woman, but after my C-section, my doctor said they had both cleared up. I was offered an oblation recently for my heavy bleeding, but declined. Apparently lower estrogen levels keep the lining of the uterus from completely shedding each month, so the next month it sloughs off in the form of clots. Sorry to be so graphic.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365609 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 21:17:31 +0000 Janet 1365609@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ugh, the sleepless thing! I had that a LOT before my surgery last year. Now, not so much.&nbsp;I really think my fibroids were exacerbating any perimenopausal symptoms I had. This might be off-mark, but I wonder if any of you having trouble with these symptoms might also have fibroids or PCOS. Just a thought. One of the reasons why I believe in having a full GYN exam before starting any of these treatments.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365565 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 20:31:27 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1365565@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I bought the same cream Textstyle uses but I have a lot of allergies and this turned out to be one of them. &nbsp;</p> <p>Claire, my main symptom has been exactly as you describe. &nbsp;I go to bed tired, fall asleep and then wake up about 4 hours later and toss and turn until it's time to get up for work. &nbsp;It is very tiring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365551 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 20:01:20 +0000 texstyle 1365551@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm still peri-menopausal.&nbsp; I've used progesterone cream for over 10 years, heck maybe longer (I'm over 50) My naturopathic doctor recommended it and I read a ton of information about it at one time.&nbsp; I was having terrible hot flashes a while back (wrote about it on here). I tried several things with varied success rates. After a lot of research and frustration, what seems to have made the biggest difference is a combination of 4 things. If I were only going to try one thing however, I think I'd try just Vitamin E Mixed Tocopherols first.</p> <p>I take these after breakfast and again after dinner:<br />Vitamin E 400 IU&nbsp; Mixed Tocopherols<br />7-Keto DHEA&nbsp; 25 mg<br />Pregnenolone 10 mg<br />Progesterone Cream (I use Emerita Pro-Gest) 450 mg. I use this once a day, then sometimes twice a day if I'm feeling symptoms of PMS:</p> <p>I also take 400 mgs. of magnesium every day, sometimes more and I add B12 with folic acid once in a while. I like to take milk thistle when I am close to my cycle because of the liver cleansing effect. I've read from other naturopathic doctors that many of us get a build up of estrogen in our liver which can create lots of PMS symptoms. Drinking alcohol puts additional strain on the liver so the milk thistle seems logical to me if you drink at all.</p> <p>I imagine everyone is different but I kept coming across the link<br /> between vitamin E and hot flashes and for me that seems to be one of the<br /> key things. When I only took it once a day for a couple of weeks, I<br /> started getting a few hot flashes back, once I upped it back to 2 times a<br /> day, they went away again. The dhea and pregnenolone precursors<br /> to other hormones in your body (from what I understand) and I take very low doses on purpose.</p> <p>Here is some info:<br /><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/08/27/adrenals.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://articles.mercola.com/si.....enals.aspx</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365537 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 19:44:05 +0000 Anonymous 1365537@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha! I just read a book on this subject on the plane home from Seattle yesterday. The book was my sister's and&nbsp;very outdated, or I'd give you the title.<br />&nbsp;<br />I'm 48, and I tried bio-identical hormones about 10 years ago after being tested and shown to be low on Progesterone. I think what prompted me to do this was reading What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause by Dr. John Lee.&nbsp;I did this for a while and it seemed to help with PMS symptoms and it regulated my cycle, which had always been irregular up to that point. </p> <p>When we moved to Phoenix, our insurance changed and would not pay for the bio-identical hormones I had been using,&nbsp;so I went to the health food store and bought the natural Progesterone cream (the one withe a measured dosing pump). I don't think this is as strong as &nbsp;prescription bio-identical hormones, but it worked great for me, and I've been using it for at least the last 10 years. Whenever I've tried to go off it, all the PMS symptoms come back. I'm still cycling regularly, so I follow the directions and&nbsp;use 1 pump each night before bed on days 12-26 of my cycle. I can manipulate my cycle by a day or two by stopping the cream sooner or later than day 26,</p> <p>Fast forward to the present. I got really sick last year with Shingles, and I went on a crazy healthy diet-lifestyle to try to build up my health again.&nbsp;<i>In retrospect</i>, I have been wondering if I was/am experiencing some of the less-obvious symptoms related to peri-menopause, not Shingles. For instance, even when I went off caffeine (for a year!) and all drugs, I still struggled with insomnia. Sometimes I would be tired at bedtime, fall asleep, and then wake up after 3-5 hours with my heart pounding for no obvious reason, unable to go back to sleep.&nbsp;During and after my bout with Shingles, I experienced crashing fatigue that probably had nothing to do with the illness. I tried to exercise more to build some stamina, but that only left me more and more exhausted.&nbsp;I started experiencing headaches that&nbsp;<i>nothing&nbsp;</i>would work on (at this point I tried ibuprofen, caffeine, and even pseudo-ephedrine, thinking maybe it was a sinus headache) with no relief. After a few months, I realized they were happening during the same part of my cycle, which led me to believe they were hormonal headaches, caused by my levels crashing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last month I went in for a physical, complete with EKG, chest X-ray, PAP and mamogram. My blood work and all of the tests showed me to be in excellent health (yay for that!). I asked my gynecologist about testing my hormone levels, but she told me a blood test would only show where my levels were at that particular moment, which wouldn't really tell us anything about where I am in the change of life. I would have to go to a more holistic doctor to do the saliva testing over a period of days and my insurance won't cover that type of care. I have also experienced uncharacteristic breast tenderness and very heavy clotting (any change in periods can be a sign of peri-menopause) and feeling a bit blue for no apparent reason from time to time.</p> <p>SO! Sorry if that was TMI. Since I have ruled out other health concerns, I'm going to take myself to natural foods store that specializes in herbal remedies. My plan is to target the specific symptoms I'm having with herbs or homeopathic medicines while I settle in for the ride. My doctors were a little dismissive since I still have regular periods and am not having hot flashes or night sweats, but after researching this for a while, I think the symptoms I'm having are peri-menopausal too. Good luck on your journey. I will be following this thread with interest to see what else I can learn! Thanks for bringing it up.&nbsp;</p> <p>PS I'm now enjoying a little coffee again. It helps with fatigue and depression. Then I'm able to&nbsp;run around and wear myself out and then sleep better at night, lol! The headaches are manageable when I know the cause and realize they will be over in a few days. We WILL get through this! :)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365444 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 17:15:30 +0000 Aziraphale 1365444@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not there yet, but I will follow this thread with interest. My inclination right now is to follow my doctor's advice, whatever that will be at the time. I trust her. &nbsp;I am not an avid fan of unsupervised dabbling in drugs and hormones, "natural" or otherwise. Chemicals are chemicals, and while I've heard that the bioidentical hormones have advantages over the "synthetic" ones, they are still hormones. I'd want my doctor to prescribe them! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365436 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 16:59:59 +0000 carter 1365436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Karen, I did the bioidentical hormone therapy for about 18 months. The hot flashes and night sweats were killing me. My estrogen was still in the normal range at the beginning but progesterone was low. I did progesterone and 7-keto DHEA for the whole 18 months. As my estrogen started to dip, she gave me the estrogen cream, which had some very positive results, but it made me gain 10 pounds in a couple weeks, so (much to my husband's dismay) I stopped the estrogen.</p> <p>I stopped everything&nbsp;at 18 months because I just could.not.handle another saliva test which had to be done every few months to check levels. After quitting, I never had any hot flashes, so I don't know how long the whole process actually lasted.</p> <p>Short answer...I would definitely do it again, but I would take a break every 6 months or so to see if the symptoms were still there.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365276 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:56:45 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1365276@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I believe Robin McGraw wrote about this in her book..<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Age-Got-Do-Healthiest/dp/B005FOGT0G/ref=la_B001H6GEV0_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411995141&amp;sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Ag.....038;ie=UTF</a></p> <p>I have had mild what seemed to be clusters of hot flashes and found quitting my diet soda habit helped.. I am in full menopause just three months ago my very regular cycles stopped.. Sleep is a problem with me getting 5 hours when i need 8..I also just went on SamE for my mood as I was over emotional and&nbsp;&nbsp;crying a lot... &nbsp;So far so good with that.&nbsp;I use Hawthorne berries supplement for the hot flashes and that seems to work as my night sweats are gone. &nbsp;<br />If these didn't work, I was definitely going to look into the bioidentical hormones.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365269 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:48:27 +0000 Janet 1365269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have no idea where I am in the process, since I had a hysterectomy last year (just uterus, I still have ovaries). I think I still have some sort of cycle going on, but I'm pretty sure it has changed. I've had a couple of nighttime hot flashes, but those were a couple of years ago. I'm having some body and skin changes too -- tummy is hanging onto a bit of fat, which it never used to do, and I break out less but I'm noticing my skin is more prone to wrinkles. </p> <p>My hope is to get through the whole process without any hormone replacement of any kind. My sister (10 years my senior and started menopause around 40) never went on HRT. My mom had a full hysterectomy at 45 and took hormones for way longer than anyone is recommending these days, and in retrospect, I wonder if that was a factor in the TIA and stroke she had in her 70s. I just don't like taking anything if I don't have to. I even resist taking advil for a headache until I've tried to wait it out. </p> <p>But I never say never, you know? We all have different experiences around this stuff. I won't rule it out if I ever get to the point where symptoms are interfering with my life. My friends are having such varied experiences too. Have you talked to your doctor about it? That's where I would start. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365268 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:48:17 +0000 Laurinda 1365268@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My endocrinologist recommended an estradiol&nbsp;(bioidentical)&nbsp;skin&nbsp;patch plus a&nbsp;progesterone (non-bioidentical) pill for hot flashes, night sweats,&nbsp;and dryness from&nbsp;menopause, and it really helped.</p> <p>Best wishes finding a physician who will partner with you to address your concerns.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/perimenopause-and-hormone-replacement#post-1365211 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:13:00 +0000 krishnidoux 1365211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interested in this topic.&nbsp;</p> <p>Lucy, you are right to warn us over potent natural remedies with adverse effects. It should be done under doctor's supervision only.&nbsp;</p> <p>Marlene, this is very personal, and please don't answer if you don't want to,&nbsp;but were your ovaries removed too? If not,&nbsp;I would like to know how come you experienced menopausal symptoms: I am told by doctors&nbsp;that if they remove the uterus only and leave the ovaries, hormones are not affected, and one doesn't go through post-op&nbsp;precipitated menopause.&nbsp; </p>