I'm not a candidate for hormonal treatment after nearly dying from blood clots 10 years ago. I'd be interested in getting tested if I knew there was any other treatment options. If there isn't... I'd rather be miserable from the symptoms, but living ... as my risk of clotting is about 20 times those of every other woman.
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Pre period window of improvement.
- Thread starter Maria1
- Start date
- Messages
- 47
- Location
- Los Angeles
I love this thread, because I thought I was going mad with my symptoms going up and down on a monthly basis with no apparent reason. I too have worked out that the 7-10 days before my period are the ones where I feel most 'normal', and oddly the ones where I feel motivated to shop, paint, create and socialize. The rest of the month is spent wondering why on earth I would have accepted to go to a costume party an hour away that went right through the night (I'm exaggerating - but you now what I mean)
Just one thing - I appreciate what @South is saying, and I too, having done years of IVF, have had the opportunity to try all manner of different forms of estrogen/progesterone and different forms of testing. I'd just like to say that the jury is STILL OUT on 'bioidenticals'. They're not bio, and they're not identical. They are made synthetically in a lab to mimic our own hormones. The best you could call them would be 'bio-mimetic'.
The older form of estrogen, brand name Premarin, comes from the urine of female horses and therefore could be said to be quite a bit more 'bio' than the synthesized patches. But most importantly, BOTH are made by the same old big companies. Premarin is make by Pfizer, Vivelle-Dot is made by Novartis.
You need to make our own decisions and read as much as you can about the Womens Health Initiative trial that is now used mainly for scaremongering and persuading women that the 'bioidenticals' are better. (since they're more expensive) I could go further but this is not the place. All I can say is that having spent years on both, I have decided to stick to Premarin , since the premarin only part of the trial that was NOT stopped - the women taking estrogen only were fine - it was the ones taking estrogen AND progesterone (Prempro) who became scared by the statistics to the point where the trial was called off.
I still don't know whether it's one rising or the other dropping or both that is giving me this 'grace period', but I'm sure doing my best to try to find out. If I do, I will share whatever I find. After that, the form of supplementation you choose is entirely up to you. But please - don't scare others.
Just one thing - I appreciate what @South is saying, and I too, having done years of IVF, have had the opportunity to try all manner of different forms of estrogen/progesterone and different forms of testing. I'd just like to say that the jury is STILL OUT on 'bioidenticals'. They're not bio, and they're not identical. They are made synthetically in a lab to mimic our own hormones. The best you could call them would be 'bio-mimetic'.
The older form of estrogen, brand name Premarin, comes from the urine of female horses and therefore could be said to be quite a bit more 'bio' than the synthesized patches. But most importantly, BOTH are made by the same old big companies. Premarin is make by Pfizer, Vivelle-Dot is made by Novartis.
You need to make our own decisions and read as much as you can about the Womens Health Initiative trial that is now used mainly for scaremongering and persuading women that the 'bioidenticals' are better. (since they're more expensive) I could go further but this is not the place. All I can say is that having spent years on both, I have decided to stick to Premarin , since the premarin only part of the trial that was NOT stopped - the women taking estrogen only were fine - it was the ones taking estrogen AND progesterone (Prempro) who became scared by the statistics to the point where the trial was called off.
I still don't know whether it's one rising or the other dropping or both that is giving me this 'grace period', but I'm sure doing my best to try to find out. If I do, I will share whatever I find. After that, the form of supplementation you choose is entirely up to you. But please - don't scare others.
hellytheelephant
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,137
- Location
- S W England
It's so lovely to be in good company with other women who are also taking an unwanted ride on the rollercoaster of hormones.
I have often noticed a shift in cfs the week before my period, but it is not totally consistent. I often feel swamped with sleepiness.( more than usual) the week before.and am usually better after.the first two days of the period- apart from the last day when I get a migraine!
. I am 47 and am perimenopausal. For me, progesterone cream is really helpful- I can't tolerate the side effects of the pill, so don't want to take HRT unless I have to.
Between being a teenager ( and possibly having a mum crazy with menopause.),trying not to get pregnant, PMS, trying to get pregnant, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.....I just wonder when there is a time in our lives when we are NOT defined by hormones.?
Just wanted to update my comment to this thread. I am now 49 and def in Perimenopause, and haven't had a period for over 4 months (during which time my symptoms worsened quite considerably). I know I ovulated a few days ago, as I felt it and....BINGO am feeling...not exactly 'normal' but considerably improved in pain and other symptoms....unfortunately I feel permanently wired and unable to sleep without nightmares and insomnia. I feel like I have taken a big shot of stimulant drugs - which I guess hormones are....
I was wondering how to bottle what effect this has had- and sell it
....or at least replicate it for myself. Glad to see this thread again. Hope you are all doing ok?daisybell
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,613
- Location
- New Zealand
Did anyone here start having more frequent periods as part of the approach to menopause?
I'm struggling with this at the moment - along with a bad response to the mirena - the doctor thought it would help, but I'm having it removed tomorrow.
I feel worse before my period so having more frequent periods is not good....
I'm struggling with this at the moment - along with a bad response to the mirena - the doctor thought it would help, but I'm having it removed tomorrow.
I feel worse before my period so having more frequent periods is not good....
hellytheelephant
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,137
- Location
- S W England
Hi @daisybell - Poor you. I've got the opposite at the moment.... Are you taking extra iron? I take Floradix liquid iron if I have heavy/long periods. It seems to help.
Hi people!
It's funny to visit this thread again. I wrote the original post 18 months ago, and had forgotten all about it!
To update, I'm now 50 and I don't think I got another period after I posted the thread. However, I decided to have the mirena put back in again partly because I realised my migraines were a lot worse without it. When I had the first mirena I bled for 2 or 3 months at the start, tried to persuade various GPs to remove it, but they all persuaded me to keep it in a bit longer, and it eventually settled down. This time I got no bleeding at all, which makes me think my periods have stopped naturally now anyway. My hot flushes aren't quite as constant any more, though still there.
I had another reason for having the mirena in that I saw a HRT specialist, and the mirena was the best way of delivering the progesterone part of HRT. I was prescribed oestrogen patches to go along with it. I never started them as there was some new research about the risks of HRT which put me off again...
Overall, I am doing loads better. I am managing to walk most days with my little dog. I'm still pacing, and suffer if I don't, but my physical stamina is increased. I still find mental tasks and socialising more draining than physical tasks. Writing posts on here is really hard; I can feel my brain energy struggling as it feels as if it's running on empty.
I now take T3 along with levothyroxine, and have been for over a year.
I often start posting on a thread, only to give up before I finish, but it really helps to read this thread, and see how everybody is doing.
@daisybell I saw your post on the mirena, and started a reply. I had a very similar experience to you with the cramping and bleeding initially. I was told I would have to have an operation to deal with my heavy periods if the mirena didn't work. I was really angry with the doctors at the time, but I'm glad I kept it in, as the doctors were right! I think only you know what you're feeling though and what you want to put your body through. I also had a scan to check the mirena was positioned correctly.
@hellytheelephant - when you perfect that bottled formula let me know!
Best wishes to all
It's funny to visit this thread again. I wrote the original post 18 months ago, and had forgotten all about it!
To update, I'm now 50 and I don't think I got another period after I posted the thread. However, I decided to have the mirena put back in again partly because I realised my migraines were a lot worse without it. When I had the first mirena I bled for 2 or 3 months at the start, tried to persuade various GPs to remove it, but they all persuaded me to keep it in a bit longer, and it eventually settled down. This time I got no bleeding at all, which makes me think my periods have stopped naturally now anyway. My hot flushes aren't quite as constant any more, though still there.
I had another reason for having the mirena in that I saw a HRT specialist, and the mirena was the best way of delivering the progesterone part of HRT. I was prescribed oestrogen patches to go along with it. I never started them as there was some new research about the risks of HRT which put me off again...
Overall, I am doing loads better. I am managing to walk most days with my little dog. I'm still pacing, and suffer if I don't, but my physical stamina is increased. I still find mental tasks and socialising more draining than physical tasks. Writing posts on here is really hard; I can feel my brain energy struggling as it feels as if it's running on empty.
I now take T3 along with levothyroxine, and have been for over a year.
I often start posting on a thread, only to give up before I finish, but it really helps to read this thread, and see how everybody is doing.
@daisybell I saw your post on the mirena, and started a reply. I had a very similar experience to you with the cramping and bleeding initially. I was told I would have to have an operation to deal with my heavy periods if the mirena didn't work. I was really angry with the doctors at the time, but I'm glad I kept it in, as the doctors were right! I think only you know what you're feeling though and what you want to put your body through. I also had a scan to check the mirena was positioned correctly.
@hellytheelephant - when you perfect that bottled formula let me know!
Best wishes to all
daisybell
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,613
- Location
- New Zealand
Thanks @Maria1
Yesterday I had to be on my feet for a couple of hours and was then in so much pain from cramps and fresh bleeding that I spent the next 8 hours taking painkillers and lying flat, so I am fairly sure that removing it must be the right decision. I just can't function at all with it in.... I've given it nearly two months and it still hurts as soon as I do anything - bend over, walk, stand, twist....
Yesterday I had to be on my feet for a couple of hours and was then in so much pain from cramps and fresh bleeding that I spent the next 8 hours taking painkillers and lying flat, so I am fairly sure that removing it must be the right decision. I just can't function at all with it in.... I've given it nearly two months and it still hurts as soon as I do anything - bend over, walk, stand, twist....
That doesn't sound right at all! My memory isn't great but I think mine got progressively better after 5 or 6 weeks. One thing I have learned with this illness is to listen to my body. It certainly sounds like yours is telling you to get that mirena out! Hope you feel better soon