Hormones and exacerbations

[Guest guest]

I just did a little search on hormones and autoimmune diseases, because this month I experienced a an exacerbation of my brain fog as I began my period. I have been on the progesterone cream, and I have been feeling so good that this brain fog just surprised me. I had read something several years ago about the connection between our menses and symptoms.

I found this one paragraph enlightening, and wanted to share it with you.

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowFulltext & ProduktNr=223840 & Ausgabe=228718 & ArtikelNr=66166

The aim of this study was to assess whether an association exists between the premenstrual period and exacerbations of multiple sclerosis (MS).........Our results suggest that the premenstrual period triggers exacerbations in a subgroup of females with MS.

The susceptibility to premenstrual exacerbations of MS may be caused by dynamic changes in sex hormone concentrations. Before the menstruation, circulating levels of progesterone and estradiol decrease sharply to baseline after being elevated for about 7 days during the postovulatory interval. The pathways through which sex steroids influence the immune system are complex and incompletely understood. Both progesterone and estrogen influence the production of cytokines by Th1 (proinflammatory) and Th2 (anti-inflammatory) lymphocytes. Estrogens inhibit the release of Th1 cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 12) and increase the production of protective Th2 cytokines (such as interleukin 10) [4, 5]. Estrogens, even at low doses, suppress acute experimental allergic encephalitis [6, 7, 8]. Progesterone enhances the release of Th2 cytokines [9]. The abrupt withdrawal of estradiol and progesterone in the premenstrual phase might thus shift the balance in favor of the production and activity of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines, facilitating exacerbation.

Now, if I only had answers....

[Guest guest]

Thanks . I am scheduled to make an appt with my endo this month, but as usual, I am kinda brushing it off, my normal method of operation when it comes to doctors....I have the lab paperwork, so I can get the blood draw anyway. Now I am wondering what my TSH is!

----- Original Message -----

From: JOSEPH PALANCA

Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 10:43 AM

Subject: Re: Hormones and exacerbations

PAtty, get your blood work checked! I became hyper within two months on it. You may be hyper. I was out of breath, short of breath, hair loss, and fast heartbeats, real irregular... The thyroid, adrenals work very closely together. Being hyper though will stress out your adrenals, realeasing cortisol depleting its own progesterone. Even the replacement you are taking will be wiped out from excessive thyroid.

So balance is the key. I would check your thyroid labs, go down if needed, and stay on progesterone. Let me know Love jUlie