Re: Birth Control Pills and EN

[Guest guest]

April,

I was taken off of birth control due to EN. I think it is different

for everyone. If you find a pill that won't be your trigger then it

may be effective. It's hard to say that it will work because

everyone's triggers are different.

Best of luck and let me know if you find one that works!!

Sara

>

> Hi,

>

> I was wondering if anyone had tried going on birth control pills to

> control EN and the associated inflammatory arthritis? I was taken off

> a progesterone-only pill when I developed the condition, as many other

> EN suffers are. I've been talking with my new rheumatologist about the

> effects of estrogen on autoimmune arthritis and other autoimmune

> inflammatory conditions, and have been researching the topic, and she

> thought it might be worth a try. According to some animal studies, and

> I'm attaching one below, some autoimmune inflammatory conditions could

> be benefited by estrogen supplementation, such as what you would get

> with birth control pills. Just thought I'd see if anyone else had

> travelled down this road...

>

> Thanks,

>

> April

> Idiopathic EN 4/07

>

> http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/full/171/11/5820

>

[Guest guest]

Hi April,Your post came as a big surprise to me. First of all both estrogen and progesterone and [bCP's ] are know EN riggers. Also it is possible that the reason most who are affected by autoimmune disorders are females could be related in part to hormones.If you decide to try the estrogen treatments, please let us know the results. I have read that some doctors have tired using progesterone supplements for the more severe forms of panniculitis, but not EN. Good Luck!Love,idio. EN '68Please enter Erythema Nodosum.........Thanks!Donation Information

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm meeting with my OB/GYN on Monday to discuss going back on the

pill, but a pill with estrogen and progesterone held at a constant

level, as in pregnancy. There are studies out that stating that low

estrogen levels have been found in people with RA, MS and autoimmune

arthritis. High levels of estrogen are often found in people with

lupus. Low testosterone levels have been found in men with

autoimmune disease. I've been off the pill now for 9 months, and

obviously, the progesterone was not my trigger, since the EN has been

chronic with only a 2 week remission since April 2007. I guess I'm a

little worried about trying the pill, since I'm not convinced my old

rheumatologist has firmly ruled out lupus. I'm trying to get a

doctor to test my hormone levels, but most practitioners, with the

exception of my naturopath and accupuncturist, think that the info

isn't useful. I've often suspected my hormone levels might be off,

ever since trying to conceive my second child. When using ovulation

kits, I could never get that second column to indicate that I was

ovulating, which could mean I have low estrogen levels. Anyway, it's

an experimentation. I feel like I've explored every other avenue

with the exception of my hormone levels, to figure out what's causing

this chronic idiopathic EN, which seems to get worse around the time

of ovulation...

I'll let you know if it helps. In the meantime, I've discovered that

sublingual B12 (5000 mcg) seems to be really helpful. My gluten-free

diet hasn't really made much difference, but I guess I could go full-

force and try the elimination diet. If only I could get off the last

5 mg of prednisone in order to introduce food back into my diet after

the elimination diet!

April

Chronic Idiopathic EN- 4/07

>

> Hi April,

> Your post came as a big surprise to me. First of all both estrogen

and progesterone and [bCP's ] are know EN riggers. Also it is

possible that the reason most who are affected by autoimmune

disorders are females could be related in part to hormones.

>

> If you decide to try the estrogen treatments, please let us know

the results.

>

> I have read that some doctors have tired using progesterone

supplements for the more severe forms of panniculitis, but not EN.

> Good Luck!

> Love,

>

> idio. EN '68

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Please enter

> Erythema Nodosum.........Thanks!

>

> Donation Information

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.

Try it now.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi April,A simple basal temperature chart can tell you if you are ovulating. Look for a rise in temperature above 98 degrees in the AM about two weeks after you have a period. It should stay high until you have another period. If it stays high for weeks more it indicates pregnancy. If you don't get the shift to the high level [caused by progesterone] you may not be ovulating and of course not be able to get pregnant without help. This is the cheap old fashioned way to see if you are ovulating and how your hormones are behaving. Lower than normal temperatures indicate hypothyroid. You can tell a lot with a thermometer.Love,EN '68Please enter Erythema Nodosum.........Thanks!Donation Information

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

[Guest guest]

I am curious to see how many folks with Polycystic ovarian syndrome..suffer with EN.I too have wondered if mine are effected by hormones.I have seena few people type with infertility problems.I tried the hormones for a brief time for some other problems and developed pulmonary embolisms..a very scarey thing to take if you ask me..says in the pages of side effects clots..just to let people be aware they do happen..I was under 40 and a non smoker at the time. Just be careful is all I have to say. Take care everyone

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[Guest guest]

Hi April,

I am interested to see how this works out for you. I

have an estrogen dominance. My Gyn has offered to put

me on progesterine. I have small uterine fibroids

that are not causing any pain now, so I have declined.

Did not want to enrage my EN.

I also am see an endocrinologist next week. I also

have an enlarged left adrenal. We'll see what he

says.

You can order hormone tests yourself. I am not sure if

I can name the org. on here, or if this would be

considered advertising. Email me if you would like to

know the website. I may do this depending on what

happens next week.

I do not understand why more Dr.'s will not do hormone

testing (or full Thyroid testing). They are guessing

and treating by symptoms, which to me is kinda scary.

Good luck!

Vicki

EN chronic (and so far idiopathic) 03/07

--- April Giangerelli

wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> I'm meeting with my OB/GYN on Monday to discuss

> going back on the

> pill, but a pill with estrogen and progesterone held

> at a constant

> level, as in pregnancy. There are studies out that

> stating that low

> estrogen levels have been found in people with RA,

> MS and autoimmune

> arthritis. High levels of estrogen are often found

> in people with

> lupus. Low testosterone levels have been found in

> men with

> autoimmune disease. I've been off the pill now for

> 9 months, and

> obviously, the progesterone was not my trigger,

> since the EN has been

> chronic with only a 2 week remission since April

> 2007. I guess I'm a

> little worried about trying the pill, since I'm not

> convinced my old

> rheumatologist has firmly ruled out lupus. I'm

> trying to get a

> doctor to test my hormone levels, but most

> practitioners, with the

> exception of my naturopath and accupuncturist, think

> that the info

> isn't useful. I've often suspected my hormone

> levels might be off,

> ever since trying to conceive my second child. When

> using ovulation

> kits, I could never get that second column to

> indicate that I was

> ovulating, which could mean I have low estrogen

> levels. Anyway, it's

> an experimentation. I feel like I've explored every

> other avenue

> with the exception of my hormone levels, to figure

> out what's causing

> this chronic idiopathic EN, which seems to get worse

> around the time

> of ovulation...

>

> I'll let you know if it helps. In the meantime,

> I've discovered that

> sublingual B12 (5000 mcg) seems to be really

> helpful. My gluten-free

> diet hasn't really made much difference, but I guess

> I could go full-

> force and try the elimination diet. If only I could

> get off the last

> 5 mg of prednisone in order to introduce food back

> into my diet after

> the elimination diet!

>

> April

> Chronic Idiopathic EN- 4/07

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

I too have cystic ovaries, but have not been diagnosed with PCOS,

although my sister and Aunt have been. My OB/GYN doesn't like

labeling his patients with PCOS, since he thinks it is too broad a

diagnosis.

My ovaries have cysts on them due to ovarian hyperstimulation

syndrome, which I developed with both my pregnancies. My ovaries got

to be the size of footballs, and the doctor said it was due to a

reaction to the pregnancy hormones. My mother and sister both had

this problem with each of their pregnancies. After my first

pregnancy, the cysts went away after about 6 months. My second child

is now 2, and I still have cysts on one ovary. My EN started about 2

months after resuming menstruation after the birth of my second child

(I didn't get my periods until both my kids were more than a year old

since I was still breastfeeding). I have always thought my EN might

be due to hormonal issues.

My husband used to work with a reproductive endocrinologist and he

said he was always amazed at what estrogen can do to a woman's body.

He had put some of his patients on Lupron to put their bodies into a

temporary state of menapause, and then took them off it, essentially

to reset the hormone system. He said that in more than 50% of his

patients, their health problems went away. He didn't have any

experience in doing it with women with EN, but he thought it could

work. I discussed it with my OB/GYN and he thought it might be a

useful diagnostic tool, but he would in the end put me on the pill to

keep my hormones at a steady level after the Lupron. I have fears of

going on the Lupron since I think my EN might be triggered by the

estrogen drop that occurs after ovulation, and if I had a complete

disappearance of estrogen, I could only imagine the flare-up I could

get...

Anyway, my thought is that going on the pill to keep my hormone

levels steady might be worth a try to see if that stops my trigger.

I know there are a lot of risks associated with the pill, especially

if your body is already dealing with other challenges. However, I'm

weighing it against the risks of trying other drugs including

Plaquenil and Methotrexate, both drugs are very hard on your body.

April

Chronic Idio. EN -4/07

>

> I am curious to see how many folks with Polycystic ovarian

syndrome..suffer with EN.I too have wondered if mine are effected by

hormones.I have seena few people type with infertility problems.I

tried the hormones for a brief time for some other problems and

developed pulmonary embolisms..a very scarey thing to take if you ask

me..says in the pages of side effects clots..just to let people be

aware they do happen..I was under 40 and a non smoker at the time.

>

> Just be careful is all I have to say.

> Take care everyone

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!

>