Cant get heavy periods sorted out - long

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading the posts here with interest. I have also been

following some other boards but once again, after much

experimentation, am at a loss as to how to improve my periods. Perhaps

someone here has a similar problem or has discovered something which

may help?

A brief history: Started periods at age 14. Am now 38. They have

ALWAYS been heavy and painful, around 31 days and often with clots and

flooding.I don't really have PMS as such but I do have very sore

breasts for half the month.

I have hypothyroidism and am taking Armour for that. I also have

s for which I take prednisolone. I also found out last year

that I am mercury poisoned so am addressing that.

With regards to the period problem, here is what I have tried:

*** Treating the thyroid and adrenals!No improvements in periods.

*** Natural progesterone cream from mid cycle onwards. The first month

I did this there was definitely an improvement in both sore breasts

and the period itself. However,after that first month things went

downhill again and along with worsening symptoms I suffered a lot of

heartburn and indigestion which is exactly what I got each time I was

pregnant and was definitely related to the progesterone.

*** Then I saw Dr Hertoghe in Belgium. He prescribed Duphaston saying

that some women react badly to natural progesterone. The same thing

happened agin - first month better, then progressively worse. He said

I should increase the dose. I did and things got much worse - the

breast pain and heartburn mainly. At this time I was also prescribed

Estrogel at certain times of the month too. He also played around with

the timing of the progesterone but nothing helped.Unfortunately, he

never listened to me so I eventually got sick of being told to take

more progesterone and didn't bother going back to see him.

Then I found a very good Doc here in Switzerland who treats with

bio-identical hormones and is quite clued up on things. After doing

the same thing with him (Duphaston again) he suggested Aromasin, which

is an anti-aromatase drug. He insists that I am estrogen dominent

still and that I was probably converting my androgens to estrogens

too. he also prescribed a drug called Parlodel.

None of these have worked (apart from for the first month!)so I am

back to square one.I simply can not go on like this. I have had iron

infusions for my very low ferritin level but within 3 months it was

back at the lowest possible level again becuase of my heavy periods!

I have to take strong painkillers to get through the period and it's

just a nightmare.

Please don't tell me to have saliva testing done at the lab in the US

because I don't have a Docotr to order it for me and can not afford it

especially as the shipping from here is horrendous.

I did initially have a saliva test done (for the whole month) at a UK

lab. It showed that I did ovulate (and I think I usually do)and that

my progesterone and estradiol ratio was fine.Overall estradiol was

within normal limits but it was low for most of the luteal phase so

was on the low side overall.

Progesterone showed poor surge just after ovulation but otherwise OK.

testosterone was low.

So, if anybody has any advice it will be greatly received! I am now so

desperate that I think I may go for the mirena coil and try that.

(yes, I must be desperate!!!)

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

[Guest guest]

Based on my history, I have been successful with Vitamin D/calcium and being

diagnosed

w/Celiac (gluten issues) caused a lot of problems w/vitamin and mineral being

deficient.

I also have Hashi. If you do some research on Celiac there are many auto immune

diseases

that present themselves including thyroid and adrenal. Bottom line is that I

tried all the

BHRT routes including androgen blocking meds and insulin sensitizing meds and

only

found relief w/a gluten free diet and large amounts of Vit D and normal amounts

of

calcium. I do take an E patch and my periods are about 28days and I am 46.

Your low Ferritin levels are an indication that something is wrong w/gut

absorbtion.

Some people have no symptoms w/Celiac and the only way they may find out is that

their

iron is very low and even when supplementing it just does not go up properly.

Hope this helps.

Karin (bigbird)

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I have been reading the posts here with interest. I have also been

> following some other boards but once again, after much

> experimentation, am at a loss as to how to improve my periods. Perhaps

> someone here has a similar problem or has discovered something which

> may help?

>

> A brief history: Started periods at age 14. Am now 38. They have

> ALWAYS been heavy and painful, around 31 days and often with clots and

> flooding.I don't really have PMS as such but I do have very sore

> breasts for half the month.

>

> I have hypothyroidism and am taking Armour for that. I also have

> s for which I take prednisolone. I also found out last year

> that I am mercury poisoned so am addressing that.

>

> With regards to the period problem, here is what I have tried:

>

> *** Treating the thyroid and adrenals!No improvements in periods.

>

> *** Natural progesterone cream from mid cycle onwards. The first month

> I did this there was definitely an improvement in both sore breasts

> and the period itself. However,after that first month things went

> downhill again and along with worsening symptoms I suffered a lot of

> heartburn and indigestion which is exactly what I got each time I was

> pregnant and was definitely related to the progesterone.

>

> *** Then I saw Dr Hertoghe in Belgium. He prescribed Duphaston saying

> that some women react badly to natural progesterone. The same thing

> happened agin - first month better, then progressively worse. He said

> I should increase the dose. I did and things got much worse - the

> breast pain and heartburn mainly. At this time I was also prescribed

> Estrogel at certain times of the month too. He also played around with

> the timing of the progesterone but nothing helped.Unfortunately, he

> never listened to me so I eventually got sick of being told to take

> more progesterone and didn't bother going back to see him.

>

> Then I found a very good Doc here in Switzerland who treats with

> bio-identical hormones and is quite clued up on things. After doing

> the same thing with him (Duphaston again) he suggested Aromasin, which

> is an anti-aromatase drug. He insists that I am estrogen dominent

> still and that I was probably converting my androgens to estrogens

> too. he also prescribed a drug called Parlodel.

>

> None of these have worked (apart from for the first month!)so I am

> back to square one.I simply can not go on like this. I have had iron

> infusions for my very low ferritin level but within 3 months it was

> back at the lowest possible level again becuase of my heavy periods!

>

> I have to take strong painkillers to get through the period and it's

> just a nightmare.

>

> Please don't tell me to have saliva testing done at the lab in the US

> because I don't have a Docotr to order it for me and can not afford it

> especially as the shipping from here is horrendous.

>

> I did initially have a saliva test done (for the whole month) at a UK

> lab. It showed that I did ovulate (and I think I usually do)and that

> my progesterone and estradiol ratio was fine.Overall estradiol was

> within normal limits but it was low for most of the luteal phase so

> was on the low side overall.

>

> Progesterone showed poor surge just after ovulation but otherwise OK.

> testosterone was low.

>

> So, if anybody has any advice it will be greatly received! I am now so

> desperate that I think I may go for the mirena coil and try that.

> (yes, I must be desperate!!!)

>

> Thanks for taking the time to read this!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear

I also have gotten the most help from my naturopath - I am prescribed estradiol, and testosterone in olive oil, and armour thyroid by a separate osteopath.

But What has really helped me the most overall is adding slowly an iodine solution to my supplements, recommended by my naturuopath - 6 months of building slowly on that(very slowly, since I have very weak adrenals), and then did a 'hard-core' candida detox diet for three weeks recently, and this seems to have 'rebooted' my endocrine system, and everything is working better now. The iodine was tough at first because of the detox you go thru, but it was worth it.

personally I dont believe in any synthetic, prescription 'drugs' I think they cause many more problems in the long run, even in the short term in many cases. I believe most of all in the bodies ability and wisdom to balance and heal itself , when you have the proper diet and supplements. so I would encourage you to find a very reputable naturopath to help you with your hormone balance - there's a real art to it, as we all realize! Please dont give up and panic! I am only 1 year into bhrt and still feel very early in this journey to find the right balance. Hopefully you can ask around for a good recommendation, or you can check holographichealth.com (they are very helpful) to see if there are any of their practitioner accessable to you, or find someone like this who practices holistic health care.

You may not even need any progesterone at all at this time. It may be that you just need to do a major detox and make some changes in your diet and a few good supplements! Do you know if you ovulate regularly?

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Christa

To: rhythmicliving From: karirom@...Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 19:33:53 -0800Subject: Re: Cant get heavy periods sorted out - long

I had good results working with a naturopath after getting fed up with the solution offered by my MD. Homeopathics, eliminating foods I was sensitive too. Didn’t react well to hormones, so now only take them homeopathically. So far it works for me. The heavy bleeding just about did me in for years. Got tested for fibroids, only had one tiny 1/2 inch one, not enough to cause all the trouble.Still take iron all the time to help combat copper imbalance which was one of my main problems. Much improved hormonally speaking now that my copper levels are down. Iron had the biggest impact on my bleeding problem.Its a whole body problem, not just one organ or system. Everyone is unique. I think that some women naturally produce more estrogen and others more progesterone, so doctors who try the one size fits all are doing a disservice in my opinion. They also have different reactions to hormone levels, so someone who has a low level of estrogen could feel fine and another with the same level could feel like crap. That is pointed out by Dr. Love in her hormone book. Which may be why the researchers and doctors seem so confused. They are looking for something that is consistently applicable to all women.KarimaOn 1/9/08 10:56 AM, "jodi2ben" <nessyfamilyhughes (DOT) net> wrote:

Hello everyone,I have been reading the posts here with interest. I have also been following some other boards but once again, after much experimentation, am at a loss as to how to improve my periods. Perhaps someone here has a similar problem or has discovered something which may help?A brief history: Started periods at age 14. Am now 38. They have ALWAYS been heavy and painful, around 31 days and often with clots and flooding.I don't really have PMS as such but I do have very sore breasts for half the month.I have hypothyroidism and am taking Armour for that. I also have s for which I take prednisolone. I also found out last year that I am mercury poisoned so am addressing that.With regards to the period problem, here is what I have tried:*** Treating the thyroid and adrenals!No improvements in periods.*** Natural progesterone cream from mid cycle onwards. The first month I did this there was definitely an improvement in both sore breasts and the period itself. However,after that first month things went downhill again and along with worsening symptoms I suffered a lot of heartburn and indigestion which is exactly what I got each time I was pregnant and was definitely related to the progesterone.*** Then I saw Dr Hertoghe in Belgium. He prescribed Duphaston saying that some women react badly to natural progesterone. The same thing happened agin - first month better, then progressively worse. He said I should increase the dose. I did and things got much worse - the breast pain and heartburn mainly. At this time I was also prescribed Estrogel at certain times of the month too. He also played around with the timing of the progesterone but nothing helped.Unfortunately, he never listened to me so I eventually got sick of being told to take more progesterone and didn't bother going back to see him.Then I found a very good Doc here in Switzerland who treats with bio-identical hormones and is quite clued up on things. After doing the same thing with him (Duphaston again) he suggested Aromasin, which is an anti-aromatase drug. He insists that I am estrogen dominent still and that I was probably converting my androgens to estrogens too. he also prescribed a drug called Parlodel.None of these have worked (apart from for the first month!)so I am back to square one.I simply can not go on like this. I have had iron infusions for my very low ferritin level but within 3 months it was back at the lowest possible level again becuase of my heavy periods!I have to take strong painkillers to get through the period and it's just a nightmare.Please don't tell me to have saliva testing done at the lab in the US because I don't have a Docotr to order it for me and can not afford it especially as the shipping from here is horrendous.I did initially have a saliva test done (for the whole month) at a UK lab. It showed that I did ovulate (and I think I usually do)and that my progesterone and estradiol ratio was fine.Overall estradiol was within normal limits but it was low for most of the luteal phase so was on the low side overall.Progesterone showed poor surge just after ovulation but otherwise OK. testosterone was low.So, if anybody has any advice it will be greatly received! I am now so desperate that I think I may go for the mirena coil and try that. (yes, I must be desperate!!!)Thanks for taking the time to read this!

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