Re: Mindy, Chelle, (and anyone else) - hormone clinic visit

[Guest guest]

Melinda,

On what basis did she suggest the P? Did you have

test results with you for her to look at? If you are truly deficient in P, it's

one thing. But if, as it sounds,this is just a " because everyone needs it "

approach/rationale, i would be very wary. From perusing their site and

newsletters, W to W comes across to me as a P uber alles kind of place, which

personally turns me off.

What are your total T and free T levels? If they

are well below Vliet's, then that also would give

me pause.

Hollis

=====================

Date: 2007/10/15 Mon PM 06:59:16 CDT

To: VulvarDisorders

Subject: Mindy, Chelle, (and anyone else) - hormone clinic visit

Also wants me to try a bio-identical

progesterone cream. But I just don't know who to believe. Vliet's book says not

to use prog. cream and that it's not this " mother hormone " that everyone talks

about and that it's overprescribed. But

they told me the exact opposite! So I have some thinking to do. Also, the above

testing is expensive and not covered by insurance (except

the thyroid panel) so I need to think about if we can really afford it or not.

Also, she thinks my testosterone level is fine, even

though it is way below what Vliet says it should be. So I feel a little stuck on

who to believe and am not sure what to do next.

[Guest guest]

It does sound like it could be the testosterone if yours was 24... mine was 22.

Using the cream definitely made a difference for me. I also take a DHEA supplement.See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Melinda,

Hi. I don't know how progesterone effects our issues, but I have

discovered that I have an imbalance and the bio-identical

progesterone has pretty literally been a life saver for me. I was on

drugs for bipolar 2 for 3 years which worked but I couldn't stay on

them to get pregnant. So, I got off of them. When I got pregnant, I

had a horrible time maintaining my pregnancy my first trimester due

to low progesterone and had to so P suppositories everyday. If I

missed 2 days I was in unbearable cramps. Well, after that I

researched P a lot and saw that it was a big reason for PPD, so 2

days after my daughter was delivered, I started on P. Even through

all of the problems that have hit my family in this past year, I have

never gone as low as I had before the P (including while on meds). I

don't know if it would help you, but I am literally a different

person. Happier, healthier and also finally able to lose weight

easily after years of battling it.

Do the research and see if it does apply to your life, even if it is

just as an anti-depressant to help you deal with what is going on.

in Chicago

>

> Hi ladies.

> Thought I would post about my visit to the Women to Women clinic

> today. I have mixed feelings.

> The clinician () was very nice and listened to me and didn't

> make me feel like I was non-compliant just for asking probing

> questions of her, so that was good. =) She doesn't feel that I'm

> perimenopausal or anything like that - wants to do a full thyroid

> panel, stool and urine tests for food sensitivities, and an iodine

> deficiency test (stating that iodine deficiency is being implicated

> in many AI disorders). Also wants me to try a bio-identical

> progesterone cream. But I just don't know who to believe. Vliet's

> book says not to use prog. cream and that it's not this " mother

> hormone " that everyone talks about and that it's overprescribed.

But

> they told me the exact opposite! So I have some thinking to do.

Also,

> the above testing is expensive and not covered by insurance (except

> the thyroid panel) so I need to think about if we can really afford

> it or not. Also, she thinks my testosterone level is fine, even

> though it is way below what Vliet says it should be. So I feel a

> little stuck on who to believe and am not sure what to do next.

>

> I am going to do the iodine deficiency test and thyroid panel, and

> will consult with her by phone in November once these results are

in.

> And then I will decide if we can do the additional food testing.

She

> can also do the heavy metal testing that I want done, whenever we

> have the money for it. I am looking to also have my mercury

fillings

> replaced ASAP. Anyway, that was the visit - it was fine, it just

gave

> me a lot to think about because I don't know what information to

> trust.

>

> Melinda

>

[Guest guest]

Hollis,

Yeah, after spending some time thinking last night, I am definitely not

doing the progesterone cream. They do recommend it for alomsot

everyone, which makes me wary as well. And my progesterone test was

really low (.4 ng/mL) - but they tested me on day 20, and I have really

long cycles, so I know I hadn't ovulated yet. So of course my

progesterone was low. If they tested me a week or two later, I'm

guessing it would have been higher. Although actually right now we

don't know if I'm even ovulating regularly.

My testosterone result were: Total, 24.0 ng/dL; Free was 1 pg/mL; Free

plus weakly bound was 2 ng/dL. The 24.0 total seemed low to me, I know

Vliet says it should be 40-60 and I definitely have no sex drive (I

know it's partly due to the vulvar issues, but I can't even orgasm). I

am going to beg for topical testosterone at my next specialist visit in

2 weeks. If I had the money, I would just fly to Arizona and have a

consult with Vliet's clinic. =) Thanks for your thoughts!

Melinda

[Guest guest]

Melinda,

In the past i had "seeing Vliet" fantasies as well. But, you know what? I've heard both positive and negative

reports from people who have worked with her directly, so maybe it's more a matter of simply finding someone

nearer by you feel comfortable with. A tall order, i realize. . . .

Hollis

Re: Mindy, Chelle, (and anyone else) - hormone clinic visit

Hollis,Yeah, after spending some time thinking last night, I am definitely not doing the progesterone cream. They do recommend it for alomsot everyone, which makes me wary as well. And my progesterone test was really low (.4 ng/mL) - but they tested me on day 20, and I have really long cycles, so I know I hadn't ovulated yet. So of course my progesterone was low. If they tested me a week or two later, I'm guessing it would have been higher. Although actually right now we don't know if I'm even ovulating regularly.My testosterone result were: Total, 24.0 ng/dL; Free was 1 pg/mL; Free plus weakly bound was 2 ng/dL. The 24.0 total seemed low to me, I know Vliet says it should be 40-60 and I definitely have no sex drive (I know it's partly due to the vulvar issues, but I can't even orgasm). I am going to beg for topical testosterone at my next specialist visit in 2 weeks. If I had the money, I would just fly to Arizona and have a consult with Vliet's clinic. =) Thanks for your thoughts!Melinda