Progesterone Cream Problems??/ Please help

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed w/ Grave's about a year and a half ago. Currently I'm doing

block and replace - 2.5mgs of methimazole, 100mcgs of generic Synthroid

with 12.5mgs of compounded T3. (Armour made my thyroid eye disease

worse.)

Since my diagnosis, I've been doing a battery of tests to figure out if

something is going on. I have an incredible difficulty losing weight unless I

starve myself. I decided that maybe the birth control pill contributed to some

of my problems - headaches, weight gain, thyroid issues, so I went off it about

6 months ago. Although most of my migraines have ceased since getting my

thyroid to normal levels, I have been getting migraines a couple days before

my period that last a few days, accompanied with fatigue and depression.

After a recent estrogen/progesterone/DHEA test, my doctor determined that I

should go on some progesterone cream. I started it yesterday and have a

pretty bad headache today. Is this normal? Am I taking too much

progesterone? I'm only using about the size of a pea twice a day.

The following are my recent labs:

1/20/05

Estradiol = 1.2 (1.0 - 5.0) ((optimal = 1.5 - 3))

Progesterone = 58 (100-600)

Ratio: Pg/E2 = 48 (50-200 Optimal, 200 - 1000 Progesterone Therapy)

DHEAS = 11.1 (3-10)

Thanks in advance.

SAMMIE

[Guest guest]

Hi Sammie. I, too, have a lot miseries around my female hormones,

and though Armour gave me back my life, it didn't solve my female

issues, which include excessive fatigue and achiness with every

period.

Have you done free T3 labs? That would be interesting to know in

helping you.

How much progesterone is in the size of a pea of lotion? That is

also important to know. I wouldn't give up on the progesterone, or

even assume that it caused the headache, yet. I would personally

keep on with it, and see what a few more days bring. I am on 200 mgs

of progesterone daily!!

Also, down the line when you are doing better, don't give up on

Armour. You are virtually taking the exact same thing as in Armour--

the T4 and the T3. So...it could have been the " amount " of Armour

you were on, rather than the Armour itself.

Hang in there, and let us know your free T3 and the amount of

Progesterone in the cream pea size.

Janie

>

> I was diagnosed w/ Grave's about a year and a half ago. Currently

I'm doing

> block and replace - 2.5mgs of methimazole, 100mcgs of generic

Synthroid

> with 12.5mgs of compounded T3. (Armour made my thyroid eye

disease

> worse.)

>

> Since my diagnosis, I've been doing a battery of tests to figure

out if

> something is going on. I have an incredible difficulty losing

weight unless I

> starve myself. I decided that maybe the birth control pill

contributed to some

> of my problems - headaches, weight gain, thyroid issues, so I went

off it about

> 6 months ago. Although most of my migraines have ceased since

getting my

> thyroid to normal levels, I have been getting migraines a couple

days before

> my period that last a few days, accompanied with fatigue and

depression.

> After a recent estrogen/progesterone/DHEA test, my doctor

determined that I

> should go on some progesterone cream. I started it yesterday and

have a

> pretty bad headache today. Is this normal? Am I taking too much

> progesterone? I'm only using about the size of a pea twice a day.

>

> The following are my recent labs:

>

> 1

[Guest guest]

At what point in your cycle were these labs taken?

I get migraines too, right around the time my period is supposed to

start. I had a full hormonal panel done on day 2 and day 20 of my

cycle to see if things were rising and falling as they should.

Yes, my progesterone was low, but my estradiol was even lower. Dr.

Vliet recommends a serum E2 level of 80 pg/dL to maintain bone mass,

weight control, mood, and sex drive. I don't know what units your

levels are in, but just from the reference ranges your E2 is low

also. Perhaps by adding progesterone without estradiol you're

offsetting an optimal E2/P ratio.

I've found that by taking DHEA and an over the counter adrenal

support my progesterone levels are returning to normal - but not my

E2. This is because most E2 is produced by the ovaries. And ovarian

function is definitely hindered by thyroid disease. Most of your

progesterone is made by your adrenal glands, which are also hindered

by thyroid disease.

DHEA-S is a precursor to progesterone (and the estrogens produced by

your adrenals). Yours looks slightly high, and in combination with

the low E2 and P, that suggests that something is hindering the

pathway of conversion.

This happens in hypothyroidism with cholesterol too. Cholesterol is a

precursor to some hormones, and in hypothyroidism it's frequently

elevated (because you're no longer able to produce hormones from it

at a " metabolically active " rate).

Good luck sorting all of this out.

>

>

> The following are my recent labs:

>

> 1/20/05

>

> Estradiol = 1.2 (1.0 - 5.0)

((optimal = 1.5 - 3))

>

> Progesterone = 58 (100-

600)

>

> Ratio: Pg/E2 = 48 (50-200 Optimal, 200 - 1000

Progesterone Therapy)

>

> DHEAS = 11.1 (3-10)

>

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

> SAMMIE

[Guest guest]

> The following are my recent labs:

>

> 1/20/05

>

> Estradiol = 1.2 (1.0 - 5.0)

((optimal = 1.5 - 3))

>

> Progesterone = 58 (100-

600)

>

> Ratio: Pg/E2 = 48 (50-200 Optimal, 200 - 1000

Progesterone Therapy)

>

> DHEAS = 11.1 (3-10)

>

>

==========

Wow, Sammie, regardless of the point in your cycle your progesterone

is very low, no wonder you feel awful around TOM. Your estradiol

isn't optimal but you don't need to supplement with estrogen, as the

progesterone will make the estrogen receptors more sensitive and

effective. The estrogen will then help the progesterone receptors

to work better - they work off each other. Both of yours being low

meant you didn't have any help.

It's not uncommon to feel a little worse when you start on

progesterone cream, but it levels out after a few months, if you're

on the right dose. What percentage is your P-cream? Are you taking

1/4 teaspoon? This is what a 'pea size' amount is to me... it might

not be enough.

Have you read Dr. Lee's book " What your doctor may not tell you

about premenopause " ? If not I highly recommend it - it will help

explain what's happening between your different hormones and how

they all interact.

Nat

[Guest guest]

> The following are my recent labs:

>

> 1/20/05

>

> Estradiol = 1.2 (1.0 - 5.0)

((optimal = 1.5 - 3))

>

> Progesterone = 58 (100-

600)

>

> Ratio: Pg/E2 = 48 (50-200 Optimal, 200 - 1000

Progesterone Therapy)

>

> DHEAS = 11.1 (3-10)

>

>

==========

Wow, Sammie, regardless of the point in your cycle your progesterone

is very low, no wonder you feel awful around TOM. Your estradiol

isn't optimal but you don't need to supplement with estrogen, as the

progesterone will make the estrogen receptors more sensitive and

effective. The estrogen will then help the progesterone receptors

to work better - they work off each other. Both of yours being low

meant you didn't have any help.

It's not uncommon to feel a little worse when you start on

progesterone cream, but it levels out after a few months, if you're

on the right dose. What percentage is your P-cream? Are you taking

1/4 teaspoon? This is what a 'pea size' amount is to me... it might

not be enough.

Have you read Dr. Lee's book " What your doctor may not tell you

about premenopause " ? If not I highly recommend it - it will help

explain what's happening between your different hormones and how

they all interact.

Nat

[Guest guest]

Should I also mention that I'm a natural redhead? I had no idea there was a

HypoT connection with us carrot tops.

Wow.

This group is so educational.

SAMMIE

[Guest guest]

Should I also mention that I'm a natural redhead? I had no idea there was a

HypoT connection with us carrot tops.

Wow.

This group is so educational.

SAMMIE