Hi I've been postmenopausal due to premature ovarian failure related to having a partial hysterectomy for nearly 20 years. My symptoms were managed for 7 years using estradiol pills. I was then switched to a patch which worked well for me for nearly 12 years...although I had to use a patch and a half of the highest dose patch. I'm from the US, but my patch was the Vivelle Dot which is the same are the Estradot 100 in the UK. I can't say that I have ever felt completely normal after having my surgery and immediately experiencing ovarian failure when I was 35. I am now 54 and have been trying to find the right implant dose that works best for me. Here in the states, most implant/pellet docs insert very low estrogen doses and huge testosterone doses. That regiman really messed me up and it has taken my testosterone a year to decrease to a level where I feel well. I had to change doctors in order for that to happen. My new provider started me off by giving me 100 mg. E implant and 100 mg. T implant. I don't think he clearly understood that my testosterone was over the top. He lowered my testosterone implant to 50 mg. and left me estrogen implaint dose at 100 mg. during my last visit, gave me a 5 mg. depo estrogen shot to boost my level and keep me comfortable until the estrogen implant kicked in. As soon as the injection wore off, all of my symptoms returned. I have always had severely debilitating symptoms from low estrogen. My implant doctor does not dose based on lab work but by symptoms only. I recently visited my GP for my annual exam and he ran some routine blood work as well as a hormone level check. My estradiol level was 985.3 and my testosterone was 122 which is great. However, he flipped out over my high estradiol level. I had given myself and injection a couplf o days before and wonder how much it affected my estradiol reading. Now, my implant doctor who originally said that labs were "only numbers" wants to lower my estrogen implant dose and take the estradiol shots away. I feel the best I have felt in 20 years and am not having any side effects at all. Have any of you ever needed your estradiol/estrogen/oestrogen (all the same) levels as high as I seem to need mine in order to feel well?
I just read your post, and we have so many similarities. I am 52 and had a full hysterctomy when I was 30. Different hormones on and off through the years. I am now on Estradiol pill form (which I have been on for some time). I tried to take myself off a couple of months back. Thought I was doing ok, and then I started to suffer from several different symptoms. I really wasn't sure if it was due to coming off the HRT. I have never felt totally "normal" since my hysterctomy. Would you mind sharing some of your symptoms. At times I feel so bad it worries me as to what is really going on inside my body. A brief list of what bothers me the most:
Headaches, dizziness, brain fogginess, feeling out of sorts, body aches (really bad at times), joint pain, feeling very sad, and tearful, angry, etc.
Thank you for sharing!
Kim, I had all of the symptoms you described. I developed problems with anxiety shortly after my surgery when the doc discovered that the removal of my uterus had caused my ovaries to start failing and placed me on 1 mg. oral estradiol. I knew nothing about menopause or hormones then...thought the only symptom involved was a hot flash from time to time. Two months after beginning the oral estradiol, I was incorrectly diagnosed with PTSD and GAD, and given xanax and an antidepressant which I could not take. The xanax helped with the anxiety but I couldn't tolerate the side effects of any AD I was prescribed. 7 years later I, too, decided to stop my estradiol pills. I was okay for a little while but then started to have panic attacks, acid reflux, horrible bloating from gas, fluid retention most noticably in my hips, thighs, and calves, muscle tightness and joint pain, tmj, carpal tunnel, shortness of breath, heart palps, a constant choking/lump in throat sensation, self-loathing depression, gained 20 lbs. in less than two months, watched my muscle turn to flab, my skin was horribly dry and I was aging at a rapid rate. My hair also lost its sheen, and even my the soles of my feet developed thicker skin and cracked heels. I didn't get slammed with these symptoms all at once. They developed one by one over a 2 and 1/2 year period. My doctor sent me to a different doctor for EACH symptom. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, acid reflux, had to wear a splint in my mouth, and braces on my wrists. I was also prescribed a ton of meds for EACH problem! I honestly thought I had been stricken with a horrible disease and the docs just weren't connecting the dots. Then, after 2.5 years I started having horrible night sweats! I actually delayed seeing my doc about yet another symptom until I was so sleep deprived that I was falling asleep at my desk at work and feared that I might dose off while driving. It was then and only then, that my GP ran a hormone panel. I had NO E in my system at all. He tried to restart me on the same estradiol pill I had taken before and it caused a massive panic attack. He then switched me to the Vivelle Dot patch and after several tweaks, I finally found a dose where I felt the most comfortable but it was not perfect. In the early spring of 2013, the patches just stopped working. I kept adding more, less, changing them more often, etc. and NOTHING worked. I decided to try the pellet implants in August of last year. The first doctor overdosed me horribly with testosterone and gave me ver little estrogen. I FINALLY found another doc who believes that a woman needs more estrogen than testosterone. I feel much better than I did being dosed in the opposite manner but I still have low estrogen symptoms. My doc prescribed estrogen shots for me to give myself when I started experiencing low estrogen symptoms between pellet insertions (get them every 12 weeks). I feel wonderful using the shots but then my GP found that my estrogen level was 985.3 and freaked. I think it was because I had just given myself a shot a couple of days before the labs were drawn but my pellet docs says it wasn't. So, now that I've finally found something that makes me feel well, he is planning to cut my estrogen dose. My pellet doctor does not do blood work. He bases a woman's doses strictly on her symptoms. I posted here hoping that maybe another woman who seems to need very high estrogen levels to feel well or who is using estrogen implants or injections might be able to help me. I feel for you, Kim. Nobody prepared us for this and we are certainly not alone. A lot of women have every symptom I've had and even additional ones; however, the doctors refuse to recognize anything other than hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness as being a hormone related symptom. Oh, and I nearly forgot the most important thing! After I started using the patch, all of my symptoms and the other illnesses I was diagnosed went completely away. I didn't have ANY of the illnesses that I was diagnosed with!
Barter,
I am so sorry that you are having all these issues! I too, am from the US and just went back on estrogen (bi est) six weeks ago after a horrible six months off of ERT. Everyone is so different and I, like you do very poorly when my body has low estrogen. 985 is very high,(assuming it was a blood draw and not saliva) but it could of been a lab mistake and would have that test redoes just to make sure. IMO, those The Dx who is writing for your hormones needs to be testing blood levels to see where you are. 24 urine testing is now the gold standard for sex hormone testing and I would find a Dx who will not only test you, but could do 24 hour urine testing. Estrogen can fluctuate daily, even every hour, so you may want to invest in that test. How did this Dx not know what your T level? He or she sound really irresponsible,since high T can cause real problems with blood lipids(think cholesterol, LDL,) which is very bad, I would run, not walk to get someone who is very experienced in hormonal therapy. What state do you live in, since there are any good HRT Dx all over the place and maybe I can suggest someone. You may need to go out of network from insurance, but it is worth it. Since I just came back on to estrogen in another month I am going out of network to have my level tested in my whole endocrine system, besides sex hormones done since they are all interconnected and I need to get balanced. A great web site to also ask questions is hyster sisters. They have helped me with many questions and are amazing.
Kim,
I just replied to barter and I had the same issues you had( I am 58) went on estrogen at 51 for debilitating migraines (only sympton)which was like a wonder drug. I took topical Divigel 1 mg and then switched to bi est when I was 55. Tapered off 6 months ago, since I thought my the estrogen was affecting my gallbladder and had pain on my RUQ bac and stomach. I was fine for two months after
going off and then all these symptons you name, plus more started happening. The hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, vaginal dryness (horrible, which I still have) burning tongue and a metallic taste in my mouth. Ringing in my ears and the best one was c onstipation!! I said, I do not care if my gallbladder is sluggish, I am going back on estrogen for my quality of life. I need to get all my levels checked out in the next month and I am still having issues by a Dx who is knowledagle about the whole emdrocone system. What a journey we have all had and hopefully we can get balanced.
Hi Retired,
I too, am from the US. I also suffer with the hot flashes, anxiety, depression, ringing in my ears, etc. It is so consuming! I have always been a very independent strong person, and now I feel incapable of making the smallest decisions. On the rare day that I actually feel good. I find myself spoiling it by the thoughts of the antcipated bad feelings to come. At times I feel like my anxiety is totally out of control. I really do not talk about it much to anyone in my family. I have always been the "go to" person in our family.
This forum has been so wonderful in helping me to understand what is going on with me. Just knowing I am not alone in this helps so much. I refuse to take any AD. I want to try and work through this. I have realized, however, I cannot come off the HRT. Not yet, anyways. Symptoms are bad on it, but horrible without it. Especially the body aches, and hot flashes!!!
Hi ladies..
i have just been reading your posts and soooo sorry your suffering..
the symptoms you explain are like mine .. peri meno but No HRT taken..
but I calm and control mine with naturals and have done for 10 years..
but I am near the end of peri now.. ( 11 and a half months no period) and aged 50..
HRT has it uses and helps many, but its the coming off that makes all the peri symptoms come back.. peri your body wants to reduce all these hormones and HRT puts them all back in again, and then the day you have to finish taking it or reducing it.. your peri will begin again..
and when you have to have HRT when your younger and had a hysterectomy oh I just feel for you ...
its a vicious circle and I feel for you all, and hope you can all feel better very soon and get the HRT levels that make you all feel better Jay xx
Kim,
I am so sorry you are suffering, even with HRT! How about a second opinion, since your symptons seem like low estrogen. You did not state if your Hysto was total or partial. I had a partial (ovaries intact) at 49 and was Ok until 51 when I started getting migraines everyday. I find at 58 and not being on estrogen for six months has really messed me up. I do not think I will ever come off once hopefully I can feel good. I know you said you tried many types of ERT. Have you ever tried compounded where they can make up any dose and delivery system---gels, sprays, torches, etc. I know for me I have to take mone 2x a day and sometimes more in very small amounts since I metabolize it faster, especially if i exercise or sweat. If you had a total Hysto, you may need more help. The women's international compounding has pharmiscits whow ill ill answer any questions and people around the world use them. They know ten times more than the Dx and have Dx referrals. Have you tried the hyster sister site?. They have great info and very knowledagle woman who are going through the same thing. I do not blame you for not wanting to go on an AD. I found when I was off estrogen for 6 months I had terrible anxiety, mood swings and depression. I tried Xanax .25 and that helped and I dound it a better alternative than AD's.
! I am better mow with estrogen, but I still need to be tweaked as I am still not feeling 100%. I think I am on the back end of menopause at 58 and my estrogen is in the toilet. Luckily, I am retired at this point or I do not know how I would do it. I know you said you are the "go to" personin your family, but you need to take time for yourself and they will manage. You need to think about yourself, which we women are very bad at doing
Hi Jay,
thanks for your support! It was funny, when I had my Hysto I was fine at 49, when I was in peri in my 40's. Than at 51 wham, the migraines, which I never had in my life started and was debilitating----- migraines every single day. I wanted to blow my brains out and had a hard time working.
Nothing worked, diet, supplementsm acupuncture, etc. Luckily, a smart neurologist in NYC suggested estrogen and I thought it was a miracle. I do not think I really entered full menopause until about 55 (do not know since with the hysterectomy I did not have a period). I tried to come off several times around 56 and you are right when your body is used to estrogen it is not easy to taper off. However, I have friends who just went off like it was nothing and were fine--not many, but a few did. I am so glad that you are able to manage your symptons using natural means. I tried in December for six months by using natural phytoestrogens (black cohosh, soy), supplements, acupuncture and I am also on a plant based diet, but nothing worked. Getting older is not for sissies!
Hi retired..
ref.. migraines.. i have never had them ever, until last year..
this was when I had my last two periods... just before ( i only had two periods last year) blimey the migraines, banging
for four days and nights, solid, nothing helped.. but ... havent had a period since and no migraines..
had no periods since and in a couple of weeks will be a year..
its been a long journey, but I have experienced it all along the way.. and glad its almost over, feel i have my life back again, yippeeee.
the B6 helped me so so much, and weird as 10 years ago when doc first said i was in early peri, he gave me a prescription for B6 but forgot to tell me how much they would help, so i never bothered with them then... we live and learn ... the hard way... blimey its changed my life.. something so simple ..
i will still have to take all the Vits ans naturals even when i reach the full meno, but I can do that no problems...
breaks my heart when i read some of these posts as I know how hard it is and how it effects everything ...... just want you to all feel good and enjoy life.. going back to B6.. its also good for HRT absortion too... Jay xx
Yes, the migraines are a real attention getter!! I am so happy you are finding luck with B6 as it helps a lot of women. I tried it but it did not work. We are all so individual. I live in a 55+ community and speak to who brezzed through menopause and do not know what all the fuss is all about--LOL!
I am sure you will be fine since you made it this far and B6 is a great help for symptons I agree, enjoying life is so important, so hopefully all of us gals will find balance.
sandy
Hi, I'm sorry if my post was confusing. I was referring to 3 different docs and didn't do a very good job in explaining which one is responsible for this or that treatment. So let me explain that a bit better. And, I live in east Tennessee by the way.
Okay, I've been seeing the same local GP for 20 years. I was already taking the oral estradiol I mentioned when I became his patient. A 4th doctor that I didn't mention in my first post...the gynecologist who did my partial hysterectomy prescribed it to me 6 weeks after my surgery because he determined that the removal of my uterus had caused ovarian failure. I might also add that he retired shortly after he performed my surgery.
I started seeing my long time GP a few months after my surgery and being placed on the estradiol pills. I THOUGHT I was doing okay as far as the recovery from my partial and that the estradial pills were serving their purpose. I initially saw my GP because I was having muscle spasms in my left shoulder. He prescribed the xanax to me to relieve the spasms and after talking with me, diagnosed me with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. He also prescribed an AD during my first visit which I could not take. He tried me on a few more AD's and none of them agreed with me. So, I just continued with the xanax. After I was notified of my surgeon's retirement, I asked my GP if he would pick up prescribing my estradiol pills for me and he agreed. It was shortly after the WHI study was conducted that suggested that ALL forms of HRT caused cancer that I stopped taking my estradiol pills.I had been taking them 7 years at the time. As you probably know, they have now proved that study was VERY inaccurate as it was based on ONE synthetic estrogen/progestin combo pill! I might also mention again that I was totally ignorant regarding all the symptoms that low estrogen can cause. I didn't even bother with informing my GP that I had stopped taking the estradiol pills. But, it was HE that I went to see when I started developing stomach issues, and he that I saw for other symptoms that I developed over the 2.5 years that followed my stopping the estradiol tablets. He did what any good GP should and sent me to a different specialist for each new symptom as that popped up over that 2.5 year period. So, I was being treated for several different conditions by several different doctors. After 2.5 years of a host of symptoms and various diagnsoses, I started to have nightsweats. Again, I saw my faithful GP regarding this symptom. It was he that then ran the hormone panel and discovered that I had no estrogen in my system. It was also obvious that I was well past post menopause. It was also then that I told him I had stopped the estradiol pills over 2 years before because they caused cancer. He explained to me that I NEEDED my estrogen replacement and tried to restart me on the same estradiol pills that I had taken for 7 years. I had a massive panic attack after taking the first pill! He then switched me to the Vivelle Dot patch because he said most women had fewer side effects with the transdermal delivery. After tweaking my patch dose several times, we finally found a dose where I felt pretty good using. It was only after I got leveled out on the patch dose, that ALL of the conditions I had been diagnosed with were cured! So, low estrogen was the culprit behind the acid reflux, fibromyalgia, tmj, etc. I also realized that I did NOT have PTSD or GAD that my GP had diagnosed me with years ago. The estradiol pill that I had taken all of those years simply did not agree with me as well as I thought. I started studying everything I could get my hands on about menopause and hormones after learning this. And, sure enough, every symptom I had during the 7 years on the estradiol pill and the symptoms during the 2. 5 years of NO estrogen replacement at all were common menopause/low hormone symptoms. Someone mentioned having burning mouth. That was also a symptom I had that started shortly after my surgery and continued for 9 years until I started using the patch! It was horrible...not sure how I could have forgotten to mention it! Anyway, I continued to use the patch for 12 years. My GP also did my annual well woman visits, and ordered my annual mammograms, and bi-annual ultrasounds of my dried up ovaries.
I felt fairly good using the patch for 12 years but it suddenly stopped working in the spring of 2013. I should add that my stress levels had also increased tremendously during the months prior to it no longer serving my needs. My GP actually did try to switch me to compounded creams during this time. He described the intensity of my symptoms to the compounding pharmacist and allowed him to decide on my doses because although my GP supported compounded BHRT, it was out of his field. The cream doses were adjusted a few times but did absolutely nothing to help me. It was then that I sought out a doctor who offer pellet therapy.
Pellet doctor number 1: hot shot gynecologist in Nashville...40 years experience. I drove 3.5 hours one way to see him. It was HE that pumped me full of testosterone and very little estrogen which I happen to need a LOT of in order to feel well. I told him that I was NOT new to hormone symptoms and had been post menopausal for nearly 20 years and knew my body quite well. He insisted that testosterone was latest and greatest cure for these symptoms. I was a total mess after he dosed me with the first pellets. He had my levels tested through blood work every month during the 3 months of those first implants. The first 2 lab results showed that my total testosterone was much higher than my total estradiol which was dropping fast while my testosterone levels were barely dropping at all. I still had a few estrogen patches so I started using them, too! The testosterone was causing acne, hair loss and hair growth in places that women do not want it. My hair and skin were also extremely oily. My anxiety was through the roof, and I was SO aggressive and angry that my husband feared me! LOL! By the time, my 3rd set of labs were ran, I was feeling much better and most of the high testosterone side effects had stopped. The 3rd labs revealed that by supplementing with the E patches, I had managed to get my estrogen level higher than my testosterone level. I thought "ah-ha!", pellet doc number 1 needs to decrease my testosterone and increase my estrogen dose and I'll get straightened out. When I told him this, he laughed at me and told me the only symptoms estrogen addressed were hot flashes and nightsweats! I asked him to please explain to me then WHY my using estrogen only for nearly 19 years had kept all the symptoms I told him I had experienced under control. He then insulted me even more by telling me NONE of the symptoms I mentioned had anything to do with menopause or hormones and asked if I had considered seeing a psychiatrist! I was livid! But, I allowed him to make me feel stupid, and after he gave me the "I'm the doctor, you're the patient" lecture, I foolishly allowed him to insert a second set of pellets in which he increased the estrogen a little but also INCREASED the testosterone a lot! The NEXT 3 months would have been a living hell if I hadn't of had refills left for my E patches. I had to wear two full patches at a time to keep the high testosterone symptoms under control. I never had labs ran during that time nor did I call that doc to report how I was feeling. I was done with him AND with pellet therapy...so I thought!
Pellet doc #2: I then learned of an NP who had worked with and trained under a highly regarded reproductive endocrinologist who specialized in fertility and menopause issues...a hormone specialist. The reproductive endocrinologist was trained to do pellet therapy by the doctor who invented the pellets. And, of course, he trained the NP in the same manner that he was trained. The NP took over the reproductive endocrinologist's practice when he retired. He is the only pellet provider that I could find within a day's drive of my home who administers higher estrogen pellet doses. However, he bases the dosing strictly on a woman's symptoms as he was trained to do by the reproductive endocrinologist who mentored him and still does. I have now received two founds of pellets from him and he is getting me straightened out. Also, the lady who referred him to me receives 100 mg. estrogen pellet as I do, takes oral E, uses oral E vaginally, and is also prescribed the shots to give herself when she feels that her estrogen is dropping. He has never tested her levels, either. However, I have been having to supplement with the estrogen shots more than I should because I continue to have experience low E symptoms. The shots relieve those symptoms immediately. So, I assumed that when I see him again for my next round of pellets on August 5th that he would increase my estrogen pellet dose. This NP is located in NC and is about a 2.5 hour drive one way from my home.
Back to my GP: It was time for my annual well woman visit and mammogram a few weeks ago. I saw my GP for this exam 9 weeks after receiving my last pellet inserts, and had also been having to supplement my estrogen by giving myself 2.5 mg. of an estrogen injection every 8-9 days. My mammogram results were fine as was an ultrasound that was also ran to check my breast health. I felt balanced when I saw my GP and told him how much the pellets were finally helping me with my new pellet provider. As part of the routine well woman visit, my GP runs labs to check various things including my hormone levels. All of labs for various things were normal except that my estrogen level was 985.3. My testosterone was 122 which made me extremely happy since it had stayed near the 300 mark during the time of seeing pellet doc #1 while my estrogen levels were in the double digits until I added patches to get the level up. My GP freaked when he saw how high my estrogen level was! I told him that I felt great! He told me that I needed to inform my pellet provider that my estrogen level was that high so I did as I was instructed. Now, my pellet provider who has helped me feel the best I've felt in nearly 20 years, and who said that labs were "just numbers" and that how a woman felt was all that mattered is flipping out over my high estrogen level. I don't get it! He has NEVER performed labs on the other patient of his that I know who receives much more E from him than I do! Now, I'm terrified that he's going to cut my estrogen dose and my living nightmare will return again. I honestly feel that my estrogen level was SO high because I had just given myself a shot a couple of days before my labs were drawn. I suppose the estrogen pellet was contributing SOME estrogen but it obviously wasn't enough or I wouldn't have needed to supplement with the shots in order to feel well.
And, yes, I realize that a postmenopausal woman having an estrogen leve of 985.3 probably isn't ideal but frankly, I feel that it's just as safe as a woman having testosterone levels as high as 300-800, while she's growing a beard, going bald, and covered in acne!
Gosh, my current dr would flip at all the self administering of hrt - she does not believe in it but has come to realise that my body needs it to keep reasonably healthy. I have to be assertive. I believe in bio-identical, like Estrodiol MX patches, and Sandrina oestrodiol gel as two patches x 100 a week do not last 7 days. The MX is important - it allows the estrogen to be absorbed slowly, I suppose like your 'dot' product. My gp, not knowing the difference, gave me a script for Estrodiol patches that were not MX. Luckily my pharmacist picked it up and told me the difference. She said my body would not like getting the sudden hit, that that patch provides.
Now for years after full hysterectomy I suffered terrible symptoms that sounded like menopause, even though I was given hrt implants (estrogen - which are now not available in Australia). 9 years later I was diagnosed with haemochromatosis. I was loading iron because I was no longer menstruating.
Haemochromatosis can also deplete your estrogen, cause early menopause, and infertility among a lot of other things, as well as a few years later, the discovery of a prolactinoma (after 6 years of suffering severe menopause symptoms again) which was making my oestrogen ineffective (5-alpha reductase enzyme).
Another thing I have noticed, is that women who are pear shaped breeze through menopause easily because the fat on their hips and thighs retains oestrogen, while those who have an inverted body shape (big on top, narrow hips - me) suffer more.
I really loved the implant as my body absorbed the oestrogen as it needed it (which meant a 12 month one barely lasted 9 months). I am trying to find a compound chemist to make them for me although I guess I will have to pay heaps. The local cc is checking it out for me, but she is taking months. I would rather go through her than online.
So there are reasons why some of us need more oestrogen supplementation that others and perhaps worth checking out. For hemochromatosis, ask for an Iron Studies test which should include serum iron, tibc, transferrin saturation % (s/b <45), and ferritin iron (s/b less than 250).
Pituitary gland tests to see what is happening there, and well, we can't do much about our body shapes. There may be more that other women have discovered.
And yes, it does make sense that having an oestrogen injection 2 days before a test would elevate it significantly - I don't imagine that is a slow absorption way of receiving oestrogen.
Hi Sheryl, I AM what I would consider pear shaped. I've always been thicker through my hips and thighs but was very thin all of my life. I'm 5'4" and my average weight stayed around 118. I have been as thin as 108 but never weighed over 120 except when I was pregnant. I didn't gain any extra weight through my pregnancy, either. The weight was ALL a bouncing baby boy who is now 34. The only time I've ever gained weight is when I thought it would be a good idea to suddenly stop taking my estradiol pills. Duh. I gained 20 lbs. in less than 2 months! I now weigh 130 and although I FEEL fat after being so thin all of my life, I realize that I am not overweight. I'll check the conditions you mentioned. I've always felt that I had low estrogen. Even in my youth, I had migraines that were helped by birth control. A lot of people with a history of migraines couldn't tolerate the old bc forms that contained estrogen only. I loved them!
So, tell me, when implants were available in Australia, how were most women dosed? Average mg. of E pellet? And, testosterone?
The only self medicating I'm doing is with my doctor's blessing which I MAY lose is giving myself the shots. I just don't think he expected that I was going to need them with the 100 mg. implant but it simply did not provide the amount of estrogen that I need to feel well. Or, maybe my body isn't metabolizing it but my body certainly didn't have any trouble metabolizing the ton of testosterone I was given by the first pellet doctor! I felt fortunate that I still had Vivelle Dot patches after the first pellet doc pumped me full of testosterone. I self-medicated then but only because I've been dealing with my hormone woes for years and easily recognized that I HAD to have more estrogen!
Actually, the shots DO release slowly but over the period of a week to 9 days. They last some women 2 weeks and even a month. I burn the shots up as quickly as I use the pellets. So, the shots reach peak level around the second day or so which is when I had my labs drawn! They work sort of like the MX patches but last a tad bit longer. I don't get a RUSH of estrogen after a shot although it starts to improve my symptoms almost immediately and continues to improve them until it starts wearing off over the last couple of days. And, when the shot is used up, I can certainly feel that it is GONE!
Hi Barter,
thanks for clarifying ---it now makes much more sense to me. Since I just went back on estrogen I am still in brain fog LOL! Wow, you have been through the mill with Dx ' As have I. The guy in Nashville was a moron and the whole testo thing is unbelievable!! My husband takes weekly T injections and he waits 4 days before blood draw or it will be too high. makes perfect sense why your blood draw was high so close to taking the shot. I feel good at a lower dose of estrogen, but everyone is different and since going off for six months----big mistake!! I feel like I have to start all over again. I really want to get my whole endocrine system tested, which includes sex hormones, thyroid, cortisol, etc. since they are all interconnected. I too, am on the thin side 5'2" and about 110-115 lbs. why you may need more E is that estrogen is stored in the fat and thinner women have less fat. What Cheryl said about the pear shape makes sense also. Just my 2€ fwiw---since estrogen interacts with thyroid hormones t3/t4 your thyroid might be worth checking out as if your Thyroid is in the toilet that can affect how you feel no matter what level your E is. I do believe in testing, especially urine metabolite 24 hour testing which is becoming more available. Genova Diagnostics does it and I do not see why your Dx. Would not want to do it. Rerun the test between estrodial injections I would like to explore testosterone since my libido is in the toile and even with estrogen, I stil rather polish my nails than hav sex. I know that sounds awful, but it is true. The only thing I am afraid of is that I have read it can lower you HDL cholesterol and raise your LDL (bad cholesterol and I have a lot of heart disease in my family. Since you have been taking T what do you think.
at the end of the day, you need to feel well, so if the GP is not happy with your numbr you still have the other doc.
Sandy
Well, that blows my theory then, doesn't it?! Implants - 100 mg of oestrodiol for 12 months or 50 for 6 months. No testosterone. Personally, I have not heard of anyone getting testosterone.
I actually take Androcur (which is an anti-androgen) to prevent excess hair, acne, hair loss (that part not working anymore!), and have done so for years, because of the acne problems I was having back then. Whenever I try to reduce it, I get greasy face and deep pimples - so not going back there. It is also prescribed for women with PCOS, which also causes all those problems. Maybe I had that, but no-one diagnosed it.
My current gp would flip at the idea of prescribing shots that were self administered, I really think I meant. Hard enough to get the patches and gel out of her. Well ... not really any more. A previous dr did and now she has to too. I don't think I have heard of estrogen injections here anyway.
Maybe testosterone is available for women if one is desperate for increasing libido but I would not like those side effects with it.
One patch is supposed to last 3.5 days but does not, and if I forget that morning, I suddenly find I am having a wave of anxiety or depression for no reason, then I realise I had forgotten to apply a new patch. Now I replace it every 3 days, and Sunday I apply the gel. Earlier this year, I was experiencing that a lot and using the gel more often but it seems to have settled down now. I cannot equate it with anything, except I think I have a dose of Helicobacter pylori and it was really affecting me then. I have since started using kefir (which is like a strong yoghurt which I make from a culture and sip a couple of tablespoons before meals). It has made a big difference to my gut (pain, bloating, etc). How and if it effects oestrogen I have no idea. Maybe it is the stress of dealing with the pain, etc.????!
Because I had endometriosis, my earlier enlightened gp put me onto progesterone too, as she said any remaining bits of endo will be 'menstruating' - for want of a better word, as it is activated by the oestrogen. That has gone down well - no probs with that.
Here's how crazy our docs are here in the states and sometimes, I question the women's sanity who trust them. Testosterone pellets ONLY for menopause symptoms is the latest trend! The idea originated from testosteroning helping relieve menopause symptoms of ladies who had had breast cancer or who had a strong family history of it. For the women who haven't had breast cancer and without a history of it in their family, they are pelleted with anywhere from 6 to 25 mg. of estrogen, and up to 200 mg. of testosterone. And, some are told they do not need estrogen at all. Get this, the theory is that our bodies will convert the testosterone to the amount of estrogen that we need! Also, the "progesterone gurus" have now converted to "testosterone gurus" in that they believe ALL women are estrogen dominant due to the xenoestrogens were are exposed to in cosmetics, pesticides, food, and cleaning solutions. Well, I am NOT estrogen dominant although my level DID test very high for the first time EVER, and based on several lab tests, my body does not convert an ounce of testosterone to estrogen. The other thing is that most ladies using pellet therapy receive new pellets every 12 weeks. Some get them sooner. I'm going to try my best to refuse getting ANY testosterone when I'm repelleted. It does nothing for my libido and now that my level is coming down, I want it to stay down. I'd LIKE to work on getting my estrogen dose RIGHT first!
Well 2 out of 3 is not too bad - i.e. Sandy is same as me, lack of fat. I am also experimenting with coconut oil. It, among others, is said to improve (raise) good cholesterol, which I need to do. (Good) Cholesterol is also required to make pregnenolone, which in turn makes DHEA, then progesterone, then oestrogen or testosterone, whichever your body needs. Or so, I have read. Maybe that is why my patches are lasting better lately!
It is also good for lots of other stuff too, I smooth some on my dry bits of hair at least a half hour before washing - better outcome than hair conditioner, cook with it, put some in yoghurt, on my veges, plenty of ways to ingest, some just eat a spoonful, and put some on their face/skin as a moisturiser. It is supposed to be antifungal/antibacterial, and a good lubricator!
Barter, tell me about your 'pellets'. Are they implanted? Are they made up by a compound chemist?
Sandy, try to avoid testo - the symptoms Barter described were what I was avoiding with Androcur.
I actually turned to coconut oil because I can't get pregnenolone. That is the one that is supposed to convert to the hormone you need. It seems to be freely available in the US. Check it out and let me know if you discover something.
Hey Sheryl,
good info on Coconut oil and have heard on benefits. I use it after my showers on my skin, but you have given me more ways to use it---for other health benefits! Thx.
btw- I think you are from Australis? I have been many times and lived in Wodanga(sp) for about a year when I was working. Before I got married many years ago was engaged to a Kiwi and spent. A lot of time in both countries----would love to take my husband, but iris so far from the east coast of the US. I have a lot of Aussie friends all over the place and we do have fun!!