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Help: progesterone intolerant

Posted , 10 users are following.

amanda10339
amanda10339

Hi all, hope someone can offer assistance.  I have been on biodentical hormones for about 6 weeks now and they have greatly improved my many symptoms. Around 4 weeks ago I started getting extremely, dizzy, constant headache as if I was shaking inside about 20 mins after my nightly progesterone. I stopped about 12 days ago and everything got better. I know I need progesterone as I have a womb and don't want a hysterectomy but my GP cannot help, pharmacy say speak to prescriber and consultant who prescribed is unavailable always and I'm not due for an appointment till July. I just don't know what to do, I read somewhere that if progesterone is not tolerated then it's sufficient to take for 1st 7 days of the month, I think I could tolerate that. Does anyone have a similar experience.

thanks for reading, all the best to you all

1 like, 19 replies

19 Replies

  • Zigangie
    Zigangie amanda10339

    Posted

    Hi Amanda,

    I have read that you can use progesterone for the first 7 days only. I asked my doctor if I can take it like that. She was unwilling to let me do so as it is recommended by the manufacturer to take for 12 days.

    I'm taking mine at bed time so hopefully asleep but at least laying down for the first few hours after.

    If you are using Utrogestan I've read that some women use it vaginally with good results. Again not recommended by my doctor but apparently in France doctor recommends using it that way if you are intolerant.

    • amanda10339
      amanda10339 Zigangie

      Posted

      Hi Zigangie, I am taking utrogestin at night but still with the increasing poor symptoms, I have read about using vaginally, I might try that, just a bit nervous that I may be allergic to it cause my symptoms are so severe.

      Thanks for the info. All the best

  • Snowbell1975
    Snowbell1975 amanda10339

    Posted

    Amanda, I am so glad you asked this question. I too was on progesterone 100mg daily, and after about 6 weeks, got the same symptoms, and my anxiety and depression went thru the roof. My breathing became worse after applying each dose and I felt awful. I took it upon myself to get saliva testing done and it came back that my progesterone levels were highly elevated, my estrogen was on the low end of normal, and my progesterone to estrogen ratio was way out of balance. My doc wants me off the progesterone, but I feel I need some estrogen to balance the progesterone, as I have my uterus, and she won't give me any. So here I am cold turkey, off the progesterone and trying to figure things out. Hopefully someone can give us some answers.
  • brendababy
    brendababy amanda10339

    Posted

    Hi Amanda, I've been suffering from the same symptoms as you, dizzy anxious, low mood and nausea

    I had a bit of dizziness for a while but it's got worse since I've taken utrogestan 1x nightly for 3 months

    I've been sitting up in bed all night unable to lay down because I'm so imbalanced, called my GP earlier and he has told me to stop the progesterone and the estradot 25 patch

    Don't know what will happen but I'm not prepared to put up with this so not taking tonight

    I've never had hot flushes, my symptoms have been extreme anxiety, low mood, agitation & insomnia... Oh and the progesterone brought bleeding back on which also affected my migraines so here's hoping I can cope without the hormones

    Let me know how you get on with it all

    Brenda X

    • amanda10339
      amanda10339 brendababy

      Posted

      Hi Brenda, so you stopped the estrogen as well? I just can't do that, it's helped me so much,

      Don't feel u can function without it.

      I have demanded to see them but they only have a weekly clinic which they're trying to fit me in, consultant was supposed to give me a call yesterday as was on holiday past week, but nothing, I will call again tomorrow, what a joke, GP did not want to turn the hospital prescription into NHS but I succeeded, so now she won't advise me, actually she doesn't know. Consultant is never there!

    • brendababy
      brendababy amanda10339

      Posted

      Hi Amanda, doc said I've to take my estradot patch off today (just replaced it last night, 2x weekly) and not to take the progesterone tonight

      I asked about weaning off but he told me just to stop taking it and clear my system for a couple of weeks

      That's about the 4th HRT I've tried over the last 6 months, only thing that never made me feel as ill was tibolone which is a tablet that mimicks HRT and is estrigenic it has less side effects

      I still have my womb but the dr said tibolone is safe to take . I might go back on that if my anxiety or moods don't settle

      Hope you get to see someone soon, I keep on until dr or gyno agrees to see me, don't care if they think I'm a pest 😳

      I'll keep posting and let you and the other ladies know how I get on, fingers crossed for me please

      Take care

      Brenda x

    • Zigangie
      Zigangie amanda10339

      Posted

      Hi Amanda,

      I have also read on other sites of women who are intolerant taking progesterone every 3 months.

      Probably under a specialist but I've definitely read of a few women who do that.

  • beth86610
    beth86610 amanda10339

    Posted

    You demand to see them.  That's not working for you.  You have rights.  You don't have to just guess at what you should do.

     

  • amanda10339
    amanda10339

    Posted

    Thanks all, I will put the pressure on tomorrow.

    Brenda, you will definitely be relieved of the dizziness without the progesterone, by the 3 rd day I felt great. At least you have a HRT option that works for you, should you need to go down that road.

    please keep us posted and finger and toes most definitely crossed for you!!

    • brendababy
      brendababy amanda10339

      Posted

      Thanks Amanda, I hope the dizziness eases it's so debilitating

      I've been posting on here for months, dizziness has plagued me even before I took the progesterone but it's defo got worse

      I've been to see a specialist physio who deals with balance problems, she said my neck is chronically tensed and I'm veering to the left, I've been keeping my head rigid so that's not helping either. Everywhere I go I carry a travel cushion and have started relying on it to support my head, this has caused muscle weakness in my neck 😂

      I'll keep you posted on how I react to the lack of hormones 🙈

      Here's hoping it dosnt bring on a heavy bleed. Stopped the progesterone for one night in January and it caused bleeding 2 days later

      Wish you all the best xx

      Brenda

  • gailannie
    gailannie amanda10339

    Posted

    Amanda,  there are many woman who have difficulty with progesterone.  And many experts that suggest that progesterone counters the effects of estrogen in our systems.  It sounds as though you were using a continuous therapy, meaning taking progesterone daily.  In our normal cycles we only get progesterone for 14 days per month, not every day.  That is something created by the industry to prevent lining buildup and therefore a monthly bleed, post menopause.  And of course, adding progesterone is important if you have a uterus, to prevent the increased risks of uterine cancer.  It is generally recommended for at least 12 days per month.   

    You didn't mention your dosage or form of progesterone.  But many woman have found they can tolerate the vaginal route far better than oral progesterone.  It also takes far less (approx. 1/10)  than taken in pill form, as our liver destroys most of it when taken orally.  

    I am actually one of those woman who has more problems with estrogen than with progesterone! Jst goes to show you how different we all are.

       

  • Brevis
    Brevis amanda10339

    Posted

    Dear Amanda

    I could have written your post - in fact, I think i did on another site! I was "persuaded" into having the Mirena coil fitted because I had such problems with the utrogestan (even vaginally). I had the thing in for one week and it was so uncomfortable, then I found out I had a urine infection! I went into the GP sobbing and they finally took it out, but were obviously furious with me! I am now back to square one. I need the oestrogen which I take in the form of evorel patches (50) otherwise I feel dreadful. I just don't know where to go from here. The menopause GP suggested tiblone, but i've read that it can cause severe neck pain which I already suffer with from disc degeneration. I am at my wits' end!

    • amanda10339
      amanda10339 Brevis

      Posted

      I'm so sorry to hear about your similar symptoms, it's an absolute minefield, it took me a year to get bioidentical as all my GP wouldnoffer was horse urine! Now where am I or many others for that matter. We are all doing our own research and we are all different. Have you tried some estrogen rich foods, they helped me for a wee while.
    • brendababy
      brendababy Brevis

      Posted

      Hi Brevis, I was taking tibolone for a few months and I can't remember it causing neck pain

      My sister who is 56 has been taking tibolone for years and she swears by it, she won't come off it

      I also have problems with my neck and have made things worse by tensing it because I've been so dizzy

      This is my first day off the HRT - estradot 25 and no progesterone

      I'll see how I feel In the next few days but I might need to try the tibolone again

      Best of luck on your journey through this mess

      Brenda X

    • Brevis
      Brevis brendababy

      Posted

      Thank you! It's horrendous isn't it? I still haven't reached the actual menopause yet! How many more years of this is there to come? The GP who removed the coil was SO brusque with me (having bullied me into having it in the first place). I feel as though I am going round in circles. THank goodness for this site. Tibolone might be the answer for me...X
    • Zigangie
      Zigangie Brevis

      Posted

      Hi I think I have said this elsewhere but some women take the Utrogestan every three months. You would still have 12 days of it but maybe easier to put up with?
    • Zigangie
      Zigangie amanda10339

      Posted

      Hi Amanda,

      My GP offered horse urine then when I asked for bio identical by name she said 'Oh that's much more natural' I think there is more money to be made for all involved from horse urine types as estradiol is natural and they can only get their patent on the delivery method and not the hormone.

    • Brevis
      Brevis Zigangie

      Posted

      I have read that. I'm terrified of going back to the GP who put in and removed the coil as she was so unpleasant, but she is the expert. I'll go along and make that suggestion to her. Thank you.
    • Brevis
      Brevis

      Posted

      By the way, has anyone heard of homeopathic oestrogen and progesterone? A friend recommended I try this route, but I have no idea whether it would be successful or not.
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