41 replies to this topic

[crab76]

Well, progesterone still working for secondary symptoms...

I do notice that I only get the sleepy effect that tells me it's working if I apply on my inner arms and inner thighs. My Progestelle booklet says you can apply it pretty much anywhere you have fat, but I don't feel it working anywhere else. This may make things trickier down the road as I don't have that much fat in the first place.

Green Gables..... I was curious to see if your still on the Progesterone Cream? How is it working? Side effects??

I just started last month too. My Naturopath put me on Prog cream, Vitex, DIM to balance my estrogin dominance. I already was taking Saw Palmetto too. I started all of these meds spaced several weeks apart to make sure I knew I was tolerating them well. I did one cycle of the cream, stopped and then got my period. Now I wait til day 15 of my cycle to start again.

My Problem is I am gaining weight the past two wks. Bad cravings so I am eating more. Also lower energy so not working out as much as normal. Obviosly that is why I'm gaining. I'm a very fit person and always weigh 116-122.... never more. 122 is my highest. Right now I'm 126. So I know it's something hormonal that is causing intense cravings and laziness. And I have also gotten two migranes. I haven't gotten a migraine in 5 yrs since stopping BCP. So I know its hormonal. I think from Vitex cuz the first one I got was before I started the Prog Cream.

So I was wondering from you or anyone else.... have you experianced weight gain or migraines???

Edited by crab76, 03 November 2012 - 08:33 AM.

[hearts]

Green Gables has retired from the boards but maybe I can help a little. (:

I am still using natural progesterone cream and I am amazed at the results so far. I've only used it for 27 days (with a 7 day break somewhere in the middle.) I am sleeping super well, I'm much less anxious, my period has returned, I no longer suffer from constipation, sex is no longer painful, and my libido has increased. Also, my skin is SUPER soft and is actually clearing up, even though I've cut my spiro dose down even more (I plan to quit spironolactone completely now.)

I did experience the "estrogen wake-up crisis" that I've read about with the cream in the first week or two. I was super moody and cried easily. I also had what could have been a small initial breakout. The estrogen dominance at this time is supposedly a common thing when starting because you're stimulating the estrogen receptors. This makes estrogen dominant, and can take a few days to a few months to level out, depending on the person and how much you take. This all passed for me after a week or two.

Your symptoms could be related to what I just described, and it could just be taking longer for the progesterone to be more dominant. You are also taking a lot of supplements at a time that affect hormones, so it may be overwhelming you somehow, I don't know from personal experience because I have never taken any of them myself.

How much cream are you using? I upped my dose a bit and noticed my skin has been doing better. I'm probably taking 1/2 of a dime-sized dollop at night. I may even take more if I keep seeing improvement in everything.

This site has been extremely helpful to me, even though I'm not using that brand of cream. There are lots of stories from women's experiences with NPC, and Wray's responses are very insightful. This page on estrogen dominance has weight gain and headaches/migraines as symptoms, so I really think that may be what you are experiencing. Perhaps waiting longer or using more cream could help. (:

[crab76]

Thank U iheartpaul.... I am already Estrogen Dominant. So maybe it's making it worse. I have seen that site you referred to. I'll check it out again though. I read it before I started.

I got my progesterone cream from a compounding pharmacy perscribed by my naturopath. I take 25mcg (I think). It's a tube that clicks out the cream. So I do one click. She said it's a very low dose to start and we are going to bump it up to two clicks.

I also have been tearful. I actually had a crying meltdown a cpl wks ago and that NVR happens to me. I know it's the hormones adjusting.

I have been sleeping good too but I always sleep good. I have had some very vivid dreams and even a bad nightmare which is abnormal for me. I think the dreams are related. Maybe I'm getting into a deeper sleep or something.

Didn't have issues with sex. But my libido is lowered from the spiro. I don't notice improvement in that department yet.

I have been feeling very chill. No anxiety. Kinda blah though. Not very energetic.

And yes I am on alot of stuff. I am trying to get off spiro or at least lower my dose. That's why I'm taking saw palmetto cuz it's a natural spiro. And DIM to lower my bad estrogen. And Vitex to help balance. And now the Prog Cream. My Prog is very low. And very high estrogen. It's ALOT of stuff. But I really want to balance myself and hopefully my skin will improve.

I'm happy it's working for you. It also Gives me hope! So have you had any weight gain?

[hearts]

I have not had any weight gain. *knock on wood* I've been tracking it very carefully since starting progesterone cream because I gained on spiro. Ever since lowering my dose of spiro I've been down at my natural weight and I've had no problems.

It's just my opinion and you should totally do what you want, but it seems like sometimes less is more -- using only one new supplement at a time makes it so you can tell exactly how each treatment is affecting you. If all you started was the cream, you would know that it was the cause of anything negative and not one of the other supplements. I know that you've already started this though, so now it's a guessing game. Maybe since spiro and saw palmetto are supposed to act the same, it's an overkill?

Yes, the reason I brought up the estrogen dominance thing is that you can experience even more when starting out, but then it could start improving after the initial wake-up that I was talking about. Using more cream might work for you like your naturopath has suggested since you seem to know that you have low progesterone and high estrogen. I have not had any hormone testing so I am just doing what feels best and adjusting as I go.

I'm sorry that you're struggling some! Hopefully the negative symptoms go away soon and you start feeling only the positive. (:

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

I've used vitex, but only for about two mos. I had no side effects during that time. But I was only using that. I agree with the other poster that you are on way too much stuff. I'd drop the sp too since you're on the spiro. I don't know if you should take dim, vitex and pg together. They're all supposed to do the same thing! I'd pick one of them and see how you do. Just my opinion.

Iheart:

Green zgables left the board? I'm soooo sorry to hear that. She was very knowledgeable. I hope she's ok and that she comes back.

Well, progesterone still working for secondary symptoms...

I do notice that I only get the sleepy effect that tells me it's working if I apply on my inner arms and inner thighs. My Progestelle booklet says you can apply it pretty much anywhere you have fat, but I don't feel it working anywhere else. This may make things trickier down the road as I don't have that much fat in the first place.

Green Gables..... I was curious to see if your still on the Progesterone Cream? How is it working? Side effects??

I just started last month too. My Naturopath put me on Prog cream, Vitex, DIM to balance my estrogin dominance. I already was taking Saw Palmetto too. I started all of these meds spaced several weeks apart to make sure I knew I was tolerating them well. I did one cycle of the cream, stopped and then got my period. Now I wait til day 15 of my cycle to start again.

My Problem is I am gaining weight the past two wks. Bad cravings so I am eating more. Also lower energy so not working out as much as normal. Obviosly that is why I'm gaining. I'm a very fit person and always weigh 116-122.... never more. 122 is my highest. Right now I'm 126. So I know it's something hormonal that is causing intense cravings and laziness. And I have also gotten two migranes. I haven't gotten a migraine in 5 yrs since stopping BCP. So I know its hormonal. I think from Vitex cuz the first one I got was before I started the Prog Cream.

So I was wondering from you or anyone else.... have you experianced weight gain or migraines???

[crab76]

I did start all of these at seperate times to know if I was experiancing any side effects from which one.

A little over a year ago I had a Dr put me on DIM & Prog at the same time. And I had already been on Spiro for 4 yrs. So that's Two Dr's that used that combo. I only did it for two months cuz I moved and had to find a new Dr.

The DIM helps rid your body of Bad Estrogens. The Prog cream obviously helps raise Prog levels.

The DIM & Prog cream are being perscribed due to my Estrogen Dominance. My Dr is not using these to treat my Acne. There is lots of talk that these can help with Acne BUT she does not believe it will make enough of a difference for my situation. I asked "if I get my hormones balanced won't my acne be better and I'd be able to stop the Spiro?" She & my old Dr both said.... "Not Neccessarily". And that I always may have to be on a low dose Spiro because my problem is how my Testosterone is converting to DHT. That's why I have Oily skin & Bad Cystic Acne along my jaw/chin and it has little to do with my Estrogen Dominance. These other things will help many other side effects and "MAY" help somewhat with my acne but won't get rid of it all together the way the Spiro does. My Skin was 100% clear on Spiro for 5 years. But terrible side effects from Spiro is what made me decrease my dose and acne came surging back in full force.

I have BAD mood, anxiety, depression issues with the Spiro. So I HAVE to either get off or at least greatly reduce my dose. My Dr said SP will NVR give the same effect as the Sprio can (even at a high dose). But maybe it can help. The SP takes several months to build up in your system. So the goal is to build up the SP and start slowly lowering the Spiro. She said it's fine to take together cuz they act the same. I was up to 200mg of spiro briefly. Now I'm down to 100mg spiro & 320mg SP. So that dose still doesn't equal 200mg of sprio. U know what I mean? And I'm abt to drop to 75mg of sprio. Prob next week.

So the order I started all of this is first Spiro... Been on for 5 years mostly at 100mg. 50mg was too little. And 150-200mg was only used a short time to speed up the clearing. Then added SP for abt a month. Had no ill effects. Added Vitex for abt 1 month. This is when the emotional side effects started. Like I cried (bad) one day over something stupid. And I had a cpl nightmares & a migraine. So We lowered the dose. Things felt btr. So I started the Prog cream & DIM together. I took DIM for a long time before and had zero side effects so I don't think it's that. Most of this all started with the Prog cream. Which BTW I have only used for 1 cycle. I am supposed to start applying it again at day 15 of my cycle.

I did some extensive googeling on the initial "wake up" your talking about. It all makes since now. I know thats exactly whats going on. Things I read say that if your already estrogen dominant that it's going to get alot worse before better. And that one site (Wray) says it's better to take more prog cream initaly to surge the hormones to go thru this process quicker. It will get worse BUT much quicker the Prog will become the dominant hormone and things will get better. So if you take less Prog cream this process will take much longer and I'll be dealing with these terrtible side effects for many more months. Makes sense!!

I'm going to call my Dr today and discuss this all with her. I'm kinda concerned abt the Vitex because Like I said it did give me a bad migraine when I started it and made me emotional. But I just read this abt the combo of the two.....
"Vitex and natural progesterone cream may be safely combined, for most women. This would greatly depend on what their progesterone levels are at to begin with. A woman who has mid-to adequate progesterone level to begin with, should not use natural progesterone cream. Only women with low progesterone levels may consider using natural progesterone cream. Vitex is supportive of the hormonal feedback loop. Vitex supports hormonal balance in the body by having an effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (hormonal feedback loop), correcting the problem at the source. It indirectly aids the body in balancing hormones overall, which if you have low progesterone, may work to aid the part of feedback loop that is not functioning properly and is causing low progesterone. Vitex does not directly increase progesterone levels, but rather supports the system that is needed to release progesterone correctly. Natural progesterone cream directly increases the progesterone levels in the body."

Sorry this is all very long. I just figure write it all in case anyone is in the same situation I am.... maybe this will help someone. Thx for your helpful replies.

Edited by crab76, 05 November 2012 - 10:34 AM.

[DC-girl]

I was super worried a couple days ago because I was really moody, but to my surprise, today I have AF!

So happy!! I wanted the Progesterone to bring it back. So I'm counting today as my new "Day 1" and taking 7 days off and starting the cycle again.

Hi Heart,
Is the progesteron working for you?

[hearts]

Hi Heart,
Is the progesteron working for you?

Yes! I am only at the month-and-a-half mark (started on Sept 29), but I am very happy with the results. I will wait until month 3-6 to make a topic about all of my details and full results, but here's an update...

I am now using 1/4 teaspoon (bought a new measuring teaspoon specifically for this) in the evening before sleep, and spot treating in the morning. I am shocked at how quickly the progesterone can heal current acne when applied directly on the affected area. I am probably 95% clear now. It makes my skin really soft, in addition to all of the benefits I described earlier in this topic. No negative side effects since the estrogen dominance period passed. It seems that since upping my dose it has only gotten better, though I will stay at this dose until I've given it enough time. Any hormonal treatment takes a few months to see the full effect.

I have also quit spironolactone. Yesterday was my last day. I was only taking 25mg a day for the past couple weeks anyway and decided that I just don't want to take it anymore. I'm not worried because I'm clearer now than when I was taking 75mg spiro daily.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am so happy. I wish I knew about NPC sooner! (:

[DC-girl]

Cool, what progesterone cream do you use? I might try applying mine to the cyst I'm dealing with.

Ugh, I just started spiro, lol

[hearts]

I use Emerita Pro-Gest. You can buy it at Sprouts, Whole Foods, Amazon, etc. Any paraben-free, all natural kind should be fine, though.

Please be aware if you aren't already, that starting the cream could cause an estrogen dominance "wake-up crisis" for a couple of weeks to a few months, depending on your current levels of progesterone. I had this for the first 1-2 weeks of using the cream, where I was experiencing side-effects like anxiety and mood swings. Think of this like a really bad case of PMS.

However, if you stick it out, it will go away. I talked about this earlier in this thread. I just wanted to warn you because though the cream could eventually heal your cyst (it heals mine), it might only do this after progesterone is more dominant in your body. Good luck!

Edited by hearts, 18 November 2012 - 06:57 PM.

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

Interesting. There was another member here who said the same thing about it helping pimples when applied.

The vitex made mine calm down from day one, though it didn't make it go away overnight, it did make it start to go away instead of staying for weeks.

I do wonder if progesterone nixes the androgen receptor in the skin or something. Wish they knew more about progesterone.

Hi Heart,
Is the progesteron working for you?

Yes! I am only at the month-and-a-half mark (started on Sept 29), but I am very happy with the results. I will wait until month 3-6 to make a topic about all of my details and full results, but here's an update...

I am now using 1/4 teaspoon (bought a new measuring teaspoon specifically for this) in the evening before sleep, and spot treating in the morning. I am shocked at how quickly the progesterone can heal current acne when applied directly on the affected area. I am probably 95% clear now. It makes my skin really soft, in addition to all of the benefits I described earlier in this topic. No negative side effects since the estrogen dominance period passed. It seems that since upping my dose it has only gotten better, though I will stay at this dose until I've given it enough time. Any hormonal treatment takes a few months to see the full effect.

I have also quit spironolactone. Yesterday was my last day. I was only taking 25mg a day for the past couple weeks anyway and decided that I just don't want to take it anymore. I'm not worried because I'm clearer now than when I was taking 75mg spiro daily.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am so happy. I wish I knew about NPC sooner! (:

[DC-girl]

Interesting. There was another member here who said the same thing about it helping pimples when applied.

The vitex made mine calm down from day one, though it didn't make it go away overnight, it did make it start to go away instead of staying for weeks.

I do wonder if progesterone nixes the androgen receptor in the skin or something. Wish they knew more about progesterone.

Hi Heart,
Is the progesteron working for you?

Yes! I am only at the month-and-a-half mark (started on Sept 29), but I am very happy with the results. I will wait until month 3-6 to make a topic about all of my details and full results, but here's an update...

I am now using 1/4 teaspoon (bought a new measuring teaspoon specifically for this) in the evening before sleep, and spot treating in the morning. I am shocked at how quickly the progesterone can heal current acne when applied directly on the affected area. I am probably 95% clear now. It makes my skin really soft, in addition to all of the benefits I described earlier in this topic. No negative side effects since the estrogen dominance period passed. It seems that since upping my dose it has only gotten better, though I will stay at this dose until I've given it enough time. Any hormonal treatment takes a few months to see the full effect.

I have also quit spironolactone. Yesterday was my last day. I was only taking 25mg a day for the past couple weeks anyway and decided that I just don't want to take it anymore. I'm not worried because I'm clearer now than when I was taking 75mg spiro daily.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am so happy. I wish I knew about NPC sooner! (:

Glad to hear vitex helped you. How much do you take and is it still helping?

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

Don't still take it. I only took it for about a month and half. It did help but I only did it while I was waiting for my ipledge to go through. I can't attest to its longevity which is why I'm not on it now -- at least not yet.

I took it in liquid form 2x a day. don't recall the amt. but think it was 40 mls 2x a day.

[DC-girl]

Don't still take it. I only took it for about a month and half. It did help but I only did it while I was waiting for my ipledge to go through. I can't attest to its longevity which is why I'm not on it now -- at least not yet.

I took it in liquid form 2x a day. don't recall the amt. but think it was 40 mls 2x a day.

Ipledge? I don't follow........were you waiting for something to come through to try something else then?

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

I had a breakout and went to the derm to go on tane. In the month wait for ipledge, I was desperate and used vitex.

[wicky]

all of you have had a lot of great information for me to digest. mabye you could offer some insight to my situation. I'm a 45 year old female with long standing skin issues of some sort for the last 30+ years. My skin has always been my sore spot. For years I took birth control and it was ok. Had two children and my face broke out insanely in the beginning then was glorious for the rest of my pregnancy. Fast forward ten years. I am in menopause as my hormones have indicated but I was never told if I am estrogen dominant or not. Im assuming not because my FSH levels were over 50 and that is an idication of post menopause!! My estrogen was extremely low, practically non existant. Which is why I guess I havent really gotten a period for almost 2 years. I was on spiro for 18 months from March 2010 to Septemeber 2011 and it never did squat. In the beginning I had a slight breakout and then I thought I saw an improvment but it was short lived. I stuck it out but it only made my skin drier and more dehydrated even at 50mg and eventually 75mg. My skin was actually oily and flakey at the same time which I believe was the start of sebhorrehic dermatitis. I had also been on and off doxy for quite some time which is what I believe led to the seb derm. Anyway, I went off spiro, and doxy and started a low dose course of accutane. My issues were not cysts or pimples but weird red bumps in random places that I was told were rosacea related (which I have as well). I have super large pores that resemble an orange peel that clog with hard solidifed sebum daily, so I never knew how to treat. Exfoliate more would irritate the rosacea and anything gentle would not clean the dead skin and buildup of gunk that my skin would produce daily. It has only gotten worse in the last three years and I truely cant take much more.

I tried the accutante (20mg once a week) for approx 3 months and it made my seb derm ten times worse so i weaned off and stopped. I never saw any improvment with the clogs that i was experiencing so I became extremely depressed as I had run out of alternatives. What was happening with my skin? The texture had changed, red spots and random bumps, large grain like hard pieces of sebum were getting stuck in my chin pores and corners of my mouth that I had to literally dig out. What did it all mean. No derm could tell me. They threw creams, ointments, lasers, facials and other meds to help. All of which havent.

In early summer my Ob/gyn started me on a perscription bio identical hormone cream.. Half estogen and progesterone. The actual dose to start was .05estrogen and 25mg of progesterone. I slowly increased to my current dose of 1mg estrogen and 100 mg of progesterone. I STILL have seen no improvement in texture, moisture of red spots and clogs...WTF!!!! I am so confused by it all. I dont get the night sweats as bad but do occasionally get them. I sleep like shit and constantly wake up probably due to my anxiety of my face. Im wondering if just taking a normal progesterone cream like some of you have taken would be better even though I thought I needed the estrogen since mine was so low. On top of all of this I still have not gotten a period in god only knows when. I have no libido and literally dont know where to turn. I am having thryoid problems right now and plan to have a thryoidectomy this month due to cancerous tumors. Everyone keeps telling me that it will help your skin but I just dont know anymore because I truly believe its hormonal. Maybe there is a chance the thyroid is preveniting this cream from working? One more thing..I take the cream daily by applying it to either my wrists, stomach, or tops of feet. Your suppose to rotate the places and apply where the skins is thinnest. This sounds like something different from what several of you have mentioned about progesterone. Any insight or encouragement would be appreciated. I am having such a hard time getting thru my days lately and retreated into a very confining space physically and mentally.

[hearts]

-

Edited by hearts, 08 December 2012 - 12:19 AM.

[wicky]

what progesterone cream do u use again?

[hearts]

-

Edited by hearts, 08 December 2012 - 12:18 AM.

[Green Gables]

all of you have had a lot of great information for me to digest. mabye you could offer some insight to my situation. I'm a 45 year old female with long standing skin issues of some sort for the last 30+ years. My skin has always been my sore spot. For years I took birth control and it was ok. Had two children and my face broke out insanely in the beginning then was glorious for the rest of my pregnancy. Fast forward ten years. I am in menopause as my hormones have indicated but I was never told if I am estrogen dominant or not. Im assuming not because my FSH levels were over 50 and that is an idication of post menopause!! My estrogen was extremely low, practically non existant. Which is why I guess I havent really gotten a period for almost 2 years. I was on spiro for 18 months from March 2010 to Septemeber 2011 and it never did squat. In the beginning I had a slight breakout and then I thought I saw an improvment but it was short lived. I stuck it out but it only made my skin drier and more dehydrated even at 50mg and eventually 75mg. My skin was actually oily and flakey at the same time which I believe was the start of sebhorrehic dermatitis. I had also been on and off doxy for quite some time which is what I believe led to the seb derm. Anyway, I went off spiro, and doxy and started a low dose course of accutane. My issues were not cysts or pimples but weird red bumps in random places that I was told were rosacea related (which I have as well). I have super large pores that resemble an orange peel that clog with hard solidifed sebum daily, so I never knew how to treat. Exfoliate more would irritate the rosacea and anything gentle would not clean the dead skin and buildup of gunk that my skin would produce daily. It has only gotten worse in the last three years and I truely cant take much more.

I tried the accutante (20mg once a week) for approx 3 months and it made my seb derm ten times worse so i weaned off and stopped. I never saw any improvment with the clogs that i was experiencing so I became extremely depressed as I had run out of alternatives. What was happening with my skin? The texture had changed, red spots and random bumps, large grain like hard pieces of sebum were getting stuck in my chin pores and corners of my mouth that I had to literally dig out. What did it all mean. No derm could tell me. They threw creams, ointments, lasers, facials and other meds to help. All of which havent.

In early summer my Ob/gyn started me on a perscription bio identical hormone cream.. Half estogen and progesterone. The actual dose to start was .05estrogen and 25mg of progesterone. I slowly increased to my current dose of 1mg estrogen and 100 mg of progesterone. I STILL have seen no improvement in texture, moisture of red spots and clogs...WTF!!!! I am so confused by it all. I dont get the night sweats as bad but do occasionally get them. I sleep like shit and constantly wake up probably due to my anxiety of my face. Im wondering if just taking a normal progesterone cream like some of you have taken would be better even though I thought I needed the estrogen since mine was so low. On top of all of this I still have not gotten a period in god only knows when. I have no libido and literally dont know where to turn. I am having thryoid problems right now and plan to have a thryoidectomy this month due to cancerous tumors. Everyone keeps telling me that it will help your skin but I just dont know anymore because I truly believe its hormonal. Maybe there is a chance the thyroid is preveniting this cream from working? One more thing..I take the cream daily by applying it to either my wrists, stomach, or tops of feet. Your suppose to rotate the places and apply where the skins is thinnest. This sounds like something different from what several of you have mentioned about progesterone. Any insight or encouragement would be appreciated. I am having such a hard time getting thru my days lately and retreated into a very confining space physically and mentally.

I have figured out that there are only certain places where I "feel" the progesterone working. For me, these are:

Inside of upper thighs
Inside of upper arms (right across the way from the armpits)

Basically places that have fat deposits without a lot of other stuff in the way. I mean, I have some fat on my stomach, but I don't feel progesterone work when I apply it there. Maybe because of all the organs in the way?

I've read all sorts of conflicting things too. But that's what works for me.

Progesterone is supposed to stimulate the thyroid. There are reports of women who are HYPOthyroid who have been able to go off thyroid medication and use progesterone instead. Are you having your thyroid removed because of HYPO or HYPER?

I should ask: is your doctor using bioidentical progesterone or synthetic progesterone? Synthetic has all sorts of nasty side effects.

Edited by Green Gables, 21 December 2012 - 05:16 PM.