Bio Identical Progesterone Cream: Week 3

[weekari]

Hi all,

I've written a lot more about what I'm doing and why I've started this on the week 1 post and there's more about my background in my bio.

That's me into week 3 now. It's been tough. I really haven't experienced the improvement that I was hoping for. Instead, I've had an increase in my symptoms. My back pain has been the worst it's ever been- constant pain, especially throughout the night, making sleep really difficult. I really try to not use painkillers as I believe they just add another problem into the mix but I will take them if I'm exhausted and need to sleep. This was beginning to be every night which was worrying me. But, my period started yesterday and since then, my back pain has reduced dramatically. This is my usual pattern of my back pain building up before my period and then reducing as soon as it starts but it's just more intense.

My fatigue has also been worse. Before I started the cream, I always felt fatigued but the extent of it would vary over the week- I'd say that most of the time, I was functioning at about 40% of what I'd consider normal. Every day, I could manage 20 mins of light yoga, get washed and dressed and maybe a 20 min gentle walk, while making some light meals and a few bits of light housework (very light). I would have to lie down a lot throughout the day and would feel everything was a struggle. That became my new normal. Maybe 1-2 days a week, I'd struggle to even do that and maybe 1 day a week, I could manage a bit more or it would feel a bit less of a struggle. But, the past 2 weeks, it's been a lot worse. Every day now is like the bad days before. I'm struggling to do what was my baseline before. It's been really tough.

I stopped the cream 4 days ago and my period started yesterday, which was bang on time, day 28. I didn't have any cramps before my period which is very unusual- I don't have horrific period pains but I'm usually well aware it's starting and will have a day or 2 of pain in the lead up but I didn't have that. I've also had a headache the past 2 days which feels hormonal and is the same type of headache I had when I started using the cream. I've also had night sweats the past few nights.

My abdomen feels very odd. It feels as though things are happening- lots of unusual sensations- pulling and sharp pains that don't last very long.

I have a few theories- one is that this cream is making the situation worse. I've read that for some, progesterone can be used by the body like estrogen so can make estrogen dominance worse. So that could be happening. But my other theory is that the progesterone is causing my fibroid/mass thing to shrink/break down and as it's attached to my sigmoid and possibly my ovary/ies then it could be pulling, causing some more back pain and abdominal sensations. I thought also, if the mass is breaking down at all, then this could be putting all kinds of 'stuff' into my system to be broken down, which could explain my fatigue.

Due to my second theory, I've started taking milk thistle for my liver and serraptasse which can help the body break down dead tissue.

At the moment, I plan to carry on for the next cycle but I will keep looking into what might be happening and will stop if it's looking most likely that it's making things worse. I've contacted the naturopath who recommended the cream I'm using and has experience of using it with women for endo and fibroids to see what she recommends.

I should say, I have also been very stressed this month so I'm sure that's not helped. Actually, it's been a lot longer than a month. I'd say I've had a really hard time since I was diagnosed in May and it's just been one curve ball after another since then and my life was pretty stressful before that too! At the end of Aug, when I was told about having this chaotic endo/fibroid mass that they weren't going to remove but instead treat with chemical menopause, I think I felt the rug was pulled from under me and the hope of normality stolen. It was my 40th birthday and I just didn't want to deal with it and I think I closed up emotionally and focused all my attention on researching an alternative. That culminated in me sending off the letter to the head of the endo service. I think all of that has had a huge effect on me emotionally. Sending a letter to demand better care is not my usual way of coping- normally when I feel people let me down, I'll just close off from them and focus on trying to fix things myself. But I get the feeling this time, I do need some help.

The feelings of being let down, being over looked, no one caring about me are all very familiar feelings that are linked to my past and I don't cope very well when they are brought up. The endo diagnosis and how I've been treated by the doctors has been big for me emotionally. I am trying to work thorough these things and do a lot of emotional work but it is a lot to be dealing with especially when feeling so unwell. I've also got huge financial issues as I've not worked in a year. I am juggling a lot of balls. Plus I don't really have much support or friends. Chronic illness certainly shines a light on the state of your relationships! No one is ill in isolation of other issues in their life, it just makes everything harder.

This is lot more philosophical than I intended! But that's how this week's been.

[Emmyeve]

Let us know what Judy says. Are you going to carry on with it? I haven’t heard that about the body turning it into oestrogen, that’s pretty scary!!

[weekari in reply to Emmyeve]

I'm planning to carry on, unless something comes up that tells me it's not wise.

I'd read that about a few things that are supposed to manage hormones- I think it's just that the systems are so complex and if we tinker with one part, the body tries to compensate. It thinks it's doing it's job. It's just got a bit confused!

I'll definitely post if I find anything out. x

[kittykins7]

Hi weekari,

How’s things going with the progesterone cream?

Like you I too am going down that route. I ordered a natural bio detectable progesterone cream yesterday. It’s called feminine balance therapy for oestrogen dominance.

I like you am also taking serrapeptase and doing castor oil packs to detox the liver and break down fibroids and cysts. I’m taking more supplements and have changed my diet and also tried to eliminate toxins by changing household detergents etc.

It would be interesting to know which cream you have gone for?

I can’t start mine till December now due to the timing of my cycle.

I’m totally with you on how hard it is getting any support or decent help.

I like you had stage 4 excision last year and it’s come back and they want to put me on prostap and remove my ovaries. I’m having some mri scans as I believe I’ve now got endo of the diaphragm as well now!!

I asked the specialist about treating me with the natural bio detectable progesterone cream instead of prostap injections as they both work on the same basis of day 12 of the cycle treating oestrogen dominance. and he laughed!!!

THE natural version being plant based and good for you and the prostap poison which comes with nasty side effects and destroys your bones!!! Crazy isn’t it.

I’m confident that we can heal ourselves naturally.

Stay positive x

[weekari in reply to kittykins7]

Hey

I've been carrying on taking the cream, a week into my 3rd cycle now. I decided to reduce the dose slightly this month and to take it a little later in my cycle. The first 2 months, I took it from day 8-28 which is what I was instructed for endo but I was feeling more fatigue than usual so decided to just take it for the way to treat estrogen dominance, which is from day 13-28. I've definitely felt a bit more energy.

I've also started using CDB oil, which has had a massive impact on me- I'm sleeping much better and as a result my energy is better. I've only been taking it 2 weeks but it's a huge difference already. My pain has definitely been lower the past few days too. It seems to be the first thing I've tried that has made a noticeable difference.

I think that's really insulting that the consultant laughed at you. How arrogant. Don't they understand how awful it is to have the prospect of taking harmful chemicals? I haven't told any dr yet. I'm meeting with an endo specialist 10th Dec to talk about my options but it's looking like surgery is likely. I've got a massive fibroid/tumour thing (they don't know what it is- possibly endo but there's a risk it's cancerous too) that I hoped the cream would shrink but that doesn't seem to be happening. So, I think it needs to be removed.

The cream I've been using is called Unique Natural Organic Cream. I think it's the same as Elan cream but just repackaged for the Naturopath I used. It's exactly the same, just a different name.

I really hope you benefit from it. I did have a ropey fist week on it with headaches and really excessive tiredness but it lifted after a few days. It's definitely worth trying- for some people, it's like a miracle.

xx

[kittykins7 in reply to weekari]

Hey there,

I’ll make a note of that cream just in case this one’s no good. But I think it will be similar tbh, as this one’s organic and has good reviews.

You poor thing. Yes I suppose you may need an operation to have that removed, hopefully it’s not cancerous and they can remove it no probs. Then you can continue on the natural road to recovery.

I’m also using cbd oil as well. I’ve noticed I’m less stressed and generally feeling less fatigued. But it hasn’t eased my aches though, but still an improvement. It’s amazing what you can find out about natural health benefits when your forced to isn’t it.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you at your appt in December.

Let me know how you get on. It will be interesting to share experiences on the progesterone cream. I’ll let you know when I start it.

X

[DrNarwhal]

I don't have any specific advice but I just wanted to say that your last paragraph especially resonated with me. I often feel the same way and it's incredibly painful. I'm sorry you are going through that and please know that I am sending boatloads of support, care, and compassion your way!

[weekari in reply to DrNarwhal]

Awe thank you. That actually means a lot. I hope you have ways to work through the pain too. It's not easy!

Sending you all the good vibes too. Xx