|
[ Hair loss or color Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
I read response you had to another woman that was premenoupause and I am hoping you can help me with these questions. I have been having trouble with my periods--first it was heavy periods with clots, now it is not heavy but continuous bleeding for over 3 months. Gyn put me on
Mercette birth control pills but I've been unsure about taking them(have been taking them for 2 weeks and i am considering stopping them today. My first question is this: what will happen if i stop them today without finishing the pack? is it a bad thing to do? Also, do you know what causes the problems that i am haveing with the bleeding( i mean exactly like high/low estrogen and/or high/low progesterone). Also, i had began having migranes recently and if anything the Mercette b.c. pills the gyn gave me that she thought could even help my migranes, if anything have made them worse--well they are worse whatever the cause. If you can help, I really will appreciate it.
In Reply to: Question for Elisa--please posted by J on May 10, 2003 at 21:48:53:
Hi, J.
Most of these questions must be answered by the prescribing Gyn. The reason these are only available by prescription is that the doc is supposed to be very familiar with your physiology BEFORE prescribing them.
See the headache archives and the home page about vascular headaches.
Walt
In Reply to: Question for Elisa--please posted by J on May 10, 2003 at 21:48:53:
Hi J. Like Dr. Stoll said, you should bring these
questions to your physician.
I personally don't think bcp is the answer for
perimenopause, but I don't know your history or the
reasons for your doc prescribing them.
In my opinion, however, based on everything I've read,
headaches and heavy bleeding would likely be caused
high estrogen (or an imbalance of estrogen to
progesterone). Again, this needs to be verified.
Stopping the pills mid-cycle should not do anything.
Usually you will start a period within a few days of
stopping and then, theoretically, your body should start
back on its natural cycle. But since you have problems
with your cycle, this may not happen. Probably best to
ask your doctor about that as well.
I'm sorry I cannot help you more. I can only speak from
my experience which does not include these sorts of
symptoms.
Take care.
In Reply to: Re: Question for Elisa--please posted by Elisa on May 12, 2003 at 11:32:46:
Thanks, Elisa. One more question if you can answer--hair loss, would this be a symptom of high estrogen? What tests should I ask that they do? Usually, they run blood work, say it is normal and that I am not menopausal.
In Reply to: Re: Question for Elisa--please posted by J on May 13, 2003 at 01:07:47:
One more, I've been convinced for some time that my spider and varicose veins are hormone related, but never can get a dr. to agree. From what you have found out, what do you think? Again, do you think high estrogen levels? If I do indeed have high estrogen levels or at least unbalance with the progesterone, what way have you learned to best handle all of this. I am trying to learn, but sometimes the more I have read, the more questions I have. I do believe I am premenoupasal or perimenoupasal. I have also read that progesterone has a relaxing effect on veins, so there again I don't know what is best treatment so that I don't make veins worse? Any tips or suggestions, I am all ears--need all the help I can get. Thanks!
In Reply to: Re: Question for Elisa--please posted by J on May 13, 2003 at 01:07:47:
Oh the mysteries of female hair loss!!! Does anyone
really know what causes womens hair loss? Here is
what I know about it after exhaustive research.
If the hair loss did NOT begin with a noticeable
increase in daily shedding, but presented itself as a
slow thinning of hair over the crown and vertex
sometime between the 20s and 40s, and the rest of the
hair on the head (around the sides and lower
back)appears normal, then it is probably the genetic
kind of hair loss. This means you have a gene just like
men get that creates a slow irreversible shrinking of
hair follicles that leads to very thin hair and visible scalp
on the top of the head. This is slow and progressive
and the only treatment they offer is Rogaine or
anti-androgen meds like Spironolactone. These can
slow the progression but do not reverse it.
If the hair loss began with a sudden increase in daily
shedding (losing more than 100 hairs per day) and the
loss is diffuse over the entire head, with no visible
thinning on the top of the scalp, and it started after age
30, then they sometimes call it Chronic Telogen
Effluvium. And they don't know what causes it. With CTE
no one else can tell you are losing hair because there
are no areas where the scalp is visible to the lay
observer, and the top of the scalp is usually the least
affected so the crown is not visible. It just looks like you
have thin hair naturally. There are theories about what
causes it, but no one knows for sure. There are
suggestions that the disturbance of hormones at
perimeno triggers some sort of metabolic change in
the hair which leads to truncated growth cycles, but it's
all guess work. Another theory is that when perimeno
starts there is a loss of estrogen but no loss of
testosterone levels, thus creating an different balance
that promotes hair loss. Estrogen promotes hair growth
and suppresses the action of testosterone. When the
balance is changed testosterone can then have a
greater effect on the hair follicles. BUT, excess
estrogen is problematic, because excess estrogen can
be converted to testosterone, so if there is an estrogen
dominance during perimeno it does not mean that you
are safe, and it can actually mean more testosterone
and possible hair loss. You can see it is very
complicated and confusing. Not to mention there is no
strong research to back up most theories other than the
standard genetic pattern baldness.
Something changes as we age and it affects our
bodies in many ways. Hair gets thinner, skin gets
thinner and more wrinkled, veins are more prominent.
Some things are genetic, some are from lifestyle
choices, some are a result of poor health. In the end
feeling good is the best indicator of how we are aging. If
you have lost a little hair, and have some more visible
veins but feel energetic and vibrant, then I'd say you are
very lucky!!!
This may be going a little far in my response, but I'm
going to offer it any way. It seems to me sometimes that
people (especially Americans) feel that there is one key
to everything that ails them. If they can find the one thing
that is at the cause, or the one pill that will erase the
symptoms, then everything will be "right" again. They
approach health (and life in general) as if it they can
control every aspect if they can just figure it out. They
think finding the "key" is the end of the road. They
believe that with one good prayer or one really effective
massage or one hypnosis session, or one whatever,
they can unlock the secret and be happy or healthful
from that point on. I believe that it is a process, and that
everything one does is part of that process. Finding the
root cause is only the beginning. Everything is
connected and prayers, meditation or diet changes are
part of the on-going process of wellness, not "cures" in
the western sense of the word.
As far as hair loss goes, you should check ferritin iron
levels and thryoid to rule those things out. But aside
from that there is not much one can do other than
wellness.
Wellness will help balance your hormonal situation and
probably provides the best and most healthful solution
to the hair loss.
Good luck to you.
In Reply to: Re: Question for Elisa--please posted by Elisa on May 13, 2003 at 12:15:05:
If I can, one more question: from all you've read do I need to take/use any hormones if I do indeed have high estrogen/low progesterone or an imbalance of the two or they best left alone with only wellness?
In Reply to: Re: Question for Elisa--please posted by Elisa on May 13, 2003 at 12:15:05:
Thanks, Elisa.
Namaste`
Walt
|
[ Hair loss or color Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |