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Greetings everyone. In the last few year I have noticed some
disturbing changes in my body function ( i am 43 year old woman
who takes no meds and has 28 day cycles still). I have explored the
possibility that it is perimenopause (I am at the appropriate age, and
some symptoms match), but also found some information on
dysautonomia that led me to this sight. Not sure what to think. Would
love some opinions. No doctor, alternative or otherwise has been able
to offer a diagnosis. I'm tapped out on ideas.
Basically the most noticeable symptoms I experience now are (note
that it happens mostly between day 25 of my cycle through day 10 of
the next cycle). I generally feel the worst on days 5-10.
1. lightheadedness/dizziness. Lasts for minutes or hours and has no
direct correlation to meals or blood sugar that I can tell.
2. faintness. I don't actually faint, but sometimes I suddenly feel very
woozy and my arms become all rubbery feeling, and my eyelids start
to get low, and I think I might lose conciousness. but I don't.
3. sudden bouts of nausea and bloat. I can just being walking along,
doing any old thing, feeling just peachy, when I become overwhelmed
by a strange sensation. I become very warm, yet my hands and feet
are ice cold suddenly, but totally wet. Then my heart starts beating
very rapidly and I feel totally nauseous. odd thing is that my lower
abdomen usually swells out at the same time like it's all full of air.
this wonderful collection of symptoms lasts about a few minutes to
an hour, but sometimes happens more than once a day/eve.
sometimes i will have to have a bowel movement during one of these
episodes. it is always in addition to the normal movements i have that
day, but it's not crampy or diarrhea or anything, just a 2nd or 3rd bm
that day.
4. reduced vision. sometimes for hours or days I feel like my vision is
off. Like things are de-focused, or I can't quite bring them into view
properly. hard to explain. normally i would think this was regular
failing eysight, but it sometimes returns to normal for days at a time.
the bad vision usually happens on days when i get the other
symptoms.
5. sense of smell is oddly increased.
6. indigestion. i have never had heartburn or indigestion in my life,
but now i will sometimes get an intense heartburn that lasts for days
(note this has never happened at any other time of my cycle than on
days 5-10, which are the days I always feel the worst all around.
I have noticed other things too, like the overnight appearance of fine
blond hair all over my face/cheeks, odd sensations in my head, lower
back pain. These are less troublesome than feeling dizzy and
nauseous all the time though.
So...i guess i was curious if you all think i am dealing with
dysautonomia or peri. or perhaps both. fun times!
OK, now I would like to whine hear for a moment too...so please
indulge me.
I try to maintain a healthy attitude toward things in life and am not
one to freak out unnecessarily, or feel entitled to good health for that
matter just because. lots of great people get cancer or Parkinsons or
whatever, so who am i to think i can avoid all illness. so with this
general outlook i can honestly say that i don't mind a reasonable
amount of physical discomfort. i certainly don't expect to just sail
through peri/meno (though my mother certainly did). then again,
there is a part of me that is really ticked off about feeling this
crummy, and in this way. I was prepared for some night sweats or
palpitations or dry skin and wrinkles, or even loss of sex drive, but
not feeling dizzy, queasy and not being able to see all the time! So I
guess I do feel short changed a bit right now. I have always taken
good care of myself. I am active, healthy, slim, no chronic health
problems, no meds or hormones, i eat a healthy diet with lots of
vegetables (the real kind) and hardly any sugar or junk, or red meat. I
never skip meals and naturally shy away from fad ideas about eating
and health. When I see people jump on band wagons I think to myself
"oh here we go again, more fanatical thinking. sheesh, why don't they
just eat three sensible meals a day, move their bodies around a bit,
and stop thinking about themselves all the time." Maybe this is
meanspirited, but I swear it's not that hard to be healthy, or at least it
doesn't seem like it should be. A little common sense is just about
enough to get you there. If something is phsyically passive but feel
exciting (like watching hours of tv or playing video games) it's
probably counter productive to your health. If you run around all the
time, eat crap, don't have relaxation time, and burn the candle at both
ends of course you will get sick and burn out faster than others. Duh,
right?
But alas I haven't done that. I was raised on a very eurocentric, mostly
fish, lean meat and vegetables with good whole grains type of diet
and that is how I've continued to eat. I mean I was the only kid in my
school that ate organic rabbit stew over polenta, and kale on a
regular basis, and who's parents had a huge organic garden full of
fresh veggies. I mean my diet growing up and my activity level were
excellent. I was full of energy. And I have maintained that as an adult
(stands to reason right). But here I am feeling like a ratty middle aged
crone who is dizzy and bloated and faint. Is this an evil trick to get
back at me for being less than sympathetic towards the overweight
junk food eaters?
I guess I could be a fanatic and re-structure my life so that i never
eat a single bite of anything resembling sugar or refined carbs, and
meditate twice a day, and steer clear of second hand smoke and
chemicals, and take loads of herbs and vitamins to keep it all in
together, but am i the only one reading this board thinking, uh
where's the balance? why can't a healthy person who's done All The
Right Things in her life expect to be feeling pretty okay most of the
time?
OK, sorry bout that. I'm partly frustrated because I have spent a
fortune going to both allopathic and alternative MD's and getting
tests only to find there is "nothing wrong with me". Huh?
Sigh. Maybe I'll just have to get ued to feeling dizzy all the time.
My honest feeling about all this is that it's low estrogen. When it
kicks up close to ovulation i suddenly feel perfectly nromal. then it
starts again when i get close to my period (estrogen drops). my
progesterone is consistently around 14 picograms per litre on day 23,
so not low at all there. but my estro is low in relation to it (hence the
weird faint feelings perhaps), and it's low at the beginning of my
cycle too. But since esrtogen is scene as some kind of angel of death
these days, it's not likely i'll be getting any supplmentation. and
perhaps it's just as well.
My mother used to say she had the names of the three best
physicians in the world...Dr. Nature, Dr. Patience, and Dr. Time. Maybe
I'll just have to call on them for now.
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Hi Babe, ;?)
Have you thought about trying an estrogen cream around the time that you are feeling at your worse?
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Ron [205.1575] on March 07, 2007 at 17:29:12:
It is never a good idea to start screwing with hormones until you
know if the issue is hormones.
It's funny how quickly people will ask a woman to throw hormones
around her body but we would never tell a "possible" diabetic to take
a shot of insulin, or for a heavy person to just "start trying thyroid
meds" without a diagnoses.
Her symptoms sound to me, like stress responses. Not hormonal. If
her hormones were really off, she would not have a perfect cycle. She
could be toxic which CAN give you those symptoms and too much
candida can do that in spite of a "fairly healthy diet".
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
I think there are two situations both resulting from stress.
The upper body/dizzy/eye sight issues seem muscular related from
bracing.
The digestive issues from smells to BMs, seem to be the one of the
other popular 'stress" signals.
The body temp/heart issue seems to tell me it IS stress.
Magnesium will help a bit but you have to work on stress.
Perimenopause is valid but it is thrown around with women to
trivialize their symptoms just the way "PMS" is. If you have a regular
cycle, hormones are probably your LAST concern.
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Hi Babette,
Sounds to me like something needs fine-tuned. Bodies change after all. Maybe, for example, it is time for you to eat a little meat or maybe, it would be a good idea to meditate a couple of times a day for a while.
I'm not a doctor so I can't say whether it's perimenopause or dysautonomia, but regardless it sounds like your body might benefit from experimenting with some variables to see what might help. Sounds like you're already doing the 3LS but to what degree of perfection, I don't know. So you might need to experiment with some nutritional supplements or something.
The thing about the vision dimming has me concerned, though. I think it would be wise to talk to your eye doctor or primary health care provider about that just to rule out anything serious. As far as I know all the other symptoms could be either perimenopause or dysautonomia, but I've not heard of eye dimming as being related to those things.
I trust people's intuitions.... if you feel it's low estrogen maybe your doctor would prescribe something you could experiment with and find out if that's the ticket.
Best wishes,
Jan
In Reply to: possible but. posted by Michele [3355.2969] on March 07, 2007 at 17:47:05:
Hi Michele,
Of course, hormone testing first would be the wise way to approach the problem.
All I asked was whether she had given any thought to estrogen cream.. I knew that the other ladies would
offer the specifics if that applied in this case.
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Hello,
Sounds hormonal and stress related.
The odd sensation, heat and cold wet hands and feet, etc sounds like a hot flush.
Sense of smell increase - yes I had that also in perimenopause !
Must be a biological reason for this one . . .
The vision thing, I have had that for a few hours or sometimes a few days. I don't have it now.
How early was your mothers menopause?
What helped me in perim. was evening primrose oil - I would say it soothed things out a lot - and also progesterone cream. My perimenopause lasted 4 years and I had regular periods then.
The eyelid thing sounds like low thyroid, but you have had that checked?
The rest sounds like bracing/stress.
I like what your Mom says -Dr. Nature..Dr. Patience and Dr. Time.
Ginny
In Reply to: Re: possible but. posted by Ron [205.1575] on March 07, 2007 at 21:59:22:
Hi Ron. I definitely have to agree with you on this one. Good idea to be tested first, though. Sounds like low estrogen to me, too.
Naya
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Hi Babette,
Going a different direction here than the others who have replied so far, but I wonder about the possibility of an overload of a toxin or heavy metal--mercury from dental amalgams (silver fillings) maybe or toxic exposure in the past from other sources. The reason I say this is because I have had something similar with my vision. Hard to explain, but some days I just could not focus well. Not like I needed stronger glasses, just could not make my eyes work right, and they felt tired and strained. My doctors felt it was from mercury toxicity. There is a place online where you can test your vision (visual contrast sensitivity test) to see if it is affected by neurotoxins. There is also an online questionnaire. It's a physician's website, and the test is only $8-9, something like that, payable online. Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker--http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/
About the dizziness and faintness, do you have any neck pain or headaches? When the atlas (C-1 vertebra) goes out of alignment, it can cause an incredible amount of dizziness and various symptoms in the head. I have had visual disturbances and difficulty focusing (from brain receiving mixed signals because head is tilted slightly), dizziness, bed spins, nausea from the dizziness and visual disturbances, and a feeling of losing my balance. It all goes away when my neck is adjusted.
I also wonder about your blood pressure when you have those near-fainting episodes.
It's important to listen to your intuitions, so you are more than likely right about your hormone balance. Just thought I would throw a few other ideas out there. I'm sure Dr. Stoll with have some more definitive things to say.
Wishing you the best,
Nutmeg
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Thanks, Babette,
Menopausal symptoms are but one form of dysautonomia.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: possible but. posted by Naya [120.14] on March 08, 2007 at 00:59:54:
He has similar issues and ativan and then, dealing with a stressful job
cleared it right up. Took about 3 months though.
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Hi Babette,
your post was well written and you have a great insight in your health condition. Before I give any opinion or advice, let me just briefly tell you that I have been health-conscious for about 10 years now (after having a quite serious exhaustion and probably dysautonomia) back then.
A few years ago I turned 40 and started developing something that resembled heart disease (rapid weight gain, acid reflux, fat indigestion, elevated blood pressure). And, after a difficult period of a few years, my memory was suddenly 'gone', as well as focus and concentration. An endocrinologist found no thyroid disease, and my hormone levels were normal as always. No clinical sign of menopause. HOWEVER, all my symptoms worsened just prior to my period and on days 1-5, which was never the case before. The only time I felt 'normal' energy-wise, was around ovulation. Luckily I went to a very experienced ob/gyn who recognised the textbook signs of estrogen deficiency. He suggested the bioidentical hormone therapy, and with the first tablet my acid reflux disappeared, and the blood pressure normalised. Not the least, my memory returned and I could pull off the workload again.
Unlike you, I never experienced the light-headedness or the dizziness, but at times I could be extremely bloated. Your symptoms may reflect your particular disposition (perhaps you lack vitamin B12, are slightly anemic, or have weak adrenals - do you crave salt?). It might a be a condition in its own right, but I agree with Walt that menopause is a sort of dysautonomia.
I was so determined to do the 'natural thing' but when the push came to shove, and my head worked only 7 days a month at best, I was willing to try anything - I mean anything - in order to feel normal again. And despite my immaculate hormone record (which, my ob/gyn said, was only a 'snapshot', not a realistic indicator of what I needed to have to feel well) the bioidentical hormones changed completely my condition. I could sleep again, think again, have emotional control again. No bloating, no acid reflux, no dry eyes etc.
The reason I felt this was the right thing for me was having some years ago bought and read a few books by Dr. Elisabeth Vliet. "Screaming to be heard", "It's my ovaries, stupid", "Women, weight and hormones". She is a gynecologist herself, has gone through difficult menopause herself, and is very knowledgeable about hormones. You will find her books at the Amazon.com. I have returned to her books time and again, only to find that again, she was so right.
Many of us feel so insecure about this stage of life, as if these changes are somehow our own fault (you know: not perfect enough diet, not enough SR, exercise more and ultimately it's all in our head). However, I knew I was healthy, doing both aerobic exercise and Pilates for years, eating very well and taking time to relax. I was successful in all I did and this condition, which hit me so suddenly, was definitely NOT in my head. Certainly the estrogen change affected some of my genetic weaknesses, but it was not what I did, should do or could do any longer. I felt it was my estrogen that was going down, and I was right. I am so glad - can't tell you how - that I decided to try the hormones.
I knew I could monitor my blood pressure myself and check the blood sugar etc. and if anything went wrong, or I felt bad, I would quit the hormones. But you know what - in hindsight - since I did not wait until my hormone results were so low that finally someone would have mercy on me, but instead started regulating my hormone levels just 2,5 years after I got the first symptoms, they worked like magic. I am now almost convinced, like Dr. Vliet, that for many women, estrogen replacement is the best protection we can get (with the risk of breast cancer of course). The hormones they make today are much more sophisticated than the first generations: the doses, the way of administering, the combinations, are adjusted according to the past mistakes, and are being perfected and adjusted quicker now with new technologies than before.
I feel balanced now, my energy is stable and so is my mood, and with a few dietary adjustments I am approaching my ideal weight again. I still feel a bit tired at times, but at least now I can sleep.
Finally, estrogen deficiency is not the issue for all women, but those women who do need it, really need it, because without it, their health might deteriorate badly. I have been there, and would not go back there.
I have gone to lengths writing here, because I feel passionately about this. I feel that this could be the right choice for many women, but do make an informed choice - you might wish to get educated first, in order to find an ob/gyn who can prescribe the right biodentical hormones for you.
But be sure to check up all your symptoms with other specialists too, just in case you have another condition at the same time.
Best wishes,
Sonja
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Nutmeg [4785.74] on March 08, 2007 at 02:08:48:
Hi Nutmeg,
my eyes went dry first *after* I removed all my amalgam (maybe that's why?). I too must not work in the evenings or I strain easily the eyes. Was also wondering about neurotoxicity, and felt like testing the Chlorella product to detoxify, but am a bit chicken about trying out algae... have you tried that?
Sonja
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Sonja [4406.3312] on March 08, 2007 at 16:03:34:
Hi Sonja,
I think chlorella is pretty good, but if you try it you might want to start slow in case you get a detox reaction. I have taken a lot of it over the years, and I think it works pretty well for detoxing and chelation. Be sure you take something extra to keep the bowels active so you don't re-absorb anything from the digestive tract. Chlorella is one of those superfood-type supplements that seems to show up on the top-10 lists often.
I've taken it off and on for a few years, but am taking a break from it for a couple of months, because I thought it might be aggravating something. I have not had time to research it or ask my doctor or chiro, but I wondered if it being a source of vitamin K means that it might contribute to thick blood/hypercoagulation. I've got that going on, so I wanted to see what happens without the chlorella.
Neurotoxicity can show up as so many different symptoms, but I found the quiz on that website helpful. Dr. Shoemaker has a couple of books. Mold Warriors has the biotoxin pathway in it.
I still have mercury in my system, and get a few glutathione IVs from time to time. I've had that eye symptom of difficulty focusing WHILE I'm getting the IVs. The doctor/nurse said it is from the mercury coming out in my eyes. I don't even want to think about what that might look like. Ick.
Wishing you the best,
Nutmeg
In Reply to: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 07, 2007 at 17:19:23:
Hi Babette,
When I was about your age & entering perimenopause (didn't know it
at the time, but later figured it out), I had many, even most, of your
symptoms, which ranged from disconcerting to downright alarming
at times. I even fainted on a sidewalk one time, from being so dizzy,
and almost keeled over in a supermarket. I also started having
irregular heartbeats at that time, & I can remember a nurse telling me
that this isn't at all uncommon during perimenopause, and that
eventually it will right itself, in time. She was so right, although none
of the doctors at the time told me any such thing.
I saw a cardiologist, who said it was a blood sodium imbalance, &
prescribed an increase in salt in my diet. It did the trick, and fixed the
fainting problem almost immediately.
I had episodes of nausea, and over time, I learned to eat more
frequent, smaller meals, to keep my metabolism going & blood sugar
regulated. You may not think it's a blood sugar issue, but what you
describe sure sounds exactly like it.
I can't address the vision disturbance, and hope you will get that
checked out soon. Also have your blood pressure checked, and
monitor it yourself, if you don't already. Have you been checked for
diabetes?
I don't have all the answers, but thought maybe some of my own
experience might be at least a little comforting to you. I swear,
changes in hormonal status can make us feel downright sick at times.
But it's also a mistake to chalk everything up to hormones. Keep
working at finding your answers; you will. You didn't mention what
part aerobic activity/exercise plays in your life, but if you aren't
getting daily exercise in the form of elevating your heart rate &
sweating, you might want to add that to your routine. Exercise goes a
LONG way toward fending off perimenopause & menopause
symptoms, and helps you feel better overall.
take care,
mary
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Nutmeg [4785.74] on March 08, 2007 at 21:23:50:
Thanks so much, Nutmeg.
Useful advice, will save it and try out chlorella once I can afford it - it is quite expensive over here.
I react to some kinds of fish, and wonder if it is because fish is toxic...well we know it is - but I mean if that is why I react. Probably the environmental toxicity is higher than what we anticipate.
The eye problem of course could be just plain aging, and the fact that in the good old days we did not spend entire days staring at the screen...
My best to you too,
Sonja
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by maryb [4724.3129] on March 08, 2007 at 23:11:12:
Gosh, thanks mary! You offer some interesting input. And of course it's
wonderful to hear that it does eventually regulate itself over time.
take care!
B
In Reply to: Your intuition is probably right posted by Sonja [4406.3312] on March 08, 2007 at 15:44:23:
Sonja, I appreciate your passion! And thanks for taking the time to
respond so thoroughly. I am interested in those books you mention
and will definitely check them out.
I did have my hormones checked, for three months. I did three
month-long saliva tests and on day 23 of each of those months I
went into for a blood test. The doctor was expecting to find
progeterone deficiency; he was convinced I was estrogen-dominant.
The first two months I felt awful, and had some of the worst
symptoms ever. In fact when I went to do the blood test on day 23 I
remember feeling so lightheaded I thought I might collapse in the lab.
On those months the test results showed that my estrogen was low
from the beginning of my cycle until day 11 when it suddenly jumped
up (i felt normal from this day until post ovulation), then it spiked on
day 14, and dropped as progesterone rose dramatically from day 15-
day 24. So, my progesterone was quite adequate, and obviously I was
able to cobble enough estrogen together for a few days to initiate
ovulation, but my estrogen was very low in relation to the
progesterone in the second half of my cycle.
The third month I did these tests I felt great all month. No dizziness,
clear thinking, no stomach upset, nothing. I did not feel like I ovulated
that month either. My period came on day 29 instead of 28 (unusual
for me) and hit me really hard. Then I returned on the next cycle to
the usually crummy feelings. Well, guess what? The test showed that
that month I had normal-high levels of estrogen all month. I guess
my body was trying to get some ovulation going, never did, and
eventually gave up. I never produce any progesterone. But what a
treat to feel so normal! I just felt even, like I could handle anything
that came my way, I slept like a baby, had a good appetite, laughed,
and basically had a good 'ol time.
I do believe that there are estrogen types and progesterone types,
and you can't apply the same thing to both. But sadly the estrogen
types are less likely to get help it seems.
Unfortunately my doctor's attitude was that since I was still obviously
ovulating at least most months that I should not alter that with
hormones. Plus he just didn't believe in supplementing with estrogen,
he saw it as dangerous and evil. He was very dissappointed with my
test results, and I could practically see the frustration on his face that
my particular case did not fall in line with his theory about
progesterone.
Thanks again Sonja for shairng your experiences!
B
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Ginny [15.209] on March 07, 2007 at 22:50:23:
Hi Ginny, thanks for responding. It's nice to know that others can
relate or have had similar expreiences, but eventually felt better. Like
I said, if I had classic symptoms I would be less likely to be
concerned, but I guess in addition to those usual things many women
have strange symtpoms like me.
My mother, the one who thought patience, time, and nature were the
best doctors, went though meno with virutally no symptoms (a few
hot flashes and a little insomnia for about a year!), though she did
complete it by age 47, so perhaps early meno is something I can
expect. I guess I just thought I would be like her.
B
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [2062.3310] on March 07, 2007 at 19:23:22:
Jan, thanks for your response. Somthing definitely needs fine tuning!!!
I have an appt to check my eyes, that has me concerned too.
And you are so right how our bodies and physiology change over time.
It's really remarkable how much actually.
B
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on March 08, 2007 at 07:34:38:
Dr. Stoll, are you implying that if you have menopausal symptoms it
is in itself is an indicator of ill health? In other words, if one is truly
healthy there would be no symptoms? or at least very few?
If so, it's an interesting theory. It sure would explain why the whole
baby boomer generation seems to suffer more the symptoms of meno
than earlier generations, what with the increased stress of life, and
dramatic alteration of lifstyle, especially for women, that came with
that generation.
B
In Reply to: Two different situations posted by Michele [3355.2969] on March 07, 2007 at 17:55:22:
Thanks Michele!
Yes, I agree that PMS and peri are just thrown out there so easily. It's
just another way of saying it's all in your head isn't it?
But alas, even though my cycles are normal in terms of number of
days, I definitely have noticed changes, so I do believe that hormones
are at least part of the equation.
Stress is not a concern for me right now, but it was prior to a lot of
these symptoms, so perhaps there is a lingering effect, or I burned
myself out a few years ago during an intensely stressful time.
Thanks for yout input!
B
In Reply to: Re: Your intuition is probably right posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 09, 2007 at 10:51:45:
Dear Babette,
I can truly relate to everything you wrote. Your observations are spot on, and I urge you to find an ob/gyn who is willing to find a proper combination - because you'd need a combo-product since you are still menstruating - of estrogen and progesterone.
When I was in my late thirties I did the saliva tests, and they showed extremely low level of both my hormones (and that's exactly how I felt). But the blood tests were 'normal'-- !! Then Dr. Lee was the hype and I tried the progesterone cream, but felt ten times worse. A few years later I tested a wild yam estrogen cream, and felt good, but the effect was so mild, it was insignificant.
When finally it all worsened to the point I could not take it anymore, I was referred luckily to a kind ob/gyn, who to my surprise said all the right things. Mind you, I live in Norway. If I were in US, I'd probably try to make an appointment with Dr. Vliet :)
If you get into HRT, you'll discover that there are types of estrogen that work better for some women than other, and that the right combinations are crucial. The hormones I use are made by Novonordisk, and the estrogen is called 17 beta estradiol, which is a molecule identical to our own estradiol molecule, and that is why it can be classified as bioidentical. The progesterone is synthetically made, it is called progestine. Actually it is made from steroids, which body converts to progesterone. It works well with me, because it has a mild testosteron-like action which gives me more energy, while the natural progesterone made me both hungry and lethargic. In the first product, the estrogen/ progesterone ratio was 1:1, and that worked for a year, but then I started to feel unwell again. So I changed to a product which has a 2:1 ratio, and bingo - have never felt this good before. No PMS, minimal fatigue.
I truly believe all my suffering was unnecessary, and would not do it the tough way - do you know why - ? It is not healthy at all! I could not sleep - how was I supposed to restore my health if I could not sleep well?
Your suffering wakes so much sympathy in me... and anger towards the medical profession. Honestly, your symptoms sound so debilitating to me that I really hope you can the relief you deserve. And your doc's reaction was terrible. I do hope you can find a better one.
Finally I'll repeat, all my hormone levels were normal, and yet I feel great on HRT. The hormones are not addictive, but if we stop, the symptoms are likely to return. My husband's GP is on hormones, and she said to him sha can't stop. She tried, but could not sleep and developed heart problems. She said she'd rather use the patch and live a shorter but productive life (hinting at cancer risks) than live a long life in misery.
This is about how I feel about it. Do get the books, and try to get help and good luck with everything!
Best wishes,
Sonja
In Reply to: Re: Dysautonomia or preimenopause?? posted by Babette [2701.2887] on March 09, 2007 at 11:04:39:
Yes, Babette.
I guess that is exactly what I am suggesting. The proof of the pudding is that when people who are having menopausal symptoms practice the 3LS those symptoms tend to disappear and stay away for about 10 years.
Walt
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