97 replies to this topic

[fishinghat]

 "and was told to stop all hormones. "

 

Boy, you opened up a can of worms here. Hormone discontinuation can cause a whole list of issues. My wife and I are both having to deal with these types of issues for years. Do you feel comfortable telling me what hormones and dosages you were on? Also, any lab results for serum hormones sgbh, LH, prolactin and other hormone related blood tests you have done in the recent past (10 years). If you feel more comfortable you can PM them to me. Both estrogen and testosterone can take 1 to 6 months to stabilize after coming off and the resulting symptoms can be very similar to the withdrawal and those you listed. Let me know and I will help in any way I can.

 

I don't know if you are in the USA or not but here they only do one in initial serum blood test and then they turn those over to a compounding pharmacist who decides what type of hormone related dose to make up. There are NO follow-up blood tests to determine if it has helped or not. My wife went to one compounding pharmacist who made up a specific mixture but then when insurance changed she had to switch to a different pharmacy and the compound they made up was completely different. When I contacted them they said that was the standard mixture for those going through menopause. My Lord, my wife was 60 at the time and was way past menopause!!! The pharmacist said he was not familiar with doing hormones for older women and didn't know anything about it. her Ob/Gyn said that my wife stiill needed to address her low testosterone issue but refused to get involved.

 

Sorry to take off on a rant. I have plenty of medical information on hormone adjustment in women and once I get the information mentioned above I will see what may apply to you.

 

Member experience reinstating a low dose is only about 50% successful. In either case I would only recommend a few beads if you decide to reinstate. If it helps then wean from that dose down slowly, if it doesn't help just stop the dose.

[invalidusername]

Great to hear from you!! 

 

Never forget a member this end - and thank you for keeping us updated. Hat is really the one who can inform you better than myself regarding your situation, as you can see from his reply, he has had experience similar to you own, but I will continue to follow, if not purely for the interest.

 

IUN

[ESRoar]

Yeah, it sure is a can of worms with too many things going on at once.  Anyhow, I was on birth control for 2 months to "quiet my ovaries".  I had baseline labs on 8/23, and my estradiol was low (in the post-menopausal range), but from what I can tell that was the point of the birth control.  Then on 8/26 I started estrogen pills (2 mg BID) and estrogen patches (.1mg, 2 patches changed every 3rd day).  On 9/8 I started 1 mL progesterone injections.  My HCG pregnancy test was negative and Dr. told me to stop all of the hormones on 9/27.  I've been through 3 fertility cycles a couple of years ago, but don't remember having any ill effects after stopping the hormones.  All of my other labs were taken weekly throughout the cycle to make sure my levels were rising appropriately.

 

Hormones really can mess with you and it seems they're not understood by many drs.  My husband has issues with this too!

 

So far I have chosen not to reinstate the C.  Praise God that each day I have been feeling a little bit better, so I'm hoping I continue to improve.  I've also heard that if you reinstate, it can be extra hard to get off of the 2nd time.  So I'm not sure I want to experience that.  I've been focusing extra hard on good nutrition, hydration, getting out in the sun, etc.

[fishinghat]

"Hormones really can mess with you and it seems they're not understood by many drs."

 

Very true. I guess I shouldn't criticize the drs too much. There are over 2 dozen compounds that directly affect your hormone levels and I estimate probably around 50 or so that indirectly affect them. On top of that many of these effect each other as well. How on earth can a dr mange that. I am glad that is not my job. lol

 

That is really great news about the Cymbalta. It is easy to get a relapse in symptoms so give your body a chance to recover before stretching your limits too much.

[ESRoar]

UGHH...now I'm considering reinstating.  I'm feeling terrible each day.  I do get a little period of relief in the evening hours before bed.  But the AM cortisol surges, headaches, nausea, wooziness, dizziness are just wearing me down.  Also having to work and be a mom through all of this.    

 

I was on 8 mg when my husband started the speedy tapering.  I may just try 1 mg and see if it takes the edge off.  I don't know.  It's so hard to know what to do with no manual on this.

[fishinghat]

While your husbands' intentions were honorable the truth is that the last few beads are the hardest to come off of. If you go back to 1 mg dose and you are no better in 3 or 4 days then the updosing will probably not work. Hang in there, it will get better.

[ESRoar]

After about 2 hours of awful symptoms this morning, everything but the headache stopped and I actually felt somewhat like my normal self for the majority of the day.   So, I haven't reinstated.  Withdrawal sure is a roller coaster ride.  

 

FH - Thank you for the reinstating guidance above.  I'm going to refer back if I get in a bad place again.

[fishinghat]

"Withdrawal sure is a roller coaster ride. "

 

A truer statement has never been made!!