A question for menopausal women

manonash · Post by **manonash** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:49 am

This is a great conversation. I wonder if HRT of any type that leans more towards the estrogen with less progesterone would increase the likelyhood of an MC flair. I've always noticed that my bowel symptoms and pain symptoms are usually worse during the first half of my menstrual cycle when estrogen is the predominant hormone, and I usually feel somewhat better during the luteal phase of my cycle when progesterone is higher. This would make sense because progesterone has a quieting affect on the immune system.

I've also heard that adrenal fatigue can worsen menopausal symptoms. I believe it has something to do with the adrenal glands picking up the slack on estrogen production after menopause, but I'm not sure if I've got the mechanism of action right there.

Shonda

CAMary · Post by **CAMary** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:31 pm

This is an interesting thread - very informative - a little scary for me to see what issues I might be facing down the road - especially since *any* hormonal option is TOTALLY off-limits

. Maybe I'll get lucky and not have a rough time? I can only hope...

Mary

artteacher · Post by **artteacher** » Sat May 09, 2009 10:19 am

I use an under the tongue bio-identical estrogen and progesterone. It works like magic. A naturopathic physician in WA (who is a participant in my insurance plan) and the only NA in WA state licensed to prescribe testoserone, partners with Andrew Weil years ago, is the prescribing physician. I'd recommend him to anyone. Although, hormone replacement is like an art, not a science. My sister has also seen him and has a really hard time nevertheless. They just can't seem to get her symptoms under control 100%.

He uses saliva testing to determine what you need, and dosages. It's not recognized by most doctors as a reliable way to test, but for me it has worked. And the prescriptions are made at a compounding pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe.

These are supposed to be safer than medicines taken orally, but still, I'll be taking them only during the transition time.

Marsha

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat May 09, 2009 11:19 am

Marsha,

That is awesome that you are doing so well on the sublingual bio-identical. I feel like they are safer too, they just need to tweak my levels. I am probably impatient with this just like with my diet!

Pat

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat May 09, 2009 6:23 pm

Pat,

I don't know how you can call yourself impatient. You've been struggling with this disease for years and still haven't given up hope. I think you are extremely patient.

Gloria

manonash · Post by **manonash** » Sat May 09, 2009 6:33 pm

Marsha, that's great that you are doing so well on the sublingual.

How do sublingual supplements compare to transdermal in safety? I know the oral present problems. I took oral progesterone when I was having problems with miscarriages (MC and didn't know it) and the doc put me oral progesterone. I felt AWEFUL on that stuff. I went to a different doc and told him I was going to use transdermal the next time and had no problems with it.

Shonda

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat May 09, 2009 7:13 pm

Gloria,

Maybe too patient then. I don't know, somedays I really struggle. I feel like I am different from most of you on this board, like maybe its something else. I do know that I am much more intolerant to fructose than most on this board. I read about most eating fruit and vegetables and I just can't. I really get tired of my diet and I really don't like buckwheat cereal that much but there aren't many options. I tried Stevia on my cereal this morning and it made me nauseous. I eat to not feel hungry not for pleasure. Sorry, I guess I am venting. Thanks for listening.

Pat

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sun May 10, 2009 6:17 am

You have a perfect right to vent (even rant) and you should do so whenever the need arises. You have plenty to vent about. I feel so bad that you are so restricted in your diet, especially for so long now. Most people can take it for smaller spans of time but you have really put in some major time like this.

I sure hope something starts helping soon.

Shirley

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:01 pm

Shirley,

Thanks for supporting me. I really have to step back and look at the whole picture and see how far I have come. I remember having 20 blow out water D episodes a day. I remember cramps. I remember the foul smell. I remember the large volume of each of those episodes. (I couldn't believe that much poop could come from one small person). I remember the 5-10 second warning. I remember the accidents. I am much better now. I go only 2-4 times a day, no cramps, no smell, much smaller volume. I should feel lucky. I still have some urgency sometimes ( I had to get out of the shower this morning to go). And not normal consistency yet. I'll be ok. I'm getting better. It just takes time to figure out all the intolerances and irritants and to heal. I wish I had listened when I first found this board, I guess I didn't think this was really happening to me and the traditional doctors were going to fix me with medicine. Boy, was I wrong! Well, thanks again. I've vented and ranted too long.

Pat

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:10 pm

Hi Pat,

Wow - if you're only going 2-4 times a day with no cramps, you have come a long way! That's great progress! I know that you've been working very hard to reach this point, and you need to pat yourself on the back for what you've accomplished.

As I wrote in another thread: never underestimate the power of Entocort. You are just beginning to use the combination of Entocort and diet and are finding that it's making a big difference. As time goes on, I think that this combination will allow your gut to settle down and stop reacting to so many foods. Hopefully your gut is finally beginning to heal, and slowly but surely, you'll be able to reintroduce some of your forbidden foods again.

I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say that we are all rooting for you. Don't ever apologize for venting or complaining. Every time I read about your diet or your struggles, I feel so badly for you. You have probably had the roughest MC resolution of anyone here. If anyone has the right to complain, you do. But I also think that you can do a bit of celebrating at the moment. You are starting to sound like a success story!

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:34 pm

Gloria wrote:I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say that we are all rooting for you.

That's for sure.

Pat,

I have to admit that after you tried all those highly-recommended doctors, and all those treatment programs, and nothing seemed to help, I was afraid that you might be too frustrated to even consider trying the diet again, (and deep down, I was beginning to wonder if the diet was really as powerful as many of us believe it is).

I'm so glad that you refused to surrender to the disease. It's been a long and difficult battle, but you've made a lot of progress lately, in a relatively short amount of time, and you're finally getting your life back. More than that, your dedication has given us indisputable proof, that in the most difficult cases, remission is impossible, without careful attention to diet.

Now we know without question, that when nothing else works, Entocort and proper diet control, is the ultimate treatment. That's an extremely important point, and maybe this information will eventually trickle down to enough GI docs, that some of them will start paying attention, and the prognosis of people who are diagnosed with MC in the future, will be much brighter.

MCers who will be diagnosed in the future, (at least those who will read this board), will owe you a huge debt of gratitude, for your thoroughness, and your perseverance, because your hard work has answered a lot of questions about what works, and what doesn't work, in the most difficult cases.

Thank you for all your hard work, in your relentless pursuit of remission! :bouqueofpinkroses:

Tex

manonash · Post by **manonash** » Mon May 11, 2009 7:02 am

{{{{{HUGE HUGS}}}}}

Pat, you have really been through a lot and come a long way! WOW! You deserve to vent all you want and need to. I agree with Tex, that sharing your struggles and triumphs here will serve to help others as well. I learn so much here from reading the forums and even some of the older treads and I know others do too. Especially us new to the diagnosis.

Shonda

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:27 am

Hi Everyone, I don't know if I can add anything new, but the best way to describe my menopause is a trainwreck! It began about 3 years ago and during those 3 years I've been diagonosed with hypothyroidism, mc, and all the horrendous usual symptoms of menopause(hot flashes, no sleep, skin problems, etc.) I finally linked up with a clinic last fall that uses a combination of holistic and traditional medical approaches. They put me on bio-identical hormones which dissolve under my tongue (they call it a troche), 5,000 iu of vitamin D, twice weekly injections of magnesium, B12, and folic acid.(I do these at home),a multiple vitamin, resveratrol, and a probiotic. I'm on a prescription fish oil supplement called Lovaza. We're still working on my cholesterol and blood sugar levels which also went haywire during all this. I'm not diabetic, but my PCP wants my levels lower. I feel like I'm a work in progress, somewhat like Humpty Dumpty being put back together again. I do think all these things have gradually helped restore me and especially helped me sleep again which is so necessary to heal and cope. I credit this board for helping me get the right treatment for the mc. My gi prescribed the entocort, but my PCP has been very interested and supportive of it and I think she's learning a lot from me about mc. Maybe it will help someone else down the road. JoAnn

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Mon May 11, 2009 7:38 pm

Thanks ya'll for your support! Thanks, Tex, for the flowers.

You are so kind.

I think there is no question that diet is a huge part of this. Entocort worked ok for me when I ate everything before Neomycin but I think I would have had some Normans if I had been on the diet. I cannot emphasize more how taking antibiotics made me so much worse. Now the Entocort works just a little and I will have been on it for a month Fri. I plan to continue getting better and better! Thanks again!

JoAnn,

You have really been through the mill but it sounds like you found a good clinic! Does that prescription fish oil have soy in it? I figured out that tocopherols is code for soy. Which probiotic do you take? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Pat

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:52 am

Hi Pat, my fish oil does not have soy in it. The probiotic I take is by Direct Nutrition. The clinic I go to carries supplements by Direct Nutrition which do not contain gluten, soy, dairy, or other allergens and are reasonably priced. It has saved me time, money, and problems with additives that are in other supplements. Have a good day, JoAnn