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Gail

by Gail Dutton
(UK)

Came across this site and could relate to so many of what other people are saying. I have suffered 15 years of Endometriosis and although I have had surgery for removal of adhesions, have refused all hormone treatment therapy. I have had a few irregular periods - but then suddenly out of the blue my period stopped and I started having really bad night sweats and daily hot flushes. The night sweats are waking me up throughout the night and I am very tired, having to get up and go to work is very hard. My Doctor has said my hormone level test was "59" I don't really know what this means but he says I am "menopausal". I have lost about 1/2 stone in the last few months and have not been dieting. Can being in perimenopause cause some initial weight loss? I have been interested lately in the theories regarding the issues of Progesterone being the hormone we need to replace and that taking Estrogens just makes the whole issue worst. I am interested in taking some Progesterone before my symptoms get any worst. What is the best treatment to take - oral or cream? Also, I have read the Melatonin helps regular hormones and sleep patterns is this true. I have suffered for such a long time with my Endometriosis and although I expect that this will now improve I don't want to spend the rest of my life suffering with menopause symptoms. Please help! Many thanks.

Comments for Gail

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Feb 22, 2012
 Gail
by: Wray

Hi Gail Endometriosis is caused by oxidative stress. Ie too many free radicals roaming and causing inflammation. This is often due to nothing but a lack of vitamin D, and/or progesterone. Both are potent antioxidants, both stop cells proliferating too. I normally recommend 100-200mg/day progesterone, but I have found if the pain is severe 500mg/day is needed to suppress symptoms and reverse the endo. If no pain is present a far lower amount is needed. I too don't know what your doctor means by the '59' and now in Menopause. He could have been checking your FSH levels which once in menopause are between 40-250 IU/L. Whereas in menstruating women the level ranges between 3.5-30.0 IU/L. If you have Hot Flushes and night sweats I have found 400mg/day or more is needed. The page gives more info and what can be done besides using progesterone. It does touch on serotonin and melatonin. The cream is a good Delivery system, oral is the least effective. We run Saliva Tests and find the progesterone is well absorbed. Please have a vitamin D test done, you live in the UK where levels are low in most people. A lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. For more info on vitamin D levels, testing etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth, Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. If you would like to chat to someone about both progesterone and vitamin D, please contact Julienne here. She lives in London. Take care Wray
Feb 22, 2012
 Thank you Wray.
by: Anonymous

Hello Wray I very much appreciate your time in commenting on my article. You are the only person who has ever given me any hope or support -my Doctors have only ever fobbed me off or offered me more surgery. I will take up some of your suggestions and hope that my menopausal years are a bit better than the last 15 suffering from painful and debilitating endometriosis.
Feb 23, 2012
 Thank you Wray
by: Wray

Hi Gail Bless you for the kind words, endo is so debilitating, and yet so little is offered other than drugs. It's firmly fixed in minds that nothing can be done but palliative care. Having helped women with nothing more than progesterone, vitamin D and other antioxidants I don't believe this is the case. Talking of other antioxidants, please look at this page here on some others you could consider taking. Take care Wray

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