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Julie

by Julie
(Ottawa, Canada)

Hi, I am 55, and my periods stopped at age 51. I had an easy time of it all and was really lucky throughout my reproductive life.
I am currently experiencing though, a lot of sleep issues, some anxiety, and sometimes heart palpitations. I also gained 20 lbs very quickly once my periods stopped, which I still have.

I am active, healthy, eat well, not on any medications.
I have tried progesterone - orally - had a return of migraines, a lot of anxiety and sleeplessness worse than ever!! I stopped immediately - was on 100mg and after reading through things I see that I needed to persist or increase the dosage.

I am a bit nervous honestly to take more - but could really use some support and suggestions.

Thank you!

Comments for Julie

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May 01, 2023
 Julie
by: Joy

Hi Julie

Anxiety and sleep issues are so common during Peri-Menopause and Menopause. Anxiety is caused by a lack of GABA, it's one of our most calming neurotransmitters. GABA itself is difficult to use, but as progesterone activates the GABA receptor sites, it's normally enough to stop the anxiety. Cortisol, our stress hormone, is made in the adrenals from progesterone, so any added stress would drop the level. Excess estrogen causes sleep issues. Please read the Estrogen Dominance page.

Heart palpitations can be a scary thing. Excess estrogen probably caused it. Estrogen causes prolongation of the QT interval, which results in palpitations, arrhythmia, Torsades de Pointes and sudden death. Whereas progesterone shortens the QT interval, see here.

Any form of oral progesterone is not the best Delivery Method as around 96% gets destroyed by the gut and liver, see here. The little that you were getting merely aggravated your estrogen receptors. Please consider switching to a good organic cream such as Natpro. Between 100-200mg progesterone cream is needed, more if symptoms are severe. Please read more on the How to use Progesterone Cream page.

Are you supporting your thyroid? This is the time when that starts to play up too. Iodine drops, tyrosine and selenium are needed.

What is your Vitamin D3 level? A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone and is needed for every single functioning cell in our bodies. The cofactors mentioned are vital.

If progesterone is used correctly you will benefit greatly.
May 03, 2023
 response to help
by: Anonymous

Thank you so much for you advice. I am supporting my thyroid and also had it checked during this latest palpitations episode. My EKG was normal and the palpitations happened all throughout the test, which was helpful for the doc to see.
I am wondering if the Natpro is only available in the US? I am in Canada.
I am trying to have my oral progesterone switched to a cream, but haven't been able to get a hold of my ND yet...
When I get the cream (Or Natpro) is it okay to just start right away with a high dose of it? I assume so.
Thank you for your help, very much appreciated.
May 04, 2023
 Response to help
by: Joy

Hi Julie

Thanks for the update. Natpro is available in most countries, please look at the drop down menu on the order page. I would rather not take oral, it causes more problems or you need to take enough oral equating to that of Natpro. Of course this is entirely up to you.

Yes, it is perfectly fine to start using straight away, just use as explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page making sure to use it no less than twice a day. Using it once a day causes progesterone levels to spike. Start at 200mg Natpro and see how you get on.
May 04, 2023
 Thank you Joy
by: Anonymous

Thank you Joy, for taking the time to write.
Just to clarify, I would do 100mg twice daily - 12 hours apart. I think that's what you mean, not 200mg with each dose.
I did check and Natpro can be shipped to Canada - that surprised me actually.
I will try first to get some through my ND as I do have insurance to cover prescriptions here, and if not will order it.

Thanks again for your work and help.

Julie
May 04, 2023
 one last question
by: Anonymous

Hi Joy, I wanted to also ask you - I have 100mg capsules that were prescribed for vaginal use, could I use them until I receive the cream? I don't quite understand why vaginally is not the same as topical. Thank you for any clarification on this.

Julie
May 05, 2023
 Thank you Joy
by: Joy

Hi Julie

I am replying to both your posts here.

Yes, if you decided to use 200mg (6ml) per day, then use 100mg (3ml) in the morning and again at night. If you do get cream from your ND, please make sure that it equates to that of Natpro. There are a number of brands on the market, many are not the same. We have a big customer base in Canada, just so that you know.

As explained, any form of oral progesterone is not the best delivery method. It is perfectly fine to mix the contents of the capsule with a good organic cream and use. Vaginally is the same a topical, are you getting confused? It's oral that should be avoided.
May 05, 2023
 Vaginal vs.topical
by: Anonymous

Thank you Joy - I didn't realize that vaginal would be the same as topical - I wasn't sure as I had heard that vaginally is not preferred due to so many hormone receptors? (that didn't make sense to me) But I wanted to double check.

I have vaginal capsules so I will use them at the same dosage (200mg) until the cream arrives.

Thanks a million!
blessings to you for the work you do,
Julie
May 25, 2023
 Using Natpro for a while…
by: Anonymous

Hello,

I have been using Natpro for about four months now. At first I was using 1 pump a day, and everyday because my cycle was sooo sporadic and lasted so long. But then I started looking at the site further and realized I should be doing more pumps per day, so I increased to two pumps twice a day which I figured is about 200mg as you recommend. Then I realized a month later I should only be doing it for the last 14 days from ovulation until bleeding. Sooo, really, this is the second month I have been doing it correctly. My cycle still lasts like 11-14 days, but the heavy flow day is day 5-8 typically, and only lasts a day or two. And then it feels like ovulation cramping happens at the end of the cycle by that point, and then spotting still happens which could be ovulation spotting or still remnants of my cycle. I never know for sure. It just seems that everything is still out of whack, and I want to believe it is working and will work itself out, but its been a while now of using it when I should be. I do take 10,000IU of vit D nearly every day, but did not get a Vit D level before I started. I have also been taking vitamin C that has 150mg each tablet of bioflavonoids, which I saw could be helpful. I am just wondering what else I should be doing. I want to have a baby at some point in the next year or two, and four + years of having cycles like this has been exhausting. But i truly want to have a normal cycle and not have so much spontaneity with not being able to wear swimsuits or go away with friends without Aunt Flo in tow. If you have ay further advice, I am all ears! Thank you for your time!
May 26, 2023
 Using Natpro for a while ...
by: Joy

I'm glad you realised that one pump (50mg) wasn't enough.  All that did was aggravate your estrogen receptors.  Unless you have a regular cycle it is always advised to use the cream every day with no breaks until a regular cycle starts again, then and only then should the cream be used by following your regular cycle.  The cream should then be used during your luteal phase as explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page mentioned further down on this post.  

You don't state your age but I suspect you might be in Peri-Menopause which is a time that the monthly cycle becomes extremely erratic.  This usually starts at around 35 when progesterone levels drop and estrogen levels remain the same.  Things will be out of whack as you haven't been using the cream correctly.  I suggest that you continue using 200mg per day, every day until your cycle returns to normal.  You will battle to conceive if your cycle is not regular.  You might want to read the Pregnancy page.

Progesterone therapy takes between 2-6 months if used correctly, before benefits are felt.  It could take longer, it all depends on how severe your symptoms are.

Should the bleeding become heavy/clotting/continual consider trying the heavy bleeding protocol:

400-500mg Natpro Progesterone Cream per day
2000mg N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) per day
2000mg Taurine per day
5000iu's Vitamin D3 per day
1000mg Bioflavanoids per day

I am pleased that you are taking Vitamin D3, but what about the cofactors which are extremely important when taking D3?

Hope this helps.

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