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Stomach Cramping on Nat Pro and so confused about the amount

by Absolutely Miserable in Florida

I just purchased Nat Pro on October 19, 2012 and started using it on October 22nd, so 10 days. I am using 1 teaspoon in the morning and 1 teaspoon in the evening, and I'm using an actual spoon and spreading the cream so that it is level. I've tried to read through your posts and a few people have said that the teaspoon measurement/amount of progesterone comes with the product... well,I checked all three boxes and there is so such information. So, if you could just tell me how much I am using if its 2 teaspoons per day split into equal amounts- then I can go from there.

The first time I applied the product, I became extremely sleepy and had the best night of sleep I've had in a very long time... so I think my insomnia issues have been remedied rather quickly. Unfortuantely, I am sleepy and generally 'unmotivated' since I started it, borderline depressed, but I think that's just because I'm normally a high energy person and I'm sad that I'm not getting anything done. The other problem is that I am getting headaches and my entire torso has had a cramping feeling like I used to get when I was 18 years old. I'm 46 years old and haven't had cramps in at least 10 years. Do I need to increase or decrease the amount I am using or stay with the same amount? There is such conflicting information, no wonder my head is hurting! I really need specific advise, such as "decrease the am and pm dose to 1/2 teaspoon per time so that you are receiving X amount of progesterone per day" or "dab two pea size amounts of cream on forehead" or whatever the remedy could be.

And lastly, I just ran across the chart on this web site- seriously doubt I could ever find it again as it it buried on one of these many, many web pages, but if I am to understand it correctly, someone using 100 mgs per day will only get 20 days out of a tube. I am doing 2 teaspoons per day for 10 days and my first tube is almost gone... so am I using 200 mg per day and does that mean that a tube will last me about 10 days? So a 3 month's supply is actually a 1 month supply?

Its all so confusing to me but the headaches and stomach aches are affecting my ability to think...that's why I need specific advise- nothing vague... I wanted to try Nat Pro because according to the quiz on your website, I am severely depleted in progesterone... please help!! I want that calm, happy, "well" feeling some of the ladies speak of on this web site. :)

Comments for Stomach Cramping on Nat Pro and so confused about the amount

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Nov 05, 2012
 Stomach Cramping on Nat Pro and so confused about the amount
by: Wray

Hi there I'm pleased the progesterone has helped your sleep issues, as it does help these, see here, here and here. There is an instruction leaflet in each box with suggested amounts. The leaflet also says..... "For further advice on how to use it please refer to this web page: How to use progesterone cream.

We don't supply a measuring spoon, as so many have them in their kitchens or drug cabinet. It is essential to use an accurate one, not one used for stirring tea. These vary in size from about 3ml to 6ml, a standard tsp is 5ml. The chart you found is at the bottom of the page How to use progesterone cream. There are 12 x 5ml teaspoons in one tube of cream. If you are using a 5ml teaspoon and twice a day, then you are getting 330mg/day progesterone. One tube will last you 6 days. So if the tube is lasting you 10 days, you are getting 200mg/day, which means you are using a 3ml teaspoon. Each ml of cream contains 33.3mg progesterone. I also don't know what you mean by..... "So a 3 month's supply is actually a 1 month supply?" Nowhere do we say how long 1 tube will last, although other sites do. We have many men using it, some only need 10mg/day, so 1 tube will last them over 6 months. We have one man using 400mg/day, so the tube lasts him 5 days. We have a few women using 1000mg/day, the tube will last them 2 days. And we have one woman using 2000mg/day, the tube will last her 1 day. The amount to use is dependant on symptoms, the more severe they are, the more that will be needed. You don't mention your symptoms, or how bad they are, but if the questionnaire says you are severely depleted then you will need a great deal to overcome them. It appears that the 200mg/day you are currently using is not sufficient. Unfortunately it is impossible to give a specific amount. I suggest you try 400mg/day, this is 12ml of cream or 2 4/5th tsp, but it must be a 5ml tsp. If you use 2 4/5th of the teaspoon you are currently using, it will only give you about 240mg of progesterone. It's best to use it spread over the day, hourly if need be. Continued below.
Nov 05, 2012
 Stomach Cramping on Nat Pro and so confused about the amount Part 2
by: Wray

Hi there You might like to read these comments here, here and here I'm not sure where you found the conflicting info, as the How to Use page gives detailed info on this. We also have a page on Oestrogen Dominance which explains what's happening to you. The link to this is also on the How to Use page. When first using progesterone it does stimulate oestrogen, hence your headaches and cramping. Progesterone does help these once the excess oestrogen is suppressed. You are also now in Peri-menopause, which is an impossible time. Progesterone levels are dropping due to anovulatory cycles, but oestrogen and testosterone are still in the normal range. Take care Wray
Nov 05, 2012
 thank you for commenting!!
by: Less Miserable in Florida

Hi Wray-

I did a bunch of reading on this website after I posted my comment and I did start applying more through out the day and I have to say that within 24 hours of submitting my comments/questions, I felt like a new woman!! My symptoms were like PMS on steroids... major cramping in my stomach AND almost like labor pains down in my groan like I was dialating or preparing to give birth (have you ever heard of THAT?), bloating, very grouchy, a sense of doom and gloom, a pimple right in the middle of my nose (haven't had a pimple in a very long tine!!). But I have to admit that I didn't measure anything when I added more, just every few hours I would go in the bathroom and dab some in about 6 different places. I didn't feel quite as tired the next day and I was able to do some work, get a few errands done, but still felt kind of 'over relaxed' and unmotivated.

I realize your website doesn't say 3 tubes=3 months- I just wanted to know in general because by the end of the 10th day, I was cutting my tube in half to scrap out the bottom. I ordered 3 tubes so I'm good for the rest of the month. But this is good to know because we are going on vacation at the end of this month and I need to order more so that I don't run out while we are driving across the country. I have noticed that if I miss a dose, my stomach will start to cramp.

I KNOW I am experiencing the oestrogen dominance- I was on the pill for about 11 years- low dose- .02 estrogen and .01 progestrin and for whatever reason, the pill always kept my weight in check. It sounds opposite from what I normally hear but I went off of it one time during the 11 years and I gained 20 lbs in 3 months... resumed the pill and the weight fell off. My doctor thought maybe it was balancing out my hormones which would in turn cause me to drop weight. I 'cycled down' from the pill about 2 years ago using a similar method that you have outlined... and that's when my issues started- insomnia,horrible PMS headaches the week before my period starts, weight gain (15-20 lbs) despite working out and eating very healthy, organic when I can, fatter (as in you can see cellulite in my skin even on my calves and forearms), spider veings out of NO WHERE, dry cracked heels, and very lazy/unmotivated- not sure what to call it.. just the feeling that you'd rather lay in bed all day than do anything of worth or that nothing is worth getting up.. those are the main ones. I don't think I've experienced a true hot flash but I have woken up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and then when I got up to change, I felt sick and dizzy, have to sit down on the floor.

Being a woman is definitely not for the faint of heart.
Nov 06, 2012
 thank you for commenting!!
by: Wray

Hi there Definitely not for the faint hearted, and a humour such as you have is essential too. I love the 'PMS on steroids' and the 'less miserable'! Which of course I'm delighted about. I'm pleased you opted for applying it throughout the day too, a bore but it does work. You did have severe cramping, and you are right. It's the same inflammatory cytokines which cause labour, that occur each month in some women prior to bleeding. One role of progesterone it to keep the uterus 'quiet' if pregnant, it is a potent anti-inflammatory. This paper here explains it......'progesterone withdrawal appears to induce... estrogen activation. Thus, for most of pregnancy, progesterone may decrease myometrial estrogen responsiveness ...... At term, functional progesterone withdrawal..... leads to an increase in.... myometrial estrogen responsiveness. Estrogen can then act to transform the myometrium to a contractile phenotype. The link between .... progesterone withdrawal and ... estrogen activation may be a critical mechanism for the endocrine control of human parturition.' The same 'progesterone withdrawal' occurs at the end of each cycle, causing not only pain but all the other PMS symptoms we get. I hope the 'over relaxed' passes soon. I can't recall that happening to me, it was just such a relief not to be so uptight! I'm pleased the site doesn't say 3 tubes in 3 months, that would have been a major error. You're using about the same amount I use, cutting the tube up after about 10 days. Contraceptives can cause an increase in weight in some women. But the trouble often starts when stopping it. The pill suppresses ovarian function, when stopping, the ovaries can start up again. First secreting testosterone, which is then converted into oestrogen by the enzyme aromatase. It can be many months before ovulation begins again, particularly as high testosterone or oestrogen suppresses it. Testosterone is notorious at increasing visceral fat, see here and here.
Continued below
Nov 06, 2012
 thank you for commenting!! Part 2
by: Wray

Hi there Oestrogen increases subcutaneous fat. It can also cause bad PMS, but so can testosterone, see here. If bound to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) testosterone becomes inactive, progesterone raises levels of SHBG, so preventing the rise of free testosterone. We do have a page on Hot Flushes, Migraines and headaches too. And please don't forget Oestrogen Dominance can come of of the blue, particularly if stressed. Take care Wray
Nov 06, 2012
 2 more questions
by: Less Miserable in Florida

Thank you for the studies on the two types of fat; my stomach is mainly bloated with only a some visceral fat. Up until I stopped the pill (about 43/44 years old), I had a 24 inch waist and didn't really know what 'back fat' is... unfortunately, I know all about it now. Even though it is thought to be less dangerous and more beneficial, the subcutaneous fat is what concerns me the most. In your opinion, will both of these be helped with continued use of the progesterone in conjunction with proper nutrition and exercise (both cardiovasular and weight training)?

Another new symptom today- what I would describe as acid reflux maybe? I've never had it before or heart burn but that's how I would describe it... headache is still coming and going- but I am on my period and today is only the 14th day of my therapy... I expected this first month to be rough... and I am using the cream all the way through rather than stopping. I probably will stop at some point but not for a few months.

Thank you Wray!
Nov 07, 2012
 2 more questions
by: Wray

Hi there I've often found adverse symptoms occur after stopping Contraceptives. They stop ovarian function, which can start up again once the pill is not being taken. But the first hormones that are produced are testosterone and oestrogen. It can be many weeks if not months before ovulation kicks in, and then progesterone is secreted. During that time the two hormones can have a field day! Although both are needed, testosterone to be converted to oestrogen, which then causes an egg to mature, in excess both these can suppress ovulation, so it's a double edged sword. There have been many women who find their weight does drop off, once they've found the right amount for them. For those that gain weight using it, the amount is always too low. Progesterone speeds metabolism, plus it's an excellent diuretic, so prevents water retention, so it can't cause weight gain. Interesting about the acid reflux, this is a guess on my part. Oestrogen causes smooth muscle to constrict. Smooth muscle is found the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract. A sudden contraction would cause the oesophagus to spasm, or the sphincter to spasm, sending acid the wrong way. The progesterone is stimulating the oestrogen, I hope it passes soon, if not please apply more to the area above the stomach. Women complain about getting an oesophageal spasm when starting progesterone, the same applies there. I've never had it, but I was a bit stressed earlier this year and to my amazement I got it. I had no idea how painful it was, as if you're swallowing a very large hard sweet, which has got stuck! Well I covered my throat with cream, so thick you couldn't see the skin. And when it had gone in, I applied more, I did this over the day, before bed, and by morning it had gone, thank heavens! Older women get incontinence, oestrogen also causes this, see our HRT page. The same applies here, the urinary tract has smooth muscle too. If interested in this, see here. Please rub the cream all over your neck, under your ears, over your face too if no makeup. I've found applying it to sore areas it works quicker. I'm so happy you've chosen not to follow your cycle for now, it's far more important I think, to get rid of symptoms first. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray

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