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Tryptophan

by Laurel Munz
(Richmond, Virginia)

Wray,
I have been reading through pages of info here. It's a lot of info. I came across something that got my attention because I have a testosterone pellet in my hip and I'm taking the NatPro, 400/mg a day. I still struggle with sleep and depression. I was reading about the Natural Antidepressants and reading some Q & A between you and some woman. It sounded as though you were telling her to not take the Tryptophan if she were taking Testosterone. I can't find the page again so I"m hoping you will clarity this for me. I also tried using the "search" bar and have found a lot of similarly related topics but none fully answer my question. Are there ANY contraindications you know of to taking Tryptophan? Or any of the other supplement recommendations for that matter?

If you don't mind, while I have you on the line here I would like to ask about Testosterone. I have read your remarks about it and I've tried to read the pages you've recommended. But I must say they are very dry and use terminology I'm not familiar with, challenging my ability to understand. Which is not difficult in my already challenged, Estrogen dominant state. Are there any other articles you can recommend that are easier to understand? I'd also like to know if there have been specific studies done between synthetic testosterone and more naturally derived sources? The pellet I have comes from a wild yam I'm told. That can't be all bad, can it? Synthetic Progesterone is a hazard to one's health but natural Progesterone is beneficial. Could not the same be said for synthetic and natural Testosterones?

Comments for Tryptophan

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Oct 14, 2014
 Tryptophan
by: Wray

Hi Laurel I can't see any reason why I would tell someone not to use tryp if using testosterone. I probably said don't use testosterone! The papers do tend to be very dry, but I would prefer people get to see them, than rely on my word for it. One thing that's not made clear to women using testosterone is it's the direct precursor to oestrogen. Women make more testosterone each month than oestrogen, but most of it is converted to oestrogen via the enzyme aromatase. So much of the testosterone you're getting from the pellet is being converted too, it's no wonder you have Oestrogen Dominance. You might like to see this chart by Genova Diagnostics showing the pathway of the steroid hormones. It's the same pathway used when synthesising the hormones. So the first hormone made is progesterone, followed by testosterone and finally oestrogen. Even if you are using natural testosterone it will still be converted to oestrogen, it will still have a masculine affect on the body. Take care Wray
Oct 14, 2014
 DHEA
by: Letitia

I have found on the occasion that I have used pharmacy compounded DHEA that it converts to testosterone as well as estrogen, The point I am making is if I use 5mg of DHEA I do not need to supplement with testosterone

Wray what are your thoughts on this
Oct 14, 2014
 Tryptophan
by: Laurel Munz

Wray,

Wow! Thanks for responding so quickly. Yes, what you say does make sense. I had read on some other pages you stating that testosterone gets converted to estrogen. It's too bad I didn't know that before I got the pellet placed. Whooops! Yes, I would like to see that chart. I'll check it out right away.

I would like to say, I think it's wonderful that you have found a way to be able to impact people's lives the way you do. I myself have wanted to help people in the area of health but have not wanted to waste my time getting misinformation from medical school and being forced to push drugs on people by big pharma. I have been experiencing this Estrogen Dominance for the last 6 years. I didn't realize that's what it was. I've been to many doctor's offices and been introduced to so many fellow "patients". Many with similar symptoms as mine. Since finding your website and reading so many pages, it makes me wonder how many people I've come in contact within these past 6 years that also have Estrogen Dominance and they don't even know it. Not one doctor I saw in 6 years suggested I have my hormone levels checked. I had to think of the idea myself! I can only imagine other women are having the same or similar experiences. I think it might be interesting to do something like you are doing with this website but it looks like you've got the market cornered. You're a very popular person. I wish there was some way I could help get the word out. More people need to know about this. With all pollutants in the environment, this effects all of us. Anyway , I know you are a busy woman. Sorry to hear you've had such a rough life but thanks for paving the way for the rest of us. Tons of admiration to you for waking up every day and doing what you do to help.

Laurel
Oct 16, 2014
 Tryptophan
by: Wray

Hi Laurel It is a pity you didn't know about the testosterone/oestrogen conversion. But then I don't know if many doctors know that, or whether they would bother to tell their patients if they did. It is extraordinary how so many of us go through Peri-menopause with not a clue why things have changed so drastically. And only a few of the many find the cause. I was puzzled by your comment about having had a rough life, so re-read 'my story' and see how that would come across like that! But on the whole it's been wonderful, very interesting, if not very eccentric. There were just episodes where all hell broke loose. It's the usual thing, if only I'd known about progesterone during puberty, after giving birth, during P-M. So it would be wonderful if you joined us in our efforts to get the word out, there's not enough of us. If you would like to be a distributor please contact us via this form here. Thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Oct 16, 2014
 DHEA
by: Wray

Hi Letitia DHEA does follow the masculine pathway, it can't do otherwise, unlike progesterone which can do both. Please have a look at the Genova chart I gave Laurel, it shows the route. So DHEA is not something I would ever recommend to a woman, see here, here, here and here. Take care Wray
Oct 23, 2014
 progesterone and thyroid
by: Laurel Munz

I am now on 600 mg NatPro a day, everyday. Working up to this point has been positive but now that I'm here things are starting to go badly again. It has been a very positive experience until just recently. Things have been improving: my mood, my energy, my adrenals. My period started on Sunday. The depression was frightening. I NEVER suffer depression on my periods but this time I did. Every day since then has been a slight improvement. I've read your other posts where you say that progesterone drops somewhere around your period, but I'm taking 600 mg. Even if the progesterone my body makes (which isn't much) drops a little, why the dramatic effect?

And another riddle I hope you can help me figure out. My Thyroid has been hurting this past week. Yes, I have had problems with my thyroid in the past. My blood test for thyroid hormones falls within normal ranges so I'm not on any kind of medication for it. I do have two large nodules one on each side of my thyroid (non cancerous, thank god). My thyroid doesn't always hurt and it hasn't in a while now, that is until I started this progesterone. Is there a connection between the thyroid and the progesterone? Is it possible I'm taking too much progesterone and that's why I'm having this effect and the depression during my period? I know you're often advising women to take more and if I weren't already taking 600 mg I might agree with you. I read another post where you said that a person's body would give them signals if they were taking too much and needed to gradually taper down to a lesser amount. Well my body is sending my plenty of signals lately, I just don't know how to decipher them. I realize you're not an expert on thyroids but I'm hoping you've come across women who have had similar experiences to mine and can give me some advice. I hope so. I don't know who else to ask. I get the idea that the doctors I've seen and talked to about my thyroid really don't know anything about it. I think they are just as confused about it as I am.
Oct 28, 2014
 progesterone and thyroid
by: Wray

Hi Laurel I'm not sure why you felt it necessary to increase to 600mg/day, rather than stay on the 400mg. You mentioned in the beginning you struggled with sleep and depression, was the 400mg/day not helping sufficiently? It does take time to work and I hesitate to tell people to increase that much unless they are having really severe symptoms. I know some who've used 1000mg/day and I've used 2000mg/day, but it's not usual! You still have the testosterone pellet embedded which will still be playing havoc with your system. I've not deliberately studied testosterone and it's effect on women, so I'm not in a good position to say why you should be getting the symptoms you describe. Progesterone does drop before our period, which is why we get PMS and why we bleed too. Oestrogen also drops but often insignificantly, which skews the ratio between the two hormones. You are full of testosterone and oestrogen now, and of course progesterone. Even the slightest change in the ratio can affect things adversely. I can only imagine the pellet is behind it. Oestrogen definitely has an adverse effect on the thyroid, see here. The other thing which affects us is Stress. This causes progesterone levels to drop sharply, have you been stressed lately? A lack of Vitamin D affects progesterone too, large meals drop levels, see here, alcohol increases testosterone levels, see here and here, and depresses progesterone. I'm giving just a fews of the things which affect progesterone and therefore us. Is by chance your copper level too high, this can cause depression and psychosis? Far more evident when we have our period or when a major hormonal shift takes place, i.e. at puberty, after giving birth or during Peri-menopause. Zinc counteracts copper, is your level too low? Oestrogen increases copper levels, suppresses zinc. Maybe you could have these checked, and your vitamin D level too. Take care Wray
Oct 30, 2014
 response
by: Laurel Munz

Hi Wray,
I increased the amount from 400 to 600 mg because I thought I was supposed to increase it till I felt an aleviation of my symptoms and 400mg was barely doing it. I was still experiencing anxiety and heart palapatations.I have wondered at times if I should increase it higher than 600mg because sometimes I don't feel like that's enough either. But 600 feels good most times. I have trouble feeling calm and my body is easily excited. My main objective is to incorporate things into my life that will calm my body and 600mg does the trick. Not too much though, it never makes me sleepy. It will make me feel relaxed just after taking it but that's very temporary. I know my thyroid is acting strange but the rest of my body feels much better. Overall my mood is better, more energy, calmer, no anxiety, no palapatations, better mental focus, more motivation. But with increased activity comes increased stress. I have some stress in my life. It depends on the day. If you are concerned it's too much and would suggest I try lowering the dosage just say so.
You may be right, it might be the testosterone pellet but I have some months yet till it's out of my system.
I will make an appointment to see the doctor to have updated tests done to check my thyroid and nutrient levels. Someone has suggested I might have Hashimoto's Disease. Maybe that's the issue.
Anyway, I wanted you to know I got your response and I appreciate your input and your time. I will take your suggestions and read the articles.
Hope you have a good day.
Nov 01, 2014
 response
by: Wray

Hi Laurel It is a difficult one this, increasing till we feel better. It could go on ad infinitum! It does take time to settle in, so continue on the 600mg/day if you feel it's helping you, it certainly seems to be looking at the list of symptoms which have been lessened. If you think you could have Hashi's please have a Vitamin D test done, see here, here, here, here, here and here. It could be you lack vitamin D, not only does a lack reduce the benefits of progesterone, but it affects so many of our systems, adversely if too low. Take care Wray

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