Bioidentical Hormones

by Cindy
(California)

Due to depression, weight gain, night sweats and a total lack of energy, I began seeing a holistic doctor. He tested me for many things... hormones, thyroid, adrenals, stool urine.

My testosterone level is good, my progesterone and estrogen are not even readable. I began with herbs and vitamins and I recently started bioidentical hormone treatment. At first I felt great with 1mg of estrogen (Biest) cream and 100mg of progesterone lozenges (I sleep great). Then about 45 days into treatment I began spotting then bleeding, I have not had a period in 4 years. My doctor lowered the estrogen to .5 mg and had me double, triple and quadruple my progesterone until bleeding stops.

Well it has been a week and I'm still bleeding. I read that you should stop progesterone if heavy bleeding occurs, and now I have gone back to 100mg dose. I am still bleeding but not as bad. The progesterone at high dose made me bloated and very tired, and sad.

Is this common for menopausal women, who begin hormone treatment. What to do now? Has anyone experienced this? My doctor is new at this hormone thing and is now on vacation so I'm not sure where to begin, or end. Thanks.