HRT, Menopause

by Maureen
(South Africa)

Hi Wray, I am 53 and up to visiting my gynae in Jan. of this year had stopped menstruating for about 6 months. I was advised and prescribed HRT, which I never took as I don't do medication very well and was afraid of the side-effects.

All was well until the beginning of the month when I started menstruating again. I had a biopsy and scan and it was found that I had a thickening of the uterus caused by hormones. I was then prescribed Duphaston, which is a progesterone tablet. Once again I never started with it. I was told a while back about Natpro, but was also not happy trying it without knowing anything about progesterone, but since being told I had to take the tablets I have started using the cream and have been on it for a week now. I can't say that I have felt any different yet, but I do understand that it will take up to 3 months to start feeling the effects.

I have to go back to the gynae in 2 months time and am not sure what I should tell her. I am trusting that when they do the scan again that the thickening will have lessened or disappeared through the use of the cream. I have been told if this does not happen I will have to have a hysterectomy, which I don't want! I can't really say that I suffered from hot flushes, only occasionally. Emotionally I have had a hard time but have been through huge stress for the last 18 months, so I'm not sure that the hormones have played a role in that. I have found though that my coping mechanisms are not as good as they used to be. I have had my thyroid checked and it is fine.

I have been on medication for high blood pressure for the past 5 years, which I could not avoid. Round about the beginning of the month I started feeling awful and was so dizzy I could not move without feeling as if I was going to fall or pass-out. I went to my GP and my blood pressure, on tablets, was 155/95 again. I am now taking a full strength tablet in the morning and a half strength tablet at night and the BP is fine.
The only other problem I have is my lungs. I cannot exhale properly. This has come from severe bronchitis and of course smoking. I use an inhaler (seritide, which is cortisone and something else), once a day.

I would very much like to have your feedback and any advice you would like to give me. Kind regards.

Comments for
HRT, Menopause

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Jun 30, 2011
 TAKE CONTROL
by: KJ from Australia

Hi Maureen, I read your letter & have decided to comment. What we as women must realise is that we must take responsibility for our own bodies & not listen to GPs or Specialists.They have their own agenda & basically only know the medical path to follow.Most Gynys are opposed to anything natural as all their drugs & advice is scientifically based.

I can tell you my story. After many years of heavy painful periods,going from one doctor to another,with no results or satisfaction, I decided to follow my own path & fully research my symptoms. Then two years ago I discovered natural progesterone. After diagnosing myself with estrogen dominance I started on john lees progesterall. Within 2 weeks I could feel the difference in my state of mind & body. No longer was I feeling suicidal but I actually felt happy again! My periods became lighter & eventually stopped which, at age 55 was long overdue. All my estrogen symptoms disapeared. Had I not taken my health into my own hands I would still be on that awful medical treadmill. My advice is to take your health & hormones back into your own hands. After all no one knows your body better than you!
Jun 30, 2011
 Thanks KJ
by: Maureen

I seem to agree with you. All the docs want to do is pump you full of drugs which have all sorts of side effects, which they then treat with more drugs. Not for me! I am sure that I will be benefitting from Natpro soon.
Jul 06, 2011
 HRT, Menopause
by: Wray

Hi Maureen I'm relieved you didn't take the HRT. There's nothing unusual about bleeding again 6 months after the previous period. This often happens in Peri-menopause, a hectic time where cycles become very erratic, 2 weeks apart, to months apart, flooding or spotting. There's no telling when it will occur. It's also not unusual for the lining to thicken, I can't see what the doctors are on about. Menopause itself is only recognised when there has been no bleeding for 12 months. You are obviously right at the tail end of P-M, or going into your first menopause year. It's not until menopause that the ovaries stop producing the same quantity of oestrogen as they had been. So in those 6 months of no bleeding, there was sufficient to build the lining, but no progesterone to cause it to shed. MMP's are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. Oestrogen stimulates MMP's. Progesterone suppresses both MMP's and oestrogen. It's only when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle that the MMP?s can get to work, breaking down the lining causing our monthly bleed. And of course the 'progesterone' you were offered is a progestin, see here. I'm relieved you didn't take that too. You don't say how much progesterone you are using, but I recommend 100-200mg/day, more if symptoms are severe. Don't be alarmed if you get another period, as this can occur within the first year of menopause when using progesterone. In fact it's an indication the uterus is being 'cleaned' out, which is what you need. I don't think 2 months is sufficient time for it to work, but there's no telling how anyone will react to progesterone. Whatever you do, a hyst is not necessary! Stress drops progesterone levels sharply, yours would have been low anyway, as P-M is a phase in which it declines. Progesterone does help high BP, as it's a vasodilator, see here. It also increases the production of nitric oxide, another vasodilator. The precursor to NO is the amino acid arginine, it might be worth taking 1000-3000mg/day to see if that helps. I'm running out of space so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
Jul 06, 2011
 HRT, Menopause
by: Wray

Hi Maureen Above all, please have a vitamin D test done. Pathcare Labs do it for about R200. A lack of vitamin D causes BP to go up, in fact it causes many of the adverse symptoms we get nowadays. It's vital for the lungs too, a lack causing asthma, TB, cancer etc., see here. Progesterone is vital for normal lung function, see here and here. For more info please see the Vitamin D Council and GrassrootsHealth websites. Another nutrient you could consider taking is 2000-5000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine, see here and here. NAC is often given for lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis and other lung problems. It's a potent antioxidant, I take about 3000mg per day, and won't be without it. Finally we do have a distributor in SA who would be only too willing to give you advice on both progesterone and vitamin D. Please contact her via her website, see here. Take care Wray
Jul 07, 2011
 HRT - Menopause
by: Joy Lewis

Hi Maureen - I am the distributor that Wray is referring to. Let me know if I can assist you further. Where about do you live? I live in Cape Town, if you live here too, perhaps we could meet up for a chat or something. Let me know.
Take care.
Aug 15, 2011
 HRT - Menopause etc
by: Joy (South Africa)

Hi Maureen - it was wonderful meeting you and Megan. I hope that you left with a better understanding of the true benefits of progesterone. If you apply Natpro as suggested, along with the other nutrition that we discussed you will soon show signs of improvement. Please remember that it can take anything from 1 to 6 months before you notice a change. It must be applied twice a day, every day but there is no stopping you from applying during the day as well depending on symptoms.

Megan has PCOS and Endo which is a long process but if she perseveres with the program she will benefit from it greatly.

Keep taking the Vitamin D too, a deficiency is a cause of so many of our ailments today.

You know where I am if you need me, otherwise Wray is also here to help you.

Take care.
Aug 15, 2011
 HRT, Menopause
by: Maureen

Thank you Wray and Joy for all your help!

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