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Aisha......with the M.I.A. period!

by Aisha
(B.C. Canada)

(M.I.A. - Missing In Action!)

My name is Aisha, and I'll post my question first, and give a background on my ailment, and then more about my story for those 'inquiring minds'!

I suffer from endometriosis. My question is, I started my very first month with Natpro about 3 weeks ago. I waited until the 14th day of my cycle to start. I stopped on day 28, and my period is still nowhere to be seen heard or felt. I began by using 5ml a day (split up day/eve) and didn't have much improvement, so I increased the dose to 10ml a day by the 7th day, and began to feel some relief. Each day got measurably better, and I was so happy about that. I stopped using the cream 6 days ago (day 28), I have no pain, and no period. I don't really feel premenstrual at all. I'm not complaining actually, but what I'm wondering is should I keep to the 28 day cycle I started and begin using Natpro again on day 14, or should I be waiting for my period to start, and mark that as day one again? I am normally pretty regular with my periods. BTW, I'm not pregnant, so no question there.

More about me:
I was so pleased to stumble across this website. Like finding a fresh puddle in the dessert. I found it while enduring an episode of relentless abdominal pain, crying and feeling so alone, scared, and throwing a huge pitty party. I couldn't believe the statistical number of women who suffer with this, and almost nothing is known about it. I'd been blessed with 2 great pregnancies and pretty easy periods my whole life, until fall 2009.

Actually it wasn't really the periods that were the big problem, I expect those to be somewhat painful, but something was not right. I began having pain mid cycle, for no reason. Once I was rushed to emergency after terrifying stabbing pain following intercourse. Doctor's thought it might be my appendix. An ultrasound revealed a cyst (or blood sack) growing rapidly, attached to my right ovary. Anything would cause it to tortion, and I'd be in bed with too much advil and a heating pad for a couple days, and walked hunched and slow the days following. I couldn't work. What the heck was this??? I've been spoiled by terrific health my entire life, so this felt like such an insult, or punishment I don't know. I agreed to surgery since this mass was now the size of a tennis ball, and causing too much pain. It was only once the cyst was examined in the lab that it was 'surprisingly' a diagnosis of endometriosis. I had that surgery a year ago. I thought I was free and clear and life could go back to normal. It did, for a while. Christmas 2010, began presenting all too familiar symptoms again. Oh no, I thought. Not again. I asked for another untrasound, which confirmed, it was back. Not the blood sack, but lesions here there and everywhere, becoming more populated each month I'm guessing, because it got worse and worse, almost by the day.

Parallel to this I had a pap that came back abnormal level 3 precancerous cells on my cervix. What the..? was my body planning a revolt? Believe it or not I was more troubled by the endo, because the pain was always lingering and it was the only thing I could think about. I had a 'thorough' biopsy done and I'm happy to say it came back normal. Would you beleive my doctor 'still' wants to cut out half my cervix, 'just in case'. I said no. He also wants me to get an IUD for my endo pain, I said no, and he made fun of me for using progesterone cream. It's my body, so my choice. I will get another biopsy in september, just to be safe. But I see no reason to cut out a part of my body that shows no trouble under a microscope. And I don't want a foreign chemical object in my uterus for 5 years. Sorry, it's not me.

I do believe we all have more control over our health than we think, and sometimes it feels like it's not working, and we're alone in our suffering. But I'm so glad this website exists, and this product exists, so women have a place to go when doctor's cover their ears and go 'la-la-la...here, take this instead.' It was this website and the women who posted their stories that I would go to in my darkest moments, and sometimes they were really dark.

This is really long sorry. I have more to tell, a curiosity, and a perhaps a coincidence in my healing journey, but perhaps I'll save it for when I've gathered more info.

I armed myself with information so I could understand my body. When I told my doctor I've been doing a lot of reading, he rolled his head back with an audible sigh and a 'silly woman' look on his face. Some doctors don't really like it when you know stuff and challenge them. That's okay. They can know that we are partners in our healing with them, not their followers. I recommend educating yourself. Read as much as you can stomach. Take what suits you and leave the rest. Lean on others when you need it.

Thank you to all of you who learn and share and support. It's lovely!

Sincerely, Aisha ....still want to know about my period cycle though...thanks!!!

Comments for Aisha......with the M.I.A. period!

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Jun 24, 2011
 Aisha (again)...found my period!
by: Aisha

Hi wray, (or anyone) I hope I'm looking and posting in the right place to receive an answer or advice from anyone, as I haven't gotten anything yet, except my period. Which is good. It's 9 days late, not sure if that's normal for how much and how long I'd used the Natpro prior to stopping (9 days ago).

I have two questions;
1. Do I now count today as day one since my period started today, and work off a longer (35 day) cycle, or should I ignore what my period is doing and stick to the 28 day that I'm used to having?

2. The first week using Natpro didn't show much improvement using 5ml/day, so I uncreased to 10ml/day in the second week and began to feel symptoms lessen each day. On day 28 of my cycle I stopped the cream and my symptoms continued to subside to literally none. SO happy! Today is the first day since my journey through improvement that I feel symptomatic again because I got my period, understandable. I can function, but need to take an aspirin, and my biggest complaint is a lot of back pain, and I'm needing a heating pad for relief when sitting or sleeping. Should I now be taking natpro to try to relieve these symptoms, or soldier through to day 14? At what level of natpro usage will your body still menstruate through steady use? Should I be using it everyday with no breaks?

Okay, more than 2 questions, my apologies! I hope I'm reaching someone, or the right people anyway. Really looking forward to any reply. Thank you so much!!!
Jun 26, 2011
 dosage
by: Annette Canada

Hi Aisha I thought I would give you some advice until Wray can answer. You seem overwhelmed as I was. Forget your cycle right now and take it straight through for a few months. Make sure you take at least 200 milligrams a day, dividing the cream morning and night. Wait and see how your body responds. If you feel worse up it some more until you find a livable level. When you are having back pain and other uncomfortable symptoms but be scared to put more on throughout the day. I was on birth control for 15 years and it has wacked my body out. I have had to take anywhere from 600-1000 milligrams a day to survive. Sometimes more if I felt real bad. There is no right and wrong amount every woman is different, you will have to discover what amount works for you. When you are symptom free for awhile then you can try to venture down on your dose until symptoms reappear. When that happens you know that is how much your body needs daily. Just focus on getting your estrogen down not your cycle, you can work at that later. I have had a period right through if you can believe at those high amounts. Keep in mind when you are in your last trimester of pregnancy you produce 300-500 milligrams of progesterone a day. Make sure to be taking at 3000 iu's of vitamin d a day. They need each other to work effectively. Hope this helps you a little until Wray can get to you. Hoping for hormonal balance take care.
Jun 27, 2011
 Aisha......with the M.I.A. period!
by: Wray

Hi Aisha Thanks for your story! Unfortunately it's all too often doctors turn up their noses when they hear the word progesterone. So much research has been done on it, in so many disciplines, that I wonder why they question it's benefits. It's the only substance, after 30 years of testing drugs, that successfully treats traumatic brain injury. And over 70% of the victims are men! It's also given via IV transfusion too, that's how safe and effective it is, see here and here. One of it's metabolites, allopregnanolone, is a potent analgesic, see here and here. I take it you normally have 28 day cycles, which is why you started the progesterone on day 14? It should be used from ovulation, for the next 12-14 days, ie during the luteal phase when it's normally made. But I do recommend for endo using it daily without a break, ignoring any bleeding. And to do this for 2 to 3 months, or until stable. Then following the cycle again, more info about this on our page How to use progesterone cream. We also have a page on Endometriosis too, I'm not sure if you've seen it. I have found 500mg/day progesterone is needed to stop any pain. So increasing the amount as you did would have given greater benefit, but you might have to use more. You might like to read this comment here by another user, although she didn't have endo, she used very large amounts to get her symptoms under control. All your problems point to excess oestrogen, this inflammatory hormone exacerbates endo. It's also a mitogen, causing cells to divide and multiply, hence the cysts and pre-cancerous cells. I'm running out of space, so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
Jun 27, 2011
 Aisha......with the M.I.A. period!
by: Wray

Hi Aisha But above all you need vitamin D, a potent anti-inflammatory which also prevents proliferation, a lack leads to inflammation in the body. Plus it reduces the benefits of progesterone. Please have a test done, for more info see the Vitamin D Council and GrassrootsHealth websites. Labs and doctors use 30ng/ml as the cut off point, but vitamin D specialists are now saying the level should be between 70-100ng/ml. The minimum dose they recommend is 5000iu's per day, but in your case I would suggest taking 10 000iu's to get your level up quickly. I am, I know, assuming you have a low level, but all inflammatory disorders have a low level. It wouldn't surprise me to find one day in the future, that they are all caused by a lack of vitamin D. They've found a lack is behind over 20 different cancers, it's the cause of type 1 diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP and more. Please have that test done! And thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Jun 27, 2011
 Aisha (again)...found my period!
by: Wray

Hi Aisha I'm happy you found your period! I can't better what Annette says, she's been such a support to me, as have 3 others. All having been through hell and back using progesterone. It's not an easy road if symptoms are severe, as she points out, but there is light at the end. I did suggest you used 500mg/day, Annette had to use more, but it is safe to do so. I mentioned the TBI victims to you, I forgot to say they get over 1200mg/day. To your questions..... ignore your cycle, use it daily. Periods will come and go when they wish. In some cases they do stop on the very high amounts, but in Annette's case they didn't. There's no way of telling how your body will react. One week using progesterone will rarely show any benefit, it normally takes longer, in some cases months. But during that time symptoms gradually go. So please don't soldier on! Use it daily till you feel stable enough to follow your cycle. I told you progesterone is an excellent analgesic, so any time you feel pain rub some cream on the spot, be it your tummy, head, back etc. And any time other symptoms bother you, use it. There's no point in suffering needlessly, it can be used hourly if need be. Take care Wray
Jun 27, 2011
 dosage
by: Wray

Hi Annette Bless you once again! Take care Wray
Jun 27, 2011
 spelling
by: annette Canada

sorry aisha i forgot a word it should say - don't be scared to use the cream throughout the day... sorry

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