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PALPITATIONS ON PROGESTERONE CREAM

by Alisha
(uk)

I'm 38, non diabetic, don't eat gluten sugar and carbs come from veggies for me, I cook everything from scratch. I had cortisol tested twice in the last year, one with dexamethasone suppression, it's normal.
I have put on weight disproportionally since being put on the progesting only pill in 2019 which I stopped in february 2020. By augustu 2020 things seemed to be back to normal but come january 2021 same symptoms, long pms, weight that comes up in thighs bum and sides (and upper arms). Which is what prompted me to llook into things and checking my labs estrogen dominance was confirmed.

I read contrasting opinions about it. I started personally taking progesterone cream during this cycle as my values for oestradiol and progesterone during luteal peak showed marked estrogen dominance. (ratio was 78:1). It wasn't that progesterone was low but oestradiol on day 21 was higher than top range for ovulaion times (66nmol / 20.7ng progesterone, 1000pmol / 275pg oestradiol).

I started off on day 15 of my cycle which should have been ovulation with 40mg am and pm. Everything was dandy till 3 days ago (cycle day 23) when I started "noticing my heartbeat" for lack of a better word. My pms sore boobs which I seemed to have escaped this month (they arrive by day 20) started as well

My glucose in the morning would also be super high, like diabetes level of high even if i'm not (6+mmol when i'm usually in the 4s) which made me think cortisol?

I tried adding prog cream mid afternoon in the last 2 days going up to 100mg/120mg but nothing changes.

Notice I had none of these symptoms in PMS or at any point during my cycle before. Sore boobs and irritability were there but the physical jitter like all my body is constantly tensed ready to run it's very much of a first. Falling asleep is hard, i wake up multiple times at night.

Some say reduce the progesterone, some say increase significantly the dose, I would just like to know for those who experienced the situation what worked for them?

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Apr 12, 2021
 Palpitations on Progesterone Cream
by: Joy

Hi Alisha

Well you certainly have come to the right place for correct advice on progesterone and how to use it. There is so much misinformation doing the rounds by uninformed people.  Facebook groups are also notorious for this. I spend so much time trying to get the message across that 40mg is not the correct amount to use, this merely disrupts estrogen receptors causing all sorts of adverse symptoms including weight gain and heart palpitations. It just adds to Estrogen Dominance symptoms.  All of this is explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page. Use half the amount in the morning and the other half at night, between 100-200mg is needed, more if symptoms are severe.  Also any form of oral progesterone is not the best delivery method as about 96% gets destroyed by the gut and liver.  Some women have success with using cream in the morning and oral at night as it seems to help with sleep so it seems.  A good quality progesterone cream such as Natpro is the best way to go. You increased the amount used 2/3 days ago, well that is not nearly enough time, it can take anything from 2-6 months before benefits are felt. Progesterone therapy is not a quick fix solution, it takes time and patience.

Sore, tender breasts could indicate that you are lacking in iodine or thyroid issues.  You could also be suffering from adrenal fatigue, try the following cocktail, it certainly helps me and may help with your sleep to.

Adrenal Fatigue "Cocktail"

Take the following 1-2 times/day an hour before or after food.  Do NOT use this first thing in the morning.  This cocktail will nourish the adrenals when needed.

One application:
* 4oz/125ml freshly squeezed Orange Juice – the vitamin C makes sure that the minerals noted below get to the liver to nourish the adrenals
* 1/4 tsp of Cream of Tartar - this is an
excellent source of Potassium
* 1/4 tsp of fresh ground Himalayan Sea Salt - this is an excellent source of Sodium and other minerals
Mix the above at the start of the day with enough liquid for two (2) applications i.e. 8oz/125ml of orange juice.  Drink it mid-morning, as well as mid-afternoon. In addition, any time that you are feeling particularly anxious it would be advisable to prepare another mixture and take it.

Please note: For those who have blood sugar problems, use lemon juice mixed with a little water, you are looking for vitamin C.

Another important thing to consider is vitamin D3.  I have stopped repeating myself about it but it is so very important.  Take note of the co-factors that are needed, see here.  You are also starting with Peri-Menopause, use the search bar provided on the website to read about it, in fact the search bar is an extremely useful tool.

Hope this helps you.  
Apr 12, 2021
 My solution was potassium
by: ALISHA

So I found my solution yesterday to this and thought it worth sharing seeing how common of an issue this can be.
To me this presented both at 80mg and 160mg per day.
Palpitations and chest tightness from day 23, it was like constantly being tensed about to run if it makes sense, wayyyy to aware of my heartbeat and my resting rate was up in the 90s even as waking up.

My wife had me notice when she has jitters it's usually due to low potassium, and potassium is especially needed for the heart muscle electrical function. That reminded me Progesterone is supposed to be a diuretic so it could be that, despite supplementing it, I was getting low on it by 4/5pm when the palpitations would start.

I took 200mg of potassium and true enough within 10 minutes the palpitations were gone and by the evening my energy was back.

I now know to supplement extra potassium in the pm as well in my luteal phase when on Progesterone. Might not be everyone's solution but knowing how upsetting and just wrong having such palpitations felt, if this can help anyone not just pushing through, this is my experience
Apr 13, 2021
 My solution was potassium
by: Joy

Hi Alisha

Thanks so much for sharing. It helps others to understand too. I suggested the Adrenal Fatigue Cocktail for a reason, cream of tartar is an excellent source of potassium. You are correct, progesterone is a diuretic.

I always suggest that people experiment and you did just that. Well done.

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