Good Pcp

[floridanative]

I didn't know where to put this post so I'm sorry if it's in the wrong place.

Today I saw my PCP for a blood test not related to Celaic. I'm having trouble with constant PMS symptoms which started when I stopped taking my b/c pills after being on them for almost half my life. I had on my own started taking St. John's Wort in an effort to stay out of jail (thought I might kill my husband). I also started using a natural progesterone cream. I was concerned that the doc would tell me that wasn't a good idea and I needed something stronger - an rx for instance. Well she told me everything I was doing already was excellent, and she told me too add another supplement (Premrose) at night. She said IF I don't think that's working with my severe mood swings I should come back and we'll talk about other options. She says she wants me to try these more natural things first before starting another prescription. This is the only doctor I've ever heard say anything like this. I was very pleased when I left.

I do have a point besides just flattering my doctor. My gyno didn't tell me anything about what would happen when I went off the pill. So I just got progressively worse for many weeks before I connected the dots. Never having kids, I have never experienced anything remotely like this. Well I feel 90% better already but when I scared a woman and her husband in Lowe's by screaming at them like a crazy person, I knew I was going off the deep end emotionally. Just wished my gyno had been clever enough to tell me to look for the signs of estrogen withdrawal. Not all woman have problems but many do, especially after being on them for over ten years. Hope this post helps someone else going through the same thing.

[skbird]

Hey Tiffany, that's cool your doc backed you up - though it would have been nice to be prepared for this to begin with. Anyway, hope things smooth out. I'll have to look into Premrose. I take another supplement, Brevail, that Bean/Michelle suggested on this forum and it is flax lignans that are concentrated and are supposed to help " flush" out excess estrogen (I'm estrogen dominant). I haven't done well with other phytoestrogens but this one made me feel happier within the first day of taking it. I was stunned.

Anyway, was originally for breast health but it works for PMS also.

I first heard about progesterone cream from my accupunctrist but it was my nurse practitioner (male) who has twice now encouraged me to go back to it, which I did both times. I went off it a couple of times because it wasn't quite enough, but taking Brevail also is helping and I am also using more cream than before, so maybe that is the difference. That and I am using a different brand now, too.

Keep me posted!

Stephanie

[floridanative]

Hi Stephanie,

Yes - well this is my pcp, not my gyno. My pcp didn't even know I was going off the pills so she had no way to warn me what would happen. She was suprised that my gyno didn't explain things to me. I think my gyno will try and push meds on me in Jan. when I'm there for my annual check up. The doc today agreed that I need something like Premrose in addition to the other stuff for the PMS symptoms. She doesn't want me on an SSRI if we can help it.

BTW - I got my book last night (What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause. I have only had a chance to browse through it but I'll have time to start reading it this weekend. I can't wait! It looks just like what I need! Thanks for the recommendation.

Gotta run finish making Christmas ornaments and watch some trash tv now.

Tiffany

[nettiebeads]

There is a theory as to why oriental women do not have the problems Western women do - the theory is that their diet is based more on soy than wheat, like ours. I just remember that when I was having "female problems" that a nice bowl of miso soup would help a lot. But things got too bad for me and I had to have a complete hysterectomy four years ago.

Tiffany - what kind of ornaments do you make? I'm going to try beading one for the Christmas exchange at work.