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Post by snowgirl on Jan 3, 2009 12:53:45 GMT -5
Chris, I've seen you recommend melatonin for sleep problems elsewhere. In Natural Hormone Balance for Women, Uzzi Reiss does not recommend it for people with fatigued adrenals because he says it lowers cortisol. If you are supplementing with HC, is this an issue? Have you had any problems with taking melatonin and HC together, particularly the nighttime HC dose?
Thanks!
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Post by Lethal Lee on Jan 3, 2009 13:10:07 GMT -5
Hi There,
Some do have issue with Melatonin at night lowering Cortisol. I'm one of them. Even 1 mg dose knocks me out for days afterwoods. I feel lethargic, muscle soreness & stiffness, just generally crap so it was NOT worth it for me.
They say it can take some weeks to work. I persisted for several weeks & gave up. It didnt even help me get to sleep anyway.
Others experience has been different. I know Chris had positive one not sure how long or if he still takes it.
What fixed my sleep issues was fixing low Aldo with Florinef (I was peeing during the night), high enough Cortisol (upped Pred dose at night stopped muscle/adrenal pain at night) and optimising Sex Hormones (on HRT for all those).
Others may add their experiences.
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Post by chorton28 on Jan 3, 2009 20:50:46 GMT -5
Lee, Which sex hormone allowed you to sleep? I have the same bad effects from melatonin? Years I have tried to make it work, just like you Lee. But I feel too bad and don't get to sleep either.
I do go to bathroom 1x per night I am okay with that but always have trouble sleeping but if I up my HC I can't get to sleep I am too awake.....Thanks lee Christine
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Post by Lethal Lee on Jan 3, 2009 21:53:22 GMT -5
Hi Chris, I had a long road fixing my Sex Hormones. I am Menopausal so everything was low already. Then adding Adrenal meds sent Androgens to almost zero. I had to find HRT methods that worked a myexedema thickened skin meant most transdermals stopped working. I fixed Estrogen, DHEA & Testosterone first last one was Progesterone. Within 2 days on the Progesterone I started sleeping during the night it was that quick. Not necessarily because the Progesterone was the 'one' maybe because all were finally optimised & in balance. I am on Estradiol Liprosomal Gel, Estriol Vaginal Cream, DHEA Gelatin Troches, & Progest E Complex (by Kenogen, Ray Peats Comapny) sublingual Oil. I was on Testosterone Cream for a few months but once I found a DHEA that worked I had to stop it as DHEA was converting fine. If interested see Dr Peats Progest E Oilforums.realthyroidhelp.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8783&p=68907&hilit=progest+e#p68907
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Post by chorton28 on Jan 5, 2009 10:36:32 GMT -5
As always thank you Lee for your response. I am 39, I believe I am very low in all hormones due to hypopit. or perimenopause. I just have a few other questions, if you don't mind.
Do you take estrogen all month or just the beginning? How many days and what days? And also DHEA, what days and time in the day and how much? And progesterone at night from day 14-28? Basically could you tell me what your hormonal regime is ? I truly appreciate any help. I am trying so hard to understand the whole hormonal thing. You are so knowledgable and your information is so valued. To regain my health would be the greatest thing in the world. Thank you Lee. Christine
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Post by snowgirl on Jan 5, 2009 10:39:31 GMT -5
Thanks, Lee. I've been taking it for several months, unsure if it was helping or not. But I've noticed more fatigue lately despite sleeping okay, so I'm wondering if that's the culprit. It could also be that I'm tired because I need to raise thyroid, but I'm still searching for a doc who will let me do that (on to number 4 this week-keep your fingers crossed). But the more I read about estrogen & progesterone the more I realize how deficient I am in those, so I'm curious to see what replacing those does as well-that progesterone just sounds dreamy.
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Post by Lethal Lee on Jan 6, 2009 2:15:29 GMT -5
Hi Chris, I am 39, I believe I am very low in all hormones due to hypopit or perimenopause. You would officially be Perimenopausal I believe. I started DHEA HRT when I was 42 but suspect it was low for some time before. My Menopause definitely started age 48 but still not offficailly Postmenopausal but close to. Age this happens varies with individual of course. Do you take estrogen all month or just the beginning? How many days and what days? And also DHEA, what days and time in the day and how much? And progesterone at night from day 14-28? Basically could you tell me what your hormonal regime is ? I no longer cycle. Not usually. In 2006 my cycles changed. I was still cycling regularly but MUCH lighter & shorter period & much longer between bleeds. I had only two bleeds in 2007 & another two in 2008. The last was in November 2008. Officially you are Postmeno when 12 months since last bleed. Of course just because you bleed doesnt mean you ovulate who knows when I last did that. So I use my HRT every day & do not cycle. DHEA is Gelatin Troche. I make sure NOT to use PEG based ones. I insist no flavouring or sugar/sweetener as well. I use 20mg DHEA TWICE daily. Keeps both DGEAS & Testosterone top of range. Estradiol Liprosomal Gel (make sure LECITHIN/SOY free) is 2 mg dose applied in evening daily. Estriol Vaginal Cream is proprietory product. Is inserted with an applicator provided. Initially used everyday for 2-3 weeks then 2-3 times weekly. Progesterone is Progest E Complex. I use daily 5-6 drops used straight from fridge & rubbed into gums. This is estimated 15-20 mg Progesterone dose. Is much less than required for Creams, caps etc. I retested several times to make sure these dses ere optimising my levels. Symptoms also resolved of course which is the important thing. I do occassionally forget a dose of the Progesterone. Doc wanted me to take some time off say 1 week in four but if I do that I lose the sleep benefit. Initailly if I missed even 1 day it affected my sleep. Now it doesnt so I'm guessing things are btter levels in balance so not as sensitive. The occasional missed dose is enough that my Doc is happy I am not going to lose sensititivity. As far as how you dose when cycling I dont have experience with that. Certainly for the Androgens you use same everyday as cycling affects Progesterone & Estrogens only. Progesterone cycling depends on severity of your Progesterone low levels. Some just do the last half of cycle dosing. Some might do better with adding a lower dose in rest of cycle as well. Its complicated as Progesterone affects Aldosterone too. You just have to trail & experiment to see what suits you & rekieves symptoms without messing up your cycles. I guess Estrogen would be same as Progesterone. You may need only part of cycle dosing or low dose certain parts & higher dose other parts. Again it would depend on your levels & symptoms at various times in your cycle & not messing up cycles. I hope that helps somewhat. It sure is tricky to get right but pays out big time benefits when you do.
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Post by snowgirl on Jan 6, 2009 10:15:00 GMT -5
Hi, Lee,
How does Progesterone affect Aldosterone?
Thanks!
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