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I am fifty two years old and have not had a period in two years. Just two weeks ago my doctor injected the Natural Hormone Pellets, and prescribed 200mg. Pometrium (progesterone). However, I have gained about six pounds in only two weeks, my diet had not changed and I getting totally disgusted. Has anyone else experienced this? And does it seem to be temporaty?
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Hi Diane. This actually about my wife (I'm the husband). She has a ton of symptoms. HOWEVER, she has been diagnosed with fybromyalgia and she is disabled because of it (she is 49). Here is the kicker- the fybro symptoms match the estrogen dominance list I find everywhere. AND the fybro symptoms came on the same time as menipause at 45. She has an immune disorder that overreacts to everything, so I spend days, weeks, months chasing answers down. I understand all about hormonal balance and so forth. I just can't find the actual corresponding numbers for testosterone and progesterone based on a given estrogen number. Everything seems to everything you need except actual numbers to compare... Crazy, right?
June 4, 2010 - 8:48amThis Comment
I've searched the web over... Can't find what the actual numbers for balance are. Example: Estrogen is 30, progesterone should be?? Estrogen is 80, progesterone should be?? Estrogen is 200, progesterone should be??
June 4, 2010 - 8:00amThis Comment
Neversurrendr (great username!)
This is so, so complicated. It can make a person's head spin. It depends on your age, your stage of life, and your medical history (for instance, whether you still have your uterus and ovaries). Like you, I tried searching for any sort of basic ratio formula but didn't come up with anything dependable.
It's the very reason why it's so difficult to figure out what is perfect for each woman; why there are creams, pills, patches and pellets; why there are clinics and books and doctors and laypeople. We are in a fascinating time right now, with so many options, but it is a frustrating time too if you are someone suffering from symptoms and can't find the information you need.
This is on a doctor's website who deals with hormone imbalances. It is a quiz that helps you zero in on possible areas of imbalance by having you check off symptoms and then refer to certain books for more information:
http://www.johnleemd.com/store/resource_hormonetest.html
How old are you, Neversurrendr? Are you in perimenopause or menopause? Have you had your hormone levels tested? Are you working with a doctor to try to achieve this "balance"? Are you on any HRT?
June 4, 2010 - 8:21amThis Comment
BLH2009,
I'm glad that you've lost the five pounds -- that gets you back to just a one-pound net gain, right? Since that was a primary concern in your first note, that's good news for sure.
From reading about women's reactions to the SottoPelle pellets (if that is what you are on), it seems that their reaction to the prometrium and the testosterone can be a VERY individual thing. Some women seem more sensitive to one or the other and they see the effects in their temperament, their libido and/or even in such physical symptoms as bleeding (when they had been menopausal or perimenopausal).
The Premarin for 12 days -- will that be for 12 days just once, or every month?
BLH, do you still have your uterus and/or ovaries? (I ask because doctors can prescribe different hormones for women who have had hysterectomies than they can for women who still have all those organs intact.)
January 14, 2010 - 9:41amThis Comment
Hi Diane..and thank you for your response. I still have my uterus and ovaries. And I was to start the Premarin for twelve days (each month) ,but I decided to start on the Life Flo Progesta Cream instead. I was not eager for the side effects of Premarin, I would much prefer natural. Anyway, I am now really getting frustrated with my weight. I joined a gym two months ago, and have been going almost daily. For the past two weeks, I have mastered burning 500 calories doing cardio(elliptical, cross trainer,stationary bike), and am doing weight training about two to three times a week. However, my pants are getting tighter:-( I know how to eat correctly since I used to train years ago. I called my doctor today and spoke with his nurse to ask if others are complaining about weight gain with the pellets, and she said some do gain about five pounds. But with the magnitude of exercising I am doing I cannot imagine me gaining any inches after two months. The pellets injected were 2 testosterone@75 mg ea. and 2 estrogen@50 mg. ea.. I am beginning to wonder if the testosterone could be creating this swelling effect. I am at a loss, and am so totally disgusted. But I am not going to give up excercising, but I would really like to know if anyone else is or has had this problem and has possibly recieved some good advise on what to do that has helped them.
January 22, 2010 - 6:40pmThis Comment
BTH,
I'm still researching whether the pellets may cause weight gain. I haven't found what I consider to be a definitive source yet, but I did find this page, which has a lot of information on both testosterone and estrogen pellets. Thought you might be interested. It mentions weight gain with the estrogen, but not with the testosterone:
http://www.hormonebalance.org/pellets_info.asp
This doctor's office does say that some women experience weight gain, though rarely:
http://drwilsonobgyn.com/hormone_therapy/index.html
I am surprised that you are exercising so much and not seeing any results, but can I ask you this? Is it possible that you are building muscle with your weight training? Are you gaining bulk all over, or just in certain areas?
and this web site discusses weight gain but calls it temporary water-weight gain:
http://www.naturalhormonepellets.com/questionsandanswers.htm
So I'm still not coming across the answers you're seeking. I'm hoping that other women who've tried this protocol will see your question and chime in.
January 25, 2010 - 10:50amThis Comment
I am not not going by my weight, but by the fitting of my clothes. It seems my pants are tighter in the hip area and upper leg. But it seems my upper body my be getting a little leaner. Sometimes I wonder if the elliptical has made the muscles in my rear and legs
January 28, 2010 - 6:56amreally pumped up and out. I know most woman would like this, but I do not have a problem in that area, would just like to lose the fat pads on top, and firm. I was wondering if the treadmill would be better to lean up. Regardless, I am not going to give up.
This Comment
I know this post was five years ago, but I really wish I had read it six weeks ago. I just had a bio identical pellet put in six weeks ago, and I have mostly game inches and weighed in my but my upper legs and my stomach area. I also started taking thyroid meds. It made me crazy my heart rate was 130 and my blood pressure was 160/90. I am miserable about the weight gain in my lower area especially my upper legs because I feel like I can't walk without chafing. I have never had this problem before in my entire life. My question is to all of you out there, when this pallet wears off will I be able to lose this weight gain in my midsection and my upper legs? I wish so much that I hadn't done this pellet. Maybe it works for younger women, but I am 61 and almost totally through menopause. I'm thinking it was a huge mistake for me I would appreciate any replies. Even though it's five years later. Thank you
October 12, 2015 - 4:55amThis Comment
I have always been a size 4 or 6 at age 54.
April 6, 2016 - 8:56pmThis is my second round of the pellet and while I love the positive effect of sleeping through the night clearness of my mind and loss of hot flashes, the weight gain is awful!
I have a pooch of a belly that I cannot get rid of and none of my clothes fit. The jiggly belly will not go away with hundreds of sit ups and crunches.
I'm embarrassed and have bought spanks for the first time.
I'm at a loss whether I will do a third round.
This Comment
It's possible that you're building up a bit more lean muscle mass in those areas, especially if you use a lot of resistance when you're on the elliptical. But it's generally not seen as being enough of a weight-bearing activity to contribute that much to muscle mass. So I remain puzzled.
I think it's great that you judge how you are doing by the fit of your clothes and not your weight. So often when we judge ourselves by the numbers we get discouraged and it doesn't represent where we really are. However, it's also good to know your BMI, or body mass index -- and that's a measure of weight vs. height. As our BMI goes down, we are less at risk for certain diseases.
Do you drink much soda? I only ask because the sodium can help you retain water weight.
I am MOST impressed by your determination to not give up!!! Yay for you!! If we all had your kind of determination, we'd all be in a lot better shape!
January 28, 2010 - 8:21amThis Comment