ask: Need help. Doctor put me on progesterone therapy from a compounding pharmacy.
Ok, so i was diagnosed with pmdd. I knew i had something because 2 weeks before my period its hell, anyway been placed on all of the depression meds you can imagine finally found the right one pristiq, the dr also wanted to check my progesterone levels and she informed me that they were low 1. This was 2 weeks before i started my period. She sent me to a compounding pharmacy and they put together progesterone. I started taking 2 weeks ago and feel ok. I also started weight watchers about 7 weeks ago and had steady loss every week. UNTIL 2 WEEKS ago, last week i gained 1.5 lbs and this week 3.5...... MY EATING HAS NOT CHANGED! I am frustrated, that is alot of weight to gain in 1 week, you would think that i was eating big macs every day. So, the question i have is, is this normal for one to gain weight on this type of med? PLEASE HELP!!!!!
Jolaina
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Hi Jolaina,
It is so frustrating!! I know the countless times I was put on progesterone... I blew up like a balloon and I shouldn't have been taking it, since I'd had a complete hysterectomy.
Some questions for you...
-How old are you?
-Do you take a birth control pill?
-Are they giving you progesterone orally or vaginally?
-What's the dosage?
-Have you talked to your doctor since you started taking the progesterone and told your doctor about the weight gain?
-Are your rings and shoes fitting you tighter then usual?
-Do you feel like your skin in spongy?
-Are you seeing your face looking puffy?
Then we can try to direct you to the right place to learn more about progesterone. I have a book I'm happy to send to you free of charge, which will help you sort some of this out.
In my case, I didn't need progesterone because I didn't have a uterus.
And even though I shouldn't have been taking it...I was getting massive amounts. Way more then I needed to have or any women should have. That is when I saw the biggest increase in weight.
I'll have our moderators lead you to places on our site which should give you some more information about progesterone and the different types.
I have a feeling you may be getting too much. I'm not a doctor though, but that's what it sounds like to me. I'm going off of my own experiences.
If you go to my section on the site...you can post directly to me privately and you can give me your address to send you the book. We keep them stocked here at the office.
Not to worry...we'll try to help you sort this out. There is hope. It's just so frustrating as you're doing nothing differently. In fact, you're doing the opposite...eating healthier.
Best in health,
February 23, 2009 - 11:27amMichelle
This Comment
WOW,,, that was quick. OK, so Im 36, no birth control, had my tubes tied 5 yrs ago, the progesterone is in capsule form and is 100 MG, talked to dr, she directed me to the pharmacy, called them and they said that the only way to have weight gain is from NOT enough progesterone because it makes your estrogen levels increase thus causing weight gain and water retention. My breast are very sens and larger though which usually only happenes before my period, by the was isnt suppost to come for another 2 weeks.
February 23, 2009 - 11:35amJolaina
Hey jolainajo, I would be frustrated as well. To that point, I wanted to pass along a few sources for you on progesterone. You may find it comforting to know other women are experiencing similar symptoms.
What do you know about low progesterone levels?
Age Not Hormones, May Be Cause of Weight Gain
Weight Worries -- Are Women More Prone To Put on Pounds?
Are the bioidenticals keeping me from losing weight?
My journey in dealing with a rebellious thyroid/pituitary gland
I'm sure you'll hear more back from Michelle shortly.
February 23, 2009 - 11:59amHi Jolaina,
I'm going to go in Dr. Vliets book right now to see what the dosage range should be. Want to see what Dr. Vliet recommends.
Also, did the doctor talk to you about about a vaginal progesterone instead of the oral?
Are you taking progesterone every day or just 10 to 12 days during the month?
Sorry, I forgot to ask you these questions in my earlier email.
More to come....
Best,
February 23, 2009 - 3:35pmM
michelle, after doing some research i went to this website where people made comments about taking progesterone, either cream, pills, ect....
February 24, 2009 - 1:13pmIt seems as almost 90% of the feedback was negative, same side effects as I am experiencing, rapid weight gain, breast tenderness, tired,... I quit cold turkey after reading those comments, I wish I saved the website but didnt, I put in progesterone deficiency and did a search like that, Anyway,,,, Im done with it, I guess I will have to be bitchy the week before my period, I REFUSE to put on weight!
Thanks Again... Jolaina
This is a very interesting post, especially because I think my naturopath is going to put me on some type of progesterone supplement when I see her this week. My progesterone is a little low (at a 3) and I already know from talking to her assistant that she is thinking of doing this. I will ask her about the weight gain. I have recently heard from someone else on progesterone therapy about weight gain, too. Weight gain is the last thing I need!
February 25, 2009 - 9:42amJolaina, do you have a doctor's appointment set up? I understand your total frustration with the weight gain (I am working to lose weight too right now, and any gain is discouraging, I know!) and it may well indeed be that your progesterone is causing it. But clearly there were other intended benefits that it might bring you, and I'd hate for you to go off of it without telling your doctor and seeing what she suggests. Perhaps there's something else that might help your PMMD?
February 26, 2009 - 9:02amFrom a husband in great pain who wants his wife to wake up and read into the possible causes of her actions and emotionally destructive behaviour.
June 12, 2010 - 9:20pmCan PMDD more specifically the overwhelming urge to be alone and shut out loved once actually also cause my wife to seek intimacy elsewhere in an emoational affair? One of the symptoms was destructive behaviour. Basically my wife has stated a form of infidelity relationship with her first love from 23 years agao and she hasn't even spoken to him in 23 years. However she knows I kno and has twice promised me to end it but simply covers it up better each time to the point where she hides her cell phone and creates new email addresses, etc.
I am so sorry you are going through this.
PMDD can not "cause" a person to seek an affair, whether it be emotional, physical, etc. PMDD occurs around the time of a period, and it sounds like this emotional affair is occurring at other times as well.
- Is your wife interested in seeking marital counseling with you?
- Has she been diagnosed with any mental health condition, or are you diagnosing her with "emotionally destructive behavior"?
I wanted to provide the symptoms of PMDD, so you can observe if your wife is experiencing any of these other symptoms as well (a combination of symptoms must be present):
Symptoms include:
* Extreme sadness
* Frequent crying
* Irritability
* Feelings of anxiousness or nervousness
* Unusually strong cravings for certain foods
* Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
* Insomnia
* Panic attacks
* Mood swings
* Fatigue or lack of energy
* Physical symptoms include sore breasts, headaches, joint or muscle pain, swelling, and bloating
To be properly diagnosed with PMDD, usually at least five symptoms need to be present. Symptoms typically begin 10-14 days prior to the start of menstruation. They begin to decrease once menstruation begins. Symptoms that occur at other times during the cycle suggest other underlying mood or anxiety disorders."
Again, I am so sorry that you are living through infidelity in your marriage, and that your wife is continuing to choose to lie about the infidelity even after promising to end it. This is not a way to begin the healing and recovery process, and you may need to seek individual counseling if your wife refuses to go.
Please let us know how you are doing. It would be easier if you would submit a separate ASK question (separate post), as this discussion is unrelated to the original question, and I'm afraid your question may not be answered in a timely manner if it is at the end of a long, unrelated discussion thread.
June 13, 2010 - 9:41pmHi Jolaina,
Both estrogen and progesterone are produced in our ovaries. After menopause, the production of estrogen drops to 40-60 percent of what it used to be. On the other hand, the production of progesterone drops to ZERO percent after menopause. Progesterone can only be made with ovulation, and menopause itself is defined as the complete cessation of ovulation. The answer: bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Fortunately, there are bioidentical hormone replacement therapies available to rectify hormone imbalance.
If you are suffering from menopausal symptoms and feel you to need bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, you may be suffering from a number of other symptoms of low progesterone.
http://www.premenstrualsyndromesupport.com/Bioidentical-Hormone.php
September 26, 2010 - 7:25am