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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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Progesterone is supposed to assist with weight loss. I'm 56 and started using bio-identical progesterone two months ago. I started gaining weight a couple weeks ago and I don't understand why since I've increased my exercise significantly. I think it has to do with a paradoxical effect of the progesterone initially causing an increase in estrogen. I feel so much better that I'm going to tough it out and give it a chance. Hopefully this is just a temporary effect that will go away once my hormones are in balance.
November 25, 2011 - 7:17pmThis Comment
Hi, I'm 62 and had a hysterectomy (uterous out but still have ovaries) and a family history of breast cancer. Had fibrocystic breast issues for many years, and recently doc put me on progesterone cream for balancing my hormones. I'm 5'5" and weighed 118. Believe it or not, after starting progesterone cream, my weight went up in one month by 5 kilos (2.2 lbs per kilo) and it appeared as if my breasts, thighs, stomach and back doubled in size starting the very first week. I thought I was seeing things! I know it was the progesterone that did it. I have since quit the cream and am desperately hoping for the weight to come off, because I have 3 ruptured disks and scoliosis. The last thing I needed was weight around my middle, to hurt my already painful back. While taking the cream, the positives were that I could sleep better, and felt my arthritis easing a bit. But the cellulite all over me looks horrendous. Gotta be a better way, girls. I've never looked like this in my life, UGLY!
July 27, 2011 - 8:36amThis Comment
It's possible that the hysterectomy itself is causing the weight gain. Look in to estiol and progesterone combined.
January 18, 2018 - 7:57pmThis Comment
I'm going through this right now, scary because it happened so fast.
May 28, 2017 - 9:30pmI don't know what to do since now I'm back on prescription sleeping pills in order to sleep. I'm so bummed I started the BHRT. I've quit and it's been a week or so but now have gained in my thighs, butt and stomach. I'm nervous I'll continue to gain weight and never lose the weight. I'm 55 years old and still have a uterus. Plus, hypothyroidism, but that didn't affect my weight before.
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Hypothyroidism with menopause can bring on weight gain if your hormone levels are not watched very closely.
January 18, 2018 - 7:59pmThis Comment
Hello there Joliana,
December 16, 2010 - 9:06pmIn fact, many doctors hesitate to prescribe such hormone therapy for fear the body will become dependent upon the medication. I've been using progesterone cream for years but now it has great effects!
This Comment
Hi 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 - 7:25amThis Comment
From 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.
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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 - 9:41pmThis Comment
Jolaina, 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 - 9:02amThis Comment