Thank you Michelle for your story in Paradise Mag. I like you have been tearing my hair out wondering what is going on with me. I finally put my foot down and demanded answers. I am 49 yrs old and was just told I am in menopause! I am reseaching the product SottoPelle the Bio Equivalent Hormonal Replacement Therapy. If anyone has some insite to the use of SottoPelle I would love to hear about it.Thank you Barbara
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I now know how Michael Jackson felt!! I had my 3 dosage of estradiol and testosterone, the last one in early August 09, approx 9-10 days later, I was not able to sleep. I mean not even a wink, I was very anxious and only felt well when I was standing or pacing. This went on for 4 days - no sleep -, none and I went to my internist and we did every test possible (the adrenal system) to try and find out. They gave me Sequenol to sleep and I finally slept 10 hours. It is a psychotic drung used in alzheimers patients and bi-polar. They thought I had a tumor on my adreanal glands. Not so!! I had my estradiol and testos levels tested during this time period and estradiol was 361 (way over what they call the theraputic recommendations, a good 200 points, over). My testosterone was almost 400. A good 200 points over the theraputic levels. I am very healthy for my age (60's) and take only Syntheroid for thyroid issues. I was told that the pellets disolve gradually but I no longer believe that scenario. I got a major hit. I asked and you can not have them surgically removed as they are most likely fully disolved. So there is really nothing I can do but wait. It is August 31st and am still not able to sleep, same scenario. I must take Secqonel to sleep at all. Tylenol PM, Valium and nothing even touches it. I just lay awake. I am very disturbed by all of this.!! Everyone's body responds differently but I would have a hit at first and do not really think that it made me sleep better. I did not have hot flashes while on the treatment but had peaks in libido. To me it is not worth it. Once the pellets are inserted there is no way to control absorbtion, and rate of disinegration. No matter what they say. I have had low dosage according to my doctor - 25 estradiol and 75 testosterone. All my other docs (endocringologist, internist think that this is my problem since all other tests do not show any medical problems.) I would not recommend this procedure to anyone. Like the old saying goes, If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Believe me, it is not worth the risk and what I have had to go through!!
August 31, 2009 - 6:38amThis Comment
This was your 3rd time out when this happened. What were the 1st 2 like. I am curious as I have not been overly impressed--I'm Hera, see previous posts. Was going to just get creams or something but that sounded like such a hassle that I thought I would try again as some say it can take a while to get balanced. I know when my testosterone was peaking I was really going but nothing like what you describe. It is strange how some women appear to have such good results and some of us so little. I wonder if what a lot of people are feeling as far as energy and the like are from the testosterone. It's just very weird how different people's reactions are and who knows about everyone doing it that isn't on this site.
August 31, 2009 - 3:32pmThis Comment
What was her experience. I would love to hear.
June 11, 2009 - 2:22pmThis Comment
I'm so relieved to read your comments - I wrote the comments from March (yours posted beneath mine) and had begun to think I was crazy. Its been over two months now and I too have been having depression plus difficulty focusing on anything. The Prometrium is giving me daily headaches, I had nausea with it for a week like morning sickness and I continue to be awakened with faux menstrual cramps at night (when I CAN sleep as I'm having difficulty sleeping) and some breakthrough bleeding. Also, the testosterone "spiked" (per doctor's office) to the point that I thought I would lose my mind. I was horribly distracted, in a contstant state of arousal and aggitation, and since I live alone this was not pleasant. The 'spike' lasted about a month, then seemed to disappear overnight and then I crashed into depression. I also wonder if some women are mistaking the testosterone's increased sex drive for "increased energy.". My doctor suggested I stop taking the progerone for a few days but the pharmacist said I need a lower dose. I've been on a physical and emotional rollercoster for two months - not sure now if I want to continue pellet therapy but also wonder if it will magically straighten itself out at some point.
May 24, 2009 - 11:32amThis Comment
are you on the sottopelle pellets or just a diff pellet therapy??? curious, I am planning on getting pelleted, next wk, with sottopelle....
April 7, 2012 - 8:14pmThis Comment
I had the pellets inserted one month ago and have had bad headaches, difficulty sleeping, the arousal a week ago was getting to the point of insanity and then I started my period. I'm 60 and haven't had a period in ten years. When I called the doctor they only asked if I was taking the prometrium as prescribed which I am. The doctor asked for new blood work which I'm doing today. The good news is that I have more energy and seem to be happier but there are definite side effects to this natural way of dealing with menopause.
March 16, 2012 - 12:14pmThis Comment
Well, I hope I don't have a big crash to look forward to! My situation is no better either. On top of everything else I have now gained about 10lbs despite the fact I go to gym every day and the testosterone has really got me working out even harder and I already worked out hard. Think the testosterone has leveled out but still have no energy, depressed, tired, etc. My dr. still tells me to hang in there that some women take a while or that the levels may not be high enough. Well I can't imagine having much more testosterone as when it peaked, like you I was angry and agitated, libido was certainly going (gave me a new appreciation of men's constant interest in sex)but I too am single at the moment and there's something pretty clinical about just masturbating to take the edge off of the testosterone--don't get me wrong I guess it's better than having no libido but I was really hoping for the energy and mood lift that everyone talks about.
June 4, 2009 - 3:35pmThis Comment
This is 'annonymous' from 3/29 & 5/24 (guess I need a name). I seem to have sort of crashed off of everything - it will be 3 months on 6/16 since I had first insertion. I was told initially that my levels were extremely low - so low that estrogen barely registered on my bloodwork. When I had the bloodwork done in 6 weeks after pelllet insertion, the levels were normal. I'm now on 100 mg Prometrium instead of the 200 mg (pharmacist suggested the 200 mg was too high) & the daily cramping & spotting have stopped along with the mild daily headaches. I can tell the estrogen is again depleting because I'm having mild urinary incontinence again & the testosterone must be leaving because I'm not going beserk when I see a hot guy on tv or in the neighborhood. My doc said "4 months" so I guess I'll make an appointment in July & hope nothing spikes. I find the testosterone somewhat depressing in that "all dressed up with no place to go" type of depression. It tricks my brain into thinking I'm in my 20s and then when I pass a mirror I get the shock of what I look like now - don't think the boys will be flocking to my door! I still want to see if it eventually helps with weight/muscle and cholesterol levels. I'm trying to exercise again - lost maybe couple of pounds and I do seem to be less achy from my arthritis and lumbar stenosis. Oh yes, and my face hair is growing faster - have to shave my 'moustache' about every 3 days.
June 12, 2009 - 12:43pmThis Comment
Are you still getting the pellets? I was wondering if you still have the breakthrough bleeding and how often do you take the 100mg Prometrium? Ive had similar to what you have..i am 52.
December 23, 2011 - 8:13pmThis Comment
Wow..i was beginning to think i was the only one with some of these side effects. Actually i can handle the hair on my lip and face,a few pimples,the spike of RAWR from the pellet inserts at first.(been getting the pellets for over a year now)I have all my female parts.Im 51 and was diagnosed with premature menopause 4 months after having my only child at 34.(Took prempro for years so i had no period). I take 200mg of progesterone for 12 days 4 times a year..having a period every 3 months i could handle that..one time last year had a little breakthrough bleeding one time then not again My main problem now is 2 1/2 months ago i had breakthrough bleeding just like a period for a few days and last month the same way..also cramped but i could handle it but i wasnt suppose to be having a period those months. So i called my obgyn..went in..had a vag ultrasound..showed a few fibroid tumors which he said probably been there for years and maybe the bleeding is coming from those..in 3 weeks im having a endometr biopsy just to make sure not cancerous..even though he said most all the time are benign. Just took the progesterone for 12 days this month..on the 9th day started my period..just like a heavy period...but past few days felt awful,fatigue,cold,sleepy,severe crams that rarely let up.He ask if i was passing clots..i dont guess i am..its been years since i had periods since i took the prempro..i dont even know what a normal period was actually..all i know is im having breakthrough bleeding and its not lightly and it last for a few days then i spotted then it stopped.. then when i have the period i should im feeling exhausted and was in the bed the past weekend most all weekend. I just wish i knew what to do..i actually think its a enbalance of the estrogen or progesterone somehow...i just dont know. he actually told me to just play with the progesterone and take it everyday if i want to if i thought that would help me stop bleeding. :o I really think maybe some doctors just dont know what to do about all this breakthrough bleeding women are having from the pellet/progesterone treatment. Other than that i have to say the pellets gave me back my life that i lost so many young years of raising my child. Just thankful i have hope now..just praying to get this breakthrough bleeding under control.Im afraid i will have to have a D&C or a hyster..and not be able to get pellets again..i dont know. I love the pellets just hate the breakthrough bleeding thats just started for me july and august. I was concerned and happen to find this site on the internet..and glad i did :)
September 19, 2011 - 6:14amThis Comment