I so very much sympathized today with someone who is struggling with heavy menstrual periods, something that has occurred with middle age. I really wanted to have some solutions here because five years ago RIGHT NOW I had just started into a cycle of kidney infections and treatments, investigations and remediations which went on for months and years. I was totally experiencing the 'allopathic runaround' which is included in Chris Young's Health Maintenance video here at Lumigrate. In my case I lost productivity at work which translates into lost revenue then income which obviously isn't good. Antibiotic therapy, for which I was grateful for, has side effects which then lead to more problems with the underlying chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia 'stuff'. It all contributed to my not feeling very good or worse all the time.
I'll also admit it cost me a lot of worry as well as frustrating and time consuming and expensive testing to determine the cause. Somewhere along the lines in all this as I was looking at being in a position at work where I literally couldn't take a week off yet needing a surgery which I was told would require a four week recouperation, as I now had a uterus that was pulled backwards by fibroid tumors and laying in my colon I was told on first conversation with my new gynecologist, who later would say 'your uterus was a mess' in my hospital room right after surgery. I simply wasn't well a lot of the time but was out there functioning in the world having to work and try to make a life for myself in a new city.
I found that gynecologist by calling the compounding pharmacy which had just opened here (then was purchased by Walgreens) and they said to me 'sounds like you have estrogen dominance'. I'd merrily taken the Rx my insurance paid for me to obtain in years past and once a day taken birth control pills -- I'd started taking them at age 17 and had LOVED the positive effects on my excessive menstruation then.
Now, about 10 years later from when I was having those types of symptoms, I regret not finding/making the resources (time/energy/money) available somehow when I was in my early 40s to learn what I now understand about the hormone system and the options available for treatment. I hope having this kind of information on Lumigrate is helpful. So I look forward to the responses that will build here.
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [1] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Links:
[1] http://twitter.com/lumigrate
[2] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/heavy-menstrual-flow-related-hormones-and-perimenopause#comment-1168
[3] http://www.itcpharmacy.com/
[4] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/air-kisses
[5] http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1108146174#!/pages/ITC-Pharmacy/143426716434
[6] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/heavy-menstrual-flow-related-hormones-and-perimenopause#top
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Comments
As women reach perimenopause which happens around the age of 35 to 40, their follicles have become weaker (I call it "reaching the bottom of the barrel"). They still make a dominant follicle which produces enough estrogen as it should but if/when they ovulate, they do not make a strong corpus luteum, so they do not make enough progesterone.
Since progesterone is the hormone that differentiates (matures) the rapidly dividing “endometrial and breast estradiol mediated cells”, and since the female is not making enough progesterone, she becomes "estrogen dominant" and can grow too thick of an endometrial lining, leading to heavy flow and eventually, in some women, fibroid tumors. It is also one of the reasons that women develop fibrocystic growths in their breast.
Gary King, R.Ph
(Note from Mardy: Our 'cupcake' pharmacist educator (crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, could also be sweet and colorful) emailed his business colleagues on October 1, 2012 to announce he and his oncologist looked at the response from the final treatment option they had tried related to cancer of the pancreas, which had been diagnosed earlier in the year. Ever the 'take-charge' guy, he wrote "and my oncologist agrees with me... and will be arranging for hospice next week.). Challenged with our first expert contributor who was going to die, and being a health education website which includes information about end of life illnesses, I emailed back and asked we could maintain his contributions to allow his wisdom to help people in the future, and have the signature here reflect things, as you see it, including the 'cupcake'/humorous slant, since that was how he had always "rolled" in our interactions. "Thank you, Mardy, I have enjoyed our friendship" was the blessed response and cherished words which were the last I heard from this treasured friend to Lumigrate. Yenta thoughtfully prepared a special tribute article titled "Air Kisses", which I encourage you to journey to sometime and see how the rest of the team of experts at Lumigrate who knew Gary through our collaborations, contributed their thoughts and blessings. http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/air-kisses [4] . WARNING: Have a tissue handy and be ready to SMILE. When Gary set his signature up when beginning to write on Lumigrate in early 2010, he said this which I want to stand posthumously:Co-President, ITC Compounding and Natural Wellness Pharmacy
, Passed On 12/21/12 Castle Rock, Colorado, USA http://www.itcpharmacy.com/ [3]
When I'm not at ITC Pharmacy talking on the phone or in person with medical providers or consumers from all states in the United States and beyond who are looking for guidance about compounded medications or supplements, I'm enjoying life outside of medicine. I'm regularly on the golf course or taking my dog on walks with my wife, juicing and making healthful meals to throw my favorite hot sauce on. I look forward to reaching new people to help them improve their health through Lumigrate.com, so don't hesitate to contact us. Our business page on facebook is at www.facebook.com/profile.php [5]
Gary fortunately had a strong partner in Allan Jolly, and I understand Gary's wife has filled Gary's seat as co-president. We all benefitted through his education here because he was interested in this form of education despite it being another 'chore' that delayed his getting home to his wife, dog, or golf course. Blesssed 'Air Kisses' Gary, no resting in peace wishes from me for your soul, Gary, have a hole in one and celebrate with a particularly nice glass of wine is my wish for you. ~~ Mardy (January 2013)