Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Stephe on September 07, 2012, 12:48:08 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Update for people with BAD estradiol reactions, good news: Estriol
Post by: Stephe on September 07, 2012, 12:48:08 PM
Post by: Stephe on September 07, 2012, 12:48:08 PM
I haven't posted here in a long time but wanted to come back and update this topic as there is good news.
I had horrific migraine headaches when we tried to add estradiol to my HRT. We tried several different types of pills, topical cremes and even a ultra low dose on the patch produced the same results: after about 3 days I would have these non-stop monster headaches that were so bad I didn't feel like even leaving the house. I normally never have headaches. I suffered through this for a couple of weeks 2 different times thinking they would calm down but they just got worse and besides the headaches, I just "felt like crap". I basically felt like I was poisoning myself. After about six months of trying to find something I could tolerate, we gave up. Needless to say this was very disappointing.
Then as a last ditch try, my doc prescribed some low dose estriol topical creme from -womens international pharmacy- who compounds this in the USA. It seems this is used elsewhere in the world but isn't FDA approved for HRT in the US. Given any estrogen prescribed to a male is "off label" that wasn't a concern for me. We started out on a low dose and I had some mild side effects at first. Those quickly went away and over a few months we ramped the dosage up to near the max womens international recommends for treatment of female menopause. I feel great on this med and spiro taken 2X a day in divided doses. The only thing I have noticed is I need to take the second dose several hours before bedtime to avoid insomnia, feels like drinking coffee effect. Of course there are the good side effects I was looking for.
I'm 52 and was on the 'normal dose' spiro for about 1.5 years before I started this med. After 6 months of being on estriol I am approaching a full B cup breast which is a big change from my former totally flat chested self. I have a normal range BMI and had NO boobs whatsoever before HRT. I would say maybe 15% of this happened when on spiro only. I'm seeing some other body changes, softer skin, my face has softened/filled in quite a bit and body hair is less. Didn't see any huge change in sex drive over just being on spiro, if anything at first it seemed to increase it? I'm very happy with where my sex drive is now, healthy but not -male- sex drive either.
Anyway just wanted to come back and post this in case there are others who suffer with bad reactions to estradiol. I also have found from my research that this med is less likely to cause DVT and other heart related problems so could be a solution for people who have health concerns with being on estradiol. It's very affordable and these people can compound this is any dose needed. They also can compound other hormone meds at any dose you need.
I know this is a weaker form of estrogen but might be a good solution for people like myself that have had serious problems with taking estradiol.
I had horrific migraine headaches when we tried to add estradiol to my HRT. We tried several different types of pills, topical cremes and even a ultra low dose on the patch produced the same results: after about 3 days I would have these non-stop monster headaches that were so bad I didn't feel like even leaving the house. I normally never have headaches. I suffered through this for a couple of weeks 2 different times thinking they would calm down but they just got worse and besides the headaches, I just "felt like crap". I basically felt like I was poisoning myself. After about six months of trying to find something I could tolerate, we gave up. Needless to say this was very disappointing.
Then as a last ditch try, my doc prescribed some low dose estriol topical creme from -womens international pharmacy- who compounds this in the USA. It seems this is used elsewhere in the world but isn't FDA approved for HRT in the US. Given any estrogen prescribed to a male is "off label" that wasn't a concern for me. We started out on a low dose and I had some mild side effects at first. Those quickly went away and over a few months we ramped the dosage up to near the max womens international recommends for treatment of female menopause. I feel great on this med and spiro taken 2X a day in divided doses. The only thing I have noticed is I need to take the second dose several hours before bedtime to avoid insomnia, feels like drinking coffee effect. Of course there are the good side effects I was looking for.
I'm 52 and was on the 'normal dose' spiro for about 1.5 years before I started this med. After 6 months of being on estriol I am approaching a full B cup breast which is a big change from my former totally flat chested self. I have a normal range BMI and had NO boobs whatsoever before HRT. I would say maybe 15% of this happened when on spiro only. I'm seeing some other body changes, softer skin, my face has softened/filled in quite a bit and body hair is less. Didn't see any huge change in sex drive over just being on spiro, if anything at first it seemed to increase it? I'm very happy with where my sex drive is now, healthy but not -male- sex drive either.
Anyway just wanted to come back and post this in case there are others who suffer with bad reactions to estradiol. I also have found from my research that this med is less likely to cause DVT and other heart related problems so could be a solution for people who have health concerns with being on estradiol. It's very affordable and these people can compound this is any dose needed. They also can compound other hormone meds at any dose you need.
I know this is a weaker form of estrogen but might be a good solution for people like myself that have had serious problems with taking estradiol.
Title: Re: Update for people with BAD estradiol reactions, good news: Estriol
Post by: Jamie D on September 07, 2012, 01:35:43 PM
Post by: Jamie D on September 07, 2012, 01:35:43 PM
Hi, Stephe!!