My endo has refused to prescribe any spiro because I have HBP which was under control using other drugs and he said estrogen alone would drop the T. After a year of estradiol my T level was within 5 points of where it started although the Free T level was cut 50% so I mentioned it to my PCP. She recommended a cardiologist who has agreed to start rotating spiro in and take something else out. So finally I get a minimal spiro dosage but it is a step forward. Weekly visits now with the cardio while futzing with the meds.
be well everyone
jenifer
Estradiol taken by injection (i.e. estradiol valerate) will safely and sufficiently suppress T levels on its own so no need to add Spiro, I think. If cardiologist is concerned about health risks, explain that cardiac risks are associated with other forms of estrogen that are not bio-identical (Premarin, birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol), always taken orally (where BP tends to rise), that cardiac risk increases in post-menopausal women when their estrogen levels DROP and that estradiol is known to increase dilation of blood vessels through nitric oxide, thus reducing blood pressure and heart risk. When you take estradiol by injection, you emulate the way women get their E and you get the same E as them, same molecule and all. Pregnant women reach levels that will much be higher than you will ever reach on injections.
Your free T levels decreased because a small dose of oral E significantly increases SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) levels which strongly bind T, thus reducing free T. But oral E affects slightly more clotting factors due to more significant passage through the liver.
Hopefully, you can share this with your doctors and have them prescribe what is safest and most effective for you. It's critical, I think, to be informed and share with your doctor (s).
What is HBP?
It its high blood pressure, Spiro drops it also. I can see why you'd not take both, but why not just change over?
Thanks Kay - I should have mentioned that my endo has me on patches which do work well - my E sits nice and steady in normal female range - just that stubborn T refuses to budge - I think endo just didn't want to mess with HBP meds - cardiologist my PCP referred me to has no problem with me taking spiro just wants to do a gradual change over with one of my other HBP meds
be well
jenifer
Hi Anon
yes - HBP is high blood pressure - I just think endo didn't want to mess around with hbp meds when what I was taking was working - if only the T had listened to him and reduced the way he said it should - unfortunately it wasn't working in my case and I felt the need to be a little more progressive - a year at the high T levels is enough
be well
jenifer
Congrats and good luck. I hope your able to stay on it without any problems.
Mariah
Congratulations in finally getting the doctor to prescribe spiro.
Thanks everyone - we'll see how things are when I go back on the 31st to see how bp and potassium levels are doing
be well
jenifer