Progesterone Stories – stress incontinence, hot flashes, night sweats, dry eyes

Hi, Catherine

I’ve been meaning to sit down and write about my experience with perimenopause and progesterone cream.

I started getting hot flashes a little over a year ago at age 51. I had problems with stress incontinence for about a year before that. Between the night time trips to the bathroom and night sweats waking me up, I wasn’t getting much good quality sleep. I was tired all the time from interrupted sleep.

My eyes were so dry, I had to use eyedrops and gels (which I found disagreeable) and was surprised to learn from the opthamologist that this commonly happens to “women of a certain age” (he actually said this, and I didn’t know what he was talking about because I still had periods at that time). I had vaginal dryness and strange vaginal pains probably caused by the dryness.

Using Botanical Alternatives’ bioidentical progesterone cream put an end to the hot flashes, night sweats and the night time trips to the bathroom, so I sleep more soundly. I don’t have much trouble with the stress incontinence, vaginal dryness or dry eyes as long as I use the cream regularly. I have more energy, and I no longer have to take afternoon naps to catch up on my sleep. And I feel good about protecting myself from osteoporosis and reducing my chances of getting breast cancer.

This is a wierd one. I tramp around out in the woods quite a bit. I am extremely allergic to poison oak and had an outbreak. It was red, blistery and the itch was just coming on strong. It was bedtime, my time to use the progesterone cream, so I rubbed it on the affected area, since it was itching real bad. Within twenty minutes the itch stopped and the next morning it was all gone! It wasn’t even red! I usually would suffer for two weeks with an outbreak. I thought this surely was a fluke, but I got poison oak again about six months later, and tried the progesterone cream again. It was gone the next day! I don’t know if the progesterone got rid of it or if some ingredient in the carrier cream makes it go away. I am amazed by this, but thankful. I hope it continues to work for me.

I would like to hear from anyone who tries this and see if you get the same response. I would also be interested if Dr. Bob has any thoughts on this.

I enjoy your newsletters and forward them to my family and friends.

Keep up the good work.
Marilyn

Great question, and wonderful observation.

First of all, there are many different bases or creams that serve as the vehicles for the progesterone to be delivered. Most mimic some of the finest cosmetics available, and are quite soothing on the skin. (You probably also knew that many cosmetics have traditionally included a low dose of progesterone, due to the nice effect on our skin.

Next, try to find a copy of the hormonal synthesis cascade, which shows you that other than a few of the hormones, they all come from the “same place”, and hormones (related to cortisol) would have many “cortisone like effects” (such as clearing poison ivy). The cream acts as a weak corticosteroid. This, coupled with other features, will help clear the rash. It works in the vast majority of folks.

Hope this helps, Marilyn.

Best regards
Dr Bob

Robert W. Patterson, MD is a family GP of 25 years, and resides in Sanford, NC in the US. He talks to local and area groups about NHRT. He truly enjoys working with his patients in trying to derive an individualized solution to their hormonal problems. Dr Bob “studied” with Dr. Lee (before his death) and also with Dr. Zava. He has been to numerous lectures by Dr. Lee, including to a week long series (at sea) about 18 months ago (Cruise to Alaska) that included Dr. Zava. Dr Bob has attended numerous talks at the PCCA (compounding phamacists). He’s also had a chance to spend time with Dr. Jonathan Wright (Mr. Natural Estrogen).