u/WeakBit5848

My posts keep getting deleted because apparently I’m not allowed to even mention labs? LOL Reddit is ridiculous, but I’ll try again, as I’m hoping to have some insight from others before my next appointment.

has anyone switched from cyclical to continuous bioidentical progesterone in peri? Can you share your experiences?

I am turning 40 this week. I am healthy overall, use TRT, 50mg oral progesterone & a cream days 15-bleed, vaginal estriol 4 days per week (waiting on an estradiol cream to add to it) & pregnenolone 3 days/wk. My cycles are shortening like crazy. I know this is normal in peri but some cycles are like 17 days & I don’t even start the P until day 15. And my usable iron is fine but ferritin is declining, which I think is connected to the bleeding every 2-3 weeks.

I see my HRT dr soon and am considering trying continuous P and potentially bioidentical E injections. I am nervous about the E because I have MCAS.

I’d love any insight, especially from women who use TRT as well. The TRT group is usually helpful but deleted my post and told me this belongs here so 🤷🏻‍♀️ Reddit rules are excessive.

Can anyone share their experience with constan P & E in addition to TRT in peri, with a cycle still?

Have spent over a year, trying to get my free tea up and it recently hit 2 (total is 211), which I’m so happy about.

I use cyclical progesterone cream and 50 mg orally, cyclically (days 15-cycle start), but my cycles have gotten so short and I think that is what is affecting my ferritin levels. I have had some 21 day cycles and my most recent test, my progesterone feels too low to me (3ng/ml and it was taken during luteal the morning after taking it orally and topically). I know we don’t go off numbers but symptoms, but the numbers are still data and they are trending down.

My E in relation to Total T also feels low (95.7pg/ml).

I also use estriol cream vaginally four days per week and I’m waiting on an estradiol cream to come in the mail that I will add to it. I have MCAS so have been very nervous around estrogen.

Does anyone in peri have experience adding constant P and just not having a cycle at all anymore?

I follow up with my doctor in a couple of weeks, but I always get good questions to ask an insight from this group.

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Does anyone use beetroot supplements (pill form) with the MCAS/EDS/POTS/dysautonomia etc etc comorbidity myriad?

Nitric oxide seems to prevent mast cell degranulation in studies, but apparently can be released in excess in a flare & the vasodilation can cause dysautonomia symptoms.

NO can be great for heart health and circulation too. Some People (women included) take cialis daily to prevent the body from depleting NO rapidly. Beetroot helps you produce NO.

I’m curious if anyone has had success with beetroot. I have POTS & dysautonomia symptoms under control with lifestyle. And lifting heavy keeps my joints from dislocating. I constantly have cold hands and feet though and have struggled to get my ferritin up, despite iron being fine. I give my husband beetroot, but have been hesitant to try it myself (I also typically have low blood pressure). I do fine with niacin (take it nightly), which is a vasodilator. So I was curious if anyone has had experience with it (positive and negative).

i’ve been reading that coffee can be a trigger for some & im wonderinf if anyone has had luck with caffeine pills.

i’m on my first month testing ketotifen at night and i NEED caffeine to balance it out during the day.

i tolerate a latte fine, but usually drink black coffee in the mornings at home. i recently realized that my GI symptoms (& just feeling off mentally) seem to happen after breakfast, so seemed linked to something i was taking. i didn’t think it was the coffee bc im super specific about the kind i buy- organic, mold tested etc. but i feel NO energy boost after drinking it. i thought maybe that was bc i make it weak (bc when i make it strong, it made me
feel off) but i think the black coffee is what is actually causing the GI flares.

i recently tried a zevia energy drink (i am
fine with their sodas and this one has no additional crazy shit that’s in most energy drinks- just 120mg caffeine, sparkling water, flavor and stevia) & i felt the best i’ve felt in so long time. i decided to use them as pre workout on lifting days (in addition to morning coffee) but then realized this morning that the coffee may not be working for me.

the drinks are a little pricey for me to be downing them daily so i was thinking of trying caffeine pills poured into a sparkling water on my non lifting days.

i was curious if anyone else has had better luck with them an MCAS GI symptoms though!

those who stuck it out with ketotifen, how long did it take for the side effects to stop? particularly muscle weakness & body pain.

i’ve been on it 2 weeks (started at .25mg by splitting my pill in 1/2 then went up to .5mg, which is my current full prescribed dose). most of the side effects have seemed to clear up but the body pain & muscle fatigue/weakness are pretty noticeable. they are 2 of my symptoms that i had gotten under control with low dose TRT & progesterone, so it makes me nervous that the ketotifen is bringing them back. it is weird too bc it’s in the exact same areas i had it pre-trt.

has anyone who is not in need of weightloss had success with this? im particularly hoping for feedback from someone who lifts/works out regularly and is tracking calories and macros to stay in maintenance, not. deficit. even better if you already have low blood pressure/blood sugar.

i am currently testing ketotifen (at .5mg at night) & not loving the side effects (though the sleep help is nice). cromolyn has a shortage so i haven’t even been able to try it orally bc they can’t fill it (i do use nasal crom tho)

MCAS, EDS, pots, dysautonomia & autism mix with low blood pressure/sugar/temp.

TRT & progesterone has helped me more than the ketotifen at this point so im trying to figure out what’s next if this doesn’t workout