i need advice (for ladies only)

[lalakis]

hello all!

its been a while since I have posted....but...

some of you may remember I was trying desperately to gain weight while still remaining raw...well I am back to a healthy bmi of about 20...gained more than I had lost actually! This is my highest weight ever. Funny. (I am 5'5" and 115 lbs now, I am usually 105 lbs). I am not 100% raw, but very high.

Anyway...this March it will officially be 2 years since being off of birth control, and also since I had my last period. I trusted that my hormones would work themselves out naturally, but I am afraid of developing endometriosis or something worse at this point. I don't have health insurance anymore, and anyway the last time I went to my gyno her only suggestion was to put me back on birth control pills, which messed me up in the first place!

So I have been researching a lot online, and I think I am estrogen dominant. The symptoms make sense to me, and I read that it happens mostly after being on birth control for a prolonged period of time. Some other causes were eating estrogen heavy foods such as soy and non-organic produce. I was prescribed a generic form of Provera last year, I took it for 10 days, still no period. I read that sometimes Provera will not work, because it is a synthetic form of Progesterone.

I bought a Progesterone cream this week, and have been using it for a few days now, but I haven't noticed much of a difference. I am planning on applying the cream twice daily as recommended until a period comes...if it comes?!?!?

I also just read about Maca, so I am thinking of trying that as well.

I don't get it. I am not underweight, I exercise (mostly yoga), eat well and a LOT, am not stressed, and have given my body almost 2 years to recover from the effects of birth control. I don't know what to do at this point since I can't see a doctor. I am playing doctor to myself.

Has anyone else shared this experience? All I want is my period! I should add that my periods were not regular even before birth control, and my mother's side of the family is notorious for irregularity. I am just so afraid of developing cancer because my uterine lining has been building up for so long now.

Has anyone had this problem and used maca??? I would be interested to know if anyone has had success with hormone regulation.

Thank you so very much!!!

[agumble]

I actually have appointments set up right now with a gynecologist and an endocrinologist since I haven't gotten my period in eight months since going off birth control, so I can let you know what I find out once I go! I have heard that it is normal for your body to take a long time to get back to normal after going off the pill, and that some women don't get their periods even though they're still ovulating. But I hear you on worrying about the endometriosis part. Hopefully we're just those random odd people who don't get periods :p

[Rawkinlocs]

So, aside from the "normal" bleeding, you haven't had ANY signs of ovulation and/or the uterine lining coming out in the form of discharge or anything?

Also, you mentioned that you had allowed your body 2 years (since having come off of birth control) to get back in balance...but have you been raw for that 2 years as well?

One other thing, do you feel that perhaps the other things you've been applying/taking may have something to do with any of this? I mean, perhaps your body will self-regulate once you just free it from any and all chemicals (speaking of the Provera and Progesterone, etc.)

I don't think any of us are really qualified to truly advise you other than in the area of dietary and "what if's" or "perhaps you should's".

But please, don't lay claim on anything (i.e. cancer)...don't even speak that thing into existence for yourself!

Whatever higher power you believe in (if any) pray/meditate and also talk to your body and just say something along the lines of, "I know that I am doing the best I can for my body with my diet and getting rid of the pills and I'm going to trust in (higher power) and my body that it will be in balance" and make that and any other positive declarations for yourself and your health and anything else you need daily. If you cannot (and really don't even want to) visit a doctor, then that's all you can really do...stress and worry will just make things worse!

[dread head vegan]

hello,
i have had the same problem after comming off birth control pills.. iwas on them twice!! last time because i was not having my peroid. it's been almost 4 years sence i went off of them and my body is still not normal. ( bleedeing for a month at a time/ not bleeding for 8 months straight) i have been going to the doctor and accupuncture.. good luck with everything:D

[lalakis]

So, aside from the "normal" bleeding, you haven't had ANY signs of ovulation and/or the uterine lining coming out in the form of discharge or anything?

Also, you mentioned that you had allowed your body 2 years (since having come off of birth control) to get back in balance...but have you been raw for that 2 years as well?

One other thing, do you feel that perhaps the other things you've been applying/taking may have something to do with any of this? I mean, perhaps your body will self-regulate once you just free it from any and all chemicals (speaking of the Provera and Progesterone, etc.)

I don't think any of us are really qualified to truly advise you other than in the area of dietary and "what if's" or "perhaps you should's".

But please, don't lay claim on anything (i.e. cancer)...don't even speak that thing into existence for yourself!

Whatever higher power you believe in (if any) pray/meditate and also talk to your body and just say something along the lines of, "I know that I am doing the best I can for my body with my diet and getting rid of the pills and I'm going to trust in (higher power) and my body that it will be in balance" and make that and any other positive declarations for yourself and your health and anything else you need daily. If you cannot (and really don't even want to) visit a doctor, then that's all you can really do...stress and worry will just make things worse!

I have discharge and it changes throughout the month, so I assume I am still ovulating. I also experience hormonal changes otherwise like acne, and moodiness, so I believe I am still going through the motions so to speak.

When I stopped birth control, I had been vegetarian for a few months, and just began dabbling into veganism. I went totally vegan a couple months after stopping BC pills. I didnt go raw until almost a year afterward. I was 100% raw for about 3 months when I lost too much weight, so I stopped being 100% since this past July. Since then I have gained about 20 lbs (much needed!) and have remained stable at this weight while still eating very high raw.

I do meditate on it, and believe that everything works as it is supposed to. I would be okay with infertility, but I do not want my life to be at risk. I plan to adopt :)

This also raises the question for me, how natural is it to "bleed" every month if I am still ovulating? It's such a sensitive topic.

[lalakis]

hello,
i have had the same problem after comming off birth control pills.. iwas on them twice!! last time because i was not having my peroid. it's been almost 4 years sence i went off of them and my body is still not normal. ( bleedeing for a month at a time/ not bleeding for 8 months straight) i have been going to the doctor and accupuncture.. good luck with everything:D

I wish I wasn't given the decision-making power at the age of 16 to go on the pill!!!! Someone should have stopped me!!

I feel like a freak of nature because I don't have periods, it makes me feel a lot better to know I'm not alone. Good luck to you as well! We need it, right? :o

[hibisanpo]

I recently posted about this problem here too:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=36190

I have not had been period after going off birth control either, it's been about 7-8 months. I'm with you, no health insurance and i just want everything to be "normal"-whatever that is.
I have not tried and normone regulation, but jst bought some Maca, so we'll
see waht happens.

[Dr. White]

We have a bioidentical hormone compounding pharmacist in our area that I send clients to for saliva hormone testing.We don't always go the way of bioidentical, but it does give an idea of where you are. Then you can make a choice of foods that are higher in the hormones you are looking for.

You may want to look into the testing.

[Authenticme]

We have a bioidentical hormone compounding pharmacist in our area that I send clients to for saliva hormone testing.We don't always go the way of bioidentical, but it does give an idea of where you are. Then you can make a choice of foods that are higher in the hormones you are looking for.

You may want to look into the testing.


This is what I've done to treat my issues related to PCOS. The symptom are very similiar to what Lalakis describes. I've had very good results with the bioidentical hormone treatment and a raw diet. So much so that when I went to my regular ob/gyn,she thought that perhaps she had misdiagnosed me.

[MiahTay]

Since you mentioned that you are trying a progesterone cream, I just would like to mention that they are not all created equal. I have two examples 1. my mom at 50 entering menopause. Her hair started falling out, hot flashes and mood swings she tried 3 different progesterone creams and then found one made by Syringa and it worked. 2. Myself at age 29 had my tubes tied (had I only known then what I know now) I immediately started experiencing hot flashes, and mood swings and the Syringa worked again (the combination of Syringa and RAW I am 100% symptom free). Syringa uses a wild yam extract. Good luck!

Heather

[beckx]

i haven't had these issues myself but in working with people who have reproductive issues, breast cancer history and hormonal imbalance, a lot of them have had success with DIM supplements... DIM is an antioxidant found in broccoli and other cruciferous veggies that helps to balance estrogen in the body and get rid of bad estrogen metabolites. you could try to supplement it or you could also include lots of broccoli, kale, cabbage, etc in your diet and see if it helps. either way it would be a pretty low risk to try out.