I am seriously considering asking my MD for some estrogen or estrodial. In 2002 I probably had MS, and since I was surgically menopausal, I was on estrogen. not congugated, just plain estrogen. I was doing fine. Due to news reports about the huge increase in female cancers of those that took hormone replacement therapy, I decided to quit. I have noticed that since then, my sx really took off. it seems to me that from that point forward, I had a trail of sx. now with the night sweats, I am wondering if going back on estrogen therapy will help me.


Does anyone else take it? anyone else know of stories of it helping? I have seen loads in the news lately about using estrogen in the treatment of ms. makes me wonder. If nothing else, maybe it would stop the night sweats. My LFTs and other blood levels are normal. I dont have any infections, and this is the only thing I can think of that may help. If I quit the Copaxone, I would probably stop the night sweats, but am told its doing a great job for me, and its a side effect. So....


what do the rest of you think?

Dej, this is the first I've heard about estrogen therapy and MS. I think it's sure worth talking to your doctor about.

I had a bad side effect from estrogen. For the 1 1/2 years that I was taking it, I had migraines. I finally did some online research and found that migraines was one of the kind of rare side effects. Funny, none of my doctors suggested it. As soon as I quit estrogen therapy, the migraines went away and never came back. What an immense relief!

The hot flashes did come back, of course, but it was well worth suffering through them for a few more years until they finally went away on their own.

Just like with the DMD's, some people are helped and have little or no side effects from them. Same with estrogen and so many other meds. Our bodies sure are strange, aren't they?

Best of luck with whatever you decide. Together with the Copaxone, I hope they both work to control your MS

You could always try Estriol and see if helps.

The thoughts on this drug (I think) are based on women doing great during pregnancy. My problem with that is not all women have a relapse free pregnancy.

I am in peri-menopause and I would really like to be in menopause. My symptoms increase twice a month due to hormonal fluctuations. The older I get the worse this becomes.

Have you ever tried Phyto-Estrogen, its found in soy products and you can get it in pill form. Also, you could try Progesterone cream (applied externally).

Both of those have been known to help with hot flashes. Will they end up helping your MS symptoms? I don't know, it was just a thought.

azoyizes, here is an article on Estriol:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0323104949.htm

Never did the Estrogen thing...went through Menopause, naturally, early, when I was 40. But My Neuro told me, years ago, that it may be a good thing for us PwMS. I was too afraid of the breast cancer risk, since my Aunt died, at a young age, from breast cancer.

I read about Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl's preliminary estriol trials on another forum and set out to get me some. At present I've been taking 8 mg oral daily since October of 2007. I take progestin for ten days/month too. I was using Estriol in conjunction with Copaxone, but a switch to private insurance put a stop to the C.

My 2007 MRI showed numerous new lesions and definite progression of disability from 2006. My 2008 MRI showed "maybe one small new lesion" and symptomatic improvement.

I feel like Estriol has subdued the disease activity to the point that I am regaining lost function. My balance and tactile sensation are improved, and fatigue is not a problem. I still use a cane and my intention tremors annoy the heck out of me, but all in all I've seen significant improvement.

I get my Estriol from a compounding pharmacy. Insurance pays half, leaving me to pick up a tab of $60 per month.

The schools of thought are divided as to whether Estriol presents the same dangers as other estrogens, or if it actually protects the breasts and uterus. Evidence and emphatic opinion can be found for both sides.

Im a lil scared, as I have had breast cancer in the past. I am 17 years clean, and no scares since. I am considered cured. I had my ovaries, and uterus removed at the same time as the double mastectomy. I didnt reconstruct, so I would be able to palpate the chest wall must faster than if I had big ol boobies still. No strokes run in my family, and my blood markers are great. I was just remembering how much more functional I was when I was placed on a pure estrogen. Its so scary to me to change anything about my routine, but somethings gotta give here.

Thanks for alla the advice.

I have fibrous breasts and had to have a mammo every 3 months for my first year on Estriol. Fortunately they gave up trying to find something wrong

I can certainly understand your concern. I hope that you can work something out that makes you feel better.

Barbie, how do you feel? do you notice a change? are you gaining any ground? did it make any difference for you at all? I would love to hear about your experiences on this stuff.

Sorry to take so long to answer you! My online life is suffering while the real one runs amok...

When I started Estriol in October 2007 (along with Copaxone) I was beginning to have major problems with balance. If I went shopping I had to have a cart. Walking was getting increasingly difficult, and I couldn't work in the kitchen for more than 5-10 minutes without stopping to rest. I really felt that I would not be walking for much longer.

A month later I requested an antidepressant. I don't know if the black cloud I was under came from the Copaxone, the Estriol, or just hating winter.

I noticed some increased sensation in my extremities pretty quickly - within two months. By late Spring my balance had improved enough to stand on one foot without falling over. I spent nine hours on my feet grocery shopping and cooking in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner 2008. I could not have conceived being upright that long....not since 2003! The improvements in my legs and feet have been dramatic, IMO.

The intention tremor that started in my left hand has worsened and migrated to affect both hands now. That sucks. But the balance and stamina are so much better... I wonder why only one worsens?? I gave up Copaxone in March due to inadequate medical insurance. In the three months without it I have not had any worsening of or new symptoms.

It takes an MSer to appreciate the ability to do things like step over the cat without having to hang on to something. I like it - I feel much more confident on my feet than I used to.

In short, it helps. Not completely, but a lot.

I am starting on evista for osteopenia. It is an estrogen like hormone -- used for prevention of invasive breast cancer and osteoporosis. I wonder if it could have any of the same benefits as estriol.