Right on. I found out one year ago, age 49. I wish I had found out at 43. I wish I had been on progesterone since 43. I wish I had known that my Vitamin D level was ridiculously low at 43 and what level of supplement I would need to take, found that out from here cause what Ortho doc said wasn't nearly enough. Even now I still only have a Vitamin D number of 49 taking 2500iu- 4000iu daily. I wish I had known of the other stuff Im hawking right when my three toes went numb. Would have saved me a lot of pain, grief worrying that my life was over, etc....

I would be afraid to just try progesterone without blood tests. You never checked yours??

I will definately look into it, it has been on my list to check things out as I know that time is coming, I am still very regular but I am 47. I keep putting it on the back burner trying to deal with my PN. Maybe I need to move it up to the front burner.

Thanks for all the info I will go check it all out.

Oh, and yes, you and I emailed privately about the benfotiamine quite awhile ago. It use to really help me but not so much anymore, but I still take it.

thanks!

Which progesterone cream do you use?

First of all, it's nearly impossible to OD on progesterone, particularly over the counter... because of how much your body can hold during a pregnancy, I read that, not my medical advice, none of this is, not vouching for any of it - my disclaimer.

I use Young Again, it's cheap - it works
http://www.youngagain.com/magento/cr...myprogest.html

1/4 tsp. morning night, that's how I started, now Im on the kind from the compounding pharmacy by prescription, bioidentical.

That doc who helped me out told me he thinks this kind is the highest quality over the counter. My cousin tried my brand, said her hotflashes didn't stop, tried this brand and they did....
http://www.amazon.com/Heartland-Prod.../dp/B006ERKV5C
My cousin makes no claims here either and is also not a doc and does not have PN - another disclaimer while I'm at it.

Dr. Smit of Annapolis Gynocology gave me the prescription kind (oral progesterone 100mg) and said, "This will help your neuropathy." Smit is also a herbologist; is part of a conventional gyno team. Smit needn't have told me that 'cause I already knew from when I tried the over the counter kind because my friend from twenty years ago, another Doctor in Annapolis, already clued me in.
So there are two doctors. Then there are the two dumb doctors, both female gynos, who didn't know.

Bet you one thing, either one of those two ding dong dumb lady docs wind up with miserable neuropathy... they're going to wind up going to my friend the doc who'll charge them 300 bucks an hour- cause they can afford it, then they are going to find out that they didn't know everything, now did they? Not hardly! They are also going to wind up on biodentical hormones, right quick!

Progesterone is a precurser (spell?) of other hormones. Men can take hormones too and probably have luck with their neuropathy? Why? Because hormones buy you time back. Think of it as if how your sugar was processed by your body before the time you came down with PM, when you were younger. This is what hormone replacement therapy does, it turns back the clock on how you process sugar, therefore, bye bye neuropathy angst. At least a good deal of it. That is a very simplistic view. But when I started thinking of the menopause connection, the first thing I thought of was how to buy time back for myself. Then I started thinking about gynocologists and hormones and such. It is known that women on hormone replacement therapy look younger... they look younger because it is like they are a little younger; they trick thier body into thinking it and behaving more like it used to... like it used to before PN!!!! Including on how their bodies processed sugar.. younger, it was processed better, like everything is processed better when you are younger.

The doc wanted me to do a pic for his book of a woman pointing the way for a man to walk down the path. Thats because he wants to show that hormone replacement therapy is for men too and women have already been the ginnuea pigs and had the mistakes made on them, now they are pointing the way for men; less the mistakes and complications.

Also to answer - when I went to the bioidentical doctors that took my insurance, I asked for the oral progesterone in that it is better than the over the counter cream for dealing with the horrific menopausal insomnia should you be unlucky enough to come down with that one.

"I didn't sleep for two years!" Oprah Winfrey on menopause, the show with Suzanne Somers.

If it weren't for that, I would have been alright with just the over the counter cream. Then when I went in for that prescription, she said they don't do saliva tests cause they change all the time - not every doctor abides by the need for saliva tests for hormone levels. She did do a blood test that told me my estrogen was now at 'menopausal' level. No whoop de doo suprise there.

Here's my buddy the doctor; I just googled his name plus 'video' and this came up, just watching it now. This is a lot lighter than the last video he sent me that dealt with how sugar causes cancer, it was really depressing. I watched it to be nice but it was just plain sad. I'm just looking at this one now for fun. Another disclaimer, I don't know if my doc friend is right either, lots of docs wouldn't agree with him - But - he does follow the principles of Dr. Lee's groundbreaking work. Doctor Lee from Harvard who wrote, "What you doctor may not have told you about menopause."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ZE5epM7EI

Ok, here's that depressing cancer video he sent me, don't watch if you don't want to be really scared of chocolate. In fact, I need to tell him about the mud and how I have been able to not each chocolate for 9 days now. That is unheard of to everyone who knows me, it's a really big deal. Sugar, chocolate cravings, cake candies cookies GONE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om2Uj07ypec
Wonder what he'll have to say about that mud. Actually, I want to go by there and talk to him so he can see how much better my face looks, he knew me in my late twenties. If I look younger like I think I do, he will see it, or not.

Holy cow! You have no idea how much you may have just changed my life.

I am peri-menopausal, and questioned the pain in my feet when it started, but was told by my GP that menopause doesn't cause neuropathy. So I let that idea go.

My mother has bothered me for ages to go on HRT but I've rejected the idea, rather not risking blood clots, etc. However, if my problems are a direct result of hormones, then I'd rather take the risk and balance my body. Hopefully the neuropathy can be eased.

Karen, what you say makes so much sense to me. My blood tests showed I wasn't diabetic either. I was in the normal range, but the higher end of normal. As a result I've started to use Agava instead of sugar, in an effort to avoid sugar spikes.

Do you guys think the hormone cream is enough, or should I speak with my Doctor about getting on HRT proper?

I know it's a risk, but if it gets rid of this horrible painful condition, then I'm willing to take the risk. Heck, I don't want to live this way anyway!

My neuropathy symptoms started six months after menopause. I kept telling my family doctor and my neurologist that my symptoms may be related to menopause but they kept dismissing this idea. I have asked my family doctor for a blood test of my hormones but he doesn't think it's needed.

If you're still cycling, then you could just use the over the counter and read Dr. Lee's book; you can get a copy for a penny from amazon, used
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause (TM): The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance (Mass Market Paperback)
OR
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Peri-Menopause (TM): The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance (Mass Market Paperback)
There is a chapter in there that explains how to use the cream. Plus, if you order the cream online, there are directions with it too.

You can talk to your doctor but remember, two docs told me that PN is not caused, no proof, by hormonal changes. Two did and one is a specialist that charges 300 dollars an hour and doesn't even have to bother with insurance, who has doctors as clients. Gynocologists, even.

Some docs believe bioidentical is safer, some don't. The doc that wrote me out my last bioidentical hormone replacement prescription did so but also told me her personal belief was that it wasn't any safer. BUT BUT BUT - Very Big But.... I was thinking my life was over, I was picturing myself walking around Walmart with one foot in a slipper cause I couldn't bear to get it in a shoe... I was thinking Walmart was awfully big and hard to walk around in, only weeks before cycling each day that there was not a monsoon or the weather dropped below 20 degrees, other than that I biked in ski gear if I had too. I was wondering how long it was going to be before I wimped out and started conteplating suicide (due to chronic pain). When you add all of THAT crapola in... then all of a sudden risk of this and risk of that don't look so bad.

Plus the idea is that you use the very least you can get by with and ease symptoms. In addition to this, I told you about the Diatomaceous Earth which I have noticed in addition to all of the wonders I have told you about, has allowed me to cut back on my levels of hormone replacement therapy bioidentical creams yet still have full relief of symptoms.

And yes, I'm here to give you life changing news cause I owe it to you because this place gave me my life back and gave me a manageable situation whereas no DOCTOR did; the neurologists I saw. From here I sought out more and I'm doing my duty to come back here and help you all. I'm telling you there is hope. Even if not what I say, someone else has found something. This is espeically true if all that you have is not working or you are just getting worse and worse.

Thanks for listening, you'll get better, thanks for your reply, Karen

What can I tell you, those doctors are wrong and they are not experts in menopause or hormones... reguardless of their titles, they are not 'in the know.' I can only tell you I did not listen to two neurologists and two female gyno's who told me the same as you were told... I was so relieved when two others did, one in gynocology and one a urinary surgeon now specializing in bioidentical hormones. I say, 'consider the source."

Oh yea, I forget when I first complained about hot flashes to my male general practiitioner, he said, "Nothing I know of can be done with that." So that makes THREE doctors who had no clue. What a load of crapola because on the shelves of a health food store in my town sat a little jar of cream that stopped my hot flashes the first day I applied it. Who knew? Clearly not my G.P. right? Three days later, even more neuropathy pain was gone. STunner. I had reversed time. I was riding my bike, gardening, etc. Then the arthritis came over me and I was looking for something else and found the mud. Didn't realize I was going to find my 30 year old face in the bargain but it came along with it. Who knew? All I can do is tell you; the rest is up to you. I know you'll feel better soon.

Progesterone cream is cheaper when you order it online.

In appreciation of Doctor George helping me like he did, telling me about the book and so forth, I gave him one of my paintings as a gift http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show....php?t=1326977

MetroMum,

Isn't it amazing how us women know our bodies, yet Doctors still think they know better. Usually, if my instinct tells me something, it's right! Same as you, within the first year of menopause I felt the hot feet and wondered if it was related. Used to even joke with my hubby that I haven't experienced hot flashes yet, but my feet have! lol

Karen,

I can't thank you enough. Without your post I never would have considered HRT. Honestly, I was at that place of suicide, just couldn't bare the pain and thinking to live this way! The Neurologist has told me she has checked everything and cannot help me. My GP thinks it's Plantar Fasciitis, and so I wear arch supporting shoes, strap my feet in front of tv, etc.

I won't be telling my GP that I want HRT to see if it helps my neuropathy. I'll be telling him I want it to balance my body out. He will give it to me, he always wanted to. I fought him to not be on HRT.

If it helps, great! If not, your words about hormones and balance have convinced me anyways. I want my body to think it's younger.

Thanks again! You are precious.

Ohhhh and I will look into that book. Sounds like a very educational read, and I love learning, especially about health.

Edit: Have downloaded a copy to Ipad, Amazon has Kindle versions.