So some of this is for advice and some is for warning. So the good news is that I have been stopped smoking for a year. The bad news is that using chantix turned out to be a disaster for my hormones. I began having headaches a year ago. At the time I didn't associate it with starting chantix so I continued it. I began having migraines, sinus, and cluster headaches. The doctors looked for the cause of each but came up empty then a doc told me it sounded like I had no estrogen so she gave me a bcp to try and within an hour no headache... wow, how could I have no hormones at 38? Then a red flag arose. My gyn became afraid that if I continued to take the bcp I could have a stroke because I have auras so the bcp was taken from me and the headaches returned. I began researching again and found other women with no hormones...we had chantix in common. It seems that in some women chantix can really do a number on the endocrine system and stop hormone production.Chantix works by manipulating the pituitary glad into tricking the mind into not craving to smoke and changes the taste of them. I can only imagine what else it can manipulate! Anyway I just ordered maca to see if it can repair the damage to my endocrine system now since the options the doctor is giving me feel more like a last resort I would regret. I will be taking regular hormone test to monitor my progress. If I can get some progress in the next couple of months I will then go back on bo once I'm done with my regiment. In the mean time as of tuesday I will begin noogling again. Anyway any advice on the maca is welcome since I'm not really familar with it except for the gals working for larger bums which I wouldn't be against either. Lol
Hi Mel,
After Prettymama's good experience, Susan and I really worked on understanding maca. We're not finished experimenting yet, but what we found confirms the idea that maca increases DHEA.
Maca will increase testosterone, DHT, and estrogens, because all those are made from DHEA.
Progesterone and cortisol are made from cholesterol directly, so maca will not change them.
http://www.breastnexus.com/showthread.php?tid=8419&pid=34629#pid34629
Isabelle,
I really don't like the fact that maca increases testosteone, is there something I can take to reduce it?
I am a female, but I have a few hairs on my chin, I have hairy arms for a girl, but I wax it right off, LOL!
Melissa interestingly enough when I was on bo all my pro blem hairs disappearex for the first time in my life. I'm not sure if this is typical for everyone though, but something to look into.I had several on my chin and had to heavily pluck around my nipples. I haven'thad to pluck those in 2 years which is something that really surprised and excited me.
Mel
Isabel, since going off the bcp I have had a drop in dhea and testoterone also to add to my lack of hormone productions, which explains my nonexistant libido so any increase in any of those areas would be fantastic. My endocrine system seems to have pretty much been crippled. What does my doc say? "But at least you quite smoking!"
I guess that's easy to say to a patient when you're not the one curled up sometimes crying and seeing flashing lights and blind spots in your vision I think smoking cessation has gone too far when a doc thinks those types of side effects make something like this worth it.
I would love to feel normal again and get back on my nbe track.
Mel
Hi Mel,
I'm sure maca will fix DHEA and testosterone. I wonder too if docs see the right perspective. Women often take up smoking because of hormone imbalance.
Lol I standardsmoking because I was a teen working in a tobacco field...lol It was just standard practice for that life. But I sure liked it and miss it!
Mel
Itsjust4fun91,
That is interesting!!
Hmmm....I will give it a few more weeks to see if I have less hair. I haven't noticed anything negative with BO so far, the only thing, I am sleeping more than usual, and I have to force myself to get up, even when I sleep for 10 hours, I want to sleep more.
I am pretty sure its the BO, because I wasn't like this before.
Since maca balances hormones, I also read that it might have been interfering when prettymama was using herbs with Maca. I think that it might interfere with BO too. I was taking maca for a bigger booty, but I want boobs more than a booty. So today, I haven't taken any maca. I think I will try to focus on my breasts, then if I am successful at that, I will focus on my butt and add maca again. For now, I think that I will just stop the maca, anyone's thoughts about this???
I suspect it would hamper results also. I tried dim last year and the month I took it I didn't have any of my normal pains. I figure the things for hormone balance are for just that. I think they may be great for the in between times during breaks to bring someone back to a level playing field. My intent with the maca istouse it for a month or two then if it steadies things out go back to my bo.
Mel
You know, I had the same experience with chantix; well with the cluster headaches...aka...suicide headaches...aka...histamine headaches! They were the most hideous things I have ever experienced; and I have had 3 children--2 naturally. I did manage to quit smoking with the help of chantix, but a lot also relied upon my will power. It was very hard.
I had those cluster headaches for 2 months after finishing chantix. I used the medication two different times. So, it only occurred to me after I started coming off it the second time. I was on antibiotics for 1 year, and there never was anything wrong with me that I needed to use antibiotics for. I discovered that the headaches were being triggered by antihistamines and possibly beer... I haven't had either since my last episode last march of 2011, THANK GOD! They only got worse every time I got one! The last time I was on my way to the car to the hospital when it ended...
For those about to take chantix, please be aware that if you are a woman you are subject to these types of headaches! They are hideous, and you're probably better off looking for another way to quit; although I don't recommend wellbutrin because it makes you very angry and you will smoke double!