09-11-2011, 20:16
So here I am, starting yet another new program. And once again I need some help! I have taken PM in the past with very moderate success but I also totally overdid it and started experiencing estrogen dominance and wasn't able to continue taking it. (In my defense, it was the first form of NBE I'd tried and didn't realize at that time that I was so sensitive to the hormones.) So I know that it could really work for me, if only I can get the cycling and dosage right. This was about 4 years ago, before all the more recent information about cycling and using other herbs at certain times of the cycle was really even available. I was doing the typical "start on first of period, take for 14 days (or 15? can't remember) and then stop, start again the following cycle. It's no wonder it messed up my cycles and overall wellbeing.
After trying the "other" typical herbs (individual and WU) and then BO and not tolerating either very well, I'm moving on to PM. A lot of what made me decide to give it another chance is that it allows for so much experimentation and room to tweak the dosage. The problem I'm having is that there are now so many different ways of doing that, that I'm not sure what would be best for me to start out with.
Here are the negative symptoms I've had with literally every single NBE program I've done (except for Noogleberry, of course):
* The major problem is that the day my period ends, or the day after, I will end up with a horrendous headache. Not only does my head feel beyond miserable, I also feel overwhelmingly exhausted, tired, lethargic, etc. My thinking will be very foggy. I literally feel like I can't function - mentally or physically. It's worse than any flu or head cold type of sickness. The next day will usually be quite a bit better as far as the headache goes, but I'll feel like I've been hit by a truck. Still really tired and lethargic. I'm assuming this is because estrogen levels are at the highest around day 7 of a cycle, so that in combination with whatever I'm taking is just bringing my estrogen over-the-top. So whatever cycling program I go with, I really need it to work against that.
* Acne. Typically occurs a week or so before my period starts. When I was on WU I had a pimple on my chin at the time I ovulated, but it was very minor and went away within a few days. On BO I had a pimple on my chin that appeared a little over a week before my period started. It seemed like it wasn't going to be that bad, but then a couple others popped up and the first one got worse. It's still not gone, a little over 3 weeks later. I've never in my life had a breakout last that long.
Really that's about it... Those are really the only side-effects I've encountered this time around with NBE. I can't say that I won't experience any new ones with PM, but as of now, those are the main problems I'm trying to combat. So I need my program to work against those.
Some general information about my cycles:
* Normally (naturally) 28 days long.
* I always know when I ovulate, and it's always on day 14. So I'm very regular, naturally, with my cycles.
* Periods usually last 5-7 days. I would say 5 or 6 is average.
* I normally don't get any cyclical headaches or other side-effects. It's only when on NBE that that happens.
* I was on Beyaz, which is a low-dose combination bcp that completely eliminated all hormonal breakouts and any random headaches. I always had a lot of pains, soreness, and swelling. I went up at least half a cup size, if not a little more. I felt very balanced, both mentally and physically, while taking it. So it seems that I really need that balance of estrogen and progesterone. Not just loads of extra estrogen.
I was originally thinking of doing something like GorgeousBlonde, and take PM on days 7 (or 8, depending on however long my period was) thru day 12 (to allow for ovulation, since I ovulate on day 14). Then starting back up again on day 18-24 (those numbers may need some tweaking? not totally sure just how much time to allow for ovulation, and at what point I should stop taking PM before my period would start). I think that would be good for me to try, so that way I'm not getting the extra estrogen during my period, and not taking it on that first day after to hopefully avoid that mess. But then I wonder if I should do something like starting on day 1, stopping on day 14, and then use PC cream or take something to increase progesterone in the luteal phase.
OR, can I follow GorgeousBlonde's cycling program but still use PC cream in the luteal phase (even though I would be taking PM during that time too)? That's probably a stupid question. I'm just trying to get this figured out. :huh:
After trying the "other" typical herbs (individual and WU) and then BO and not tolerating either very well, I'm moving on to PM. A lot of what made me decide to give it another chance is that it allows for so much experimentation and room to tweak the dosage. The problem I'm having is that there are now so many different ways of doing that, that I'm not sure what would be best for me to start out with.
Here are the negative symptoms I've had with literally every single NBE program I've done (except for Noogleberry, of course):
* The major problem is that the day my period ends, or the day after, I will end up with a horrendous headache. Not only does my head feel beyond miserable, I also feel overwhelmingly exhausted, tired, lethargic, etc. My thinking will be very foggy. I literally feel like I can't function - mentally or physically. It's worse than any flu or head cold type of sickness. The next day will usually be quite a bit better as far as the headache goes, but I'll feel like I've been hit by a truck. Still really tired and lethargic. I'm assuming this is because estrogen levels are at the highest around day 7 of a cycle, so that in combination with whatever I'm taking is just bringing my estrogen over-the-top. So whatever cycling program I go with, I really need it to work against that.
* Acne. Typically occurs a week or so before my period starts. When I was on WU I had a pimple on my chin at the time I ovulated, but it was very minor and went away within a few days. On BO I had a pimple on my chin that appeared a little over a week before my period started. It seemed like it wasn't going to be that bad, but then a couple others popped up and the first one got worse. It's still not gone, a little over 3 weeks later. I've never in my life had a breakout last that long.
Really that's about it... Those are really the only side-effects I've encountered this time around with NBE. I can't say that I won't experience any new ones with PM, but as of now, those are the main problems I'm trying to combat. So I need my program to work against those.
Some general information about my cycles:
* Normally (naturally) 28 days long.
* I always know when I ovulate, and it's always on day 14. So I'm very regular, naturally, with my cycles.
* Periods usually last 5-7 days. I would say 5 or 6 is average.
* I normally don't get any cyclical headaches or other side-effects. It's only when on NBE that that happens.
* I was on Beyaz, which is a low-dose combination bcp that completely eliminated all hormonal breakouts and any random headaches. I always had a lot of pains, soreness, and swelling. I went up at least half a cup size, if not a little more. I felt very balanced, both mentally and physically, while taking it. So it seems that I really need that balance of estrogen and progesterone. Not just loads of extra estrogen.
I was originally thinking of doing something like GorgeousBlonde, and take PM on days 7 (or 8, depending on however long my period was) thru day 12 (to allow for ovulation, since I ovulate on day 14). Then starting back up again on day 18-24 (those numbers may need some tweaking? not totally sure just how much time to allow for ovulation, and at what point I should stop taking PM before my period would start). I think that would be good for me to try, so that way I'm not getting the extra estrogen during my period, and not taking it on that first day after to hopefully avoid that mess. But then I wonder if I should do something like starting on day 1, stopping on day 14, and then use PC cream or take something to increase progesterone in the luteal phase.
OR, can I follow GorgeousBlonde's cycling program but still use PC cream in the luteal phase (even though I would be taking PM during that time too)? That's probably a stupid question. I'm just trying to get this figured out. :huh: