Thank you Michelle for your story in Paradise Mag. I like you have been tearing my hair out wondering what is going on with me. I finally put my foot down and demanded answers. I am 49 yrs old and was just told I am in menopause! I am reseaching the product SottoPelle the Bio Equivalent Hormonal Replacement Therapy. If anyone has some insite to the use of SottoPelle I would love to hear about it.Thank you Barbara
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment237 Comments
Hera again,
June 21, 2009 - 4:55pmWell, I got another estrogen pellet Monday and I am feeling pretty bad. I already suffer from dysthymia but this was different, felt very depressed, kept thinking about all I had to look forward to was getting older and dying (like you said, looking in the mirror is not fun although I don't look too bad yet as I had a face lift about a year and a half ago and I must say he did an excellent job--out today and saw this card that said, "the only thing bad about middle age is that you grow out of it" and I just got so depressed). Also been feeling slightly jittery, difficulty concentrating, really getting worried but then I thought I bet it has something to do with estrogen and probably being hormonally unbalanced. My dr. keeps saying that it may take a while to get everything balanced properly and that for some women it takes a while but I'm with you, this is getting pretty frustrating. I think my testosterone is going down also--still working out hard at gym and libido higher than it was but like you said, not going crazy anymore. I am now taking a vaginal progesterone that you take every other night for 6 doses a month. However, I am not losing any wt--can't believe it as much as I'm working out but then I do like to eat but still. The skin tone is better--luckily I'm not hairy so that's not a problem but my face has broken out some which is certainly the pits--in your 50s with zits, unreal I don't know, guess I will try a little longer but do agree with you, it's been a bit of a roller coaster.WHere do you live and what is your doctor telling you. Am so glad that found someone else who is not thrilled with these pellets.
This Comment
This is annonymous again (all we annonymous writers need to number ourselves or something). I'm in Bloomington, Indiana - the ob/gyn I see is trained in Sotto Pelle - he's very much into trying 'natrual' methods of correcting problems - he'd started me on the creams, also. I'd put it off because I was concerned about the testosterone's effects. I'm going to call this week to make an appointment since 7/16 wil be exactly 4 months. I stopped taking the oral progesterone again due to the cramping - think maybe the issue might be that I'm running low on estrogen now.Meanwhile, the testosterone seems to have rebounded -feeling a bit frisky this week. Gee, wish I could afford plastic surgery! I'm not so much wrinkled in the face as that it just falling - figure one day I'll look like a Bassett Hound. I've been using Stri Vecta on my neck which helps some with the turkey wrinkles. I've now lost 10 lbs - partly from the tesosteron & because I'm trying to do weights/walking & stop with the snacking. My doc said over time the testosterone rebuilds muscle from fat & that statistically it builds bone faster than all those bone medications. There's an online site from doctors (can't remember the name) that lists/explains research conducted on hormone pellets - that really sold me. Yes, I had many zits the 1st month & my few moustache hairs now grow back more quickly between plucks. My face & hair now get oily like they did before menopause. Do you get bloodwork often? Just wondered since you had another estrogen pellet. I just had blood work after 6 wks. I do plan to discuss with my doc various other methods of doing the progesterone. I can't deal with waking up with cramps during the night & the spotting. Last night I got 6 hrs sleep. Didn't they say we'd be able to sleep well? What happened to that?
June 23, 2009 - 5:30amThis Comment
Hi, it's Hera again. Wanted to check in to see how you are doing since you got your second implant. I am having a really negative time. Am so disappointed. Got a second estrogen pellet about a month ago as Dr. felt my levels were still too low and when I had the blood work she said my body was really soaking it up but my levels weren't changing that much and I am so depressed! Now she is saying that some people don't seem able to use hormones effectively and that they impact the body in ways similar to anti-depressants (I am pretty resistant to them also). I don't know what to do--she said it's possible the estrogen is worsening my depression! I like the testosterone (you're right, she said the t patch is not available in US but can get cream compounded). She wanted me to try an estrogen ring just to see if I would feel worse or better with even more estrogen but was unable to buy less than a 3 month supply and she wanted me to try for just 2 weeks. I am just so disappointed. Also haven't found a form of progesterone that is working--did the vaginal cream last month and it's a bit of a pain, still caused some stomach discomfort. Like I said previously, I have gained ovver 10 lbs despite the fact that I work out extensively. So what have your results been now. Anyone else having negative effects.
July 27, 2009 - 5:13amThis Comment
For Hera from annonymous - I had the 2nd implant on 7/27 & felt better after my discussion with the doctor, who agreed that the last testosterone dose was too high after I described the symptoms. He cut it by 40% this time -said that's enough to still help with bone density & cholesterol but not make my sex drive crazy. I got the same amount of estrogen & he said that some women go through it before four months is up & that I can always come in to get a 'booster' before next full injection. He also said the progesterone is the biggest symptomatic issue women have & that it really doesn't provide much benefit other than keeping lining from building up in the uterus. He said there's progesterone tabs one can put under one's tongue which are less intense than the pill form dosage. I'm going this week for an ultrasound to make sure I don't have polyps or fibroids causing spotting before we further discuss the progesterone. I'm very sorry to hear about your issue with the estrogen - sounds like you have a fairly unique body chemistry. Did you have this trouble with the compounded creams? I still slept better on the creams plus they stopped my charly horse/leg cramps. Keep in touch on how you're coming along & I'll do the same.
July 29, 2009 - 5:19amThis Comment
Hi, it's Hera. I never tried the creams. I did use the low dose regular hormones for about 2 years and they actually worked just as well as pellets as far as estrogen went but I am not too keen about taking something orally like that. She is going to have me try the patch and if having more helps I'll just go back to the pellets with a higher dose--if it doesn't I'm not sure what the next option is. She said I could take the testosterone without estrogen but if I don't do the estrogen pellets I guess I'll go for the cream as seems too expensive to do the insertion just for testosterone. I thaink my last report my testosterone was down to 60 or 80--can't remember. I can tell it's less and about ready for more but guess I'll see what happens with estrogen. What were your testosterone levels--can you tell you got so much less this time. So do you feel better mood wise now with the second go round.
July 29, 2009 - 3:19pmThis Comment
Annonymous here... so far I'm sleeping better with less testosterone & don't feel sexually crazed or scatterbrained or antsy. I had the same amount of estrogen but it's not working as well - have minor incontinence & some vaginal dryness so am now wondering if larger doses of testosterone also help with that. I see the doctor next week so will ask. I now have thickened entrmetrial lining in my uterus so am pondering if I want another D&C (had one 4 yrs ago) or just have the uterus yanked out - would solve the progesterone issue & could have bladder surgery at same time. Other than sleeping better I'm not noticing other benefits - no more energy, etc.
August 11, 2009 - 8:39amThis Comment
Well, my dr. put me on estrogen patch and I have noticed no difference! I really am just going to tell her I want to take the lowest dose of bioidentical estrogen possible--why take the risks for nothing but no hot flashes. I also am taking the progesterone vaginal cream --on my final dose tonight and started a period before I even finished so that is weird. Haven't heard back from Dr. So I guess I am going to go for all creams as I can't see paying all that money for pellets for nothing and I really think a cream would keep your testosterone steady at least. It is strange how some women seem to get so much out of these pellets but some of us don't????
August 11, 2009 - 3:08pmThis Comment
Hera here,
June 25, 2009 - 9:37amThat is great that you have lost 10 lbs. You must have sent it to me! My dr. thought the progesterone may have caused some of depression/agitation. I got blood work prior to the insertion, 5 weeks after the initial insertion (my testosterone was 140), then when I wasn't having good results she ordered it again, 4 weeks later. Then based on the 2nd reading, she added more estrogen and I am to go for blood work 4 weeks after that insertion. I don't think normally you get that much but she said we need to get me balanced properly. I sometimes get a little nervous about it. I used to take the really low dose regular HRT and like you it worked well for sleep and hot flashes. Most things you read say stay at as low dose as possible. It makes sense that not having to go through the stomach and liver is less risky but every once in awhile I wonder if I am hurting my body in any way, especially since I'm not getting that much of a payoff. I also don't sleep well, Overall I like the testosterone except for the facial breakouts--after the initial bout I thought it would be over and don't understand how I can work out like I do and still gain wt and it's not muscle wt as my clothes are tighter. Like you though I will probably give it one more cycle. I'm not crazy about this vaginal gel progesterone and thought I'd try the 100 mg but it sounds like that isn't so great either. I don't understand as I had no problems with the progesterone in the old HRT. So how long did your Dr. say it took for the fat to turn to muscle.
As far as the face lift, the same with me, I wasn't really wrinkled just starting to sag and figured I'd get it then so it wouldn't be as noticeable--my dr. was incredible and you would never know I had one--everyone is amazed at how good of a job he did. I couldn't afford it either but have a rich sister who sort of loaned me the money. Again, so glad someone else here is not so over the moon about this. Did you read the article about Oprah in Newsweek--it's so hard to know what to believe these days. If you remember the name of the site with drs talking about pellets send it. Well, hang in there, what else can we do.
This Comment
I live in Philadelphia and my doctor is in Ardmore. If you live anywhere near I am happy to give you her name.
June 16, 2009 - 4:41pmThis Comment
I have a friend that regrets having this bio identical implant. She is trying to find out about other women and whether they had negative side effects.
June 11, 2009 - 10:05amThis Comment