RA and Menopause

[Anonymous]

I am new to this, so I'm not sure if I am doing this correctly.  I have had RA for almost five years now with great success on AP therapy, until recently.  I had a full hysterectomy in December and a few months later had a major flare.  I feel the hormone issue has thrown me into a full blown flare, worse than when I was originally diagnosed, and I'm not sure what to do at this point.  I am very discouraged and frustrated. 

After reading some information on soy and calcium, I don't know if I am hurting myself or what.  I have been taking calcium with vitamin D and drinking soy milk every day (to help with menopause symptoms)…and now I started taking Juice Plus supplements to boost my immune system. 

I am worried that the AP therapy has just stopped working for me and if I should contact my doctor to pursue other options.  Don't want to do that, but I have to do something.  Hoping to find information or link between RA flare ups and menopause, and possible suggestions.  If anyone has any information or advise, I'd greatly appreciate it. 

[steph-sclero]

Hi!

I have Scleroderma and am pre-menopausal and yes my hormone influx reeks havok with my disease. It can either make some symptoms worse or actually seems to have a hand in some flares. Are you on any kind of hormone replacement therapy. I know there's a lot of controversy about HRT but in some bad cases there doesn't seem to be any other options. Holistic approaches aren't always enough. Never underestimate the power of hormones or lack there of in all this.

Hope this helps,

Steph

[John McDonald]

As it turns out Marshall fingers both dietary D and some soy isoflavines as immuno suppressive. If you buy that your RA is caused by microbes, as I do, then Soy and vitamin D are the exact wrong things to consume.  Of the two dietary vitamin D is by far the more significant. Vitamin D is a seco-steroid, an over the counter steroid.

john

[lynnie_sydney]

Blow is an extract from the notes of a respected AP Doc who “spoke” online on the rheumatic support site in June last year. He put himself into remission from RA. Firnly major believes hormone changes responsible for triggering RA in women. 

Some RA and MS patients put the diseases in remission with Estriol and Progesterone… Estriol and Progesterone protect the immune system… man made progesterone has about 50 side effects. Estriol and progesterone need to be balanced – best to use bioidentical hormones…  Progestrone decreases reflux.

 

 

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[tish]

hi lynnie, so progesterone helps with acid reflux, i would love to know i have major reflux tonite.

[tish]

hey debbie, i am having menopause problems with my sd right now, i believe the menopause problems are definitely exuberating my sd, or at least are side by side.  i'm doing progesterone, a p.m. black cohash mixture, vitex and dhea.  nothing seems to be helping right now.  i can't use hrt.  hope you're menopause problems will get under control.  i have major hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and (my poor husband) terrible mood swings, and depression. 

[Maz]

[user=407]Debbie K[/user] wrote:

Hoping to find information or link between RA flare ups and menopause, and possible suggestions.   

As far as I know, if the ovaries are left, hormones should still be produced, although it's now known that the uterus, itself, produces some hormones, so it's possible that this may have caused a dip in hormones and increased menopause symptoms.

Some AP doctors recommend (and some women here find) that supplementing with bio-identical hormones (BHRT) helps to alleviate their rheumatoid symptoms. These type of hormones are usually prescribed by a holistic or naturopathic doctor and are pharmacy compounded to suit the individual.

I think a number of people experience these type of post-operative flares. May be a combination of a number of things…stress, the body's attempt to heal, anesthesia and reduced exercise causing slower eliminations for some weeks after (slower detoxing)…and in the case of hysterectomy, even if partial, a change in hormone levels.

I've been doing a little research with the hormone connection and mycoplasma. Seems these little cell wall deficient (CWD) beasties require a ready source of cholesterol, in the form of sterols, to maintain their outer lipid layer. Cholesterol in healthy, balanced amounts is needed for hormone production. Many women experience flares or initiation of disease during the change of life when hormones are waning, at different times of the month pre and perimenopause, post-partum when all pregnancy hormone levels drop precipitously and during periods of stress causing hormone fluctuation. The endochrines, therefore, seem to be inextricably linked with mycoplasmal infection and how this affects the body.

We notice a flare in symptoms during these times, but also when we herx, when the mycos are under threat and dying off. In other words, when under threat (either from the waxing and waning of blood serum levels of antibiotics or reduced hormone levels), the toxins released by the mycos cause an increase in symptoms. So, sounds like your mycos may be under threat and looking for a new sterol source on which to feed.

Bearing in mind that this is all just 'layman theory' on my part at this point, the question then arises whether we should or should not supplement with bio-identical hormones. Essentially, these are manufactured from plant sterols (called triterpenes)which are then engineered to be bio-identical to the human body…to fit like keys into human hormone receptor cells in order to replace hormones that have been lost. These bio-identicals are thought to be much safer than chemically produced HRT (hormone replacement therapy), however, by replacing these lost sterols is the relief that is gained at a cost? Are the mycos just sent into a quiescient state, yet again, happy and reproducing at whim?

Ultimately, the decision to replace or not to replace with BHRT is a personal decision and may bring temporary relief, but it is worth doing a little research on this before making an informed choice. 😉

While this probably doesn't help you much at this point to read all this “theoretical” babble, Debbie, I hope it may reassuring to you to consider that it may just be that your mycos aren't as happy as they were now that your hormone levels are waning and you're in healing mode from your surgery. So, hang in there with the AP and, if you need some temporary help with these herx/flares, it may be worth asking your doc for a stronger pain med to get you through this tough patch for a bit, as well as working on detoxing.

Wishing you all the best with this…it's not much fun going through major surgery only to have to face this.

Peace, Maz  

 

 

[lynnie_sydney]

Maz – if the ovaries are left, sometimes there is sufficient of the estrogens and I think produced in other parts of the body. Not always sufficient for some people, though.But I believe no progesterone at all produced after menopause. BTW girls, anything you buy over the counter will not do the job. The body is unable to break it down. You need a prescription for bio-identical, which has already been broken down into what the body can absorb. Lynnie 

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[Susan LymeRA]

I have two medical doctors who prescribe bio-identical hormones.  One of them is also a rheumatologist. 

Neither of them have put me on the BHRT and I'm not sure why as I am postmenopausal.  I assume because my thyroid is still normal.  My rheumy did say I can NEVER take the synthetic HRT.  A gene test reveals I am at high risk for breast cancer.

The bio-identical is safer.

Susan

 

[lynnie_sydney]

Susan – it's unlikely that your rheumie will make the connection between hormones and RA symptoms unless he/she is an AP advocate and, even then, it's not universal. You may find that they've never put you on them, because you haven't asked for them.

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for all of the info.!  A lot to absorb…but definitely very helpful.

My ovaries were both removed when I had the hysterectomy, so I think it was a definite shock to my system.  I tried a low dosage of HRT, but started to have some reactions.  I thought it was the HRT, but it might have been that it was just my body starting to flare.  The flare ocurred at the same time I stared HRT.  I came off of the HRT and it I seemed to be feeling better, but it was just temporary.  I went down hill quickly.  Seems I definitely need to do some research on the BHRT. 

Will stop consuming soy and calcium with vitamin D.   Am a little confused about what to do for calium supplement as this is all new to me.  Doc's have stressed the definite need for me to take a supplement with vitamin d to prevent bone loss and issues associated with that down the line.  I guess I will have to look into a calcium supplement without vitamin d….again, all new to me.  I have a lot of homework to do! 🙂

Thanks again,

Debbie

 

[Maz]

Hi Debbie,

You might find this website helpful:

 http://www.power-surge.com/

It's a website dedicated to women going through the change and there is a lot of information on BHRT. Holistic and naturopathic doctors are usually the ones to prescribe it and work with labs and a compounding pharmacy to get the right mix for you. I believe there is also a compounding pharmacist affiliated with Power Surge who you can call for a consult. One thing to be sure to do is to get hormone labs done on a regular basis to ensure you're getting the right mix for you. Oversupplementation can cause other problems to the endochrine cascade.

Also, did your doc mention that when taking calcium that it was important to also take magnesium in a 2:1 ratio? Calcium alone can cause some problems in the body (gall stones, arterial plaque, kidney stones, bone spurs, slowed eliminations leading to buildup of toxins in the gut, etc) and magnesium is needed to properly assimilate calcium. Also, calcium is a muscle constrictor and magnesium is a muscle relaxant…so calcium on its own could also be adding to your pain as we tend to tighten up when in a flare, whereas magnesium should help to relax you.  

Peace, Maz

[Susan LymeRA]

Hi lynnie,

Actually, my rheumatologist is a firm believer in infectious causes to RA.  She has spoken of the BHRT and as I said, she prescribes it.  She is also an ILADS Lyme Specialist which is important to me as I beleive lyme caused my RA.

I feel really lucky to have her. 

Maz,

Thanks for that website.  I look forward to reviewing it.

Susan

 

[JBJBJB]

This is a very interesting site to read.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/women_menopause.htm

it's about treating menopause naturally.

JB

[Author]

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