Sarah’s Question: Thank you for writing your post weighing the differences between creams and oral capsules . What dosing would be typical for a premenopausal woman with PCOS and amenorrhea (1-2 menstrual cycles per year) who is seeking to regulate cycles? Short Answer: We often prescribe between 50 mg and 200 mg of bioidentical, sustained-release progesterone for women with a variety of hormone-related symptoms. For PCOS, a good dose would be 75 mg of progesterone. It is common for many women w...
Apr 09, 2020
Elizabeth’s Question: I just got my lab results back and they are: TSH, Thyroid-stimulating hormone, is 1.33, Free T4 is 1.64, Free T3 is 2.9, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, that’s for the Hashimoto’s, is 16. My doctor said my Free T4 was a little high so she suggested cutting my levothyroxine, which is a T4 only medication, 50 micrograms in half, which would be 25 micrograms and to come back in a couple of months for labs. Do you think my Free T3 levels are low? I’ve been having terrible issues...
Apr 07, 2020
Lisa’s Question: I have a free T4 of 1.5, a TSH at 3.09 and I have a free T3 of 2.7. Do these seem like they are within parameters? My ENT says everything is fine with my numbers, and my vitamin D is 26.5. Short Answer: This is a good example of a high normal TSH level (3.09), which does raise some concerns. Any time we see a TSH above 2.0 to 2.5, it gets our attention. A high normal TSH level, along with clinical symptoms helpt to determine the best course of action for the patient. We like to ...
Apr 02, 2020
Danette’s Question: Can you determine if I should be considered for hypothyroidism? I have five of the listed symptoms, but my labs fall into “normal ranges” from my lab. Free T4 is 1.1, free T3 is 3.0. TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone, is .82. Short Answer: Many people could be considered to have Subclinical Hypothyroidism. This is when thyroid labs are all within the normal range, but several symptoms are present. In Danette’s case, her labs actually look fairly decent. Her TSH is below 1.0 an...
Apr 01, 2020
Angie’s Questions: Hi, I’m going to start Biest compounded at 80/20 ratio; 80% estriol, 20% estradiol, 2.5 milligrams once a day, and 100 milligrams compounded slow-release progesterone pill. My doctor and I decided on this amount because I read from a well-known hormone doctor that anything less will not help the heart, the brain, and the bones. Question. Will the cream travel through my body enough to help with those or should it be in a pill form, which I would rather not do since I’m already...
Mar 31, 2020
Lisa’s Question: I have recently started taking 50mg of progesterone and bi est cream 50.50 it’s been 3 weeks. Experiencing hot flash at night and seeing very little improvement in my sleep. Does it really matter where we apply the bi est cream, I was told inner highs, I feel I absorb it better in the inner arm, Also could the dosage be too low, I cannot tolerate more than 50mg of progesterone. These are compounded in pharmacy. Short Answer: We recommend that our patients apply their cream to th...
Mar 26, 2020
Michelle’s Questions: I am 52 years old going through menopause since 48. I had a hysterectomy at age of 36 and kept my ovaries for the hormones. My ovaries are nonfunctional now. I was on Premarin, but when I sought out a specialist for hormone therapy, I was prescribed: Estradiol 0.5 Estriol one milligram, which is technically Bios. It’s the combination of estriol and Estradiol. Estradiol was 0.5 milligrams, Estriol is one milligram. And I am also taking a hundred milligrams of Progesterone. I...
Mar 24, 2020
In this episode, we discuss the immune system and give you specifics to help you during the cold and flu season. Most of us are very busy and don’t really have time to get sick. Below are some simple ideas to help you boost immune function and hopefully protect you during the cold and flu season. What Supplements Support Immune Function? Vitamin D: for immune support, we recommend taking 2,000 to 10,000 IU depending on your exact situation. To boost immune function, you could take 5,000 IU’s dai...
Dec 19, 2019
The holiday season is upon again, which is a great time of year to spend with family and friends. However, it can be a stressful time of year as well. Not to mention, it is also the cold and flu season. Most of us are too busy and don’t have time to get sick, but that is part of the problem. We push ourselves too hard. Sleep is often never enough, so we open ourselves to illness. In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the connection between stress, your adrenals, and immune function. Over th...
Dec 03, 2019
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, we continue explaining the three main types of Adrenal Fatigue/Dysfunction that we see often. Here is a quick recap: Vampire (episode 68): High cortisol at night and low cortisol in the morning. Hard to fall asleep and very difficult to wake in the morning. Weight gain and evening carb and sugar cravings. Feel much better in the evening and will refer to themselves as a night person.’ Ghost (episode 69): Cortisol is very low in the afternoon a...
Oct 29, 2019
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, we continue talking about the main types of Adrenal Fatigue that we see. We are certainly not trying to minimize Adrenal Dysfunction but to make it more interesting and easy to understand, we call these main types: Vampire (episode: 68) Ghost (this episode 69) Zombie (episode 70 – next episode) Adrenal Fatigue or Adrenal Dysfunction (which is what we like to call it) is a real condition that affects millions of people in our country. And the e...
Oct 24, 2019
In our last episode, we talked about Adrenal Fatigue / Adrenal Dysfunction and how to test for it. In the next three episodes, we are going to focus on three main types of Adrenal Dysfunction that we see. Three main types of Adrenal Fatigue: The Vampire The Ghost The Zombie Adrenal Fatigue is quite real and can seriously impact someone’s life. We are not trying to make light of the effect that Adrenal Dysfunction can have. But we find by putting some easily remembered descriptions; this medical ...
Oct 17, 2019
In our last episode we talked about the differences between PCOS and Adrenal Dysfunction, which is often called Adrenal Fatigue. Adrenal Fatigue or Adrenal Dysfunction is not a ICD10 diagnosis. There is an actual ICD10 billable code called: unspecified adrenocortical insufficiency (E27.40). But there is controversy in using this code for patients. It is technically meant for conditions where the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. You might be ...
Oct 14, 2019
In our last series of episodes, we talked about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We have categorized PCOS into three types: Classic Common Concealed Classic has the majority of all the symptomatology that pertains to PCOS. Common has some but not all of the symptoms of PCOS. Concealed PCOS is often missed. What we have found is that the Concealed type of PCOS has a lot of properties and similarities with adrenal fatigue. In this episode, we are going to talk about the similarities between PCO...
Oct 03, 2019
In this episode, we are going to continue talking about the Types of PCOS that we have seen. As we have said, (repetitively) PCOS is not a one size fits all. There are some women that have most of the symptoms to just a few. We have three types that we have seen in treating patients since 2004. It is important to have this distinction when it comes to health goals and treatment plans. Doctors that routinely treat PCOS will tell you there are different types. They might have their types that they...
Sep 27, 2019
In this episode, we continue talking about PCOS. As mentioned in the previous episode, we have seen three main types of PCOS. PCOS is more of a spectrum of symptoms. Some women have most of the symptoms of PCOS and others just a few. The varying degree of hormonal imbalances will help mold the three types of PCOS that we have seen. Many doctors that treat PCOS all can agree that there are different types of PCOS. The three types that we have found with PCOS are: Classic Common Concealed In this ...
Sep 27, 2019
There are three main types of PCOS that we have seen treating patients since 2004. As you have heard from the past podcasts, PCOS is a spectrum of symptoms. It is a spectrum of symptoms coming from a set of hormonal imbalances. Every woman with PCOS might have some to all to a few of the symptoms of PCOS. That is because there might be varying degrees of hormonal imbalances. While there might be some disagreement, there are three types that we have encountered the most. And each of these three h...
Sep 25, 2019
PCOS Testing and Diagnosis: In this episode, we talk about the testing and labs for a diagnosis for PCOS. These testing and labs are also a good way to monitor PCOS. Ultrasound: Checking for multiple cysts on or in the ovaries. It is still very common to have PCOS but have not cysts ( string of pearls ). LH: FSH ratio: 2:1 or more DHEA-S: DHEA-sulfate is the best way to test for DHEA levels in the blood. DHEA-sulfate is a metabolite of DHEA and is much more accurate to determine DHEA levels than...
Sep 19, 2019
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, we are going to talk about PCOS. I know our last podcast was, PCOS, Questions to Ask your Doctor. We are still going strong on our PCOS information. But we are going to do things a little different than we have. We are going to do a five-part podcast series about PCOS. What PCOS Looks Like: What is it? (this podcast) How PCOS Can Be Detected: Testing and Diagnosis for PCOS Which Type of PCOS Am I?: Classic Which Type of PCOS Am I?: Common Whic...
Sep 18, 2019
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, we want to discuss questions you might want to ask your doctor when it comes to PCOS. PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The name can be misleading. Polycystic means, having multiple cysts on or in your ovaries. While this can be true, many women with PCOS do not have any ovarian cysts. PCOS is a collection of hormonal imbalances that may result in cysts and other unwanted symptoms. During this episode, we talk about the diagnosis, s...
Sep 17, 2019
This is one of the top concerns of women in Perimenopause. Perimenopause usually occurs in women between the ages of the late ’30s to late ’40s. An important note here is, Perimenopause is not Menopause. And while both Perimenopause and Menopause may have some of the same symptoms. There are also many differences between the two. It is of value to know this because treating and working with Perimenopause can be quite different from Menopause. The hormone changes in Perimenopause can cause a lot ...
Sep 05, 2019
Kavinace by Neuroscience is no longer available as a supplement. April 10th, 2019, the FDA issued a letter to several nutraceutical companies to discontinue supplements containing 4-amino-3phenylbutyric acid. The FDA has determined that 4-amino-3phenylbutyric acid, also commonly referred to as Phenibut is not a dietary supplement. We published a previous Kavinace article shortly after the FDA letters were sent out. As of the letter dated April 10th, the companies had 15 days to comply. This left...
Jul 08, 2019
It is common to mistake perimenopause for menopause and vice versa. Labs can be misleading. Doctors can be misleading in your concerns about whether you are in perimenopause vs. menopause. Even symptoms can be misleading. In this article, I am going to explain the differences between perimenopause and menopause. As well as information to help you determine which hormone phase you are in at the moment. Both perimenopause and menopause can start between 35 to 50years old. As the word states, perim...
Jun 26, 2019
In this podcast, we talk about the difference between PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and perimenopause. We get this question all the time, Doc, I think I am going into menopause.’ When really, they are nowhere near menopause, let alone perimenopause. What makes it so confusing is that there are so many similarities between PMS and perimenopause. But some distinctions are important to point out, especially when it comes to testing and treatment. PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is pretty much as it sound...
May 03, 2019
In this episode, we answer a reader question about her low T3. Kelli’s case is a bit complicated, but it sheds light on how important it is to address low T3 levels. We get this question all the time about the thyroid hormone, T3. Many will say, ‘my free T3 levels are low, but my doctor will not do anything about it’. We wanted to talk about low T3 and how there are many factors that can cause a low T3. Also on ways to increase your T3 conversion as well as some medications for low T3. We are al...
May 03, 2019
For this episode, we wanted to answer another reader question. We love answering reader and listener questions. Also, we understand that you might not be getting answers from your docs and feel frustrated. Honestly, we really try to go into depth on answering these reader/listener questions as we want to be as thorough as possible on conditions, symptoms, dosing, and options. With that said, this is meant to be educational only and not meant for medical advice (there, my attorney will be very ha...
Dec 07, 2018
This episode we respond to a reader question. Jayme had sent us a question earlier in the year based on an article we wrote. Now she has additional questions about taking progesterone as part of her BHRT. Jayme has had a hysterectomy and wasn’t sure what dose of progesterone is best for her. Or for that matter, if she should even be taking it. Also, she has questions about her lab work and her estrogen dose. We really like Jayme’s question, because we get similar concerns often. By answering Jay...
Nov 16, 2018
In this episode, we respond to Karen. Karen read an article of ours on BHRT and sent these concerns about her menopause and hormone dosages. We love Karen’s question because it shows how technical BHRT can be. As you will see from Karen’s question, there are multiple aspects to consider when treating a woman with hormones. Karen’s Concerns: Her symptoms of weight gain, hot flashes, and night sweats The many avenues of dosing such as estradiol patches, hormones creams and the combination of takin...
Nov 06, 2018
In this episode, we answer a reader question. This question is from Jen, responding to one of our articles. Jen’s question is important because hormone treatment can often come as a prescription. And it is important to understand our prescriptions and if they are actually going to be beneficial. Jen’s question relates to her current BHRT prescription that her doctor has recently put her on. She has side effects from her medication. Plus she is not noticing the effectiveness that she was hoping. ...
Oct 22, 2018
When we started this podcast and writing articles, we were very naive about who would want to read this stuff. Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would want to listen to a husband/wife couple-docs that only dealt with hormone balancing. Being an introvert, I am really pushing myself outside of my comfort zone with these articles and podcasts. I cannot believe how many readers and responses we have gotten. I am absolutely amazed at how many responses we have gotten from people outside of the USA. I ...
Sep 21, 2018
