I wasn't all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title="Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research" href="http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310" target="_blank">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you're anywhere near peri-menopause.   I'll spoil it for those of you who don't want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!

I have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.

Here are some of my personal examples:

<strong>Infertility</strong>: without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and get pregnant the first month I start my hormones.

<strong>Miscarriage</strong>: suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took progesterone for approximately the first trimester.

<strong>PMS:</strong> was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn't address my problem which was progesterone deficiency and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!

Panic D

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