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Has anyone had experience using the Wiley Protocol of hormone replacement therapy?
It is a method where bioidentical hormones are prescribed and are given transdermally -- through the skin -- in a patent-pending cream. A primary
difference between this protocol and some others is that the hormonal levels rise and fall, similar to the way a woman's normal cycle did when she was still menstruating.
There is some controversy on the web about T.S. Wiley's qualifications for developing a medical protocol, since she is not a doctor herself, she studied anthropology (though she co-authored the book "Sex, Lies, and Menopause" with Julie Taguchi, M.D.)
Some women claim wonderful results; others claim very troubling side effects. Does anyone out there have personal experiences to share?
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Add a Comment317 Comments
Amy,
That's really interesting about Wiley Protocol users needing to use the HCG diet to get the weight off.
How long have you been using Vivelle and Emirita? And because you are taking both, I am assuming you still have uterus/ovaries, yes?
And can you tell us what you've noticed since you've been on this routine? In terms of mood, libido, skin, hair etc?
February 4, 2010 - 8:28amThis Comment
Hi Diane,
I did the Wiley Protocol and I was extremely excited about it when I started. Getting some estrogen into my system after being so depleted felt wonderful and the dose was really high so it felt great! But it also felt scary and so much like a rollercoaster ride. I kept waiting to get everything "balanced", but I just got sicker and sicker, especially during the time when I used the progesterone. Eventually I just had to stop it. I still use BHRT and love it. Many women don't seem to realize that there are other options for hormone replacement.
Leanne
February 4, 2010 - 2:30amThis Comment
Leanne,
Thanks so much for writing about your experience. I have to admit that I would love to get some estrogen into my system right about now! So I bet that you did indeed feel wonderful to start. But the progesterone phase sounds so difficult.
What BHRT do you use, if I might ask? And did you discover it through your regular ob/gyn or through another doctor? Or a naturopath?
February 4, 2010 - 8:26amThis Comment
Hi Diane,
Estrogen is amazing when it's the right amount. So is progesterone. In the right amount. The WP was my first experience with BHRT so I had no idea the WP was so high dose. And the high dosing is so unnecessary.
I still use a compounded cream for my estrogen everyday and use Prometrium for progesterone every few weeks. That's what I'm doing right now. It could change. I don't like patches, but some of my friends love and prefer them. I went to a doctor that is familiar with anti-aging medicine. I had to look around to find a doctor that would work with me. It's worth it to find something that works for you. Now my BHRT is easy. The WP experience was not easy at all.
Leanne
February 4, 2010 - 1:54pmThis Comment
Hi Diane,
February 4, 2010 - 2:07amThis Comment
thanks Diane. I appreciate your sympathy. My doc. isnt AS focused on nutrition but still suggests things I can do. She's more concerned about just balancing my system out before nutrition however I believe wholeheartedly that diet and excersise will be crucial. Im not anywhere close to having the energy I remember having but still striving to be active and cut sugar out of my diet. I am very prone to failing in both area's but still striving to get there. I know sugar absolutly precurses depression for me and unfortunatly my cravings for it tend to overtake my rational decision to not eat it. My doc said those cravings are VERY hormonally related, which is nice to know and seemingly are dissippating- just slowly. I do strive to take fish oil and d3 every day as well as b vit's, calcium, magnesium and apple cider vinegar. I have a slightly slugging thyroid so I AM taking a low dose of thyroid.
Yeah- its crazy to know of SO many functions of hormones and Im just soo happy to know that Im not a hypochodriac and it's not all in my head. Im realizing that my body really LIKES estrogen and the days Im applying higher amounts of it- the better I feel emotionally and physically- that coincides with my doc's theroy that I will need an increase in estrogen after three months- Im actually excited to increase it.
Anyways- thanks for your sweet concern. It truly is nice to talk this out with someone rather than seeing only testimonies (good and bad) without true concrete knowlege that person actually exists.
Im sorry to hear that you've delt with deppression. How have you handled it? Have you found any hormone treatment that appeals to you? Have you used any hormones?
January 25, 2010 - 4:15pmThis Comment
Hey there- Im new here. I just briefly wanted to share my experience thus far while on the wily protcol. Im in my third month of using it and have had good and bad side effects however- increasingly getting better. I too am more apt to go the direction of holistic and natural rather than synthetic. I feel that the wiley protocol is the only direction of hope for me b/c if this is as horrible as the "wiley watch" has made it out to be with no other alternatives- I truly am hopeless. I have a horrific past 10 years and have never been able to pin point it until a holistic doc. took the time to test my hormones which have proven to be horribly out of whack and seems to be the only explanation for these past years of my life- which no other doc. was willing to even think of investigating. I am EXTREMELY hopeful that this protocol will help me b/c I have no other alternative.
January 20, 2010 - 10:37pmThis Comment
Anon,
We're so glad that you found us here at EmpowHER. It sounds like you've had a rough ten years. You didn't mention how old you are; are you in perimenopause or menopause? I am assuming it's menopause since you've been dealing with it for a decade.
Have you ever had your hormones tested before this? Had you tried other hormone replacement therapy, either synthetic or bio-identical?
I'll be very interested to hear your progress over the next few months. Please come back and update us, won't you?
January 22, 2010 - 8:52amThis Comment
Thanks diane- Yeah- I never really investigated hormones before. It was actually at age 15 when my symptoms began- but nothing truly starting to threaten my quality of life until I was 19 and now Im 28. It WAS menopause I was going thru- I guess its called premature ovarian failure. All the gynies I wet to just put me on birth control so Id get a cycle. It never went futher than that. I thought it was numerous mental things but I refused anti-deppresants. I always just tried using diet and excersise to alleeve my symptoms until 4 years ago when that wasnt enough and I was so fatigued, Depressed and suicidal. I went to intensive therapy, eating disorder rehab, caused a lot of pain to my friends and family, lost my career. it wasnt until this past year that I was introduced to a holistic doctor who took great intrest into my situation and seemed to understand and offer an alternative solution to anti-deppresants. It was actually really nice to see real solid results on paper as to why I may have had such a difficult decade. Although the therapy and rehab helped- it never seemed to get at the root issue of the cause of such pain. the only thing that seems to really resonate with me is that hormones could be a key factor in to what I have been experiencing. The wiley protocol is a bit scary to me but since I have little to no hormones in my body and Im still in my 20's it seems the best choice. Its also bio-identical and not synthetic which eases me too. I cant honestly say Im doing tremendously well on this protocol, however Ive just begun my third month and Im soo depleted in my hormones, itll be at least 6 months before im balanced. Just the fact that there is a smidge of hope that I COULD get better- is enough for me- so Im gonna stick to it for a while and I hope Im one of those cases that has nothing but good things to say about it.
January 22, 2010 - 2:01pmThis Comment
Dear Anon,
Heavens. You HAVE been through a lot in the last decade. I have such sympathy for you and the things you have wrestled with, both physically and mentally. As someone who also has dealt with depression, I am glad and surprised that you had the energy to keep looking, keep seeking answers, keep trying even when things weren't working.
Is your holistic doctor also working with your nutrition? Are you taking any vitamins or supplements, like fish oil, Vitamin D, and so on? And did she also test your thyroid hormones to see if they are in balance?
The more I learn about hormones, the less it seems I know. They perform such intricate functions in our bodies and affect us in so many ways that it's astounding. I hope this protocol works for you! I'll be eager to hear.
January 25, 2010 - 10:05amThis Comment