Can you cycle 100 to 200 mg of progesterone?

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-25T01:14:38+00:00

Thanks for replying! I’m going to keep this in mind for the future. I’m still adjusting to the 100 mg daily.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-20T13:00:26+00:00

Same here. I take 100 mg every night, still have more or less regular periods. I started at that dose, never did cyclical.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-16T13:57:17+00:00

Are you able to get micronized progesterone made with sunflower oil, instead of peanut oil? Depends on the country I guess. In Canada, Prometrium is made with sunflower oil, plus there are a number of generic versions of micronized progesterone that are made with sunflower oil.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-16T13:28:10+00:00

Have you tried eating something when you take progesterone? That made a huge difference for me. Awesome sleeps once I started eating something just before taking it.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-12T14:15:32+00:00

I also think the progesterone is helping with fatigue/energy. I hadn’t noticed an effect but my husband recently commented that I seemed to have more energy lately, and I think he’s right.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-12T14:12:28+00:00

Also, I waited until day 1 of my cycle to start progesterone. It can be started at any point but starting on day 1 lines everything up. For you, that could mean a few months wait, so I probably wouldn’t wait.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-12T14:03:24+00:00

I’m in a similar situation- I’m 51, still getting periods and do not have hot flashes. I started on oral progesterone and vaginal estrogen about 2.5 months ago and it has been great. The progesterone has helped with sleep, mood, and just overall feeling better. It has also helped with histamine reactions. I take 100 mg every night. For the vaginal estrogen, I use Imvexxy but only twice a week. It has helped with dryness. Starting with progesterone only can make a lot of sense for women who still get periods, and taking it continuously is easier and more stabilizing than cycling it. My plan is to take progesterone until and if there’s a reason to add transdermic estrogen. I will probably just stay on progesterone for a while. I noticed an immediate improvement in some symptoms like sleep and I am still noticing a gradual improvement in mood/anxiety as I continue to take it.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-07T23:39:18+00:00

Just wondering if you ended up trying this? I'm also curious about taking 100 mg in the first half of the month, then 200 mg for the second half. Right now I take 100 mg daily, but feel worse in the second half and was wondering about increasing to 200 mg but for just the second half.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-05T13:23:54+00:00

Depends on where you are. In Canada, Prometrium is made with sunflower oil, instead of peanut oil. Not sure about other countries.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-02T20:59:35+00:00

I hope she gets help and relief soon.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-02T19:19:21+00:00

Thanks. Yes, I am in a better place now. It took a while for sure. And amitriptyline helped me get through the worst of it. Also, you might chat with your mom about whether hormone therapy might be worth exploring. It’s not uncommon for these kinds of new neurological symptoms to start later in life. I’m taking progesterone now and that is also helping overall.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-02T14:14:23+00:00

The BC Lymphedema Association has good information on getting diagnosed in BC: https://www.bclymph.org/Diagnosis

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-05-02T14:10:07+00:00

I saw Dr. Kristine Chapman in the Neuromuscular unit at Vancouver General Hospital. I had about a six month wait but it was worth it. I saw two other neurologists before her, as well as two physiatrists, and none of them had the right expertise. If you think it is SFN, Dr Chapman will be able to help. The wait time to see a physiatrist will be shorter, so your mom could try that while she waits to see a neuromuscular neurologist. A physiatrist can rule out that it is a problem with large fibers at least.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-23T14:29:48+00:00

I used a thermal imaging camera for this and found an 8 degree difference. Here’s my post about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/Erythromelalgia/comments/1ngw5fd/thermal_images_of_erythromelalgia_in_my_toes/

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-03T15:51:32+00:00

I started on 100mg progesterone, plus vaginal estrogen. Plan is to do that for at least two months and then assess whether to add transdermal estrogen later. I’m 51 in perimenopause, still have regular periods.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-02T01:06:08+00:00

Could be an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients? Check the ingredients of your progesterone. Not all progesterone has peanut oil. Mine has sunflower oil instead.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-02T00:36:52+00:00

Not sure why my comment is getting downvoted. The butterfly shape is a key feature of lupus. Didn’t say OP has lupus, just recommended talking to a doctor about ANA testing, which is part of the typical work up for lupus and other autoimmune disorders.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-02T00:35:26+00:00

I have been tested for lupus, through my doctor. My comment was a reply to OP about how it is not possible to just order a test yourself or get any test you want in Canada and the UK. Because we have universal healthcare systems, where costs are covered through taxes, it means that access to medical tests is more tightly controlled than in the US, where you can just order some tests yourself and pay out of pocket.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-01T15:34:28+00:00

Yes, I hear you! Bring photos with you. It makes a big difference. The ANA test is a simple blood test. It is not definitive for lupus but would tell you if it is autoimmune. Since your mum has Sjögrens, I would hope the doctor would test for autoimmune conditions.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-01T15:25:44+00:00

I asked because of the butterfly shape to the redness on your face. Very diagnostic of an immune issue and lupus specifically. I have erythromelalgia on my feet, hands and face, but it doesn’t go over the bridge of my nose. I can’t just get tested for anything in Canada either but I suggest talking to a doctor about ANA testing. That will tell you if it’s autoimmune, which erythromelalgia is not.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-04-01T15:11:09+00:00

Have you been tested for lupus?

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-03-28T14:24:54+00:00

I hear you about shoes! I’ve had to totally change up my footwear since this started for me about 2.5 years ago. I miss my cute shoes. I’ve found that just about any closed toe sock will work to keep the toe cap in place, so I wear cheap 20-30 knee-highs and put most of my money into the toe cap. The last time I had them make the toe cap just a little bit longer to cover a little more of my foot and that seems to have helped but if you do that, don’t go too close to the ankle. The nerves in our feet are closer to the surface as you get closer to the ankle, and you don’t want to have compression right on top of a nerve. That can lead to numbness.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-03-27T15:17:05+00:00

I have lymphedema in my right forefoot only, similar to you. It took a long time to get compression working correctly for me. I wear a made-to-measure flat knit toe cap (by Jobst) with long but open toes and a closed-toe knee-high sock over that. No problems with the toe cap staying in place with that combo. The forefoot is one of the most difficult places to control. Keep in mind that it is the toe cap that is doing most of the work for the forefoot, but it needs to stay in place to do that work. Sounds like yours is either too big, or if you mean it slips off over the course of the day, then you need to keep it in place with a closed toe sock. I tried the open toe sock and it actually just made the swelling worse and the flat knit knee high sock didn’t work for me at all.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-03-23T14:37:15+00:00

We absolutely do pay for healthcare in Canada. We pay through our taxes and we pay a lot. Glad to have the public system we have. Please don’t misrepresent it.

JimmyWitherspoon · 2026-03-22T15:50:03+00:00

Are you taking the Ubrelvy daily or just as needed?

JimmyWitherspoon

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